Shen Siyuan vs Eric Schiller - HB Global Challenge 2005.05.22

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Shen Siyuan vs Eric Schiller
HB Global Challenge Minneapolis USA 2005.05.22
English Opening: Agincourt Defense 1/2-1/2

[Event "HB Global Challenge"]
[Site "Minneapolis USA"]
[Date "2005.05.22"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Shen Siyuan"]
[Black "Eric Schiller"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "100"]

1.Nf3 {Notes by Eric Schiller.} d5 2.c4 e6 3.b3 c5 4.Bb2 Nf6
5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.O-O O-O 8.d3 d4 9.e4 e5 10.h3 h6 {A new
move, but nothing special. 10...Qc7 is an old Cecil Purdy
game. 11.Qe2 Bd7 12.Nbd2 a6 13.Kh2 b5 14.Nh4 g6 was already a
bit better for Black in Koshnitsky vs. Purdy, Sydney Australia
1934. } 11.Nh4 Kh7 12.Nf5 g6 13.Nxe7 Qxe7 14.Bc1 Ng8 15.a3 Be6
16.Nd2 f6 17.f4 Bd7 { 17...exf4 18.gxf4 Bd7 would have been
wiser. } 18.f5 g5 19.Bf3 Qg7 20.Bh5 Nge7 21.Rf2 Be8 22.Bxe8
Raxe8 23.Nf1 Qf7 24.g4 Rb8 {Computers like this move, but in
hindsight I don't. 24...Rh8 might have saved me a tempo over
the game. } 25.Rh2 Rh8 26.Ng3 Kg7 27.Bd2 Qf8 28.Qc2 Kf7 29.Kf2
Ke8 30.h4 Kd7 31.Rah1 Qg7 32.Qc1 Rbg8 33.Qd1 Nc8 {The dance of
the knights begins. Eventually, both of my knights will target
White's pawn at e4.} 34.Rh3 Nd6 35.R1h2 Ne8 {This knight is
instructed to sacrifice himself at e4 a bit later in the
game. The plan involving retreating both knights to the back
rank gives this game an artistic bent that I'm very proud of.}
36.Qh1 {The pressure is intense! I thought my position was
busted, but then I came up with a plan. I actually saw the
line to the end of the game at this point. A lot of moves, but
mostly forced. My opponent clearly had no idea what I was up
to!} gxh4 37.Rxh4 Nd8 {Headed for g5. ! ? 37...Qe7 38.Bxh6 is
the computer choice, but then I'd be just a pawn down, with
absolutely no counterplay. } 38.Bxh6 { 38.g5 fxg5 39.Rxh6 Rxh6
40.Rxh6 Nf6 } Rxh6 {This gives White a bigger advantage, but
allows me to try a deep plan to get out of the mess with a
draw. Alternatives were simply hopeless, as White would have
no problems to solve. 38...Qf7 39.g5 fxg5 40.Bxg5 Rxh4 41.Bxh4
leaves me down a pawn with no counterplay. } 39.Rxh6 Qg5 {!
The point! I'm not interested in the g-pawn. 39...Qxg4 ?
40.Rh7+ Kc8 41.Ne2 ! Black is busted. } 40.Qf3 {A very
sensible move, but it allows a glimmer of hope in a deep
line. 40.Rh7+ ! Kc8 [ 40...Rg7 41.Rxg7+ Nxg7 42.Rh7 ! ] 41.Qd1
! Qe3+ 42.Kg2 would probably have won for White. } Qd2+ 41.Ne2
{? 41.Kf1 Qc1+ 42.Kg2 Qb2+ 43.Qe2 Qxb3 44.Rh7+ Kd6 45.Rh8
would have preserved the win. However, the move chosen in the
game seems cleaner. The danger is not yet evident. 41.Kg1 also
works } Nf7 {! I'm back in the game!} 42.Rg6 {This is an
obvious move, leading to a new queen for White. But I have
worked out the details of a shocking reversal! 42.Rh7 Ned6 !
43.g5 Kd8 ! leaves White with nothing better than 44.Rxf7 Nxf7
45.gxf6 and then Ng5 gives Black the advantage! 42.R6h4 ? Ng5
! White is busted. } Ng5 {!} 43.Qg3 { 43.Rxg5 Qxg5 is
even. 43.Rxg8 Nxf3 44.Rh7+ Kd8 [ 44...Kc6 45.Rxe8 Qe3+ 46.Kf1
Nd2+ 47.Ke1 Nf3+ 48.Kf1 ] 45.Rhh8 Qe3+ 46.Kf1 Qxd3 } Rxg6 {!
Yes, I'm going to let White have a new queen!} 44.fxg6 Nd6
{Suddenly the plan is clear, I'm going to sac a knight to get
a fork against the king and queen. Even so, White will have an
extra rook. So what is the point? !} 45.g7 { 45.Kf1 was
White's other option. I intended to snatch the d-pawn and had
figured that I could wind up just down a pawn or so. Computer
analysis starts out claiming this is a win, but give the beast
enough time and it sees the line that most good players would
spot right away. Qd1+ 46.Qe1 Qxd3 47.g7 Ndxe4 and after
48.g8=Q Qf3+ ! 49.Qf2 Nxf2 50.Rxf2 Qh3+ 51.Kg1 Nf3+ ! 52.Rxf3
Qxf3 his queen can't get back, so I have either some perpetual
or will manage to gain three pawns for the knight. A draw
would have been likely. } Ndxe4+ 46.dxe4 Nxe4+ 47.Kg2 Nxg3
{White can no longer avoid a draw without risking a loss!}
48.g8=Q {Forced. 48.Kxg3 ? Qe3+ 49.Kh4 Qg5+ 50.Kg3 Qxg7 Black
wins. } Qxe2+ 49.Kxg3 { 49.Kh3 Qf3 ! and White must use a
perpetual to save a draw! } Qe3+ 50.Kg2 Qe2+ {Draw agreed. A
great escape from a lost position.} 1/2-1/2

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Updated: 1 February, 2022
Created: 1 February, 2022