[Event "1993 North American Open, Las Vegas"] [Site "?"] [Date "1993.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "FM Sales, Jesse Noel"] [Black "GM Shabalov, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [PlyCount "39"] 1. e4 {I played e4 because I knew that 1993 US Champion GM Alexander Shabalov's specialty is the Slav Defense so I did not play 1. d4.} c6 {The Caro-Kann Defense: Solid but can convert to tactical and strategic game. Favorite opening of former World Champion Anatoly Karpov.} 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 ({Other move is:} 3... Qxd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. c4 Qa5+ 6. Bd2 Qb6 7. Nc3 Bf5 8. b4) 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nf3 e6 {Now, we reach the Panov-Botvinnik Attack. Solid setup by black, easy development continued with castling.} 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bc4 Be7 9. O-O ({Other move is:} 9. Bxd5 exd5 10. Qb3 Be6 11. Qxb7 Nb4 12. O-O Rb8 13. Qxa7 Ra8 14. Qb7 Rb8 {Draw}) 9... O-O 10. a3 {Preventing black's 10...Ncb4 move then takes the knight at c3.} b6 {Here, black needs to develop the bishop at c8 to b7, otherwise at d7 but not possible.} 11. Re1 {The rook has two motives: 1. Pressure the e file 2. For the bishop at c4 to be placed at f1 if required.} Bb7 {There is a disadvantage of placing the bishop at b7 due to soon it becomes a lame duck.} 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Bb5 {Interesting...when the rook at f8 cannot improve development to e8 and if black hazzles the bishop at b5 via a6 then b5, it helps white to develop the bishop at c2 where it is intended to.} Bd6 {It seems that black has no choice but to develop the bishop but looks awkward. Sensible move would be Rc8.} 14. Bg5 {Yes, the queen wants to go to f6 but "NO WAY JOSE"....} Qd7 {Pretty desperate position for the queen but wants to free from the pin to go to g4 square.} 15. Qd2 Rfc8 ({ Other move is:} 15... Qf5 16. h3 Rfe8 17. Rac1 Rxe1+ 18. Rxe1) 16. Bf4 { Exchanging is best to position the queen at d2 to g5 square followed by Bd3.} Bf8 {Of course, black will not exchange the bishop.} 17. Rac1 {Slowly white is tightening the grip on black's defense strategies.} f6 {This prevents the knight at f3 to jump to e5 and possibly use the f7 square as a pivotal move to ease pressure from the pin.} 18. Qd3 {Now, the head (queen) is positioned waiting for the tail which is the bishop at b5 that will go to c2.} Qf7 19. Bd2 {Not allowing the knight at c6 to go to a5.} Nd8 {BLUNDER!!!} (19... Ne7 { Other move is:} 20. Rc2 Rxc2 21. Qxc2 Rc8 22. Qa4) 20. Be8 {Black Resigns: Before this game, I went to the book shop to buy Informant and asked GM Alexander Shabalov for an autograph. I was not aware that he would be my next opponent next round. When the pairing posted, I tried to stay calm.. be myself. .. but after the game...I thanked GM Shabalov for the opportunity to play him because he was the current US Champion. My advice to chess beginners... always conquer your fear... THREE WORDS: PREPARE > FOCUS > AIM from Coach Jesse} 1-0