Bonin, J. (2339) - Shabalov, A. (2597) [D46], 87th Marshall CCC, New York (4) 2003

Chess Siberia

Bonin, J. (2339) - Shabalov, A. (2597) [D46]
87th Marshall CCC, New York (4) 2003
Notes by Boris Schipkov

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2

6...Bd6 7. Be2
Garry Kasparov prefers 7.g4.
7...O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. e4 e5 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. h3 b4!?
Weaker is 14...Qe7 15. Be3 Rfe8 16. Rae1 a6 17. Ne2 Bd6 18. Nd4 g6 19. Nb3 Nd7 20. Na5 Ne5 21. Nxb7 Qxb7 22. Be2 with an edge to White in Bonin, J - Shabalov, A, New York Marshall 1992.
15. Na4!?
After 15.Ne2 c5! 16. f3 c4 17. Qxc4 Qb6+ 18. Kh1 Rfd8 19. Qb5 Qxb5 20. Bxb5 Black has sufficient compensation for a pawn, Topalov, V - Illescas Cordoba, M, Madrid 1997.
15...Bd4

16. Be3!?
An interesting novelty. In the game Gutman, G - Goloshchapov, A, Alushta 1999 White played 16. Rd1 Qe7 17. Bf4 c5 18. e5 Nh5 19. Bh2 f5 with equality.
16...Bxe3 17. fxe3 Nd7
White has a very small advantage in the case of 17...Re8 18. Nc5 Qb6 19. a3 a5 20. axb4 axb4 21. Rxa8 Bxa8 22. Rf5.
18. e5!
Planning a promising pawn sacrifice.
18...h6 19. e6!? fxe6 20. Bc4 Qe7 21. Qg6
If 21. Qe4 then 21...Rae8 22. Rxf8+ Nxf8 23. Qd4 c5 24. Qxc5 Qh4 25. Rf1 Qe4 26. Rf3 Nh7 27. Rg3 with unclear game.
21...Rf6
White has a good position after 21...Nf6 22. Rac1 Rad8 23. Nc5 Bc8 24. Bd3 or 24. Nd3.
22. Rxf6 Nxf6 23. Rc1?!
Better is 23. Qf5!? Re8 (23...Nd5 24. Qe5) 24. Nc5 Bc8 25. Qe5 Nd5 26. Nd3 with compensation.

23...Rd8?
A mistake. Correct is 23...Kh8! 24. Bd3 c5! 25. Rxc5 Rd8 26. Rc2 Rd5 27. Bf1 Rf5 28. Qg3 Qd8 or 24. Bb3 c5! 25. Qg3 Ne4 26. Qe5 Rc8. Black opens the long diagonal for his bishop and gets a good game.
24. Nc5!
Now White obtains the better chances due to his active pieces.
24...Bc8 25. Nd3 Rf8 26. Nf4 Bd7?!
Interesting is 26...Qd6.
27. Qd3 Rf7 28. Ng6 Qc5 29. Qd4! Qg5
White has some edge in the ending after 29...Qxd4 30. exd4 Nd5 31. Ne5 Re7 32. Kf2.
30. Ne5 Re7 31. h4! Qg3

32. Rf1!
Developing the initiative on the kingside.
32...Nd5 33. Rf3 Qe1+ 34. Kh2 Be8
Also hopeless is 34...c5 35. Qe4 Be8 36. Bxd5 exd5 37. Qxd5+ Kh7 38. Qe4+ Kg8 39. Qf4.
35. Rg3 h5?!
After 35...Qf2 36. Ng4 Qf8 37. Nxh6+ Kh8 38. Ng4 White has a clear advantage.

36. Qc5!
The decisive penetration.
36...Rb7 37. Qd6
Winning.
37...Nf6 38. Bxe6+ Kh7 39. Bf5+ Kg8 40. Nd3
Black resigned. 1-0

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