[Event "SuperGM"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2002.02.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Hathaway, Mark"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 { Black could use ...b7-b5 to get rid of the Bxc6 "threat", but so long as that doesn't hurt Black he'll ignore it. } 5. O-O ( 5. d3 { isn't as aggressive as the game move, but it prevents the Open Variation and immediately threatens Bxc6 followed by Nxe5 } ) 5... Be7 ( 5... b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8. d4 ) 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 { By defending Pe5 Black is free, if he were to choose, to play ...Nc6-a5xb3, so one often sees White move either his c- or a-file pawns to make room for the Bishop to retreat. } ( 7... O-O { indicates an intent to play the Marshall Gambit (...d7-d5) . It would be interesting to see how Adams might play against the Marshall Gambit (he plays it as Black) or avoid it. } ) 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 ( 9. d4 Bg4 ) 9... Re8 ( { the Zaitsev Variation } 9... Bb7 10. d4 Re8 { prepares to open the e-file and apply pressure to Pe4 } ) 10. d4 Bb7 { a mere transposition to the Zaitsev Variation, one of the most aggressive variations Black can choose } 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. d5 { White keeps the center closed and will willingly fight around the perimeter to keep Bf8, Re8 and Bb7 quiet. } ( 12. a4 h6 { is (or was) most common. This variation has undergone some changes and several greatly different branches are played. } ) 12... Nb8 { Black generally retreats just for the moment and regroups with ...Nb8-d7 and ...c7-c6xd5; producing a position (for Black) which is much like a Sicilian Defense. } 13. Nf1 Nbd7 14. N3h2 { preventing ...Nf6-h5-f4 and, in general, maneuvering his pieces so they can flow toward the king-side or the center. He might also be considering f2-f3 (or Qd1-f3) to defend Pe4, so he can follow-up with Nf1-e3, guarding f5 and d5. } ( 14. a4 { attempting to make Pb5 a weakness may be worthwhile } ) 14... Nc5 15. Bc2 c6 16. b4 $5 { This makes Pc3 awkward, but more importantly it pushes Nc5 back, again giving White time to promote his own plan. } 16... Ncd7 17. dxc6 Bxc6 18. Bg5 h6 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Ng4 Nxg4 21. Qxg4 { and with that there's no major pressure on Pe4. But, there is the backward Pc3 and White hasn't yet secured square d5. There's a fight yet to be fought. } 21... d5 { If Black hadn't done this White would have Ra1-d1 and Bc2-b3 very quickly, so that Bf8 would be forever entombed. Also, Nf1-e3 (or g3) would secure f5. } 22. exd5 ( 22. Rad1 d4 23. cxd4 exd4 24. e5 $13 ) 22... Qxd5 23. Bb3 Qd8 ( 23... Qd7 { also gives White some advantage, so long as Bf8 is quiet and Nf1 can come into play } 24. Qxd7 Bxd7 25. Rad1 Bc6 ( 25... Bf5 26. Ne3 Bg6 27. Rd7 ) 26. Ne3 ) 24. Qh5 { There are sometimes more than one way to gain an advantage. Ra1-d1 is also good. } ( 24. Rad1 ) 24... Ra7 ( 24... Qe7 { looks horrendous. Black would rather give Pe5 and counter-attack. } 25. Rxe5 $2 { is a little premature and doesn't seem to lead to anything substantial } 25... Qxe5 26. Qxf7+ Kh7 27. Qg8+ Kg6 ) ( 24... Qf6 { doesn't completely solve Black's problems } 25. Ne3 Ra7 26. Ng4 Qf4 27. Rxe5 ) 25. Rxe5 Rxe5 26. Qxe5 Qg5 27. Qxg5 hxg5 28. Ne3 { From this point forward White is just activating pieces, trading-off bad pawns and keeping his king safe. He will naturally seek to keep Black's pieces quite or to trade rooks, but Black will avoid most trades, so he can keep fighting. } 28... g6 29. Rd1 Rc7 30. Kf1 ( 30. a3 { intending c3-c4-c5 might be better } 30... Bd7 31. Nd5 ( 31. c4 $2 Be6 32. Nd5 Bxd5 ( 32... Rd7 $4 33. Nf6+ Kg7 34. Nxd7 ) 33. cxd5 Rc3 ) 31... Rc6 32. Nf6+ Rxf6 33. Rxd7 $16 ) 30... Kg7 31. Ke2 Be7 32. Bd5 Bd7 33. Rd3 Bf6 ( 33... a5 $5 34. bxa5 ( 34. a3 axb4 35. axb4 ) 34... Ra7 35. a6 Rxa6 36. Bxf7 Bxh3 37. Bb3 Bc8 ) 34. c4 bxc4 35. Bxc4 Bc8 { perhaps planning ...Bc8-b7-e4 } ( 35... Bf5 $4 36. Nxf5+ gxf5 37. Bxa6 Rc2+ 38. Rd2 ) 36. a3 Bb2 37. Kd2 { White wants to support his pawns with his king, but it's complicated. } 37... f5 38. Kc2 Bxa3 $5 { Black gets of one of the queen-side pawns, but gives up the "two bishops" to do so. After the smoke clears White will still have an extra pawn, but it won't be much easier to advance it. } 39. Rxa3 f4 40. Kb3 fxe3 41. fxe3 Re7 ( 41... Rc6 42. e4 Kf6 43. Ra5 Be6 44. Bxe6 Rxe6 45. e5+ Rxe5 ( 45... Kf5 46. Kc4 Ke4 47. Rd5 Rc6+ 48. Rc5 Re6 49. g4 { and Black can't maintain both Re6, defending Pg6 & Pa6, and Ke4, which prevents White's Kc4-d5. } 49... Kf4 50. Kd4 Kg3 51. Kd5 Re8 52. e6 Kxh3 53. Rc4 $18 ) 46. Rxe5 Kxe5 47. Ka4 Kf4 48. Ka5 Kg3 49. Kxa6 Kxg2 50. b5 Kxh3 51. b6 g4 52. b7 g3 53. b8=Q g2 $18 { is slightly different from what one would see in an endgame theory book because of Pg6, but it is still a win for White } ) 42. Ka4 Re5 43. Rd3 { White can aim for Bc4-d5, e3-e4 to block out Re5; thus allowing Ka4-a5 to get at Pa6. } 43... Bf5 44. Rd2 Rxe3 ( 44... Bc8 45. Rd8 Bb7 46. Rd7+ $18 ) ( 44... a5 45. bxa5 Re4 46. Rd4 Rxe3 47. Bd5 $16 ) 45. Bxa6 Be4 46. Rf2 Kh6 47. Bf1 { Even if Black had to sacrifice a bishop for Pb4 he might manage a draw if there's sufficient counter-play on the king-side. } 47... g4 ( 47... Kh5 48. g4+ { and Ph3 is hard to get at with Bf1 defending it } ) 48. hxg4 Re1 { aiming for something like 49...Re1-a1+ 50. Ka4-b5?? Rxf1 51. Rxf1 Bd3+ -+ } ( 48... Kg5 49. Be2 Rg3 50. Bf3 Bxf3 51. gxf3 Kf4 52. b5 Rxf3 53. Rxf3+ Kxf3 54. g5 Kf4 55. b6 Kxg5 56. b7 Kh4 57. b8=Q g5 58. Qh2+ $18 ) 49. Be2 Ra1+ 50. Kb3 ( 50. Kb5 $4 Ra2 ) 50... Rb1+ 51. Kc3 Rc1+ 52. Kd4 Bb7 53. Bf3 ( 53. Bc4 Rg1 54. Bf1 ( 54. Bd5 $4 Rd1+ $19 ) 54... Kg5 55. b5 Kxg4 56. Kc5 Kg3 57. Rf7 Bxg2 58. Bxg2 Rxg2 59. Rg7 Kf4 60. b6 g5 61. b7 Rb2 ) 53... Ba6 54. Rb2 Bb5 55. Be2 Bc6 56. Bf3 Bb5 57. Be2 Bc6 58. Ba6 { After having made several repetitions he goes ahead with his offensive plan. He's slowed Black as much as he could and now Pg2 will fall, but Pb4 will advance too. } 58... Rg1 59. b5 Bxg2 60. b6 Kg5 61. Bc8 $1 { This is a crucial move because it slows Black's king-side play. } ( 61. Rxg2 $5 { This move should be considered because it removes one of the defenders, preventing Pb6 from advancing. It does, however, appear to be insufficient to force a win. } 61... Rxg2 62. Kc5 Rb2 $1 ( 62... Rh2 $2 63. b7 ( 63. Bc8 $4 Rc2+ ) 63... Rh8 { a poor location from which to defend against White's king and Pb7 } 64. Be2 Kf4 65. Kc6 g5 66. Kc7 Ke3 67. Bd1 Kd2 68. Ba4 Ke3 69. b8=Q Rxb8 70. Kxb8 Kf4 71. Bd7 $18 ) 63. Bb5 Rc2+ 64. Bc4 Rb2 65. Be6 { White must prevent Black from sacrificing his rook for one pawn and then capturing the other with his king. } 65... Rc2+ 66. Kd6 ( 66. Kb4 $4 Rc6 67. Kb5 Rxe6 $19 ) ( 66. Kb5 Rb2+ 67. Ka5 Rb1 $11 ) 66... Rd2+ 67. Kc7 Rc2+ 68. Kb8 Rb2 69. b7 Rb6 70. Bc8 Rb1 $11 ) 61... Kf4 62. Kc5 Be4 ( 62... Rc1+ $4 63. Kd6 Rxc8 64. Rxg2 g5 65. b7 Rg8 66. Kc7 Rg7+ 67. Kb6 Rg8 68. Ka7 Kf3 69. Rg1 Kf2 70. Rb1 Kf3 71. Rb4 $18 ) 63. Rb4 Ke5 64. b7 Rc1+ ( 64... Bxb7 $2 65. Bxb7 $18 ) 65. Kb5 Bxb7 66. Bxb7 Kf6 { Unfortunately for Black he can't win Pg4. White can always keep his rook and bishop in position to defend it. } ( 66... Rc3 { a plan to prevent Bb7-f3 or Bb7-c8 and then ...Ke5-f6-g5 isolates Pg4 from defense, but Black couldn't then play ...Rc3-g3xg4 before White can play Bb7-c8. } ) 67. Rc4 Rb1+ 68. Kc6 Kg5 69. Bc8 Rd1 70. Bd7 Kh4 71. Kc7 Rd2 72. Kd8 Re2 73. Rc6 g5 ( 73... Kg5 74. Be6 ( 74. Be8 { This is a mistake because it would allow Black to get rid of the last White pawn. It's much more difficult, if not impossible, to win with rook & bishop vs. rook than to have the pawn advance and promote to a queen. } 74... Kxg4 75. Rxg6+ ) 74... Kf4 ( 74... Kf6 75. Bf5+ Kg5 76. Rxg6+ ) 75. Ke7 g5 76. Kf6 ) 74. Bf5 Re3 75. Re6 Rg3 { While it looks like he's desperately trying to get rid of Pg4 he might also humorously, since there's no saving tactic, be allowing White the final check. } 76. Rh6# 1-0