Rare openings can provide cutting edge

One of the tricks in a chess game is to opt for a rarely played opening as a surprise element. At times it also works with the game not going along well-analysed lines as the opponent walks into your home-preparation. Many a time this edge proves sufficient to clinch the game.

In the game which follows, Black livens proceedings right from the first move by opting for the Alekhine Defence which is a rarity these days. However White is more than upto the task and the shock factor evaporates after the queens are exchanged early.

White does appear to hold some edge but soon a balanced position is reached and the game fizzles out into a draw.

White: Levon Aronian (2587) – Black: Tigran Nalbandian (2448)
Yerevan, 2000
1.e4 Nf6
The Alekhine Defence which rarely makes an appearance at high level events these days.
2.e5 Nd5 3.Nf3 d6 4.d4 c6
Black can play 4. ..dxe5 or 4. ..Nc6
5.Be2
White can play boldly with 5.c4
5. ..dxe5 6.Nxe5 Nd7 7.Nf3 g6 8.c4 Nc7 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.0–0 0–0 11.Re1
If 11.Be3 c5 12.d5 e6 13.dxe6 Nxe6 14.Rc1 f5 15.Qd6 Qb6 16.Qxb6 Nxb6
11...c5 12.dxc5
If 12.d5 e5 13.Rb1 (13.Ne4 Ne8 14.a3 f5 15.Bg5 Qb6) 13...Ne8 14.b4 Nd6
12...Nxc5 13.Bg5
If 13.Be3 b6 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Rad1 Rxd1 16.Rxd1 Bxc3 17.bxc3 N7e6
13...Qxd1
Black immediately utilises this opportunity to swap queens
Diagram 1
14.Nxd1
This decision by White to capture the queen with the knight is a bit baffling as it allows Black some counter-chance. If 14.Raxd1 Bxc3 15.bxc3 f6 16.Be3 b6 17.Nd4 Bb7
 14...Re8 15.Rc1
Here 15.Nc3 is worth considering
 15. ..Bg4 16.Be3
If 16.Nc3 Rad8 17.Be3 b6 18.b4 Bxf3 19.gxf3 (19.bxc5 Bxc3 (19...Bxe2 20.Nxe2 bxc5 21.Bxc5 Rd2) 20.Rxc3 Bxe2 21.cxb6 Ne6 22.b7 Rd7 23.c5 Bb5) 19...Nd3 20.Bxd3 Rxd3 21.Nb5 Nxb5 22.cxb5 Red8
16...N7e6 17.b4 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Na6 19.a3 Nd4 20.Nc3
If 20.c5 Nxe2+ 21.Rxe2 Nc7 22.c6 bxc6 23.Rxc6 Nd5 24.Bc5
20...Nxe2+ 21.Rxe2 Nc7 22.Nb5
If 22.a4 a6 23.Bb6 Rac8 24.a5 e6 (24...Bxc3 25.Rxc3 Nd5 26.cxd5 Rxc3 27.d6 Rc1+ 28.Kg2 Rd1 29.Rxe7) 25.Na4 Nd5 26.Bc5 Nf6
22...Nxb5 23.cxb5 Be5 24.Bxa7
If 24.f4 Bd6 25.Rec2 a6 26.b6 Rad8 27.Kg2 h5 28.Kf3
24...Bxh2+
If 24...Rxa7 25.Rxe5 Rxa3 26.Rc7 b6 27.Rexe7 Rxe7 28.Rxe7 Rxf3 29.Rb7 Rf4 30.Rxb6 Rxb4
25.Kxh2 Rxa7 26.Rc7 Rxa3 27.Kg2 Rb3 28.Re4
Supporting each and every one of his pieces. If 28.Rexe7 Rxe7 29.Rxe7 Rxb4 30.Rxb7 with an equal position
28...b6 29.Rb7 Kg7 30.Rxb6 Rd8 31.Rb7
The game is more or less balanced and a draw looms large.
Another continuation to seriously look at would be 31.Rxe7 Rd5! 32.Re4 Rb2 33.Rb8 Rdd2 34.Kg3 Kf6
31...e5 32.Rxe5 Rxb4 33.Re4
An invitation to exchange rooks and get rid of his doubled pawns
33. ..Rdd4
Black is naturally not interested!
34.Rxd4 Rxd4 35.Kg3 Rb4 36.Kg2 h5 37.Kg3 g5 38.Rb6 f6 39.Rb8 Kg6 40.b6 h4+ 41.Kg2 Kf5 42.b7 Rb2 43.Kh3 Rb4
The players are running out of moves
 44.Kh2 Rb2
 ½–½
 Diagram 2
White to play and checkmate
 1.Qh3+ Kg6 2.Qxh7 checkmate.