This is a recent game from M-Tel Masters in Sofia. I was watching the game live  and at some point Topalov offered Aronian a free pawn. Aronian declined. Was it in fact a trap or did Aronian try to make a better move?

I think Bh3, forces queen exchange after which Nd4 hangs as well as R on f1, and an unprotected knight at d2. Perhaps white can hang on but black would get very active play, well worth sacrificing the isolated centre pawn.

jb2008 wrote: I think Bh3, forces queen exchange after which Nd4 hangs as well as R on f1, and an unprotected knight at d2. Perhaps white can hang on but black would get very active play, well worth sacrificing the isolated centre pawn.

---

Still I would have taken it...

Aronian was in deep zeitnot, maybe he didn't want to risk ending up in such a sharp position with a very limited time, so he played passive...

Zeitnot ater 13 moves? I think black wins exchange for pawn after 14 Qxd5 NxN 15 BxN Bh3. Umm, just a minute that does work either, but 14...BxN iso NXN does far has i can tell.

 

Bye John S 

You've missed the point of Topalov's 13..., Bf6.  If Aronian takes the Pawn with 14. Qxd5 he loses to 14..., Bxd4  15. Bxd4, and now 15..., Bh3.  For instance, 16. Qxd8, Rfxd8  17. Bc3, Bxf1  18. Kxf1

Sarthe wrote: You've missed the point of Topalov's 13..., Bf6.  If Aronian takes the Pawn with 14. Qxd5 he loses to 14..., Bxd4  15. Bxd4, and now 15..., Bh3.  For instance, 16. Qxd8, Rfxd8  17. Bc3, Bxf1  18. Kxf1

---

That sums up the whole discussion of this topic. No more posts required :)

(see you in the next round of Goring Gambit Open...)