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Final scores were: Armenia and Russia 19; Ukraine 18; China and USA 17. England finished in 17th position on 15. The following game was a key victory for the current world no. 2, Lev Aronian, in enabling Armenia to gain the gold medals.
Aronian-Ivanchuk; Istanbul Olympiad 2012; Queen’s Indian Defence
1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 d4 b6 4 g3 Ba6
This move was first championed in the 1920s by Aron Nimzowitsch, the great strategist who formed the topic of last week’s article. The point is that any move that White now makes to defend the c4-pawn leads to a slight disruption in his development. 5 b3 Bb4+ 6 Bd2 Be7 7 Nc3 Bb7 8 Bg2 0-0 9 0-0 Na6 This is an eccentric development of Black’s knight in the literal sense of the word. It is curious that Black has succeeded in just the first nine moves in placing a knight and bishop on a6. 10 d5 exd5 11 Nd4 Bc5 Black launches into uncharted territory. 11 … c6 has been seen here previously. 12 Nc2 c6 13 cxd5 cxd5 14 Bg5 Nc7 15 Ne3 d4 (see diagram 1) It is courageous to abandon the light-squared bishop but Black has an interesting plan in mind for counterplay. 16 Bxb7 Rb8 17 Ng4 dxc3 18 Bxf6 gxf6 19 Be4 d5 20 Bc2 (see diagram 2) Black’s original play has gained him an extra passed pawn, thrust deep into White’s vitals. However, the appalling state of his kingside pawn
structure gives White more than sufficient compensation. 20 … f5 21 Nh6+ Kh8 22 Nxf5 Qf6 23 a3 a5 24 Qd3 Rg8 25 b4 axb4 26 axb4 Bxb4 27 Ra7 White prosecutes his initiative on both sides of the board. 27 … Ne6 28 Ne7 This thrust wins rook for knight thanks to the mate threat against h7. 28 … Qg7 Black could save material with 28 … Rg7 but 29 Nxd5 Qh4 (to protect the b4-bishop) 30 Rxf7 Rbg8 31 Rxg7 Rxg7 32 Qe3 is overwhelming. 29 Nxg8 Kxg8 30 Qxd5 Bc5 31 e3 b5 32 Ra8 Rxa8 33 Qxa8+ Qf8 34 Qe4 Qh6 35 Ra1 b4 36 Ra5 Bf8 37 Qg4+ Qg7 38 Qh4 h6 39 Ra8 Nc7 40 Rxf8+ Qxf8 41 Qg4+ Kh8 42 Qf5 Black resigns If 42 … Qg7 43 Qc8+ or 42 … Qg8 43 Qc8+
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