Solution: Challenge #9: A new strategy
Move #1
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Ne5
Move #2
9...h5 10.h4 g4 11.Be2 Bb7 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7 15.Rad1 0-0 16.Bg3 Nd7 17.f3 c5 I was happy to be able to surprise my opponent, rather than wait for his new idea after 17...Qb6. Also, though I hadn\'t specifically anticipated this line from Aronian, the fact that we did the work in Mexico meant that I had no difficulty recalling my analysis. 18.dxc5 He played this reasonably quickly. [18.d5 Be5 19.f4 Bd4+ and play is very similar to the game - the bishop on e2 is still the problem for White; 18.Nxb5 cxd4 19.Nxd4 Qb6 20.Bf2 g3 This is why Black should not interpolate the capture gxf3
Move #3
18...Qe7 19.Kh1?! a6 20.a4 Bc6 21.Nd5? exd5 22.exd5 Be5! 23.f4 Bg7 24.dxc6 Nxc5 25.Rd5 Ne4 26.Be1 Qe6
Move #4
27.Rxh5 [27.axb5 At the board, this seemed sort of dangerous, but he played 27.Rxh5 quickly 27...Qxd5 28.Bxc4 Qd4 29.b6 (29.Bd3; 29.bxa6 Rfe8 30.b3 g3-+) 29...Nd6-+ This however kills it, so this line wasnt playable] 27...f5! Shutting the rook out. Now all White can do is Rg5. [27...Qg6 28.f5 Qxh5 29.Qxe4 is much messier] 28.Kh2 Rac8 There is no hurry 29.Bb4 Rfe8 30.axb5 axb5 31.Re1 Qf7 32.Rg5 Nxg5 33.fxg5 Rxc6 [33...Re3? I spent a few minutes on this before realizing that its a blunder.
Move #5
PUZZLE 34.Bxc4! Be5+ 35.g3 Bxg3+ 36.Kg2] 34.Bf1 [34.Rf1 Rce6 35.Bd1 Qc7+ 36.g3 Re3 wins] 34...Rxe1 35.Bxe1 Re6 36.Bc3 Qc7+ 37.g3 Re3 38.Qg2 [38.Qf2 f4] 38...Bxc3 39.bxc3 f4 40.Qa8+ Kg7 41.Qa6 fxg3+ Aronian resigned. Obviously, an important win for my morale [41...fxg3+ 42.Kg1 Qf7 43.Qh6+ Kg8] 0-1
