Adams,M (2708) - Polgar,J (2671) [B47]
Corus 2000 Wijk aan Zee (2), 16.01.2000
[Rohde]
1.e4 Adams generally prefers 1. e4. 1...c5 Polgar is a confirmed Sicilian player. 2.Nf3 e6 Polgar's long-time favorite Sicilian is the Taimanov. 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 The Taimanov Sicilian. Polgar has experimemted with the bizarre 4 ... Qb6!? 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.g3 A positional method which suits Adams' style. At this moment, 6 Ndb5 Qb8 would not have accomplished anything. 6...a6 See the variation [6...Nf6 7.Ndb5 Qb8 8.Bf4] 7.Bg2 Nf6 8.0-0 Nxd4 Not a popular line. Mainly 8 ... d6 is played. I have tried 8 ... h6?! - idea to play ... Nxd4 and then ... Bc5 as in the game but waiting for Rf1-e1 by White - but then 9 Re1 Nxd4 10 e5!! is good for White 9.Qxd4 Bc5 10.Bf4 The standard recipe. If Black exchanges queens, her dark squares would be weak. 10...d6 11.Qd2 h6 So that ... e5 can be played without worrying about Bf4-g5. 12.Rad1 e5 13.Be3 Be6 Apparently Polgar is not worried about 14 Bxc5 dxc5 15 Nd5 Bxd5 16 exd5, thinking that Black can equalize that position. 14.Bxc5 dxc5 15.f4 A more dangerous move for Black to face then 15 Nd5, White is trying to establish a central steamroller. 15...0-0 16.Qd6 To get control of the e5 square. 16...Qa5 Deserting e5 but trying for tactical play against the White queen. 17.Qd2 Getting the queen out of trouble and still trying to overrun e5. If 17 ... Rad8 18 Nd5. Of course Black can repeat the position with 17 ... Qc7. The position has already reached a crisis point. 17...Rad8 18.Nd5 This knight outpost can become a passed pawn after an exchange, but Black should be able to blockade it securely. White has a slight advantage. 18...Qxd2 19.Rxd2 Bxd5 20.exd5 exf4 21.Rxf4 Ne8 For White to make progress here he needs to create trouble on the queenside possibly with 22 b4. 22.Rc4 Strange as the hit with ... Ne8-d6 is coming. 22...b6 23.Re4 A nice maneuver by Adams. Ultimately he has earned the c6 square for his rook. 23...Nd6 Obviously the critical line. 24.Re7 The point of the maneuver started with 22 Rc4 - the rook wends its way over to c6 to pressurize a d6 blockader as well as the b6 pawn. But Black can play ... Nc4 right away. 24...Nc4 Polgar decides to snip off the b-pawn although White's rooks can get very active. White must choose between Rd2-d3-b3 Rd2-d1-b1 or Rd2-e2 and eventually to e7. 25.Rf2 A surprise. This keeps the Black rook on f8 immobilized. 25...Nxb2 Winning a pawn and keeping the knight active on its return to c4. 26.Ra7 Nc4 The knight would be in trouble after 26 ... a5 27 Bf1!! 27.Rf4 This looks better than 27 Rxa6 Ra8. 27...Ne3 Polgar offered a draw with this move. After 28. c4 Nxg2 29 Kxg2 b5 30 Rc7 the position is about equal. 1/2-1/2 |
