1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
e5
The Sveshnikov Variation. Black drives away the d4-knight while contesting the center and allowing his dark-squared bishop to develop, at the cost of a backward d-pawn.
6.Ndb5
Essentially forcing Black's next move to prevent Nd6+.
6...d6
7.Bg5
Frequently the square in front of a backward pawn is weaker than the pawn itself, since no Black pawn can attack it. So White's strategy now centers around gaining total control over the d5-square. This move aims to capture the f6-knight, a key defender of the d5-square.
7...a6
White was threatening Nd5, followed by Nbc7+, so Black has to drive away the b5-knight now.
8.Na3
White's a3-knight is out of play now, the price for inducing weaknesses in Black's setup.
8...b5
Black threatens ...b5-b4, forcing White to react, prevents White's bishop or a3-knight from coming to the active c4-square, and allows his own light-squared bishop to develop on b7.
9.Bxf6
White removes the defender of d5 before hopping to d5 with his knight.
9...gxf6
While this does damage Black's kingside pawn structure, he can easily play ...f5 to get rid of his doubled pawn, and still have another f-pawn to push later on. [recapturing with 9...Qxf6
allows 10.Nd5
Qd8
forced, to prevent Nc7 11.c4
and White has a strong initiative.]
10.Nd5
White had to react to the threat of ...b5-b4, and now his knight occupies the very nice outpost on d5. This is White's big "trump card" in this system.
10...Bg7
Black wants to castle kingside, and this move gives him adequate king protection.
11.c3
Adams prepares to bring his "dim" a3-knight to c2.
11...f5
Black has to do something since White has a space advantage and a wonderfully posted knight on d5. This pawn lever is a key tool in this system, challenging White's center (and undoubling Black's f-pawns).
12.exf5
White plans on gaining time during the relocation of his a3-knight by bringing it to e3 (via c2) and attacking Black's light-squared bishop on f5 once it recaptures. This move also clears the h1-a8 diagonal for White's bishop.
12...Bxf5
13.Nc2
0-0
14.Nce3
White not only attacks Black's bishop, but also allows the option of recapturing on d5 with another knight, maintaining the pressure.
14...Be6
adding pressure to d5, and clearing the way for the f-pawn to advance.
15.g3
Adams continues his plan to control the d5-square, by preparing to fianchetto his light-squared bishop. The position has been closed enough so that White hasn't had to worry about quickly castling, and can instead focus on the key strategic features of the position.
15...Ne7
Black applies more pressure to d5 and removes a piece from the h1-a8 diagonal.
16.Bg2
and White continues developing and reinforcing d5. White also threatens Nxe7+, unveiling a discovered attack on Black's a8-rook.
16...Rb8
resolving the threat and anticipating a2-a4.
17.0-0
and finally White castles. White's main ideas now are an a2-a4 advance, and/or applying pressure down the d-file.
17...Nxd5?
Black makes a strategic mistake. [17...f5
is better. 18.Nxe7+
Qxe7
19.Nd5
Qd7
]
18.Bxd5!
Most players would automatically recapture with the knight, but Adams shows why he is in the World's Top Ten. Black wants to play ...f5 to gain counterplay. Adams has now prevented that, as then the e6-bishop would be hanging.
18...Kh8
Black prepares for ...Bh6. [18...Bxd5
19.Qxd5
and still Black can't play ...f5 right away.; An immediate 18...Bh6
allows 19.Bxe6
fxe6
20.Qg4+
Kf7
]
19.a4
White has control over the center and has temporarily prevented ...f5, so now he turns to the queenside, preparing to open the a-file for his rook (or create a pawn weakness on a6).
19...Bh6
Black wants to eliminate the White knight to prevent it from coming to d5.
20.axb5
Black now has a tough choice.
20...axb5?!
allows White's rook to penetrate down the a-file. [20...Bxe3!
was necessary, to get rid of White's knight while he had the chance. 21.fxe3
Bxd5
22.Qxd5
Rxb5!
23.Qd2
a5
; 20...Rxb5
leaves Black with a weak a-pawn.]
21.Nc2!
Adams doesn't give Salov another chance to exchange off his strong knight. Now ...b4 is prevented.
21...Qd7
Black connects his rooks and prevents White's rook from penetrating to the 7th rank.
22.Ra6!
But the sixth rank is still available! White adds pressure to the d6-pawn.
22...Bh3
preventing Bxe6 followed by the winning of the d6-pawn.
23.Re1
[23.Bg2??
Bxg2
24.Kxg2
Qb7+
loses a rook.]
23...Bg5
Black's dark-squared bishop wasn't doing much on the kingside, so he begins to transfer it over to the queenside.
24.Nb4
White's knight is on its way to d5, temporarily preventing Black from pushing his b-pawn.
24...Bd8
25.Be4
aiming toward h7 while clearing the way for his knight to move to d5 and threatening Rxd6.
25...Bb6
cutting off White's rook from the attack on d6 and aiming toward f2 (hoping to apply more pressure there after ...f5).
26.Nd5
The knight finally arrives on its favorite square, with a double-attack on the b6-bishop.
26...f5
Black tries for counterplay with tactics, but it's too little too late.
27.Nxb6
Qd8
This was Black's idea. Now he regains the piece.
28.Nd7!
unveiling a double attack on Black's d6-pawn, winning material.
28...Qxd7
29.Rxd6
Qe7
30.Rd7
White's rook gets to the 7th rank anyway.
30...Qg5
stopping Qh5.
31.Bc2
e4
32.Qd4+
Qf6
33.Qa7
Qh6
34.Ra1
planning on bringing this rook into the action on the 7th rank.
34...b4
35.Qd4+
Qf6
36.Raa7
Qxd4
37.cxd4
and Salov resigned as the h3-bishop is about to fall while Black prevents mate in two. 1-0