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(3) Urquhart,E (2230) - Christiansen,L (2565)
2001 Canadian Open (3), 2001
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bb5 Nd4 6.Bd3 d6 7.Nxd4 cxd4 8.Ne2 Nf6 9.c3 dxc3 10.dxc3 Bd7 11.Ng3 Perhaps simply c4 and Nc3 is best 11...h5 12.h3 h4 13.Ne2 Bc6 14.Qc2 e5 15.0-0 Qe7 16.f5 gxf5!? I don't like this move, and would have preferred Bh6. That being said, a position now arises that is difficult to evaluate, much in the liking of the American grandmaster [16...Bh6!? 17.Bxh6 Rxh6 18.Qd2 Rh5 With a very unclear position] 17.Rxf5 Bh6 18.c4! Black's chances along the g-line are reduced by cementing the d5 square 18...0-0-0 19.Nc3 Kb8 Is this necessary? I think that Larry was pleased with his position and felt that sooner or later this move would have to be played, so why not play it while he is still happy!? 20.Qf2 Bxc1 21.Rxc1 Nh5!? the pawn on f7 is lost anyway 22.Rxf7 Qg5 23.Rc2 Nf4 black has some compensation for the pawn. White's king is easily harrassed, and his pieces lack harmony. On top of this black's knight is superbe. However is it all enough compensation? 24.Qe3! Rhg8 25.Nd5 [25.Bf1!? Qh5 (25...Bd7 26.Kh2 Qg6 27.Rxf4?! Qg3+ 28.Qxg3 hxg3+ 29.Kg1 exf4) 26.Rf5] 25...Bxd5 26.exd5!? Later Be4 could be an important defensive resource. [26.cxd5 Qh5! the very best move (26...Nxd3!? 27.Qxd3 Rc8 28.Rxc8+ Rxc8 29.Rf1 and white is just a pawn up for next to nothing; 26...Qg3? 27.Qxg3 Rxg3 28.Rcc7; 26...Rc8?! White is a pawn up and has everything undercontrol. The question is this: what can black do? 27.Ba6 Rxc2 28.Rxb7+ Kc8 29.Rxa7+ Kd8 30.Qb6+ Ke8 31.Bb5+ Kf8 32.Qb8+) 27.Rxf4 forced move (27.Rcc7 Qd1+ 28.Bf1 Rxg2+ 29.Kh1 Qxf1+) 27...exf4 28.Qxf4 Rgf8 and white, though having even material, is some what worse positionally] 26...Qh6!? The idea of this move is to allow the R to enter the game (Rg3), while at the same time preventing the counter sac on f4. This position was debated during the week, with different evaluations. I now think that white is worse [26...Qh5!? 27.Rxf4! exf4 28.Qxf4 Qd1+ 29.Qf1 Qxf1+ 30.Bxf1= Christiansen said later that he felt that this ending offered no winning chances for the black pieces.] 27.Qe4?? This move gives up all hope of a struggle. Apparently Ed did not see the hidden resource in his position. [27.c5!! A brilliant resource which both Larry and Ed had overlooked. The American GM said that this move only came to him while he was waiting for his opponent to move! 27...Qh5! now this really is forced (27...Rg3? This appears strong, but actually loses 28.c6!! Rxe3 29.c7+ Kc8 30.Bf5+) 28.Rxf4 (28.c6 Qxf7 29.c7+ Qxc7 30.Rxc7 Rxg2+ 31.Kh1 Kxc7 32.Qxa7 Rdg8-+) 28...exf4 29.Qxf4 Qxd5 30.Bh7 Rgf8!? 31.Qxh4 dxc5 32.Qg3+ Ka8 33.Kh2 And while this position is still very complex I would think that black has the better chances] 27...Nxh3+ 28.Kh2 Ng5 oops 29.Rh7 Nxh7 30.Qxh7 Qf4+ 0-1
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