[Event "It \"Fujitsu-Siemens Giants\""] [Site "?"] [Date "2000.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Shirov Alexei"] [Black "Morozevich Alexander"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C14"] [WhiteElo "2746"] [BlackElo "2756"] [PlyCount "62"] [EventDate "2000.??.??"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. f4 a6 8. Nf3 c5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. O-O-O c4 {Well, from theory basics we have learnt that black should maintain pressure against the white's d4 pawn as major counterplay. Here we can se different approach; pawn on c4 will disable white's standard setup with bishop on d3. Also, pawn on c4 may call for further rapid development of queen side action with b7-b5-b4 if black want's to do so. Other than mentioned, we must not forget major issues black would face with; Bc8 development and white's space advantage on king side.} 11. f5 {Correct decision by Shirov. Setting the pressure to the e6 and preparing g2-g2.} Nb6 $5 {Black could go for b7-b5 as previously mentioned, but he felt that in case of short castle his king might get into big trouble; there is no way to stop white's pawn storm on king side. With Nb6 black considered long castle.} 12. fxe6 fxe6 13. h4 Bd7 14. h5 O-O-O {Black king is perfectly safe on queen side. There are few more positional issues which black has to encounter; white's space advantage on king side, weak e6 pawn, innactive Bd7. When we talk about space advantage, it is uncertain what white would attack if nothing important is there (perhaps only h7 pawn), and this is his only real advantage he got from the opening. May we agan review c4 played by black in 10th move? We may see now how big 'issue' for white is unability to develop bishop on d3 from where white would still be able to make certain pressure against h7. In such position, white bishop may be useful only on h3 but black can defend e6 much easily than h7. And one final word; why black does not get rid of h7 matter by playing h7-h6? This might be serious mistake; weak g6 may be call for white's knight, thus controlling important f8 square making it hard for black to employ his rooks on only open f file.} 15. h6 gxh6 {There are other good moves too, but reduction of material on week side is in black's interest, also g file for counterplay is being open.} (15... Be8 16. Qg5 gxh6 17. Rxh6 (17. Qxe7 Nxe7 18. Rxh6 Bg6 $11 {Black is completely OK here.}) 17... Bg6 {this would lead to something similar from the game.}) 16. Rxh6 Rdg8 17. Qf4 Be8 $1 {Standard idea in such positions; black's worst piece in French develops high activity. And where is the white's strongest piece in the French? Still resting on f1.} 18. Qf6 (18. g3 Bg6 19. Bh3 Rf8 20. Qe3 Kb8 $5 $14 {In order to clear away possible Nxd5 lines in case of Nb6 gets into the game. White would have spatial advantage, but black's position is solid.}) 18... Bg6 19. g4 {Just to say, in case of Qxe7, without queens on board, black has nothig to fear.} Qe8 $1 {Fantastic move. Black correctly calculated that it was his queen which might be of high importance in this position. And trully, white queen reached top of it's activity and what threat is makes indeed, other than threatening to take on e6 which would be sorted out by Rf8?} 20. Bg2 Rf8 21. Qh4 Nb4 $1 $17 {Now we came to the turning point of the game! White was the one who was making pressure from early start of the game, while black was patiently developing his pieces on proper squares. From this point, it is the black who is attacking, white has difficulties to deal with.} 22. Rd2 {Nf1 would be good to defend c2 too. But this would open f file.} Na4 $1 {Threat is Nxc3 with Nxa2.} (22... Nxc2 23. Qh2 Rhg8 24. Qh1 Kb8 25. Kd1 (25. Qd1 Ka8 26. Qxc2 Ka7 27. Kd1 (27. Ng1) 27... Bxc2+ 28. Kxc2 Rxg4 29. Rxh7)) 23. a3 (23. Kb1 Nxc3+ 24. bxc3 Qa4 $1 25. cxb4 Qa3 $19 {Now white can not solve the threat c4-c3 with checkmate on b2 without heavy material losses.}) (23. Nxa4 Qxa4 {White has problems of defending c2 and a2 at same time.}) 23... Nxc3 24. bxc3 Qa4 {Backup option, if black could not calculate far enough, would be Nc6 with better position.} 25. cxb4 (25. axb4 Qa1#) 25... Qxa3+ 26. Kd1 (26. Kb1 c3 {with checkmate on b2.}) 26... Rxf3 $1 {Final blow comes from the other side!} 27. Qe7 (27. Bxf3 Qxf3+ 28. Ke1 (28. Kc1 c3 29. Rf2 Qe3+ 30. Kd1 Qxd4+ 31. Ke1 Qxe5+ {Black has got too much material for exchange. His advantage is enough to win the game.}) 28... Qe3+ 29. Kd1 (29. Re2 Qc1+ {Forcing white's king on f file would be benefit for develompent of black's rook via f8.} 30. Kf2 Rf8+ 31. Kg3 Qf4+ 32. Kg2 Qf3+) 29... Rf8 30. Qe1 {Only logical move.} (30. Qh1 c3 31. Re2 Qxd4+ 32. Ke1 {Now just simple Qxb4 gives black decisive advantage.}) 30... Qxh6) 27... Re3 {Threat is checkmate on a1. It is easily to see that white queen alone can't do so much against black king who can find shelter from checks on a8.} (27... c3 {Also, another way to easy win this game based on fact that only square for white rook, e2, doesn't work due to checkmate Qa1.} 28. Bxf3 cxd2 29. Kxd2 {Again, checks with white queen would result that black king will go to a8. White has to take on d2 due to Qc1 threat.} Qxf3 30. Qxe6+ Kb8 $19) 28. Qxe6+ Kb8 29. Qd6+ Ka8 30. Re2 Qa1+ (30... Bxc2+ {Also, an option.} 31. Ke1 (31. Kxc2 Rxe2+) (31. Rxc2 Qd3+ 32. Rd2 Qb1#) 31... Qa1+ 32. Kf2 Rxe2+ 33. Kxe2 Bd3+ $19) 31. Kd2 Qc3+ {White resigned. On Kd1 black will play Bxc2+ and there is no way to deal with incoming threats.} 0-1