1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
e5
6.Ndb5
d6
7.Bg5
a6
8.Na3
b5
9.Bxf6
gxf6
10.Nd5
f5
11.c3
Bg7
12.g3
The main line here is 12.exf5, but I didn't want to play a well known position against Shaba that day. I was trying to play something new and I was trying to remember what else White might try to play here. One game that came to my mind was Stripunsky-Brown from the recent US Championship. I liked the idea of A.Stripunsky and I decided to use it. 12...h5!? Surprise! I know in the game mentioned above Walter took on e4 and, after 12...fxe4 13.Bg2 Bf5 14. f3, found himself in trouble. Well, books suggest still taking the pawn 12...fxe4, but after 13.Bg2 simply playing 13... 0-0 with an equal positon. Shaba clearly showed how agressively he came to the game but I still believe the move was dubious.
12...h5
13.Bg2!
f4
When I was a kid, I remember one of the first lessons which I learned about this type of position was something like: "Do not play f4 when the White King is not on the King Side." That's why I think, in general, the idea of playing h5 and f4 is wrong.
14.Nc2
Kf8
To avoid the possibility of a fork when the Black Queen leaves the place.
15.Qe2
WIth idea of simply moving the king to the Q-Side. According Fritz, better was to play 15.Rg1, but this is a machine and it doesn't play the way people play. Humans are still trying to play more natural moves.
15...Qg5
16.Bf3
To protect the g4 square and also move the pieces from the g-file.
16...Rb8
17.h4!
2 ideas: Kick the Queen and fix the h5 pawn on the white square.
17...Qh6
18.0-0-0
fxg3+
19.Kb1
gxf2
20.Qxf2©
White has very strong compensation for the sacrificed pawn.
20...a5
21.a3
Just in case another escape is needed for the king and to stop a b4 move.
21...Be6
22.Rhg1
Rb7!
Great defence. The Black rook is guarding both the f7 and a7 squares in case the Black Knight leaves his place.
23.Rg5
Bxd5
24.exd5
Ne7
25.Bxh5
[>=25.Rdg1
Bf6
26.Rxh5
Qf4
27.Rg4+-
I just missed that move in my calculation and I believe Shaba missed it, also.]
25...Qf6!?
[I think better was to sacrifice the Queen here. 25...Qxh5
26.Rxh5
Rxh5
The coming endgame has been definitely underestimated by Shaba.]
26.Qg2
Bh6
27.Rf1
Bxg5
28.hxg5
Qxf1+
29.Qxf1
Rxh5
30.Qf6
Rd7
31.Ne3
Rh7
To protect f7 square. But Black's position remains dangerous because the Rooks are not coordinated.
32.Ka2!
In some lines it is important to have the King away from checks.
32...Ke8
It's really hard to find some good advice for Black here. The White Queen completely dominates now.
33.Qf1!
Rb7
34.Nf5
Rd7
[34...Rb6
35.Nxe7
Kxe7
36.Qf6+
Ke8
37.Qf5+-
]
35.Ng3!
38.Ng3 also was wins.
35...b4
36.Ne4
Ng8
37.Qb5
Ke7
38.Nf6
Nxf6
39.gxf6+
Ke8
40.Qb8+
Rd8
41.Qc7
Rd7
42.Qc8+
Rd8
43.Qc6+
Rd7
44.cxb4
axb4
45.axb4
Rh4
46.b5
Ra4+
47.Kb3
Ra5
[47...Raa7
48.b6
Rab7
49.Qc8++-
]
48.b6
1-0