[Event "Hostdans"]
[Site "Copenhagen DEN"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Xie, Jun"]
[Black "Portisch, Lajos"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Hathaway, Mark"]
[ECO "B46"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 { White simply ignores the possibility of ...Bf8-b4xc3, knowing Black's dark squares would be weakened significantly while White could then play c3-c4 to control both b5 & d5. This gives White the better coordination. } 6... d6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 ( { Preparing f2-f4 and leaving Bc1 to develop later (hopefully to the most accurate location) could be better. } 8. Kh1 ) 8... Be7 9. f4 O-O 10. a4 Qc7 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3 Rb8 13. Nb3 b6 14. Qd2 Na5 15. Qf2 ( 15. Nxa5 bxa5 { gives Black lots of pressure on the queen-side } ) 15... Nc4 16. Bc1 Bb7 { Black's development and Nc4 look terrific, so the question is how Black can utilize these things to blast through White's queen-side. While Nc4 holds Bc1 back it doesn't immediately allow for a break through. Perhaps the central move ...d6-d5 is necessary to bring Be7-b4 to do more damage. Black could also play ...e6-e5 to block Pe4 and make Bf3 useless, then use ...Bb7-c6, ...b6-b5-b4 to gain space and chase White into disarray. The fact Black has these options is an indication of his positional advantage. } 17. Nd4 d5 18. e5 Ne4 { aggressive, but best (?) , I don't know. Retreating to d7 might be perfectly good. From there it could go to f8 to defend Ph7 or it could to to c5 to threaten Pa4. And, from d7 it keeps an eye on Pe5. } ( 18... Nd7 ) 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Be2 { Now White's queen-side pawns are less fragile because the knights (Nb3 & Nc3) are out of the way and they're more mobile. } 20... Red8 { This seems less useful than ...Be7-c5 (if it was immediately safe to play) because the bishop move would have allowed Qc7 to defend f7 and Re8 to defend Pe6. } ( 20... Bc5 $5 21. Bxc4 Rbd8 22. Bxe6 $6 { desperado! } ( 22. c3 $6 Bxd4 23. cxd4 Qxc4 ) ( 22. Nxe6 fxe6 { is definately a confusing position. Black is well developed, but down a pawn. White has the pawn but his queen-side pieces aren't yet developed. } ( 22... Bxf2 $4 23. Nxc7 Re7 24. Rxf2 Rxc7 25. b3 b5 26. axb5 axb5 27. Bxb5 Rd1+ 28. Rf1 Rxf1+ 29. Bxf1 Rxc2 ) ) 22... Bxd4 23. Bxf7+ Qxf7 { gives Black an extra bishop for White's two pawns, though it's tactically a little difficult to see the variation through } ) ( 20... Bd5 { defending Nc4 and Pe6 and preparing Be7-c5 should also be considered } 21. b3 Na5 22. Bxa6 Qc3 23. Rb1 Bc5 24. Bb2 ) 21. f5 { Now there's immediate pressure on e6 and f7! } 21... e3 { Black decides the only way to nip this attack in the bud is to sacrifice Pe4. That's unfortunate and a big turn-around from the advantage Black had only a few moves before. } 22. Bxe3 Nxe3 23. Qxe3 Bc5 24. c3 exf5 25. Rxf5 Bxd4 26. cxd4 Qc2 { Black's activation is to keep Be2 pinned (blocking the attack on Pg2) , attack Rf5 and to threaten both Pb2 & Pa4. So, White's advantage is fragile. } 27. Raf1 Bd5 28. R5f2 Qxa4 { Black restores material equality, but White's doubled rooks on the f-file and central pawns give White better chances on the king-side. If Black can manage a defense of his king he will be alright. First is Pf7; second is Ph7, because Be2-d3 can threaten it quickly. } 29. Bd3 Qd7 ( 29... Bc4 $5 ) 30. Rf4 ( 30. Bxa6 $4 b5 { leaves Ba6 very awkward } ) 30... Rbc8 31. h3 { I don't see much need for this. It's a waste of time. } ( 31. Qg3 ) ( 31. Rh4 ) 31... Rc6 32. Rg4 { It gets more difficult for Black to defend as this attack builds steam. } 32... Be6 ( 32... Qe7 $2 33. Bxa6 Rc2 34. Bd3 Rxb2 35. Qh6 ) ( 32... g6 $2 33. Qh6 ) ( { The best defense may be } 32... h6 33. Bf5 ( 33. Rf6 Kf8 ) 33... Qe7 34. e6 fxe6 35. Bg6 Rf8 ) 33. Rh4 g6 34. Qh6 f5 { Black has to give a pawn to connect his centrally located pieces to his wing pawn -- Ph7. } 35. exf6 Qf7 36. d5 { a very nifty move } 36... Rxd5 ( 36... Bxd5 37. Bxg6 Qxg6 38. Rg4 ) 37. Be4 Rcd6 38. Bxd5 Bxd5 39. Rhf4 { White holds onto all the booty. After this Black's king won't ever be completely safe, so White can maneuver his queen anywhere and threaten Black's back rank. } 39... Rd7 40. R4f2 Qe8 41. Qf4 Bf7 42. Rd2 Rxd2 43. Qxd2 Be6 44. Qd6 { intending Qd6-e7 to force a queen trade } 44... Kf7 45. Qxb6 { But, winning a pawn or two will suffice. White played this game very well and Black had some chances but flubbed them. } 1-0