(The issue was wrongly dated January 2008.) White: GM Darmen Sadvakasov Black: Mike Holsinger Sinultaneous Exhibition Amani International Coffeehouse February, 2008 1 c4 b6 2 Nf3 Bb7 3 Nc3 f5 4 d3 Nf6 5 Bg5 e6 6 e4 White's last three moves, together, make for an unconventional setup. I don't see that he gains any particular advantage by it. 6 ... h6 7 Bxf6 Qxf6 8 Qc2 8 e5 Bxf3 9 exf6 Bxd1 10 fxg7 Bxg7 11 Rxd1 (or 11 Kxd1) would be fine for Black. 8 ... Nc6 9 O-O-O O-O-O 10 d4? Something like 10 Kb1 was necessary first. 10 ... Nb4 11 Qe2 fxe4 12 Nxe4 Qf4+ 13 Nfd2 Nxa2+ 14 Kb1 Nb4 15 Qe3 Qxe3 16 fxe3 g5? 16 ... g6 was better. White's position is horrible, but after the text move, he can hope to dissolve the kingside pawns or at least get some activity for his pieces, which could give him some drawing chances. 17 Be2 Bg7 18 h4 d5 This becomes very tactical. Black shouldn't be going for that sort of thing, unless he really knows what he's doing. Why not just 18 ... gxh4? 19 Nc3 e5 20 hxg5 exd4 21 exd4 hxg5 22 Nf3 dxc4 In the post-mortem, GM Sadvakasov recommended 22 ... Rxh1, to keep his other rook on the d file. During the game, Holsinger preferred to keep an eye on the h file, but changed his mind a few moves later. 23 Rxh8 Rxh8 24 Bxc4 Bf6 25 Be6+ Kb8 26 d5 Rd8 27 Ne4 Bg7 28 Nfxg5 Bxd5 29 Bxd5 Rxd5 30 Rxd5 Nxd5 31 Ne6 Bh6 32 g4 Agreed drawn. White is threatening to win a piece with 33 g5. If Black prevents this with 32 ... Be3, then 33 g5 Ne7 (or 33 ... Nf4 34 Nxf4 Bxf4 35 g6 Be5 36 Ng5, followed by 37 Ne6 and 38 g7) 34 Kc2 Kc8 35 Kd3 Bc1 36 Kc2 Be3 37 Kd3, etc.