1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6
An uncommon move. Akopian and Yermolinsky, among
others, have played this move.
5.Nb3
White has also played 5.Nf5; 5.Nb5; and 5.c3
5...Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.Bd3 a6 9.f4 d6 10.0-0
Be7 11.Qf3 0-0
The opening has transposed to a Scheveningen type
position. White has some kingside potential, and Black has no
obvious weaknesses.
12.Rae1 b5
An interesting alternative for Black is 12...Nb4 13.a3
Nxd3 14.cxd3 Bd7 15.Rc1 Qb8 White controls the center and Black
has the bishop pair. Black won in P.Keres - V.Smyslov, Bled,
Belgrade 1959.
13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 Nxe5!?
A most bold and intriguing combination!
15.Qxa8
White has little choice but to accept, since 15.Qg3
Bd6 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Ng6 18.Qh3 Bb7 is winning for Black.
15...Nfg4 16.g3?
It would be interesting to know what Aagaard had
planned after 16.Qa7! The obvious 16...Bb7 runs into 17.Bf4! And
White seems to be beating the attack back. The flashy 16...Nf3+
is refuted by 17.Rxf3! (17.gxf3?? Qxh2#) 17...Qxh2+ 18.Kf1 Qh1+ 19.Ke2
Qxg2+ 20.Bf2 and Black's attack comes to a halt.
16...Nxe3 17.Rxe3 Bb7 18.Qa7 Nc6!
A beautiful finish to Black's combination, White's
queen is trapped! White must return material to save the
queen.
19.Nd5
Only move.
19...exd5 20.Rxe7 Qxe7 21.Qc5 Re8 22.Qxe7 Rxe7
23.Nc5 Bc8
The dust has settled and Black is a pawn up. Now
Aagaard flexes his skills.
24.a4 bxa4 25.Nxa4 g6
Creating luft. Black can hold the pawn with
either 25...Nb4 or 25...Ne5
26.Nb6 Be6 27.Bxa6 Nb4 28.Bd3 Ra7
White is still holding on after 28...Nxd3 29.cxd3 Rb7
30.Na4 Rb4 31.Rf4 Rb3 32.Rd4
29.b3 Rb7 30.Na4 Nxd3 31.cxd3 Rxb3 32.Nc5 Rc3 33.d4
White had to try 33.Nxe6 fxe6 34.Rf6 and hope to
escape in the rook ending.
33...Bh3
Surgical. White must also worry about his king.
34.Rd1 Rc2 35.Nd3 Bg4!
Winning a second pawn. The rest is easy for
Aagaard.
36.Rc1 Rd2 37.Nf2 Rxd4 38.Nxg4 Rxg4 39.Rd1 d4
40.Kg2 Re4 41.Kf3 f5 42.h3 h5 0-1
