[Event "World Open"] [Site "Philadelphia, PA"] [Date "2003.07.06"] [Round "7"] [White "Muhammad, Stephen"] [Black "Christiansen, Larry"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E16"] [WhiteElo "2421"] [BlackElo "2633"] [Annotator "Muhammad, Stephen"] [PlyCount "97"] [EventDate "2003.07.06"] {[%evp 0,97,19,31,33,-16,0,-5,43,42,40,22,8,29,9,20,14,-9,-2,6,5,5,10,14,17,11, 28,20,47,13,80,99,219,214,256,252,303,296,294,298,293,278,284,232,261,242,316, 314,308,320,285,281,293,303,349,303,315,262,272,266,277,275,282,282,281,291, 288,304,317,314,322,314,321,312,321,321,321,321,416,401,427,339,341,175,195, 217,268,232,360,174,331,254,316,252,252,241,307,299,29995,364] Overcoming Obstacles - The 2003 World Open was a big success for me. I tied for 1st place under 2450 in the Super-Tough Open section. In addition, I was able to overcome an obstacle in my quest for the title of Grand Master. I defeated the 2002 United States Chess Champion GM Larry Christiansen in the seventh round. I missed a GM norm at the U.S. championship because of a loss to him and suffered a crushing defeat by him at a GM invitational in New York. This victory was very satisfying and was my best game of the event.} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ {This opening is known as the Bogolyubov Indian Defense, or the Bogo-Indian. It's related to the Nimzo-Indian and Queen's Indian.} 4. Bd2 a5 {I think this line is one of the more timid choices at black's disposal.} ({ Other trys are} 4... Qe7 {and}) (4... Bxd2+) 5. g3 b6 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc3 Bxc3 $6 {One of the less successful continuations according to my database. A better way to continue from here is 8...d6 and 9...Qe7 with an eventual e5.} 9. Bxc3 Be4 {I decided to simply continue my development and deal with black's Bishop when the time was ripe.} 10. Rc1 {The game is now out of book according to my database.} d5 11. b3 $5 {With this move, white ensures that the position will remain dynamic, which is essential for the advantage of the two Bishops to be realized.} Nc6 12. Bb2 $1 {The Bishop is placed where it will be more useful and out of harm's way.} Rc8 $6 {A strange looking move indeed! Black is counting on the opening of the c-file.} (12... a4 {This move keeps the game level.}) 13. Qd2 Qd6 {I felt my opponent was trying to entice me into playing c5. After a very short analysis, I realized that the move c5 would justify black's 12th move and decrease the activity of my dark-squared Bishop.} 14. Rfd1 {Sticking to my plan.} Rfd8 $2 {The first mistake. Black underestimated to power of my next move.} 15. Ne5 $1 Bxg2 $4 (15... dxc4 16. Nxc4 Qe7 17. f3 Bd5 18. Ne3 Nb8 19. Nf1 {With a nice plus for white.}) 16. c5 $1 {My opponent stared at the position for about 20 minutes and played:} bxc5 17. dxc5 Qxe5 ({ Rather than face certain defeat after:} 17... Qf8 18. Nxc6 Be4 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Nxd8 Qxd8 21. f3 Bg6 22. e4 {my opponent chose a line where he could possibly setup a fortress.}) 18. Bxe5 Nxe5 19. Kxg2 Nc6 {I felt a sense of urgency here. I knew that black would be able to setup a rock solid fortress if I didn't find a way into his position right away.} 20. a3 Rb8 21. Rb1 Rb5 22. Qd3 $1 (22. b4 $5 Rdb8 {This makes white's task more difficult because the Rook's are now active.}) 22... Rdb8 {[#]} 23. a4 $1 R5b7 24. Qa6 {I'm in the house!} Nb4 25. Qxa5 Ne4 26. Rbc1 c6 {Forced, else white would play 27. c6 with a very strong position.} 27. Rd4 $1 {Preparing for the first exchange sacrifice.} h6 28. Rxb4 Rxb4 29. Qc7 Rxb3 30. Qxc6 {The passers will paralyze the Rooks.} R3b7 31. a5 Ra7 32. a6 Rba8 33. Ra1 Nf6 {[#]} 34. Qb7 $3 { Pacifying all the black pieces.} Ne8 35. c6 h5 36. Kf3 {A head fake. It's way too early for any King strolls.} Kh7 37. h3 Nd6 38. Qb4 $1 Nc4 39. Kg2 f5 40. Rc1 $6 ({Much stronger is:} 40. Qc5 Rc7 41. a7) 40... Rxa6 41. Rxc4 dxc4 42. Qxc4 Ra5 $6 ({Black may be able to hold after:} 42... R6a7 43. Qxe6 Rc7 44. Qxf5+ g6 45. Qe5 Rac8 46. f4 Rxc6) 43. Qxe6 R8a7 44. Kf3 {The King is not joking this time! It will join the game with decisive effect.} g6 45. Kf4 Kh6 46. Qd6 Ra4+ 47. Ke5 Ra8 48. Kf6 R4a6 {[#]} 49. g4 (49. Qf4+ Kh7 50. Qc7+ Kh6 51. Qg7# {was more direct.}) 1-0