(1) Adams,M (2720) - Zhang Zhong (2639) [B90]
GMA Wijk aan Zee NED (4), 14.01.2004



1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3
The English Attack in the Najdorf Sicilian

6...e5
Black counters in the center, leaving the d5-hole but how is white to organize his knights without Nb5

7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3
With the usual idea of 0-0-0 and g4-g5

8...Be7 9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 Qc7 11.g4 Rc8 12.g5 Nh5
Nfd7 and white can proceed quickly with h4-h5

13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5
Nimzovitch might not approve, occupying the 5-hole with a pawn, but now white can manoeuver the Nb3 to the nice e4-square.

14...Nd7 15.Bh3
As is usual in this opening, the Bf1 is the last white piece to develop, and often, as here, with a bang. It's clear that the bishop exerts a powerful influence on the h3-c8 diagonal, often wit the idea of Bg4 or Bxd7 and h4-h5

15...g6
Otherwise just Bg4 +-

16.Kb1
Safeguarding the King, and part of the idea of Nb3-d2-e4

16...Bf8
Diagram

17.Qc1!
Very nice, safeguarding c2 and making room for the knight

17...Nf4 18.Bxf4 exf4 19.Nd2 Bg7 20.Ne4
Attacking the d6 square and, in some lines, heading to f6

20...Be5 21.Rd2
Lateral defense of c2, with the idea of freeing up the queen after Bxd7, h4-h5, and Rd2-a2

21...Qd8 22.Bxd7 Qxd7 23.h4 Rc7
Doubling on the c-file, but there are no entry squares or weaknesses on the white queenside.

24.h5 Rac8 25.Rh4
Taking advantage of Black's lack of attack to add even more fuel to the attack. Rdh2 was also strong.

25...Qf5 26.Rdh2
Better to double before releasing the kingside tension with hxg6

26...Re7 27.a3
Stopping all back rank possibilities. Qd2 was fine

27...b5 28.Qd2
With an entry square on a5

28...Rc4
no threat, so white goes about his business

29.Qa5 Qc8 30.Nf6+ Bxf6 31.gxf6 Rec7
Black finally has a threat, but white's threat is bigger and comes first

32.hxg6 fxg6
[ 32...hxg6 33.Rh8# ]

33.Qe1 Qf8
[ 33...Rxc2 34.f7++- ]

34.Qe6+ Kh8 35.Rh6 b4 36.axb4 Rxb4 37.Rxg6 Rb8
[ 37...Rbb7 38.Rg4+- ]

38.f7 Rxf7
[ 38...Qxf7 39.Qxd6 Re8 40.Re6 Rce7 41.Qe5+ Qg7 ( 41...Kg8 42.Rg2+ Kf8 43.Qh8+ ) 42.Qxg7+ Kxg7 43.Rxa6+- ]

39.Qxd6 Re7 40.Rf6 Re1+ 41.Ka2 Qe8 42.Rxf4 1-0