Chess with Sam Collins

Levon Aronian v Hou Yifan

Grenke Chess Classic, 2017

The Grenke Chess Classic featured several of the world’s top five players in a closed event, next to an Open with 1,200 players. Levon Aronian secured tournament victory in the penultimate round with the following win against Hou Yifan, who was the early leader in the event.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Qc2

Aronian adopts an unusual set-up against Hou’s solid ...