1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3Bb44.e3O-O5.Bd3d56.a3Bxc3+7.bxc3c58.cxd5exd59.f3b610.Ne2Ba611.O-OBxd312.Qxd3Re813.Ng3Nc614.Bb2...As IM Robert Shlyakhtenko explains in a forthcoming series in Chess Life
magazine on this structure, White's plan here (after the exchange of
light-squared bishops) is based on achieving e3-e4. This almost always
requires a bishop on b2 to defend the d-pawn. If White's center gets rolling,
White is better. If not, the bad bishop proves a liability.14....h515.Rae1h415...g6is also seen somewhat regularly.16.Nf5h317.g4...Several moves
have been tried here, including:17.Ng3and even17.gxh3but the text
is not uncommon, either.17....g618.Ng3Rc8N18...Qd7was the seen
in the only game reaching this position previously.19.Qd1cxd420.cxd4Na521.e4Qc7?!The queen does not make much of a threat on the c-file. After
all, Rf1-f2 is likely one of White's ideas regardless of whether it rebukes
the enemy queen.21...Nc422.Bc1dxe4!23.fxe4Qd6!?It makes more
sense to pressure the weak a-pawn before White can get anything rolling with
the center.24.Rf2(24.Bf4Qxa3)(24.e5is, of course, not a real
threat, thanks toQd525.Rf2)Nh725.e5Qd522.Rf2...22.e5was also promising:Qc223.Qxc2Rxc224.Rf2Rc425.Rd1Nh726.Rd3⩲22....Nh723.e5Qc424.f4Qb325.Qxb3Nxb326.Nf1Na5?!26...Nf6!was a resourceful way to create complications, and White ends up being the one
in real danger if he has not done some deep calculation:27.Re3Nxg428.Rxb3Nxf229.Kxf2Rc2+30.Kg3Rg2+31.Kxh3Rg132.Ne3Kg7White can answer the
impending mating threat and retain an advantage, but it would have been
interesting to see how he handled this variation in the game. The only move is:33.Ng2!Rb1⩲and White is better but Black has some chances,
particularly since White's bishop is not much of a force.27.Re3Nf828.Rxh3Ne629.Ne3Red830.Nf5!...A key tactical idea, with White now being
the one threatening mate in many variations.30....Rc730...gxf5?31.gxf5Nc4The knight cannot be saved, as attempts like(31...Nc7allow32.f6which forces mate!)32.Bc3Kf833.fxe6Ke7(33...fxe634.f5+−)34.f5+−31.Nh6+?!...31.Rh4!A fantastic prophylactic move. Now, ...Ne6-g5
would not come with tempo on the rook, so f4-f5 is a real threat.Rdc832.Nh6+Kg733.f5!Ng534.f6+Kf835.Nf5!+−threatening mate! this is
why the rook needed to be off h3.31....Kg732.g5...32.Nf5+was best.32.f5is less effective now.Ng5!33.f6+(33.Rh4Rh8!⩱)Kf834.Rd3±allows Black's king more coverage.32....Nc433.Bc3Nxa3??33...Rdc8!34.f5Nxg535.f6+Kf836.Rd3(36.Bb4+Ke8as White
now has to deal with the h3-rook.)34.f5!gxf534...Nxg5now fails, as
the a3-knight now hangs.35.f6+Kf836.Bb4+Ke837.Rxa3+−35.Nxf5+Kg835...Kg636.Rh6+Kxg537.Bd2+Nf4(37...Kg438.h3#)38.Rxf4+−36.Nh6+Kg737.Nf5+Kg838.Bb4Rc1+38...Nc239.Be7+−39.Kg2Rc2and Black resigns before White can choose between 40. Rxa3 and a number of
other tempting options, all of which reach time control.40.Rxa3For
instance, this wins. All White had to do was avoid40.Bxa3?allowingNf4+after which, frankly, White might still be winning.1-0