ARONIAN’S INDIAN SUMMER
by Malcolm Pein

The Daily Telegraph (LONDON)
May 31, 2006 Wednesday

ARMENIA stretched their lead to two points at the 37th Chess Olympiad
in Turin, with another powerful performance to overcome an in-form
Cuban team 3-1. This took their tally to 24/32. Russia were lucky
to draw 2-2 with the Czech Republic. Peter Svidler was outplayed by
David Navara and Alexander Morozevich was fortunate to win on time
in a dubious position after misplaying the opening.

Ukraine, France and the United States all advanced in the eighth
round and, like the Armenians, they have yet to lose.

Scotland lost to Iran 1-3 as John Shaw conceded his first draw.

England beat Lithuania 2.5-1.5, but Stuart Conquest lost again to
take his score back to 50 per cent.

Leaders: 1 Armenia 24; 2-3 Russia, Ukraine 22; 4-7 China, Georgia,
France, US 21.5; 8-9 Czech Republic, Germany 21; 36 England 18.5;
54 Scotland 17.5; 57 Ireland 17; 73 Wales 16.5.

HERE is Levon Aronian’s tremendous seventh-round win with black.

I Sokolov – L Aronian

37th Olympiad, Turin (7)

Nimzo-Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 c5 (This is the
sharpest way to counter 4.Qc2. Nigel Short got a draw with it against
Kasparov in their WCC final in 1993, but then made the mistake of
playing it again) 7.dxc5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Ne4 10.Bxb8 (10.e3 is best
to answer Qa5 with Nge2) 10…Qf6! (A novelty, but I think the move has
been analysed. Black hits c3 a third time and threatens Qxf2) 11.Bg3
Nxc3 12.a3 Bf5 (12…Ba5 13.b4 Ne4 14.Rd1 Bf5 15.Qc1 and White emerges
at least one pawn ahead with the better position) 13.Qd2 Ba5 14.b4
(14.e3! is critical, but Black’s resources are more than adequate
14…0-0-0! [14…0-0 15.b4 Ne4 16.Qd4! defends] 15.Nf3 [or 15.b4
d4! 16.bxa5 dxe3 wins] 15…d4!! 16.Be5 [16.Nxd4 Rxd4 17.exd4 Re8+]
16…dxe3! 17.fxe3 Rxd2 18.Bxf6 Rxb2 19.Bxh8 Nd5+ 20.Nd2 Bxd2+ wins)
14…Ne4 15.Qc1 Rc8!! (A hard move to foresee because it appears to
attack a well-protected pawn, but it wins. White cannot afford to open
any lines) 16.Ra2 (16.bxa5 Rxc5 17.Qd1 Qc3+ 18.Qd2 Qxd2 mate. Or 16.Nf3
Rxc5 17.Be5 Rxc1+ 18.Rxc1 Qb6!) 16…Rxc5 17.Qa1 Qc6!! (A brilliant
finish, White is mated on c1 so Black just has to avoid the checks)
18.Qe5+ Kd8! 19.Qxh8+ Kd7 0-1

Aronian

Sokolov

Final position after 19…Kd7.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress