[Event "Foxwoods op 05th"] [Site "Connecticut"] [Date "2003.04.17"] [Round "1"] [White "Bartholomew, J."] [Black "Shabalov, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B32"] [WhiteElo "2300"] [BlackElo "2592"] [Annotator "John Bartholomew"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2003.04.17"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "7"] [EventCountry "USA"] {I was 16 years old at the time of this game. It is significant to me because GM Shabalov had won the US Championship just a few months prior and was playing some really powerful chess.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 {The Kalashnikov, in which Black postpones the development of his kingside knight. "Kalashnikov" also refers to the Russian-made assault rifle, the AK-47. Very fitting for Shabalov's "shoot-em-up" style of play!} 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 {With this move I indicate my willingness to transpose to a Sveshnikov Sicilian, a close relative of the Kalash.} (6. c4 {is an attempt to 'punish' Black for delaying ...Ng8-f6. It's not without consequence, though: White would chronically weaken the d4 square.}) 6... a6 7. Na3 b5 ({Rotella instead advocates} 7... Be7 {.}) 8. Nd5 Nce7 $5 {Continuing the delaying tactics.} ( 8... Nf6 9. Bg5 {is a main-line Sveshnikov.}) (8... Nge7 {is actually the most popular move.}) 9. c4 Nxd5 10. cxd5 {I knew this was thought to be harmless, but I was aiming for a clear-cut position with a fixed pawn structure.} ({The combative} 10. exd5 {is theoretically superior, with messy play.}) 10... Be7 ( 10... f5 $5 {is more Shaba-style, e.g.} 11. exf5 Bxf5 12. Bd3 Qd7 13. Nc2 Nf6 14. O-O Be7 15. Nb4 $5 {(heading for c6)} O-O 16. Nc6 (16. f3 $5 $14) 16... Bd8 $6 (16... Rae8 $13) 17. a4 $1 $14 {Diamant,A (2506)-Lopez,M (2275)/Mar del Plata ARG 2009}) 11. Bd3 Nf6 12. Nc2 Bg4 $6 {Black often plays this to provoke f2-f3, but I'm suspicious of the idea. White's bishop secures a comfortable home on e3 where it won't be bothered by ...Nf6-g4.} (12... O-O 13. O-O Bd7 { seems better to me, though I still prefer White's space advantage.}) 13. f3 Bd7 14. Be3 O-O 15. O-O $14 {White has a slight but stable advantage.} a5 $6 {The beginning of Black's problems. White already holds the edge on the queenside, so Black should refrain from weakening pawn moves.} 16. b4 $5 {Fixing the structure once more. I wanted to blockade and lay siege to the b5 pawn, ala Nimzowitsch.} ({It's also very promising to play} 16. Na3 {i.e.} Rb8 (16... b4 17. Nc4 {works out well for White.}) 17. Qe2 Qe8 18. Rac1 {and Black is tied down.}) 16... Nh5 17. g3 g6 18. Qe2 Bg5 19. Bf2 $1 {Keeping the bishop for now. } (19. f4 $6 {is premature. After} exf4 20. gxf4 Bf6 21. Rab1 Re8 $132 {White risks overextending himself.}) ({I also wasn't happy with} 19. Bxb5 Bxe3+ 20. Nxe3 axb4 21. Bxd7 Qxd7 {with simplifications favorable to Black.}) 19... Rb8 20. Rab1 $6 {My next few moves are objectively incorrect.} ({More forceful is} 20. a4 $1 bxa4 21. b5) 20... a4 21. Na3 ({Perhaps} 21. Ne3 $5 {is better, intending to double rooks on the c-file.}) 21... Qe8 22. Be3 Bd8 $2 {Shabalov may have been hoping to keep the game complicated with time pressure approaching.} ({However, the simple} 22... Bxe3+ 23. Qxe3 f5 {gives Black counterplay.}) 23. Bh6 $1 {Back on track. Black is unexpectedly forced backwards.} Ng7 24. f4 Bh3 $6 25. Rfe1 $1 {Anticipating Black's next move.} f5 {Black doesn't have much else, as the b-pawn is hanging.} ({He could mark time with} 25... Bd7 {, but} 26. fxe5 dxe5 (26... Qxe5 27. Bxb5 $16) 27. Be3 {is clearly better for White.}) 26. exf5 ({The immediate} 26. Bxb5 {is also good.}) 26... gxf5 $2 ({Black can try to sac an exchange with} 26... Bb6+ 27. Kh1 Nxf5 {, but following} 28. Bxf5 $1 (28. Bxf8 $2 {is less accurate because of} Qxf8 29. Bxf5 Qxf5 $1 $132) 28... Bxf5 (28... Rxf5 29. g4 $1) 29. Bxf8 Qxf8 30. Rbc1 (30. fxe5 $6 Bxb1 31. Rxb1 dxe5 32. Nxb5 Rc8 $1 {isn't as clear.}) 30... exf4 31. gxf4 Qf7 32. Qf3 {White should convert his advantage in spite of Black's bishops.}) ({Relatively best is} 26... Bxf5 {, though Black remains under pressure:} 27. Rbd1 $1) 27. fxe5 Bg4 28. Qg2 dxe5 29. Be3 $1 {A nice regrouping. The transfer of the bishop to c5 puts Black on the brink of defeat.} Qh5 {Abandoning the b5 and e5 weaklings and pinning all his hopes on a kingside attack.} 30. Bc5 Rf7 31. Bxb5 (31. Rxe5 $16) 31... f4 32. Bc4 Bf3 33. Be2 $2 {I remember being very proud of this move, but it could have cost me!} (33. Rxe5 $1 {completely neutralizes Black's initiative.} Qxe5 34. Qxf3 fxg3 35. Qxg3 (35. d6 {is good too.}) 35... Qxg3+ 36. hxg3 $16) 33... fxg3 ({ After} 33... e4 $1 {the position is a complete mess.}) 34. hxg3 Qg4 $2 {Now Black loses.} ({Again,} 34... e4 $1 $13) 35. Nc4 $1 {The forgotten knight returns to the game with decisive effect. Black can't protect e5.} e4 (35... Bxg2 36. Bxg4 Bxd5 37. Nxe5 $18) 36. Ne5 Qf5 37. Nxf7 Qxf7 (37... Bxg2 38. Nh6+ $18 {would have completed the knight's tour from a3 to h6!}) 38. Bxf3 exf3 39. Qf2 Bg5 40. Rf1 {Time was no longer a factor, so Black resigned. Despite a few innacuracies, I still like the way I played this game.} 1-0

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