H is for Hack

Lev Aronian continues to impress me with the games he is playing at the Grand Slam Masters. While he hasn't managed to catch Ivanchuk (who holds a big lead), it isn't for want of trying. Against Carlsen he tried an old idea of Botvinnik with 9.h4. This indicated an attack against Carlsen's king, who went for counterplay in the centre. I suspect it then came to who could calculate the furthest, and with neither player making any sort of mistake, and even ending was reached.

Aronian,Levon (2807) - Carlsen,Magnus (2823) [D55]
4th Final Masters Sao Paulo/Bilbao BRA/ESP (7), 07.10.2011

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bxf6 Bxf6 8. Rc1 c6 9. h4 c5 10. dxc5 Na6 11. cxd5 Nxc5 12. Bc4 exd5 13. Nxd5 Bxb2 14. Rc2 b5 15. Be2 Na4 16. Rc7 Be6 17. Ne7+ Kh8 18. Qc2 Bc3+ 19. Rxc3 Qa5 20. Ng5 Qxc3+ 21. Qxc3 Nxc3 22. Nxe6 fxe6 23. Ng6+ Kg8 24. Nxf8 Rxf8 25. Bg4 e5 26. O-O b4 27. a3 Rb8 28. axb4 Rxb4 29. Rc1 Rb1 30. Rxb1 Nxb1 31. Kf1 Nc3 32. Ke1 Kf7 33. Bf5 Nb5 34. Kd2 Nd6 35. Bc2 Ke6 36. Bb3+ Kf5 37. f3 Kf6 38. g4 g5 39. hxg5+ hxg5 40. Kc3 a5 41. Bc2 Ke6 42. Bb3+ Ke7 43. Bc2 Kd7 44. Bd1 Kc6 45. f4 Kc5 46. fxg5 Ne4+ 47. Kb3 Nxg5 48. Ka4 Kc4 49. Bc2 Kc3 50. Bf5 e4 1/2-1/2