White: Art Moskowitz
Black: Alex Shabalov
Simultaneous Exhibition, May 31, 2003
English Opening, Rubinstein variation

 1 c4     Nf6
 2 Nc3    d5
 3 cxd5   Nxd5
 4 g3     c5
 5 Bg2    Nc7

   In the May 2003 issue of Chess Life, Andrew Soltis discusses the
   "well-known" blunder 5 ... e6, which loses a pawn to 6 Nxd5 exd5
   7 Qb3.  The text move and 5 ... Nxc3 are best.

 6 e3

   A logical move, though I could not find it in the books.

 6 ...    g6

   This is too tame.  By playing 5 ... Nc7, Black fell behind in
   development, and he can only justify it by maintaining his
   advantage in space.  So 6 ... e5 is required, and after 7 Nge2,
   the logical reply is 7 ... Nc6.  In other variations Black would
   be reluctant to allow the doubled isolated pawns, but here, he
   would have little to fear from 7 O-O Be7 8 Bxc6+ bxc6 9 d4 cxd4
   10 exd4 exd4 11 Nxd4 Bd7.

 7 d4     cxd4
 8 exd4   Bg7
 9 Nge2   O-O
10 O-O    Nc6
11 d5

   This may be premature.  I think 12 Be3 first would leave Black with
   a disorganized position and no easy way to improve it.

11 ...    Ne5
12 Bg5    h6
13 Bf4    Bg4
14 h3

   Calling Black's bluff.  Now 14 ... Bf3 would fail to 15 Bxe5, and
   14 ... Nf3+ 15 Kh1 would likewise lose material.  Also, 14 ... Bxe2
   leaves Black with an arduous defense.

14 ...    Bd7
15 Rc1    Rc8
16 d6!

   This is the most challenging move.  What else could White do with
   his aggressive formation?

16 ...    Ne6!
17 dxe7   Qxe7
18 Bxb7   Nxf4

   Art reports that Shabalov took a long think here.

19 Nxf4   Bg4!

   Black offered a draw, which White accepted, in view of the schedule,
   since he had to leave.  Art points out that 19 ... Rb8 would be
   met by 20 Ncd5 and 21 Rc7, while 19 ... Bxh3 allows 20 Bxc8 Bxf1
   21 Qxf1 Rxc8 22 Ncd5 Qb7 23 Rxc8 Qxc8 24 Ne7+ forking the king and
   queen.  But the text move is good enough to hold:  20 hxg4 Qxb7 is
   great for Black, while 20 Qb3 Rb8 21 hxg4 Qxb7 will regain the pawn
   with equality.