My namesake Bruce Linderman submits his draw with Alex Shabalov from a simul
played at the Kittanning Marina in late June.  Of course, the conditions of
a simultaneous exhibition are such that neither side can play up to full
strength.  Don't be alarmed, then, if you see a few strange moves here and
there.

This was the Kittanning Marina's annual picnic, and Galen Cruse and his wife
Lisa Hipchen, who run the marina, are avid chess players.  They organized a
simul for the afternoon, and a 16-player knockout-format tournament for the
evening.  No less than three Grandmasters played in the tournament:  besides
Shabalov, Yermolinsky and Goldin came from Ohio.  There was not enough prize
money to attract such a high-powered field, so I suppose they might have come
on account of Galen's friendly invitation, and the informal picnic atmosphere,
and ... maybe just a little, for the opportunity to warm up for the World Open,
which started the following week.  In the World Open, Yermolinsky and Goldin
tied for first.  Is it a coincidence?  Expect dozens of Grandmasters to beat
down Galen's door to play in next year's event!

White:  Alex Shabalov
Black:  Bruce Linderman
Simul, Kittanning Marina, June 29, 1996
Sicilian Defense, Accelerated Dragon variation

 1 e4    c5
 2 Nf3   Nc6
 3 d4    cxd4
 4 Nxd4  g6

   What's this?  When I was young the only respectable way to enter the Dragon
   was by 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6.  The variation in
   the present game was thought to be inferior because White can establish the
   "Maroczy Bind" pawn formation with 5 c4.  But nowadays the Bind is just
   another way for White to try for advantage, not even clearly better than
   5 Nc3; and while allowing the Bind, Black avoids the Yugoslav attack.  In
   any case there's no going back.  4 ... Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 would now be bad because
   of 6 Nxc6 bxc6 7 e5 Ng8 8 Bc4! Bg7 9 Qf3 f5 10 Bf4.

 5 Nc3   Bg7
 6 Be3   Nf6
 7 Bc4   O-O
 8 Bb3   Qa5
 9 O-O   d6
10 f3

   Is this a new move, or is it just that the books on my shelf neglected it?
   The sharpest continuation is 10 h3 followed by 11 f4.  But why not just
   prepare to play Nd5?  What will Black do in the mean time?

10 ...   Bd7
11 Kh1   Rac8
12 Qd2   Ne5
13 Bh6   Nc4
14 Bxc4  Rxc4
15 Bxg7  Kxg7
16 Rad1  Qb4
17 Nb3   Re8

   A strange move.

18 a3    Qb6
19 Nd5   Nxd5
20 exd5

   The central pawn structure now favors White.  He owns more territory, and
   he has some pressure on Black's e-pawn.  This is the aim of the plan he
   started on the 10th move.

20 ...   Ba4!?
21 Qd3   Bxb3
22 cxb3  Rc7
23 f4    f5

   This was necessary; White's f-pawn could have led a dangerous attack.

24 Rfe1  Qc5
25 Rd2   e5??!

   Black had to hold tight.  This outburst leads by force to a losing king
   and pawn ending.  Normally that would be the end of the story.

26 dxe6  Rce7
27 Qxd6  Qxd6
28 Rxd6  Kf6
29 Kg1   Rxe6
30 Rxe6+ Rxe6
31 Rxe6+ Kxe6
32 Kf2

   Forced.  Black's king must be kept out of d4.

32 ...   a5!?
33 Ke3   Kd5
34 Kd3   b5

   This is an important position.  We'll return to it later.

   diagram

      8
      7p
      6p1
      pp1k1p2
      5P2
      PP1K4
      1P4PP
      8

35 h3?   h5
36 g3    b4
   Agreed drawn

   Oops!  It's obviously a draw.  In fact, Black could have played ... b4 on
   the previous move.  Where did White go wrong?

   Go back to the diagram and play 35 b4!  This ugly move wins.  After
   35 ... axb4 36 axb4, White is blocked, but wins by gaining the opposition
   twice.  For example, 36 ... h6 37 h4 h5 38 g3 (opposition #1) Kc6 39 Kd4 Kd6
   40 b3 (opposition #2), and White's king will penetrate.

   Does this mean that Black's 35 ... h5 in response to 35 h3 was a mistake?
   No, because 36 b4 no longer wins:  36 ... axb4 37 axb4 h4! and White can
   only gain the opposition once, which is not enough to win here.  For
   example, 38 b3 Kc6 39 Kd4 Kd6, and White must give back the territory he has
   taken.  Also, 36 Kc3 does not help because of 36 ... Kc5.  Therefore,
   Black's 35 ... h5 was correct, but not as simple as 35 ... b4.