[Event "Superstars Hotel Bali"]
[Site "Benidorm ESP"]
[Date "2002.11.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[BlackElo "2688"]
[ECO "C42"]
[EventDate "2002.11.29"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]

1. e4 e5 { The events where the younger generation play with Karpov are fewer these days, but it's interesting to see Karpov show his best form and teach the young "kids" a lesson. } 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 { This has recently been a Shirov specialty. } 5... Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 { Karpov would rather prepare O-O than try to develop Bc8 and Nb8. His Be7 isn't very good, but once developed his two bishops should blossom. } 7. Bf4 { It's odd to develop the bishop to this square, where it has no immediate prospects. White is aiming to O-O-O. } 7... O-O 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nc5 { He's reserving f6 for the dark-square bishop. Karpov is a master of coordination and quiet maneuvering position play. The Nc5 inhibits White from playing Bf1-d3, where it would take aim at Ph7. } 10. Be3 { He might consider capturing Nc5 in some circumstances, but it appears likely he's repositioning the bishop to d4. It's not desirable to spend an extra tempo for this kind of thing, but the Bf4 just wasn't effective. The Be3 also defends Pf2, so as to meet the threat of ...Nc5-e4 with Qd2-d5. } 10... Be6 { With this and Nc5 Black has restrained White's Bf1. I could say the position is equal, but there is much creative play to come. With king's castled on opposite sides of the board there are likely to be some pawn advances aimed at poking holes in their enemy's king's pawn shields. } 11. Kb1 Qc8 { I'm not quite certain what his plan is. } ( 11... a6 { preparing pawn advances in general, with ...b7-b5-b4 being a primary advance to open lines } ) ( 11... Qe8 { aiming for ...Qa4 to threaten Kb1 and to be out in the middle of the board to take part in active play } ) 12. Nd4 Bd7 { It might seem he could develop more actively by ...Be6-g4, but White's pawns would simply advance on light squares and chase it back, gaining time for the pawn assault on Kg8. } 13. h4 Re8 14. f3 Bf8 15. g4 Ne6 { Black has spent five consecutive moves on pieces and hasn't advanced pawns yet. This is unlikely to work. He might be aiming to trade pieces, but that could backfire by bringing White's bishops to even better squares! } 16. h5 Nxd4 17. cxd4 Bc6 ( 17... d5 18. Bd3 { and Black's pieces aren't terrible, but White's pawn advance is well underway } ) 18. Rh3 ( 18. d5 $2 Bxd5 19. Qxd5 Rxe3 ) 18... Bd5 19. c4 Bc6 20. d5 { I'm baffled by Karpov's pointless maneuver. Now White has cramped both of Black's bishops and has d4 & d3 for his own. This is clearly advantageous for White. } 20... Bd7 21. Bd3 c5 22. Bf4 { Shirov doesn't get to use d4, but Pd6 (a Benoni-like pawn) is exposed and a bit weak. } 22... b5 23. cxb5 Qb7 { Pd5 is poison because of Bxh7+, but if Black captures Pb5 he might create some play on the b-file while trading-off White's better attacking pieces (Bd3 for starters) . } 24. Qc2 h6 25. Rg3 { White is simply going to continue his offensive and get to Kg8 before Black can create any significant threat. } 25... Bxb5 26. g5 Bxd3 27. Qxd3 Rab8 28. Rg2 { He's left Rd1 to defend Pd5, so there's no chance of an overworked piece causing problems and Rg2 has the added benefit of preventing Re8 from entering the game at e2 or e1. } 28... hxg5 29. Bxg5 Qb5 30. Qc2 Kh8 31. Rdg1 $1 ( 31. h6 g6 32. Bf6+ Kh7 33. Rxg6 fxg6 34. Rg1 Re1+ 35. Rxe1 $16 { but the early capture at g6 has enabled a couple of defensive moves which didn't exist with the game continuation } ) 31... Re5 32. h6 $18 { Pd5 has done it's job, holding Black down, so the attack on Kh8 proceeds and with great force. } 32... Rxg5 { Desperation } ( 32... gxh6 33. Bf6+ Bg7 34. Bxg7+ Kg8 35. Bxh6+ Kh8 36. Bg7+ Kg8 37. Bf6+ Kf8 38. Rg8# ) ( 32... g6 33. Bf6+ Kh7 34. Bxe5 dxe5 35. Rxg6 $18 ) 33. Rxg5 g6 { Pawns usually don't stop pieces. } 34. f4 { White plans f4-f5xg6 to break through. } 34... Bxh6 35. Rh1 Kg7 36. Qc3+ f6 37. Rg4 { Pg6 is weak and f4-f5 is still a threat because ...g6-g5 isn't very well supported (Pf6 is pinned) . } 37... Qb4 38. Qxb4 cxb4 39. Rgh4 { Bh6 is very stuck. If Black defends with ...Rh8 then he's permanently stuck and White's king can advance on the queen-side with no difficulty. } 39... Rh8 40. Kc2 g5 41. fxg5 Rc8+ 42. Kb3 Bxg5 43. Rh7+ Kg6 44. Rxa7 { Karpov did a good job of keeping his king safe, but he's down an exchange and Pb4 is en prise. His only trump is that Pf6 is passed. } 1-0