[Event "Superstars Hotel Bali Playoff"]
[Site "Benidorm ESP"]
[Date "2002.12.01"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "0-1"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[ECO "A30"]
[EventDate "2002.12.01"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. g3 b6 { At this point Polgar avoids the Tarrasch Defense, probably suspecting yet another opponent will have prepared something special for her. This is also the playoff (she and Ponomariov tied for 1st at the end of "regulation") and she doesn't want to walk into his preparations, so she just plays another variation she's played before. } 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 { This idea was introduced by American GM Walter Browne in the US championship several years ago. The idea is to play e2-e4-e5 without having to move Qd1 off the d-file. It's important for the queen to support d2-d4. } 7... d6 8. e4 Nbd7 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 { Some people don't care to play this kind of Maroczy Bind, with Pc4 undefended. However, it's interesting that Polgar is playing a Hedgehog formation. Considering her choices earlier in the tournament to play very aggressively with her pawns, this is cautious and restrained. White threatens e4-e5 and Nd4-b5! } 10... Rb8 $6 ( { For example } 10... a6 $4 11. e5 Bxg2 12. exf6 $19 ) ( 10... Qc8 11. b3 a6 ) 11. b3 ( 11. Ndb5 $5 ) 11... a6 12. Bb2 O-O 13. h3 { It might appear that Bb2 is going to play a big part in a king-side advance, but White has to be careful to not expose Kg1 too much by making rash pawn moves. } 13... Qc7 14. Qd2 Nc5 15. Rad1 Rfe8 16. f4 Ba8 17. Qf2 ( { Premature is } 17. e5 dxe5 18. fxe5 Bxg2 19. Qxg2 Nfd7 20. b4 ( 20. Nc6 Rbc8 21. Nxe7+ Rxe7 ) 20... Nb7 21. Nc6 Rbc8 22. Nxe7+ Rxe7 { leaving White with the exact opposite of what he desires. In this position White's king has less good protection than Blacks, Pc4 and Pe5 are exposed and weak and Bb2 is still blocked. } ) 17... Ncd7 18. g4 { It's tempting to do this, but it could also be said that it's premature until White has found a way to transfer Nc3 off the diagonal and closer to the king-side. } 18... h6 { I don't much like this move because it weakens the king's position unnecessarily (I think) . On the other hand, maybe it's provocative and leads White to believe the attack will succeed more easily, so he doesn't spend time maneuvering Nc3 or moving Kg1 off the diagonal with Qf2. } ( 18... Nf8 { defends Ph7 and clears d7 for the other knight and waits for White to commit to a particular plan beforeresponding } ) ( 18... e5 { strikes back immediately to get rid of one of White's pawns before it can advance to smother Black, but weakens d5 and f5 tremendously. } 19. Nf5 exf4 20. Qxf4 Ne5 ) 19. g5 ( 19. f5 e5 { weakens d5, but Pe5 blocks Bb2 quite well } ) ( 19. Re3 $5 { intending Nc3-e2-g3 } ) 19... hxg5 20. fxg5 Nh5 $2 ( 20... Nh7 21. g6 Nhf6 22. gxf7+ Kxf7 { and both kings are more exposed } 23. Nf3 Kg8 24. Ng5 Nf8 $13 ) 21. g6 { else Black plays ...g6 to lock up the king-side light squares with possibly ...e5, ...Nf4 to follow } 21... Bf6 $2 ( 21... Nhf6 22. gxf7+ Kxf7 ) 22. gxf7+ Kxf7 { Unexpectedly it's Black who has a pretty good grip on the dark squares. Of course, Nh5 looks awkward and also unexpectly Pd6 is a real target. } 23. Bf3 ( 23. Ndb5 axb5 24. Nxb5 Qc5 25. Bd4 Qb4 26. Bxf6 Nhxf6 27. Nxd6+ Kg8 28. Nxe8 Rxe8 29. e5 $18 ) 23... Nf4 ( 23... Rh8 24. Bg4 Nf8 25. Qf3 Nf4 26. Qxf4 e5 27. Qf5 exd4 28. Nd5 Bxd5 29. Qxd5+ Ke8 30. Bxd4 $16 ) 24. Bg4 { Black's position has several weaknesses and it's very difficult to play. } 24... g5 ( 24... Be5 $2 25. Nce2 { threatening Nxf4, Bh5 } ) ( { The best defense I see is to retreat and hunker down, though White can still force matters to a large extent. } 24... Ng6 25. Ndb5 axb5 26. Nxb5 Qc5 27. Nxd6+ Kg8 28. Nxe8 Qxf2+ 29. Kxf2 Rxe8 30. Rxd7 Bxb2 31. Ke3 Nf8 $14 ) 25. Nde2 { threatening Nxf4, Bh5+ } ( 25. Nce2 { helps to uncover Bb2 } ) 25... Qc5 { Naturally Black seeks a queen trade since king safety is her biggest problem. In a simpler middle-game her Bf6 could be very good and Pe4 is a little weak, so Ba8 could be very good. Only Pd6 stands out as exposed in the Black camp. } ( 25... Nxe2+ $4 { opens the flood gates for White's pieces to attack } 26. Rxe2 Kg8 27. Nd5 exd5 28. Bxd7 $16 ) ( 25... Be5 $4 26. Nxf4 gxf4 27. Bh5+ $18 ) 26. Nxf4 gxf4 27. Qxc5 bxc5 28. Rxd6 ( 28. Bh5+ Ke7 29. Bxe8 Rxe8 { gives White a slight material advantage, but leaves Black with great dark-square control and a passed Pf4 } ) 28... Bd4+ 29. Kf1 Ne5 { threatening ...Nxc4 } 30. Rxa6 { White is gobbling pawns, but Black's pieces seem to be working together rather nicely in the center and toward White's king! } ( 30. Ke2 Nxc4 $17 ) 30... Nxg4 { Black eschews Pc4 in favor of an attack on Kf1. } 31. hxg4 Rh8 { Now Black's two bishops (Ba8 more potentially than immediately) and Rh8 seem to be aligned perfectly. Bb2 is still waiting to see action! } 32. Ra7+ Kg6 { It's already too late for White's king to run to c1 as ...Rh2+ would win Bb2. } 33. Kg2 f3+ { Black offers the pawn to have a chance at bringing Rb8 into play on the f-file or to play ...Rh2, ...Rb8-h8-h3+. } 34. Kg3 Be5+ 35. Kxf3 Rh3+ 36. Ke2 Rh2+ 37. Ke3 Rxb2 { Black's piece activity has eased White's difficulty. Now he doesn't have to worry about how he could activate Bb2. Black begins to eye Nc3 and ways to checkmate Ke3; perhaps with ...Rb8-h8-h3. } 38. Na4 $2 ( 38. Ne2 Kg5 39. Rh1 { and the outcome is still somewhat uncertain } ) 38... Rxa2 { enabling ...Rb8xb3+ to speedily bring that rook into play } 39. Rh1 ( 39. Rb1 Rh8 $19 40. Rf1 Rh3+ 41. Rf3 Bd4+ ) 39... Bd4+ { overlooking a simple mate in two } ( 39... Rxb3+ 40. Nc3 Rxc3# ) 40. Kf3 Rxb3+ 41. Kf4 e5# { a very imperfect game, but a very nice attack to smash FIDE world champion Ponomariov! } 0-1