Adams, Michael – Salem, A.R. Saleh

Adams is usually mainly an e4 player.

Adams, Michael (2751)
Salem, A.R. Saleh (2656)
Result: 1-0

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Date: February 18, 2017
Location: Sharjah UAE
Tournament: Sharjah Grand Prix 2017
Round: 1.7
Opening: D41 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Tarrasch, 5.cxd5
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Published on: June 11, 2023

[Event "Sharjah Grand Prix 2017"]
[Site "Sharjah UAE"]
[Date "2017.02.18"]
[Round "1.7"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Salem, A.R. Saleh"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2017.02.18"]

1. c4 {Adams is usually mainly an e4 player.} c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 { Deviating from the symmetry as soon as possible and trying to solve the problems immediately} (3... Nc6 {Is still most popular choice} 4. d3) 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e3 {[pgndiagram] Planning a fast d4 break.} (5. e4 $5 {This variation also has many followers. GM Levon Aronian is one of it's main fans.} Nb4 6. Bc4 Nd3+ 7. Ke2 Nf4+ 8. Kf1 {And obviously there is alot of theory here. Adams choses a different approach}) 5... e6 6. Bc4 (6. d4 cxd4 7. exd4 {Would be another way of reaching a typical isolani position}) 6... Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qe2 {For the moment Adams delays the d4 break, in order to carry out the idea seen in the game} Nc6 (8... b6 {Is the alternative, although it does look a bit ugly } 9. d4 cxd4 10. exd4 Bb7 {Trying to develop the bishop first and preventing the pawn sacrifice} 11. Re1 Bf6 12. Ne5 Nd7 {And after White takes on d5, Black is probably slightly worse as well}) 9. d4 {[pgndiagram] Finally going for his d4 break which now involves a pawn sacrifice} cxd4 10. exd4 Nb6 $6 { Accepting the pawn sacrifice is probably not advisable here} (10... a6 11. Rd1 b5 12. Bb3 {Who knows what Adams has prepared here, but it seems that going for the developement was more reliable for Black}) 11. Bd3 {This was obviously Adams' preparation. He has spent only 5 minutes up to this point, compared with almost half an hour for Salem} Nxd4 (11... Nb4 {It was still possible to decline the bait and play for the control of d5, but once you said A, you should probably say B as well} 12. Bb1 Bd7 13. a3 N4d5 14. Qd3 g6 {And White has the better position and he hasn't lost a pawn to obtain the initiative.}) 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 {[pgndiagram] So what has White gained in return for his pawn? Well, he will gain multiple tempi on the Black queen, and Black's queenside is undeveloped. Which will give White a long term compensation for the pawn} 13. Rd1 {Threatening Bxh7+} Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Be4 $1 {A key move. Which puts the queenside under control} (15. Bf4 Bd7 {Black's bishop mustn't be allowed on c6} ) 15... e5 (15... Bd7 {Is now impossible} 16. Bxb7 Rab8 17. Bg2 Qf5 {Is much better for White}) 16. Bg2 {The fianchettoed bishop is rather strong here} Qf5 17. a4 $1 {[pgndiagram] Great play by Adams. Now the knight on b6 also experiences some discomfort.} (17. Be3 {Routine developement is to timid} Be6 $1 18. Bxb7 Rab8 19. Be4 Qg4 20. f3 Qh5 {And White is only slightly better here }) 17... a5 {An intuitive reaction, but now White has the b5 square as well} ( 17... Nd7 {Is very ugly looking move though} 18. Be3 (18. Nd5 {Might be even better} Bd8 19. Be3) 18... Nf6 19. a5 a6 20. Bb6 {And Black is still unable to develop}) 18. Be3 Nd7 {[pgndiagram] There is nothing better, honestly.} 19. Nd5 Bd8 20. Rac1 {White is probably close to winning here. Black's pieces can hardly move, while every single White's piece is almost on ideal square. Adams achieves complete positional domination} Kh8 21. Qb5 (21. Nc7 {Obtaining the bishop pair, came into consideration} Bxc7 22. Rxc7 {Although nothing tangible for White is apparent yet}) 21... Nf6 22. Bc5 Rg8 {This move speaks for itself} 23. Ne3 {[pgndiagram] Maintaning the tension. It is instructive to follow how Adams refuses to exchange the pieces, which is often a good idea when your opponent has less space} Qh5 {It is hard to say whether queen should have stayed closer to the centre} (23... Qe6 24. Bd6 (24. Nc4 {Is probably even stronger} h6 25. Rd6 Qf5 26. Bb6) 24... e4 25. Bf1 {Is also rather unpleasant} Ng4 {Trying to relieve his position} 26. Bh3 $1 f5 27. Nxg4 fxg4 28. Bf1) 24. Bd6 (24. Nc4 {Now has less point than with the queen on e6} Be6) 24... Ng4 { Black has no other move to defend e5} 25. Nxg4 Bxg4 26. Re1 {[pgndiagram] Now White finally regains his pawn, while remaining with the active position} Ra6 $2 (26... Rc8 $1 {Was maybe the last chance} 27. Rxc8 Bxc8 28. Bxe5 f6 29. Bc3 (29. Bd5 $5 {Might be a serious improvement}) 29... Qxb5 30. axb5 Bd7 31. Rd1 Bxb5 32. Bxb7 h6 {And it is doubtful whether White has anything concrete in this position after all. Of course, this is aproximate variation and probably his play can be improved somewhere}) 27. Bxe5 Rb6 (27... f6 {Doesn't work here} 28. Bf4 Qxb5 29. axb5 {And the position of Black's rook on a6 gives a crucial tempo to White} Rb6 30. Bd5 Rf8 31. Bc4) 28. Qd5 Qg6 {Bxg7 was threatened} ( 28... f6 {Loses an exchange} 29. Bc3 Qxd5 30. Bxd5) 29. Be4 Qh5 $2 {A tactical oversight} (29... Qe6 {Would have kept the fight going} 30. Bc3 Qxd5 31. Bxd5 Be6 32. Bxe6 fxe6 33. Re5 {And Black is not dead yet}) 30. Rc5 $2 {[pgndiagram] Continuing the positional strangle, but Adams misses the opportunity to conclude the game immediately with a spectacular tactical stroke} (30. Rc8 $3 { Was just winning on the spot} Bxc8 31. Bxg7+ Kxg7 32. Qxh5 {And White has more favourable version of the Queen vs rook and minor piece endgame that occured in the game}) 30... Rh6 31. h4 b6 32. Rb5 Re6 $6 (32... Be2 {Is a nice computer move. Black is trying to make something happen on the e-file} 33. Bd3 {White should go for the bishop exchange} (33. Rb3 {Removes the rook from eyeying the h5 queen} Re6) 33... Bxd3 34. Qxd3 Qg6 35. Qd4 {And White still has the upper hand}) 33. Qd4 {[pgndiagram] This battery is now deadly, because tactics work in White's favour} f6 {The only move} (33... Qh6 34. Bd5) 34. Bxf6 {Winning the queen for rook and bishop} Bxf6 35. Rxh5 {[pgndiagram] Black probably missed that he will get mated on h7. Therefore, his answer is forced} Bxh5 36. Qc4 {Now only a "simple" technical task remains. I will give the remainder of the game with only brief comments.} Rge8 37. Re3 Bxb2 38. Qb5 (38. Bc6 Rxe3 39. fxe3 {Was probably easier, but still} Rxe3 {Is losing to} 40. Qf4) 38... Rxe4 39. Rxe4 Rxe4 40. Qxh5 {[pgndiagram] Now White's task is somewhat complicated. He has to advance his kingside pawns under favourable circumstances, while not giving up his a4 pawn. If Black plays h6, than White's king can go to f7 and participate in mating attack} Bf6 41. Qd5 Rd4 42. Qc6 h6 43. Kg2 (43. Qxb6 Rxa4 {Would probably make the winning task impossible. White has to keep his pawn on the queenside}) 43... Rb4 44. Kh3 b5 $2 {

Adams, Michael – Salem, A.R. Saleh

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