Aronian – Topalov [A29]
Corus 2007, 23.01.2007

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.0–0 Be7 8.Rb1 a5 9.d3 Be6 10.Be3 0–0 11.Bxb6 cxb6 (The players are into very little played lines of the English so far.) 12.e3 (I’m not sure if I have seen this move before.) 12…b5 (I actually like Black here. I think Topalov has more than equalized.) 13.Nxb5 (White does not have a choice but to take the b5. He cannot allow Black to play b4. Now Black will play 13…Bxa2 and has a slight advantage.) 13…Bxa2 14.Rc1 a4 =+ 15.Nc3 Bb3 (15…Be6 is also playable.) 16.Qe2 Be6 17.Ra1 a3 (I am not sure if I would be trading everything in this position. I would prefer to keep pieces on the board and put more pressure on Black with something like 17…Qd6) 18.bxa3 Rxa3 19.Rxa3 Bxa3 20.Nb5 Be7 21.d4 (A good move. White has to get rid of his weakness.) 21…Bg4 (Another choice is 21…e4 22.Nd2 f5 and Black is fine.) 22.22. h3 Bxf3 23. Bxf3exd4 24. exd4 Bf6 25. Rd1 Qb6 26. Qc4 Rd8 27. Kg2 = (The game is even now. I expect this to be a draw. Topalov can choose to trade the b pawn for the d pawn and there would virtually be nothing left to play.) 27…Nxd4 28.Nxd4 Rxd4 1/2 (This is expected as there is nothing left to play for with Bishop opposite color Biship and symmetrical pawn structure.)
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