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There are 6 more rounds left but this game is one of those that will determine the winner of Morelia-Linares. With yesterday's fine win Anand established himself as the main contender for the title. Anyway Aronian is a point behind and is the only one who managed to defeat the Indian in this tournament so far. Though his opponent has impressive score here as Black -3.5 out of 4 - the Armenian should have a strategy prepared how to use his Whites this game for best effect. Anand will play solid for sure, as even a draw suits him regarding the standings, but we all know how mercilessly dispatches he of those who let him get some advantage. Uncompromising fight is to be expected, let's hope that it will be spectacular.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Bg2 c5 7.d5 This pawn sacrifice revived the interest to the 5.Qc2 line in Queen's Indian, considered till recently to be a harmless sideline.
7... exd5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.O-O Be7 10.Qe4 (10.Rd1 is the usual continuation. Aronian himself played so against Leko in Morelia.)
10... Bc6 ( Deviating from 10... Na6 11.Nh4 g6 12.Qe5 in yesterday's game Rajabov-Leko.)
11.Ne5 Nf6 Both opponents play the opening very rapidly.
12.Nxc6 Nxc6 13.Qa4 White has a pair of Bishops and long term pressure in the center. The control over the light squares provides him sufficient compensation for the sacrificed pawn. Once again the official site experiences problems with the translation. One would guess they've figured it out after so many years.
13... O-O 14.Rd1 Nd4 15.Nc3 (15.Bxa8 Qxa8 16.Nc3 b5 followed by b5-b4 is way too dangerous for White.)
15... b5 16.Qa6 (16.Qa6 b4 17.Nd5 (17.Bxa8 Qxa8 18.Na4 Nd5 leaves Anand too active) 17... Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Rb8 leaves the light squares to be dominated by Aronian but Black seems very solid.)
16... b4 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Rb8 The Indian has obviously prepared well in this line as he is showing good orientation without thinking too much.
19.Bf4 ( Tempo move but on this square the Bishop may by troubled later by g7-g5. 19.Bf4 d6 may prepare Rb6 and Be7-g5 to exchange it.) (19.Bf4 Rb6 20.Qc4 Bf6 21.Rd2 g5 22.Be3 Qe7 is quite solid as well.)
19... Qb6 20.Qc4 Third option is chosen., Knight will be transfered via b5. However is the Queen really better situated on 'b6' than on 'd8'?
20... d6 (20... d6 21.e3 Nb5 22.Qe4 Bf6 23.Rd2 Rbe8 24.Qf5 Be5 25.Bc4 is a possible continuation of this game.)
21.e3 Nb5 22.g4 Gives Bishop some air - g7-g5 was a threat - and expands on the kingside.
22... Nc7 23.Be4 Aims at 'h7' as some weakness must be created, else the Black King is hard to attack. Aronian should press in the center in order to keep Anand's pieces busy with defensive functions and meanwhile prepare kingside offense. Otherwise he will finish being simply a pawn down.
23... g6 Prepares Rfd8 (23... Rfd8 is met by 24.Bxh7+) and Qb5 to unblock the 'd5' square.
24.Rd2 Rbd8 (24... Qb5 25.Qxb5 Nxb5 26.Bd5 keeps the 'c4' pawn blocked. (26.Bc6 Rfc8 27.Bxb5 Rxb5 would let Anand's queenside majority become dangerous.)) The Indian prefers placing his pieces in the center first.
25.Qe2 ( Surprisingly letting Black to play d5. Logical was 25.Rad1)
25... d5 26.Bxc7 Qxc7 27.Rxd5 Draw agreed. Anand was well prepared for today. He has shown an improvement to Leko's play yesterday and solved his opening problems. The final position is even slightly preferable for him as after 27...c4 the pawn majority is of importance, but he decided to accept the draw as a favorable result considering his lead.
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