Levon Aronian vs Vasilios Kotronias (2010)

Levon Aronian vs Vasilios Kotronias
World Team Championship (2010) · Queen's Gambit Declined: Tarrasch Defense. Pseudo-Tarrasch Bishop Attack (D30) · 1/2-1/2

To move:

Last move:

explore this opening	find similar games	2 more Aronian/Kotronias games
	PGN: download \| view	Help: general \| java-troubleshooting

TIP: If you find a mistake in the database, use the correction form. There is a link at the bottom that reads "Spot an error? Please suggest your correction..." Avoid posting corrections in the kibitzing area.

For help with this chess viewer, please see the Pgn4web Quickstart Guide.

Jan-10-10		17.Bxg7: OMG, is this transcript correct? In move 49, without obvious time trouble, Aronian got his knight pinned instead of winning black knight with 49.Ne2. It looks like a horrible way to lose an advantage

Jan-10-10		ounos: I can't believe it! Greeks did it again!!! Hurray! (heh, someone is Greek amongst us :) :) :) )

Jan-10-10		ounos: Though this game indeed looks lost after 49. Ne2. Black can get his queen to f2, but after that, not much.

Jan-10-10		Eyal: Actually, on move 49 Aronian could have done even better than winning a piece with 49.Ne2 (though it should be enough to win as well) - <49.Qc4+> leads to mate or the loss of the black queen: 49...Kh8 50.Ng6+ Kh7 51.Qc8; or 49...Kh7 50.Qf7 Qd6 51.Ne6 Qe5 52.Nf8+ Kh8 53.Ng6+ Kh7 54.Nxe5; or 49...Kf8 50.Ng6+ Ke8 51.Qg8+ Kd7 52.Ne5+ Kc7 53.Qf7+ Kd6/b6 54.Nc4+ and 55.Nxa3.

Jan-11-10		notyetagm: Wow, what a terrible finish by Aronian: mate, winning a piece, or draw and Aronian picks draw.

Jan-11-10		notyetagm: 49 f4-d5?? <LINES UP> with the <UNDEFENDED> White d3-queen in a way that Black can exploit with 49 ... a3-d6!. 49 f4-e2! <LINES UP> with the <UNDEFENDED> White d3-queen in a way that Black cannot exploit, along the a6-f1 diagonal.

Jan-11-10		notyetagm: Aronian vs Kotronias, 2010 <A TALE OF TWO PINS> 49 ? click for larger view A great example about the need to be extremely careful when <LINING UP YOUR PIECES>. You can <LINE UP> your pieces, making <ALIGNMENTS>, but you must do so in a manner that your opponent cannot exploit. 49 f4-e2 <LINES UP> with the <UNDEFENDED> White d3-queen and wins because Black cannot exploit the <ALIGNMENT> White e2-knight + <UNDEFENDED> White d3-queen: the Black a3-queen cannot get to the f1-pinning square. On the other hand 49 f4-d5??=, which Aronian(!) actually played, <LINES UP> with the <UNDEFENDED> White d3-queen in a way that Black can exploit to create a <PIN AGAINST UNDEFENDED PIECES> and throws away the win: the Black a3-queen can get to the d6-pinning square for 49 ... a3-d6!=. So instead of playing 49 f4-e2 with a winning <PIN> against the <UNDEFENDED> Black a3-queen, Aronian instead played the horrible blunder 49 f4-d5?? and only draws due to the <PIN> against his <UNDEFENDED> White d3-queen! An unbelievable blunder by Aronian. 49 f4-d5?? a3-d6!= <pin: d3> click for larger view click for larger view (VAR) 49 f4-e2 <pin: a3> click for larger view Rybka 3 32-bit 6. (1.70): 49.Nf4-e2 Qa3-b2 50.Ne2xc3 Qb2xf2+[] 51.Kh2-h3 Qf2-c5 52.Qd3-d5+ This just shows what a hard game chess really is: a tactical genius like Aronian eschews the straightforward win by 49 f4-e2 for the drawing 49 f4-d5??=. Wow. But there I go again, getting "too excited about simple tactics". These "simple tactics" would have gotten Aronian an extra 1/2-point in this game! :-)

Jan-11-10		notyetagm: Game Collection: BALEFUL INFLUENCE: every single square attacked 49 ... Qa3-d6! Black d6-queen threatens 1-1 loose White d5-knight, undef White d3-queen Aronian vs Kotronias, 2010

Jan-11-10		notyetagm: <ounos: Though this game indeed looks lost after 49. Ne2. Black can get his queen to f2, but after that, not much.> Yes. Rybka 3 32-bit 6. (1.70): 49.Nf4-e2 Qa3-b2 50.Ne2xc3 Qb2xf2+[] 51.Kh2-h3 Qf2-c5 52.Qd3-d5+

Jan-23-10		notyetagm: 49 f4-d5?? click for larger view 49 ... a3-d6!= <pin: d5,d3> click for larger view Aronian's 49 f4-d5?? flaunted all of <WETESCHNIK'S PINNING RULES>: * every attacked piece of yours standing in front of another of your pieces must be regarded as pinned * always be on the lookout for ways to create or avoid pins * two pieces of the same color occupying the same file or diagonal are a prerequisite for a pin * every undefended piece is a potential candidate for a pin

Jan-24-10		percyblakeney: I wonder if Aronian's amazing blunder here wasn't influenced by the fact that Armenia sensationally just had gone 0.5-2.5 down in the match against Greece, and this game was suddenly of less importance than it could have been.

Jan-24-10		notyetagm: <percyblakeney: I wonder if Aronian's amazing blunder here wasn't influenced by the fact that Armenia sensationally just had gone 0.5-2.5 down in the match against Greece, and this game was suddenly of less importance than it could have been.> Good point. Perhaps the fact that his team had just shockingly lost to Greece(!) caused Aronian to lose concentration just long enough to play the drawing 49 f4-d5?? instead of the winning 49 f4-e2.

Apr-22-10		abuzic: 32...Nc4?? allowed white's dangerous attack. 32...Qd1! would keep black active. 36...Nd2? 36...Qf6 would keep black alive.

NOTE: You need to pick a username and password to post a reply. Getting your account takes less than a minute, totally anonymous, and 100% free--plus, it entitles you to features otherwise unavailable. Pick your username now and join the chessgames community!

If you already have an account, you should login now.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
No spamming, advertising, or duplicating posts.
No personal attacks against other users.
Nothing in violation of United States law.

See something which violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform an administrator.

NOTE: Keep all discussion on the topic of this page. This forum is for this specific game and nothing else. If you want to discuss chess in general, or this site, you might try the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.

Spot an error? Please submit a correction slip and help us eliminate database mistakes!
This game is type: CLASSICAL (Disagree? Please submit a correction slip.)

Featured in the Following Game Collections [what is this?]

DO *NOT* ALLOW A PIN TO BE REINFORCED!!
by notyetagm

49 ... Qa3-d6! threatens 1-1 loose d5-knight, undef d3-queen
from BALEFUL INFLUENCE: every single square attacked by notyetagm

Capture
by MagnusKandinsky

49 Nf4-d5?? allows pin to undef d3-queen, 49 Nf4-e2 does not
from PINS AGAINST UNDEFENDED PIECES (UPMP) by notyetagm

49 Nf4-e2 winning pin for White, 49 Nf4-d5?? drawing pin!
from PINS! PINS! PINS! PINS! PINS! PINS! PINS! PINS! by notyetagm

48 Qd4-d3+ pins Black c3-knight to undefended a3-queen, winning
from UNDEFENDED PIECES by notyetagm

48 Qd4-d3+! pins c3-knight to undef a3-queen for 49 Nf4-e2+-
from BALEFUL INFLUENCE + TEMPO IS HOW YOU USE YOUR LI by notyetagm

48 Qd4-d3+ means White queen is really on 3rd rank creating pin
from FORCING MOVES SHOW YOU WHERE PIECES *REALLY* ARE by notyetagm

Bishop Attack
from Tarrasch by inlimbo777

48 Qd4-d3+ means White queen is really on 3rd rank creating pin
from BALEFUL INFLUENCE combined with tempo by notyetagm