[Event "SuperGM"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2002.03.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Hathaway, Mark"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]

1. e4 e5 { Adams lost in round six and was the odd man out in round 7, so he really needs to win. But, he beat Ponomariov in round 2, so is it really to be expected that he could beat him again? } 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O { Considering his need to win this is a good choice. } ( 7... d6 { Adams-Ponomariov, Spanish, Zaitsev Variation, round 2, 1-0 in 76 moves } ) 8. c3 { Taking on the Marshall Gambit head-on is a curious choice,but if he should win he'd again be in a tie for first with Kasparov (who is odd man out this round) . Apparently this is a crucial game for both players. And, Ponomariov would probably like to get revenge for his earlier loss to Adams. } ( 8. a4 { has been used quite frequently to avoid a Marshall Gambit } ) 8... d5 { One doesn't often see the Marshall Gambit at the highest GM levels. It's not refuted or considered to be overwhelming, but most players simply don't like to walk into a variation with which they're not fully prepared and their opponent may know the theory 30 moves deep. } 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 ( 12. d3 ) ( { Here's another approach, somewhat different from the usual: } 12. Bxd5 cxd5 13. d3 Bd6 14. Re3 Qh4 15. g3 Qh3 16. a4 Bg4 17. Qf1 Qh5 18. Nd2 Rae8 19. axb5 axb5 20. Nb3 f5 ( 20... Rxe3 21. Bxe3 Be2 22. Qg2 Bxd3 23. Nd4 ) 21. Nd4 f4 22. Rxe8 Rxe8 { threat: ...Bg4-h3 to trap Qf1 } 23. Bd2 ) 12... Bd6 13. Re1 ( 13. Re2 ) 13... Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Re4 { Rather than develop pieces White immediately threatens Re4-h4 to eject Qh3. } ( { Often played in the past was } 15. Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2 ) 15... g5 16. Qe2 { This indicates an intention to give back some material (as Re4 is pretty well stuck in the middle of the board) and not to spend time chasing Qh3 back. He's only committed to this after Black weakened his king's position with 15...g5. } 16... Nf6 { Black has no reason to give his Bc8 for Re4 when the knight can do the job. } 17. Nd2 Bf5 18. f3 { White's Nd2 is a key to this formation. If it moves Black breaks through at e4. If White can cause Black to capture at e4 he'll recapture Nd2xe4 and from e4 the knight threatens Bd6 or Ne4-f6+ and in some cases Ne4-f2. } 18... c5 { With White's Re4 and Qe2 clogging the e-file Black can't find a way to activate his rooks, so he tries to create another target with c5xd4, or does he only intend ...c5-c4 to block out Bb3? It's hard to know what's on his mind at this point. } ( 18... h5 19. Nf1 ( 19. Qg2 $6 { It doesn't necessarily make sense to offer a queen trade now that White is offering an exchange at e4. } 19... Qxg2+ 20. Kxg2 g4 21. Bc2 { and White avoids danger to his king while keeping the center secured } 21... gxf3+ 22. Kxf3 Bxe4+ 23. Nxe4 Nxe4 24. Bxe4 ) 19... Rae8 20. Re5 { threatening Bc1xg5 or just Bc1-d2 and Ra1-e1 } ) 19. Qf2 c4 { Though he kicks Bb3 back he's also extended the pawn further than it can easily be supported. This fact gives White an opportunity to counter on the queen-side, where one should recall/recognize White has more pawns. } ( 19... cxd4 $5 { I'm not certain which way White might want to recapture, but none was part of his earlier plan and that might make his piece organization fall apart. } ) 20. Bc2 h6 21. b3 cxb3 22. axb3 Rfc8 23. Bb2 { a way of developing which I'd bet is extremely rare for this opening variation } 23... Bb4 { The position is changing, away from the earlier direct assault on Kg1, and Re4 might be lost for no perceptible gain. It's a wide open tactical slugfest! } 24. Re5 ( 24. cxb4 $4 Rxc2 ) 24... Bxc2 ( 24... Bxc3 $4 25. Bxf5 ) 25. cxb4 Bg6 { Black still wants ...Rc8-c2. } 26. Rc5 { After this White has things secured and he might consider d4-d5 to open up Bb2 (and possibly Qf2-d4) or Ra1-c1. } 26... Re8 { Black begins a plan of invasion: ...Bg6-d3, ...Re8-e2. This keeps Qf2 tied down, but it doesn't really prevent d4-d5-d6 to create general piece activity for White. } 27. Nf1 Rad8 ( 27... Bd3 { threatening ...Re8-e2, can be met by Ra1-e1 or Nf1-e3 or Rc5-e5 } ) 28. d5 { threatening Bxf6 } 28... Nd7 { It's hard to find a better move, but he shouldn't play this unless he really intends to capture Rc5. } ( 28... Nxd5 $4 29. Qd4 ) ( 28... Rd6 ) 29. Ne3 { White offers Rc5 again, knowing the two advanced connected passed pawns (a Pc5 and Pd5) would be powerful and very unappealing to Black. Black's offense is quickly receding and Kg1 looks completely safe. } ( 29. Qd4 $2 { is premature because of } 29... Ne5 ) 29... h5 30. f4 { White does a good job of restraining Nd7 with some offense. Pf4 prevents ...Nd7-e5, but it can also advance to block Bg6. } 30... h4 31. f5 hxg3 32. hxg3 Bh5 33. d6 { crucial to prevent ...Nd7-e5-f3+ } 33... Re4 34. Rac1 { White's plan now seems to be to trade-off or get rid of Rd8 and Nd7, so Pd6 can advance. Black has generated enough of a threat to Kg1 so that he'd be risking a lot to move away Qf2. So, Kg8 remains safe for now. } 34... Nxc5 ( 34... Rxb4 $4 35. Rc8 Rxc8 36. Rxc8+ Kh7 ( 36... Nf8 37. d7 ) 37. Rh8# ) 35. bxc5 Kh7 36. Bf6 Rg8 37. d7 Rh4 { threat: ...Qh3-h1#. Rg8 helps to make it impossible for White to capture Rh4. White intends to spend as few tempi as possible defending, so he can push through Pd7. } 38. Qg2 Bf3 39. Qxh3 ( 39. Qf2 Qh1# ) 39... Rxh3 { Black threatens ...Rh3-h1+ and ...Rxc1 to get behind Pc5. He'd sacrifice Rg8 for one pawn, but he has to stop the other from advancing. } 40. Kf2 g4 41. Nf1 Rh5 42. d8=Q Rxd8 43. Bxd8 Rxf5 44. Ne3 Rh5 45. Bh4 { This neat retreating move blocks the rook completely, so Pc5 will advance and promote, probably forcing Black to give another of his pieces for it. So, Ponomariov moves into a tie with Kasparov for the lead and Adams, with three defeats in his nine games falls far behind. } 1-0