[Event "SuperGM"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2002.02.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Hathaway, Mark"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]

1. e4 { Ponomariov's two previous games were decisive, so it will be interesting to see if he enters into complications or steers to a quiet draw. Ponomariov was "odd man out" round three and didn't play. } 1... c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 { It hasn't been that long ago players wouldn't play 3...e5. It was feared White could use the c4-f7 diagonal. But, in the past year or so 3...e5 has been seen quite a few times. For the time being f2-f4 is blocked by Nf3 and Black's pawns prevent d2-d4, so White will necessarily lose time reorganizing. In the long run Black's weak d5 may tell, but he should be able to develop pieces actively. } 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 ( { There's no need to hurry with } 5... Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 { because it helps White solve his slight cramp and perhaps to clear the way for f2-f4. Black isn't ready yet to play ...Nc6-d4 because that one piece can't do much damage to White by itself. Black needs more piece development before beginning significant offensive operations. } ) 6. Nd2 Bg5 7. h4 ( 7. Nf1 Bxc1 8. Rxc1 { leaves d4 weaker, but also ensures White will have Nf1-e3, Nc3-d5, c2-c3 to secure both light squares and d4. } ) 7... Bxd2+ { He is trading his "bad bishop" (the one which clashes with his central pawns) for a White knight which might maneuver Nd2-f1-e3-d5. Whether this is necessary isn't clear, but it is consistent positional play. } 8. Bxd2 Nf6 { I'm not certain I like this move, but ...Ng8-e7 has some problems too. Qd8 needs room to move, to give Ke8 an option to O-O-O. That means he needs ...Bc8-e6 and perhaps ...Qd8-d7. It's not clear what's required and what's optional here. After all, after the game move White can't maintain a pin on Nf6 with 9. Bg5 in light of 9...h6. } ( 8... Nge7 ) 9. Bg5 Be6 ( 9... h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Nd5 Qd8 12. Qh5 Be6 13. Nc7+ { is certainly questionable because of } 13... Qxc7 14. Bxe6 g6 ) 10. Nd5 Bxd5 11. Bxd5 h6 { Now that White has the two bishops v. two knights he decides to regain one of them. Though his position is fine it's hard to know how valuable those bishops might become later. } 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Qd2 Ne7 { With this move Black doesn't commit himself to a queen-side action, but he certainly makes it clear White's bishop is a target. } 14. Bc4 O-O { Now Black's ready for ...a7-a6 and ...b7-b5 to squeeze White's queen-side, particularly the bishop, and perhaps to gain control of which files might open for rooks. } 15. Kf1 Rad8 { This move surprises me completely. I'd have thought he was happy with the cooperation of his Ne7 with the dark-square pawns. He must be thinking Kf1 is uncomfortable and White's rooks are split, so he should go right down the middle at Qd2 (e.g. ...d6-d5xe4) . } ( 15... a6 16. a4 b6 17. Rh3 Rfb8 18. Rf3 Qxh4 $13 { and it's very unclear who's better. I think Qh4 is better than Qd2, but Bc4 and Rf3 are quite good together. } ) ( 15... b5 $6 16. Bxb5 Rfb8 17. a4 a6 18. Bc4 Rxb2 19. a5 { and Pa6 would be a long-term weakness } ) 16. Re1 d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Qe2 Rfe8 19. Qe4 Nb6 20. Bb3 ( 20. Qxb7 Nxc4 21. dxc4 Rd2 ) 20... Rd4 { smashing through at the cost of a pawn or two. Will Black get to Kf1? A more cautious player might take time for ...Re8-e7 to defend the rook (Re7) and Pb7. } 21. Qxb7 c4 22. dxc4 ( 22. Bxc4 Nxc4 23. dxc4 { gets rid of Nb6 to prevent it from ever becoming an attacking piece, but gives up on the bishop v. knight advantage. } 23... e4 ) 22... e4 23. Kg1 Rd7 24. Qa6 e3 25. fxe3 { Leaving Black's pawn on the board is probably more dangerous than exposing the king further to checks. } ( 25. f3 $4 e2 26. c5 Qd4+ 27. Kh2 Qxh4+ 28. Kg1 Qxe1+ 29. Kh2 Qh4+ 30. Kg1 e1=Q+ 31. Qf1 Qxf1+ 32. Kxf1 Re1# ) 25... Rxe3 26. Rxe3 Rd1+ 27. Kh2 Qxh4+ { and White (or is it Black) must concede to a draw by perpetual check after 28. Rh3 Qf4+ 29. Rg3 ( 29. g3?? Qf2# ) Qh4+ ( 29...Rxh1+ 30. Kxh1 Qxf4 should be good for White because Pc4 is passed and Pa7 about to fall ) = } 1/2-1/2