[Site "Parsippany, NJ USA"]
[Date "1996.7.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "A. Yermolinsky"]
[Black "B. Gulko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[GameCode "96uscc08F/a"]
[Annotation "FM Aviv Friedman"]

1. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 g6
{Gulko is known to play different defenses against 1.e4, mainly
the French and the Caro-Kann, but here he chooses the Pirc.}
4. Bg5 
{One of the sharpest tries against this defense.}
4... Bg7
5. f4 h6
{The idea of this move is to lure the Bishop away from the f4
pawn, if 5...c5? 6.e5 and Nh5 is bad because of g4. Also bad
would be ...Ng4 because of Bb5+!}
6. Bh4 c5
7. dxc5
{Also known is 7.e5 Nh5 dxc5 Nxf4 with an unclear messy game.}
7... Qa5
{Of course not 7...dxc5? 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.e5 with a big edge for white.}
8.Bd3 
{Bad is 8.cxd6? Nxe4!}
8...Qxc5
9. Qd2
{The white King is about to make a sharp left turn!}
9... Nc6
10. Nge2!?
{More flexible than 10.Nf3 as in some lines the Knight on c3 gets
extra support.}
10... 0-0
11. 0-0-0 Nb4?!
{Thematic, but slow.  Perhaps ...Rab8 with b5 is more to the
point.}
12. Kb1 Be6
13. Rhf1 
{With the idea of f5.}
13... Qa5
14. a3 Nxd3
15. cxd3 Rfc8 
{Now we see the useful support Ne2 gives to its sibling on
c3 - black has little play on the c file.}
16. h3
{White is playing for g4 and f5 opening lines in front of the
black King.}
16... Rc7? 
{This idea of doubling rooks on the c file turns out sour.
Maybe better is 16...b5 planning to answer 17.f5 with bb3 and
later moving the Queen to allow the advance of the a pawn.}
17. Bxf6! 
{Very well timed!}
17... Bxf6
{17...exf6 18.Nd4 with ideas like f5 and Nxe6 are also excellent
for white.}
18. Nd5! Qxd2
19. Nxf6!
{The point of white's 17th move.}
19... exf6
20. Rxd2 
{White enjoys a large edge due to his much superior pawn
structure and his stronger, more easy to maneuver minor piece.}
20... f5
{Black desperately tries to get rid of one of his double pawns but
white answers energetically.}
21. g4! 
{With the idea of 21...fxg4 22.f5!}
21... Re8
{Black is trying to generate pressure against the e pawn, perhaps
trying to discourage Nd4, so white shifts plans strongly.}
22. Nc3!
{Very strong.  White threatens Nb5 winning an important pawn, so 
black tries to prevent that but falls to another trick.}
22... a6
23. gxf5 gxf5
24. exf5 Bxf5?!
{After 24...Bb3 black is in bad shape but white still has work to
do to realize his advantage.}
25. Nd5!
{Decisive!  No defense against both Nxc7 and Nf6+}
25...Rc5
26. Nf6+ Kf8
27. Nxe8 Kxe8
28. Rf3 Kd7
29. b4 Rc8
30. Rg2 Rc3
{Black's pawns are so weak and his rook is much stronger
than the bishop so it is worth investing a pawn to simplify.}
31. Kb2 Rxd3
32. Rxd3 Bxd3
33. Rg8 Bf1
34. h4 Be2
35. Kc3 h5
36. Rf8 Ke7
37. Rb8 Bf3
38. Kd4
{As always in the endgame the King is a strong, active 
piece.}
38... Kf6
39. Ke3 Bc6
40. Rg8 Ba4
41. Rg5 Bd1
42. Rd5 
{and here black gave up.
Annotation by FM Aviv Friedman.}
1-0

[Event "1996 Interplay U.S. Closed Championship"]
[Site "Parsippany, NJ USA"]
[Date "1996.7.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "L. Alburt"]
[Black "A. Shabalov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[GameCode "96uscc09E/a"]
[Anotation "FM Aviv Friedman"]

1. d4 d5
2. c4 c6
{Shabalov usually plays Slav formations against 1.d4 openings.}
3. Nf3 Nf6,
4. Qc2
{In the past Alburt often played the Sharp gambit after: 4.Nc3
dxc4, 5.e4!? (of course 5.a4 leads to a normal Slav) b5, 6.e5. Here
against a sharp player as Shabalov he chooses a much calmer line.}
4... g6
5. Bf4
{Before playing e3 white develops his Bishop first.}
5... Na6!?
{An interesting nuance. Black delays the exit of the Bishop to g7
in favor of a try to exploit the position of the white Queen.}
6. e3 Bf5
7. Qb3 Nb4!?
{One can always count on Shabalov to awaken a sleepy game! Now
the game gets into some wild complications.}
8.Qxb4
{After 8.Na3 Qa5 black seems to be doing fine, so black decides to
pick up the gauntlet and accept the challenge.}
8... e5
9. Qxb7!?
{White mixes things even more with this move. 9.Qb3 was another
option.  Now: 9...Bxb1 (with the idea of 10.Rxb1 Qa5+) may run
into 10.Bxe5! when 10...Qa5+ 11.Kd1! looks good for white for
example: 11...Ng4 12.Rxb1 Nxf2+ 13.Ke2 Nxh1 14.Bxh8.  So black might
try 9...exf4, 10.exf4 Bxb1!, 11.Rxb1 Qa5+ with strong initiative
for the pawn, for example: 12. Nd2? Ne4 13.Qe3 bb4 and wins.  Better
but still looking good for black is 12.Kd1.}
9... Rb8
10. Qxc6
{The fun continues!  White doesn't like 10.Qa6 exf4 with both fxe3
and rxb2 in the air.}
10... Bd7
11. Qxf6
{The spectators surely can't complain about lack of action
and surprises in this game.  Again a Queen retreat would have
left the initiative completely in black's hands.}
11... Qxf6
12. Bxe5 Qb6
{Attacking the pawn on b2 is clearly the best chance 
for counterplay.}
13. b3 Bb4+
{Gets a tempo for 0-0.}
14. Nbd2 0-0
15. Bxb8 Rxb8
16. cxd5 Qa5
17. Bc4 Bg4
18. 0-0?
{An inexplicable mistake!  After 18.Rd1 white saves his piece
and the position is very messy.  Now black is a lot better.}
18...Bxd2
19. Ne5 Bf5
20. a3?!
{20.d6 immediately would have been better.}
20... Qc3
21. d6 Kg7
22. Nxf7 Rb6
23. e4!?
{Taking advantage of the fact that the Bishop must stay on the
c8-h3 diagonal.}
23... Bc8
24. Rfd1 Bf4
25. e5 Rxb3
{If the a pawn was still on a2 this move would of course have
been impossible!}
26. Bxb3
{26.e6 was another try: 26...Qxc4 27.d7 Bxd7, 28.exd7 Bc7}
26... Qxb3
27. Nd8?
{d5! seems a lot stronger here!}
27... Qb6!
28. g3
{The d8 Knight sure isn't going anywhere...}
28... Qxd8
29. gxf4 Qh4
{White's weakened King outweighs the strength of all the white
pawns against the Queen and the Bishop.}
30. f3 Qxf4
31. Kf2 Bb7
32. Rd3 Ba6
33. d7
{Now if 33.Rdd1 Qxh2+, 34.Ke3 Qe2+, 35.Kf4 Bb7!, 36.Rf1 Qd2+
and wins.}
33... Qxh2+
34.Ke3 Qh6+
35.Ke2
{35.f4 Qh3+ or 35.Kf2 Qh4+ with Bxd3 don't change the picture.}
35... Qh4
36. Kd2 Kf7!
{Rd3 can't move anyway because of Qxd4+.}
37. d5 Ke7
38. e6 Qf2+
39. Kc3 Qc5+
40. Kd2 Bxd3
{The game is over at this point.}
41. Rc1
{41.Kxd3 Qxd5+}
41... Qd4
42. Rc8
{What else?}
42...Bb5+
43. Kc2 Bxd7
{Simple and good - white resigned
Annotation by FM Aviv Friedman.}
0-1

[Event "1996 Interplay U.S. Closed Championship"]
[Site "Parsippany, NJ USA"]
[Date "1996.7.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "A. Shabalov"]
[Black "A. Ivanov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[GameCode "96uscc10C/a"]
[Annotation "FM Aviv Friedman"]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6
4. Ng5
{It's not every day that we see a wild, 18th century style
opening in a tournament of such caliber.  As always Shabalov
is the one to start a war.}
4... d5
{4...Bc5, the Trexler variation is not to everyone's liking.}
5.exd5 b5
{The Ulvestad variation of the two knights defense. 5...Nxd5?!,
6.Nxf7!? Kxf7, 7.Qf3+ Ke6 (the only way to hold on to the Knight)
8.Nc3 is the famous "fried liver" attack and 5...Na5 6.Bb5+ c6,
7.dxc6 bxc6, 8.Be2 h6, is another well analyzed, well known main line.}
6. Bf1
{The main move. 6.dxc6!? is also good but for some reason not 
played: 6...bxc4, 7.Nc3 looks very playable for white.  6.Bxb5
Qxd5 is of course nothing to fear for black.}
6... Nd4
{6...Less good is Nxd5 7.Bxb5 with d4 and 0-0 to come.}
7. c3 Nxd5
8. cxd4
{8. Nxf7 Kxf7, 9.cxd4 Nf4 is one big mess which is hard to
assess but no worse for black while 8.Ne4 is another, perhaps
the best option: after 8...Qh4! 9.Ng3! black seems to have to
sac a piece with Bb7 10cxd4 0-0-0 or else white goes Bxb5+ and
is much better.  This position while messy is objectively
still better for white.}
8... Qxg5
9. Bxb5+ Kd8!?
{I vaguely remember an old Timman game where he played 9...Bd7
and after 10Bxd7+ Kxd7 had a tenable position.}
10. 0-0 Bb7
11.Qf3?
{...Nf4 was in the air but this leads to a better position
for black.}
11... Rb8!
{Renewing the threat.}
12.Qg3
{A sad necessity as 12.Qh3 c6 followed by Nf4 is great for
black.}
12... Qxg3
13. hxg3 exd4
14. d3 Nb6
15. Nd2 f6
16. Bc4
{The difficulties of Bb5 can be seen in the line: 16.Nc4?
...a6!, 17.Nxb6 axb5 and black wins.}
16... Nxc4
17. Nxc4 Bd5
{Black has the two Bishops, a semi open file for his Rook,
and a better pawn structure.} 
18. b3 Kd7
{Black's King is also closer to the center and is completely safe.} 
19. Na3?!
{White is trying to maneuver his Knight to work against the black 
pawns but perhaps better would have been to simply develop the 
Bishop and activate the rooks.}
19... a5!
{In anticipation to a possible Nc2 and b4.}
20. Nc2 c5
21. Bf4 Rb7
22. Rfe1 Be7
{Slowly but surely black is consolidating his position.}
23. Na3
{White is having a tough time against black's Queenside
activity and seems to be marking time.}
23... Ra8
{Now all the black pieces are ready for work.}
24. Nc4 a4
25. Rab1 g5!
{By chasing the Bishop away black takes control of the
b8 square he needs for his Rook.}
26. Bd2 R8b8!
27. Na5 Rb5
28. Ra1
{Trying to use the a file in return to the about-to-be-lost
pawn, but black is in no hurry!}
28... Ra8!
29. Nc4 axb3
30. axb3 Rxa1
31. Rxa1 Rxb3
{Black's pressure and much better position has bear fruit.  White
is lost but still tries to put up a fight.}
32. Ra7+ Ke6
33. Ra6+ Kf7
34. Ra7 Bxc4
{Simple enough. Also possible was 34...Rxd3 35.Nb6 Be6}
35. dxc4 Rb1+
36. Kh2 Rb2
{I am assuming that time pressure is what prevents white from
throwing in the towel - there is of course no hope...}
37. Ba5 Ra2!
{Adding an annoying pin to white's troubles.}
38. f4 d3
39. fxg5 fxg5
40. Rd7 Rxa5
41. Rxd3 Ra4
{and now with the end of time trouble white found the time to
stop the clock and resign. 
Annotation by FM Aviv Friedman.}
0-1

[Event "1996 Interplay U.S. Closed Championship"]
[Site "Parsippany, NJ USA"]
[Date "1996.7.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "D. Gurevich"]
[Black "A. Shabalov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[GameCode "96uscc11f/a"]
[Annotation "FM Aviv Friedman"]

1. d4 e6
{Shabalov doesn't mind playing the French he has 
played before, but as Dmitry never plays 1.e4}
2. c4 b6
{This system, British GM Speelman's old favorite, is somewhat
less analyzed than many main stream openings and has some venom
to it. In this game, however, solid Gurevich plays a quiet line
against "Mr. Fireworks" Shabalov.}
3. Nc3
{A few years ago 3.e4 was almost exclusively played, often with
the following crazy variation: 3...Bb7, 4.Bd3 f5 and here white
can play 5.exf5(!) Bxg2, 6.Qh5+ g6, 7.fxg6 Bg7 (but not Nf6?
8.g7+!) 8.gxh7+ Kf8, 9Ne2!(better than 9.hxg8+?! Kxg8 where white
loses the initiative and is left down material).  The model game
for this line is probably Browne-Miles from roughly 15 years ago.}
3... Bb4
4. e3
{Safer and more solid than 4.e4 Bb7,5.Qc2 (now Bd3 f5! seems good
as the black King has f8 to move to instead of having to go to g6 
like in the abovementioned line)  5...Qh4! and black is doing 
fine}
4... Bb7
5. Nge2 c5?!
{With the g8 Knight still at home white has an added option of
pushing the d pawn to d5 restricting the Bishop on b7. In the
exchange black will have to part from his precious dark squared
Bishop with nothing to show for it.}
6. a3! Ba5?!
{The point in the previous comment can be seen in the line: 
6...cxd4 7.exd4 Be7, 8.d5 where Bb7 bites on granite. 6...Bxc3+, 
7.Nxc3 is of course nice for white also.}
7. Bd2 Bxc3
{Black is trying to take advantage of Bd2's position. If now
8.Nxc3 Nf6 white can no longer play d5, but as we can see the game
continuation is good enough.}
8. Bxc3 Nf6
9. dxc5 bxc5
10. Ng3
{The difference between the two positions is easy to see: black has
no compenstion for white's menacing dark squared Bishop}
10... d6
11. Be2 Bxg2?
{It is amusing to see Shabalov taking the kind of pawn he usually
would offer himself!  This opening of the position is naturally in
white's favor.  After 11...0-0, 12.Bf3 white has a nice edge which
is not to the liking of an active player like Shabalov.}
12. Rg1 Bc6, 
13. Nh5! Nxh5
{Forced.}
14. Bxh5 Rg8
{Sure isn't a fun move to make...}
15. Bxg7 Qh4?
{Perhaps black was counting on this move to get counterplay but it
fails nicely.}
16. Qxd6! Qxc4
{Probably now black saw that after 16...Qxh5 17.Bf6!! Rxg1+, 18.Kd2
mate is unavoidable!}
17. Rd1 Bd5
18. Rg4!
{The last nail in black's coffin.}
18... Qa6
19. Bxf7+! Kxf7
20. Qc7+ Ke8
21. Bf6
{and black resigned.
Annotation by FM Aviv Friedman}
1-0


[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

[Event "1996 Interplay U.S. Closed Championship"]
[Site "Parsippany, NJ USA"]
[Date "1996.7.27"]
[Round "13"]
[White "L. Alburt"]
[Black "G. Kaidanov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[GameCode "96uscc13c/a"]
[Annotation "FM Aviv Friedman"]

1. Nf3 d5
2. c4 dxc4
 {Before going much further it is important to point that
  Kaidanov here is in a must win situation, where a draw 
  for him is as good as a loss.  It is natural to see him
  trying to get an asymmetrical position and try to keep
  the game alive to retain chances.  For Alburt, who was
  at the bottom of the chart, the sporting thing to do was
  obviously to fight as this game has an affect on other
  players also.} 
3. e3 
 {3.Na3 is another approach, that seems to have lost
  some popularity perhaps because of 3...a6, 4.Nxc4 b5,5.Ne3
  (5.Ne5 f6 is quite ok for black) Bb7 with chances to both
  sides. The text usually transposes into lines from the 
  Queen's Gambit accepted, although in this game white omits
  the move d4 which as we will see can be in his favor.}
3... e6
  {Bad of course is 3...b5 since after 4.a4! white easily
   shatters black's pawn structure, eventually regaining
   the pawn too.}
4. Bxc4 c5
5. 0-0 Nf6
6. Qe2 a6
  {Here for example 7.d4 will turn into a main line in the
   abovementioned Queen's Gambit Accepted.  Again, without
   the d4 move for white, he seems to avoid black's center
   pressure.}
7. a3 
  {A little nuance.  Already in comparison with the normal
   lines of the Queen's Gambit Accepted white improves on
   the placement of his bishop.  Usually,if now 7.d4 b5
   the bishop gets to b3, now it lands on a2, which as we
   will see is a better square.}
7... b5
  {While gaining space and a tempo this move does create a
   weakness that with the Bishop on a2 is easier to
   exploit.}
8. Ba2 Bb7
9. a4!
   {Undermining the black pawn structure to gain squares,
   namely c4.}
9... Nbd7
   {tactically defending b5 as after a double capture black
    will have a Ba6 winning the exchange.}
10. Na3 bxa4 
   {Now the pawn was under attack.  10...b4 was another try
    though again white enjoys the c4 square for his Knight.  
    Here black hopes to ease things by possibly forcing a
    trade on a4 should white try to regain the pawn, but as
    it turns out white is not at all worried about that.}
11. Nc4 Be7
12. d3 Nd5
   {Black is trying to play against the white Knight on c4
    but quickly misses some defending pieces on his king side.}
13. Bb1 Bc6
14. Bc2 0-0
15. Bd2
   {White is in no hurry to trade his awesome light square Bishop.}
 
15... N5b6
   {Trying to get rid of the monster on c4 but creating other
    problems.  Soon white's center and kingside space advantage will
    start telling.}
16. e4 Nxc4
17. dxc4 Bf6
18. Bc1 Qa5?
   {Black must have missed white's next move or he would have 
    tried 18...Qc7, still with better pieces and a better pawn
    formation white was better.}
19. e5! Be7
   {Maybe black thought that this move was impossible because 
    of 19...Bxf3 but saw that after 20.Qd3! he is in trouble.}
20. Bd2 Qc7
21. Bc3
   {All of a sudden white has a ready made attacking position
    all with a gain of time!}
21... Rfe8
   {Trying to vacate f8 for a defensive knight manouver.}
22. Rfe1 Nf8
23. h4!
   {White starts sending his pawns to soften the black defense.
    Note how all of white's pieces are aimed at the lonely
    black king.}
23... Qb7
   {Black desperately tries to pressure the long diagonal but
    white is not impressed.}
24. h5! h6
   {24...Bxf3 25.gxf3 allows white to use the g file too!}
25. Nd2 
   {Repositioning the Knight to e4.}
25... Rad8
26. Ne4 Nh7
27. f4 f5
   {This speeds up thing a bit for white but black was tired
    of sitting and waiting for the attack to gain speed.}
28. Nd2
   {Now a timed g4 will be decisive.}
28... Bh4
29. Rf1 Nf8
30. Kh2 Qf7
31. g4! Rd7
   {Of course taking on g4 will also concede the e4 square in
    addition to all the other problems.}
32. Rg1
   {Anticipating the opening of the g file, white starts bringing
    in the reserves.}
32... Red8 
33. Nf1
   {This Knight is now heading to add more pressure on the f5 pawn.}
33... Kh8
34. Kh3 fxg4
   {No better is ...Be7 35.gxf5 and wins.}
35. Kxh4 g5+
36. hxg6ep Nxg6+
37. Bxg6 Qxg6
38. Rxg4
   {Up a minor piece, white is easily winning.}
38... Qf7
39. f5! 
   {White can afford sacrificing the f5 to open some more 
    lines against the black king.}
39... Kh7
   {...Qxf5 40.Ng3 and Rf1 is also lost.}
40. f6 Rg8
41. Rd1 Rxd1
42. Qxd1 Be8
43. Qd3+ Kh8, 
44. Rxg8
   {In the absence of anything better white follows the simple
    rule of "when up material-trade pieces".}
44... Qxg8
45. Qg3 Bg6
46. Qe3 Kh7
47. Bd2 Qf8
48. Ng3
    {and here black threw in the towel...
     Annotation by FM Aviv Friedman}
1-0


