[%c_effect d6;square;d6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A typical intermediate move in similar positions. Pattern recognition is very important in chess.
1. d2d4  1... g8f6  2. c2c4  2... e7e6  3. b1c3  3... f8b4  4. g1f3  4... b7b6  5. d1b3  5... a7a5  6. g2g3  6... c8b7  7. f1g2  7... d7d6  8. e1g1  8... b8d7 It's no surprise that this move is a novelty. Players with Black are often terrified at the prospect of losing the bishop on b4 and capturing the knight on c3 as soon as it's no longer pinned. 9. b3c2 Aronian decides not to try to exploit the possible defects of Black's previous move. This can be tried with 9.Nb5 or 9.Na4; the latter seems to be the most promising. 9... e8g8 Playing with fire. 10. f1d1  10... d8e7  11. b2b3  11... c7c5 I don't like the plan of advancing the central pawns. I prefer the slower 12. c1b2 White prepares d4-d5. 12... d6d5 [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 13. c4d5  13... b4c3 