Anti-Moscow Gambit: 15.Rad1!?

A recent model game in the Semi-Slav / Anti-Moscow 15.Rad1!? line.

[White "Aronian"]
[Black "Anand"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[EventDate "2007.09.14"]

{Anand's victory over Aronian shows how dynamic the Semi-Slav can be.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 {Semi-Slav} 5. Bg5 h6 {Semi-Slav / Moscow} 6. Bh4 {Semi-Slav / Moscow / Anti-Moscow Gambit} dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. h4 { This is the main move, coaxing Black to advance (overextend?) his pawns.} g4 11. Ne5 h5 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Qc2 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Bg7 { This game demonstrates model development for both sides.} 15. Rad1 $5 { White prepares for Bg3 by adding a new protector to the d-pawn.} O-O 16. Bg3 { Bg3 threatens e5 (when Black's bishop has no scope) and Ne4 (a centrally posted knight).} Nd7 {Anticipating e5 and planning to meet it with f5.} 17. f3 {Shifting to a new strategy: tear open the kingside where Black just castled.} c5 $5 $146 {In yet another game, this pawn thrust at a key moment is decisive!} 18. dxc5 Qe7 $1 19. Kh1 $2 {Aronian replies passively. This is a good reply to the usual 17...Qb6, but it's not a good reply to 17...c5!?N. Aronian may have played this on autopilot. It's amazing how subtle a mistake can be fatal at the super-GM level.} (19. Bd6 $5 Qxh4 20. fxg4 hxg4 21. Rf4 Nf6 22. Nxb5 Bh6 $13 {White regains the pawn, but this is a tough position to play.}) (19. Rd6 $5 Bxc3 20. Qxc3 Rac8 21. c6 Rxc6 22. Qd4 $14 {looks more promising.}) 19... a6 20. a4 Bc6 21. Nd5 $5 {A tricky sacrifice. An IM commenting on this position called it a blunder, a GM felt these complications were White's best chance to keep his head above water. The rest of this game is not so important theoretically but very complicated and exciting!} (21. fxg4 hxg4 22. Bxg4 Nxc5) 21... exd5 22. exd5 Be5 23. f4 Bg7 24. dxc6 Nxc5 25. Rd5 Ne4 26. Be1 Qe6 27. Rxh5 f5 28. Kh2 Rac8 29. Bb4 Rfe8 30. axb5 axb5 31. Re1 Qf7 32. Rg5 Nxg5 33. fxg5 Rxc6 34. Bf1 Rxe1 35. Bxe1 Re6 36. Bc3 Qc7+ 37. g3 Re3 38. Qg2 Bxc3 39. bxc3 f4 40. Qa8+ Kg7 41. Qa6 fxg3+ 0-1

This game highlights model development in the mainline for both sides.