[Event "SuperGM"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2002.03.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kasparov, Garri"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Hathaway, Mark"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2838"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 { This makes me wonder what Shirov had in mind that might make Kasparov change direction. This move is so out of character for Kasparov that I have doubts he has any kind of theoretical novelty; instead I think he just wants to prevent Shirov from having his way. } ( 3. d4 ) 3... g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 Nf6 { This is a typical, and necessary, response to White's effort to get the central pawn duo (Pe4 & Pd4) . Black continues developing, castles and hits Pe4 to force a resolution of the central pawns. } 6. Re1 O-O 7. d4 cxd4 8. cxd4 { White threatens d4-d5 when Nc6 is awkward. } 8... d5 { This is the usual solution: Black fixes White's pawns and then finds some way to chip into them to open the g7-a1 diagonal again. } 9. e5 Ne4 { This is risky. If Nf3 can move to allow f2-f3 then where would Ne4 run away to? } ( { The alternative is } 9... Ne8 { and it's hard to say whether it's too passive. } ) 10. Nc3 { I would have loved to see White find a move to challenge Ne4 with f2-f3. } ( 10. Re2 Qb6 ( 10... Bg4 $2 11. h3 Bxf3 12. gxf3 $16 ) 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Ne1 c5 13. Be3 ( 13. f3 $2 cxd4 14. fxe4 d3+ 15. Re3 Bh6 ) 13... cxd4 14. Qxd4 Qxd4 15. Bxd4 Ba6 16. Rc2 Rfc8 ) 10... Bf5 { There are a couple of elements of this position which resemble a Slav, Exchange Variation. The main difference, of course, is the pawn at e5 rather than (say) e3. White's Bc1 can still develop freely and Bg7 is blocked, but Pd4 is also permanently weak. } 11. Nh4 Be6 12. Bxc6 ( 12. Nxe4 dxe4 { and the attack on Pd4 is exposed while Nh4 is momentarily stuck. } 13. Bxc6 ( 13. Rxe4 $2 Nxe5 { and all of Black's pieces are free to move! } ) 13... bxc6 14. Rxe4 { Grabbing the pawn is risky because White's position is a little awkward and not fully developed. } 14... Qb6 ) 12... bxc6 13. Na4 { Ne4 has no easy way out. White threatens f2-f3xe4. } 13... g5 { Yes, this is ugly, but it's the only way to force Nh4 back, block Pf2 and free Bg7. It doesn't appear to hurt the safety of Kg8 since there are several pieces around him to defend. There is, however, still a possibility of Ne4 becoming stuck, as in the Kasparov-Adams game (Petrov's Def.) where Black's Qe4 got stuck. } 14. Nf3 f6 15. Be3 g4 16. Nd2 fxe5 17. Nxe4 dxe4 { Black's pawns look funny, but his pieces look fine. } 18. Nc5 Bf5 19. dxe5 Qxd1 20. Raxd1 Bxe5 21. Nd7 { If the best Kasparov can do is regain one of the bishops then he has to admit Black's success, or rather his own inability to put a dent in Shirov's fine play. This game shows Shirov's strength, despite his odd results against some of the lower-finishing players (in this event; I wouldn't rank Anand or Adams as "lower or weaker players" by any measure) . } 21... Bxd7 22. Rxd7 Bxb2 { For the moment Black is ahead two pawns, but they are strew all around and weak. } 23. Rxe7 Rfe8 24. Rc7 ( 24. Rxa7 Rxa7 25. Bxa7 Ra8 26. Be3 Rxa2 27. h3 gxh3 28. gxh3 Ra1 29. Rxa1 Bxa1 { is certainly to be avoided by Kasparov! } ) 24... Rec8 25. Re7 Re8 26. Rc7 1/2-1/2