[Event "SuperGM"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2002.03.08"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Hathaway, Mark"]
[BlackElo "2629"]
[ECO "B43"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]

1. e4 { Theoretically this is Ponomariov's best chance to win and get back into the race for first. But, in practice Vallejo Pons has proven tough to beat. } 1... c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 { Finally, someone chooses not to play c2-c4. However, 5. Bd3 is considered better by most people. Nc3 is a waiting target for ...b7-b5 or might be pinned by ...Bf8-b4. Black usually plays strongly on the dark squares, as in many Sicilian Defense variations, with White defending Nd4 & Nc3 and trying to find a way to open lines to Ke8 or make something of the half open d-file. } 5... b5 6. Bd3 { preparing to meet ...b5-b4 with Nc3-e2 } 6... Bb7 { Taking aim at Pe4 isn't going to succeed the way it would in many other variations. Here White has taken extra precaution to keep Pe4 safe and left Nd4 a little weaker. Black should adjust his play in recognition of this. } ( 6... Qb6 { If Black can chase Nd4 back then there would be very little danger to Black; only the possibility of Nc3-d5 would have to be prevented. } ) 7. O-O Nc6 $6 8. Nxc6 Bxc6 9. Qe2 { preparing Nc3-d5. This is a common tactic in a variation where Black hasn't quickly developed Ng8 and Bf8 to enable ...O-O. Ke8 is definately a target! } 9... Ne7 { This takes care of the immediate threat, but also leaves Black's position awkward. } 10. Bd2 { With Bf8 blocked from action on the queen-side White decides to threaten Pb5. Bd2 prepares a2-a4. } 10... Ng6 11. a4 b4 12. Nd5 { Now he's combining both tactics (pressure on Pb4 and Nc3-d5) which might have the effect of overwhelming Black. } 12... a5 13. c3 b3 14. g3 { He's preparing Nd5-e3 and disallowing ...Ng6-f4. It's not terribly pretty, but Nd5 will have to move eventually. } ( 14. f4 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 ( 15. Be3 Bxe3+ 16. Qxe3 O-O 17. Nb6 Rb8 18. Nc4 ) 15... O-O 16. Ne3 ) 14... Bd6 15. Ne3 O-O { For a position which has arisen from a Sicilian Defense this is very odd. The queen-side pawn formation is quite unusual and White's bishops on the d-file and Pg3 are peculiar. White should try to play on the d-file and perhaps try to win Pb3. He shouldn't allow Black to open the f-file with ...f7-f5. That would make Bc6 too good. So, Bd3-b5 to trade bishops might be useful. But, Pe4 needs defense, so Ne3 must move first. } 16. Nc4 Bc5 17. Be3 Qe7 18. Nd2 { White threatens Pb3 and is ready to play Bd3-b5. } 18... Ne5 ( 18... Rab8 19. Bb5 { and Pb3 is still weak because a bishop trade opens the a-file to expose Pa5 } ) ( 18... Rfb8 19. Bc4 ) 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Nxb3 Qd6 ( 20... Qb6 { attempts to overwork Qe2 in her defense of Pb2 and Bd3 } 21. Nd4 Bb7 ( 21... Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Qxb2 $4 { but Black has to be careful too } 23. Rfb1 $18 ) 22. Bb5 ) 21. Bb5 f5 { Black tries to activate pieces in a desperate attempt to threaten Kg1, as compensation for the lost pawn. } 22. f4 Ng4 23. e5 Qd5 24. Bxc6 $16 { Sometimes it's just that simple. White keeps the f-file closed, gets rid of Bc6 and consolidates all his advantages while letting Black have none. } 24... dxc6 25. Nd4 c5 26. Nb5 Rad8 27. h3 Nh6 28. Rfd1 Qb3 29. Rd6 { Black has absolutely no offense, but he does have a weak Pe6 and trapped Qb3. White threatens Ra1-a3xb3. This looked as easy as Ivanchuk's victory and is more to be expected than the struggle Kasparov had to endure before gaining the full point against Vallejo Pons. It also puts Ponomariov right back into a tie for first with Kasparov. This sets up the climactic struggle between those two in the next round -- winner take all! } 1-0