[Event "SuperGM"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2002.03.06"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Hathaway, Mark"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]

1. e4 c5 { I don't know how much fighting spirit is left in these two. They've both had their ups and downs and probably feel there's little chance to climb back into the fight for first place. Adams has played five decisive games, so there's no doubt any of his games might follow suit. } 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 { While it was odd for Kasparov to use this against Shirov it makes more sense for Adams. Still, it's odd that two players would choose this when facing Shirov. } 3... e6 { Shirov must suspect Adams has some improvement over the Kasparov-Shirov game or else he just wants to test Adams a bit by forcing him to find his own way. } 4. O-O Nge7 { I like this move because it makes Bb5 less effective. It can't force doubled pawns by capturing Nc6. } 5. c3 a6 6. Ba4 { Refusing to capture Nc6 leaves Ne7 awkwardly placed. } 6... b5 7. Bc2 Bb7 { This approach leaves the question of how Black will play Pd7 for later, but it also leaves Pe4 in place and gives White time for d2-d4, if he should so choose. } ( { A perfectly good alternative for Black is } 7... d5 8. e5 d4 ) ( 7... Ng6 $6 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Nb4 10. Bb3 { and Nb4 is likely to get pushed back after having achieved no lasting gain } ) 8. Qe2 { Clearly one of White's aims is to keep his pawns supported, so he can get in d2-d4 without a major disruption. How does Black prevent this "obvious" plan? } ( { White isn't likely to play } 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Nb4 { because Bc2 is vulnerable and can't run away because it has to defend Pe4. } ) 8... Ng6 ( 8... e5 $5 { weakens the light squares, but tries to hold White back. That it moves the pawn a second time shouldn't be a bigger concern than whether it gets the job done. I suspect Shirov was satisfied with the pawn structure and wanted to just develop his pieces further. } 9. a4 bxa4 { creates an odd weakness in Black's pawn structure, but gets rid of the weakness so he can get on with other developments } ( 9... Ng6 $6 $13 { Pb5 is not immune from capture, but in the future might escape by advancing, so the question passes to White, "How should Whit develop to gain advantage or even stay equal?" Should he take Pb5 and lag behind with the development of his other minor pieces? } 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. Qxb5 Ba6 13. Qa4 { a saving move because now Ba6 is pinned to the undefended Qa8! } 13... Nf4 14. d3 Ne2+ 15. Kh1 Nxc1 16. Rxc1 Qb7 17. Na3 ) ) 9. d4 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nh4 { trying to undermine Pd4 and exchange a minor piece to ease Black's slight cramp } 11. Nbd2 { This blocks Bc1 for the moment, but it makes room for Bc2-b1 (if needed) and defends Pe4 again. } 11... Rc8 12. Bb1 Bd6 { The bishop may take an odd route (Bf8-d6-b8-a7) to find a weak White pawn it can target. This is the kind of contortions one has to endure when the opening play hasn't secured adequate space for the pieces. I suppose I should add, though it's guesswork, that Shirov may have played this way to provoke Adams into rash pawn moves which might weaken his position so that Shirov could counter-attack successfully. It's an odd thought though. Adams isn't known for doing anything rashly or out of control. } 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 Nxf3+ 15. Nxf3 Nb4 { From here the knight defends Pa6 and keeps Ra4 inactive. After an e4-e5 it could go back ...Nb4-d5. However, it's tied to Bd6, so e4-e5 would shove ...Bd6-e7 which isn't a very active square for the bishop. } 16. Bd2 { White immediately challenges this "bone in his throat". Adams is the kind of player who will emphasize coordination and mobility for his pieces. It's a little unusual for an 1. e4 player, but, it doesn't take much effort to recall how effective GM Anatoly Karpov was with 1. e4. } 16... a5 { This secures Nb4, but it also forces Nb4 to remain because it defends Pa5 from Ra4 & Bd2. It also sneakily (perhaps by accident) threatens ...Bb7-a6! } 17. Rd1 O-O 18. Bc3 Qb6 { This isn't terribly appealing. The queen might be much more useful on the king-side, but he has to over-protect Nb4 to allow Bd6 to maneuver. } ( 18... f6 ) 19. Ra1 Bf4 { Now it's clear Black is trying to box-in Qe2 and threatens ...Bb7-a6 to chase her back further. Black can't challenge Pd4 & Pe4, but he can play around them with good effect. } ( 19... f6 20. Nh4 { and the absence of Black's queen from the king-side is keenly felt } ) 20. Ne5 Qc7 21. Qg4 Bxe5 22. dxe5 { This creates a kind of wall on the e-file. Black's queen-side pieces will find it difficult to cross that wall to help defend Kg8. White might use Ra1-a3, Bc3-d4, Ra3-g3 to bring at least one more big piece to the king-side. There is also Bc3-d2-h6, but Pe5 needs defense. } 22... Bc6 23. h4 ( 23. Bd4 ) 23... Kh8 24. Ra3 Rg8 25. h5 h6 26. Qf4 Rcf8 { Black might be preparing ...f7-f6 since Qf4 isn't defended, but any move (s) such as that would end up opening lines to Kh8. } 27. Bd4 Bb5 { probably hoping for ...Bb5-e2xh5-g6 } 28. Rc3 Nc6 29. Bc5 Be2 30. Rd2 Bxh5 31. Rh3 { This is most direct to the point. He could have played Bc5-d6, but that isn't really necessary. Only if counter-play via the capture of e5 was going to be effective would White take the time to prevent it. In the final position Black can't do much. If 31...Bh5-g6 Rxh6+ forces mate and 31...g5 allows 32. Qf6+ and 33. Rxh5, winning the piece and/or checkmating. This has got to be one of the strangest tournaments for Adams. That's six decisive games out of ten! } 1-0