[Event "1996 Interplay U.S. Closed Championship"]
[Site "Parsippany, NJ USA"]
[Date "1996.7.26"]
[Round "12"]
[White "G. Kaidanov"]
[Black "I. Khmelnitsky"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[GameCode "96uscc12f/a"]
[Annotation "FM Aviv Friedman"]

1. d4 Nc6
{It is never easy playing a strong, well prepared 
GM with black.  Here Igor tries right away to drag 
his opponent away from the topical lines into 
something less analyzed, something white hasn't faced 
often and might be less prepared for.  Well ... it 
didn't quite work out...}
2. Nf3
{Also known here are 2.e4, transposing into the Nimzowich 
defense, and 2.d5, another main line against the Chigorin.}
2... d5
3. g3
{3.c4 Bg4 is the most common choice but here white waits a 
bit before showing his hand.}
3... Bg4
4. Bg2 Qd7
{In this opening black always wants to trade the light 
squared bishops (for example if 5.0-0 Bh3)}
5. h3!
{White puts the question to the bishop now if Bh5 6.0-0 
there is no Bishop trade.}
5... Bf5
6. c4 dxc4
{A big concession.  It seems black tried to avoid 6...e6 
again cutting the battery of the black Queen and her Bishop 
on the h3-c8 diagonal, but it was better than the text.  
Note that 6...Nf6, 7.Nc3 with ideas like cxd5 and ne5 to 
follow was also no fun for black.}
7. Nc3 e6
{After 7...Nf6 8.d5 black is in trouble, for example 8...Nb4, 
9.Ne5 with Qa4+ or 8...Nb8, 9.Nd4 with e4 to come.}
8. e4 Bg6
9. 0-0 Bd6
{As the course of the game will show 9...Be7 was better.}
10. Qe2 Na5
{After conceding the center and being so much behind in 
development, black tries to at least hold on to his extra 
pawn.  Needless to say there will be consequences to that.  
Kaidanov keeps playing aggressively and never lets go.}
11. Be3 b5
12. a3
{It is clearly worth a tempo to prevent any future ideas 
of ...b4.}
12... c6
13. Nh4
{This move would not have been possible if black's dark 
squared Bishop was on e7.  Now white gets to trade the only 
well positioned black piece.}
13... Be7
14. Nxg6 hxg6
15. d5! 
{Open wide! White strikes at black's position with a center 
break.  Note the disharmony among the black pieces as opposed 
to white's.  The extra pawn plays no part here.}
15... e5
16. Rad1 a6
{16...c5 trying to close things would have been strongly met by 
17.d6! (17...Bxd6 18.Bxc5).}
17. dxc6 Qxc6
18. f4!
{Opening another front.}
18... exf4?!
{Desperation, but black is in deep trouble anyway he plays.}
19. e5 Qc8 
20. Bxf4
{Much better than Bxa8 Qxa8, 21.Bxf4 Rxh3.}
20... Bc5+
21. Be3 Nh6
{At last on move 23 black gets to develop his king knight.  Too 
little too late...}
22. Bxa8 Bxe3+
23. Qxe3 Qxa8
24. Qb6
{White is easily winning.}
24... Nc6
25. Nd5
{Threatening Nc7+ winning the Q and if 25...0-0, 26.Qxc6 Qxc6, 
27.Ne7+ winning.}
25... Qa7
26.Nf6+!
{A cute finish winning even more material.}
26... gxf6
27. Rd8+! Ke7
{or 27...Nxd8, 28.Qxa7 and wins.}
28. exf6+ Ke6
29. Qxa7 Nxa7
30. Rxh8 Nf5
31. Ra8
{and black gave up.
Annotation by FM Aviv Friedman}
1-0

