[Event "34th Olympiad"]
[Site "Istanbul TUR"]
[Date "2000.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Hathaway, Mark"]
[ECO "B48"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 ( 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 ) 5... Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 { This way of developing the two bishops makes sense in very few Sicilian Defense variations. Usually Black can show Bd3 is misplaced by playing on the h8-a1 diagonal with ...g7-g8, Bf8-g7. In this case (after ...e7-e6) that might not be so safe. } 7... Nf6 8. O-O Nxd4 9. Bxd4 Bc5 { This idea has been played often enough for Black to know there's a risk of weakening d6 and for White to know that a cautious follow-up allows Black easy development. Black is again trying to emphasize that the dark squares are in his control, but f6 is again a little weak. } 10. Bxc5 Qxc5 11. Kh1 b5 12. Qe1 { White prepares e4-e5, Nc3-e4-d6+ } 12... Bb7 ( 12... d6 ) 13. f3 d6 { Black covers the dark squares and awaits White's next threat (s) . } 14. a4 { This is very often a swift rejoinder to an early ...b7-b5. It's usually difficult for Black to defend Pb5 or to avoid a pawn trade after ...b5-b4, c2-c3. This queen-side line opening gives White some possibilities for offense. } 14... b4 15. Na2 a5 16. c3 bxc3 17. Bb5+ Ke7 18. Nxc3 { White's weak b4 square isn't terribly important, but the open c and d-files are of some use. } 18... Rhc8 19. Rd1 Kf8 { Rather than passively defending square d6 Black intends to break the bind of Nc3 & Pe4, so his king needs to hide. This is a risky plan because it only offers to open lines for White's pieces. } ( 19... Rd8 ) 20. Rd3 d5 21. e5 $5 { With Bb7 blocked by Pd5 White should have a little time for king-side attacking. Black has to figure out how to break the queen-side bind while keeping his king safe. } 21... Ng8 22. Ne2 Ne7 23. Nd4 Bc6 24. g4 { After this Nd4 is very strong. } 24... Bxb5 25. axb5 a4 26. Qf2 { This is a cautious kind of maneuvering, especially considering the now open lines Black has forced. Ne7 can't do much harm, but if Black's rooks can invade there would be no question of White winning. } 26... a3 ( 26... Kg8 27. Rc3 Qb4 28. Rfc1 ) 27. bxa3 Ke8 ( 27... Rxa3 $2 28. Nxe6+ fxe6 29. Qxc5 Rxc5 30. Rxa3 Rxb5 $16 ) 28. Qe3 { defends Pa3 } 28... Ra4 { Black activates his rooks fully } 29. Rb1 Rb8 30. f4 h5 { Black tries to poke holes in White's position, so he can counter-attack. } ( 30... Kd7 ) 31. gxh5 Rc4 32. Rg1 Kd7 { While worrying about his king's safety it crumbles around him. Perhaps he should use every move offensively, regardless of his king's worries. } ( 32... g6 33. hxg6 fxg6 34. Nxe6 Qxb5 { is riskier (becuase Qe3 might assist in attacking Ke8) , but it also gives Black more chances to exploit the exposed Kh1, as well as giving more opportunities to create tactics which might win back pawns } ( 34... Qxe3 35. Rxe3 Rxb5 { is still somewhat unclear, but White's lead is two pawns } ) ) 33. Rxg7 Rh8 34. f5 Rxh5 35. Rxf7 exf5 36. e6+ Kc8 37. Kg2 Rh4 ( 37... Qd6 38. Qg3 $16 { and Nd4 is a tower of power, blocking out Rc4 and restraining Ne7 } ) 38. Nf3 { a nice defensive move, aimed at forcing exchanges } 38... Rc2+ 39. Kg3 Rg4+ ( 39... f4+ 40. Rxf4 Qxe3 41. Rxe3 Rxf4 42. Kxf4 { and White marches on to victory } ) 40. Kh3 d4 $2 ( 40... Qc7 $5 { keeping pressure on Ph2 and perhaps threatening Qc7-d8-h8+ } ) 41. Rxd4 Nd5 42. e7 { Much like a Karpov game, White seems to absorb all of Black's threats as though they were nothing, and only weakened Black's position further. The last move symbolizes this best. Black attacks Qe3 and White simply ignores it and exploits the fact pe6 is no longer blocked by advancing it. Efficient. } 1-0