MICHIGAN CHESS ASSOCIATION

Photos and Annotated Games form the 1998 Michigan Open
Michigan Open Victors
1st and 2nd-6th place winners
Tansel Turgut
Michigan Open Champion
1st place

Bob Ciaffone
Tied 2nd-6th place 
(2nd place on tie-break)

Thomas Ward
Tied 2nd-6th place 
(3rd place on tie-break)

Robert O'Donnell
Tied 2nd-6th place 
(4th place on tie-break)

Miguel Ballicora
Tied 2nd-6th place
(5th place on tie-break)
Salah Chehayeb
Tied 2nd-6th place 
(6th place on tie-break)



Games annotated by participants
Bob Ciaffone
Nate Solon

Ciaffone,B.-Solon,N. (1998 Michigan Open, Round 4)
English: Symmetrical (Three Knights) [A34/16 (2nd ed.)]
1998.09.06. USA Flint, MI (Kearsley High School)

Annotations by Bob Ciaffone

My opponent is only 13 years old, but he played excellent chess so far in this tournament. Here he was coming off a nice win against my friend Saginaw Master Dave Hahn, demonstrating that he has improved to expert strength. I have a lot of experience over the last several years playing against young talented players, including Harry Akopian, Jordy Mont-Reynaud, Vinay Bhat, and A. J. Steigman. Do not make the mistake of underestimating someone whose body is half your size, because his brain is the organ used for chess, and it is fully developed.


1.Nf3
For the last year I have been playing 1.e4, but I have for a quarter-century used the first move 1.Nf3, which is the prudent choice against a young teenager. 

1...c5
My opponent invites a transposition to the Sicilian defense via 2.e4.
2.c4
But I decline, going for the Symmetrical English, a more positional opening.

2...Nf6 3.Nc3
This is likely a tiny bit better than breaking with d4 immediately.

3...d5
Solon adopts the Asymmetrical Variation. Not surprising, as this defense is favored by his chess teacher, Ann Arbor Senior Master Fred Lindsay.

4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.d4
There are several choices here for White, but this has always been my preference.

5...cxd4
A move that has been used in such famous games as Portisch-Hubner, Montreal 1979, Gelfand-Beliavsky, Reggio Emilia 1991, and Topalov-Beliavsky, Linares 1994. But Black got a drubbing in all those encounters!  In my opinion better is 5…Nxc3 6.bxc3 and now transposing to another opening with either 6…e6 (Semi-Tarrasch) or 6…g6 (Grünfeld). 

6.Qxd4 Nxc3 7.Qxc3 Nc6
Why a leading grandmaster would decide to enter  this line with Black is a mystery to me. White is up two tempi, his knight on f3 and his queen on c3, whereas the privilege of first move entitles him to only one tempo.  Conceding such a development advantage can only be justified if Black can show that White's queen is a target, but many games (including mine) demonstrate that the queen on c3 is well-placed, with pressure against Black's g7 pawn that ties up his kingside development.

8.e4 e6 
A solid choice. In the mentioned grandmaster games Black played the more active 8…Bg4, but Nate's move is a known line, and probably better. The 1994 game Kamsky-Topolov is an example, where Black was able to draw. This position can arise by a different move-order such as 6...e6 7.e4 Nxc3 8.Qxc3 Nc6, and even can be reached from a double-queen pawn start. 
9.a3
In 1991, I played California Master Richard Borgen, a former Michigan Open Co-Champion when he was an MSU student in the early seventies.  Back then I chose 9.Bb5, and Borgen replied 9...Bd7.  Our game continued 10.0-0 Qb6 11.Bd3 Qb4 12.Bd2 Qxc3 13.Bxc3.  White has some advantage here, which I was able to convert to a win.  But after this game I was not impressed with the move 9.Bb5, since the bishop cannot be maintained on that square, and decided that 8.a3 is the better choice for White. My game with Solon was the first chance I had to try it out.

9...f6?!
Black tries to relieve the pressure against g7 so he can mobilize his kingside.  Theory gives the game Morozevic - Moskalenko 1993, as given in Informant game 57/48, which continued 9…Bd7 10.Be2 Rc8 11.0-0 Na5!  With an unclear position.  The notes to this game mention 9.Bd2 as a possibility, a move that has had some good results recently, and that would be my preference for a future encounter, as it stops the Na5 maneuver.

10.e5 f5 
The resulting pawn formation after this is in White's favor. Maybe 10...Be7 is an improvement, though Black is under some pressure there as well.

11.Bc4 Be7 12.0-0  Bd7 13.b4 Qc7 14.Bb2 Kf7
Black is now in irredeemable hot water; White's threats cannot all be met.

15.Rac1 b6
My opponent is trying to get off the deadly pin on the c-file against his queen.
16.Rfd1! Qb7 17.Qd3 
This forks the Bd7 and the f5 pawn, collapsing Black's game.

17...Ke8
Meets both threats, but drops a piece.

18.Ba6 Qc7
Black's lady is driven back into the deadly pin because she must maintain defense of the Bd7.

19.b5 1-0
This wins the pinned black knight on c6, so my opponent was forced to resign.

This game is an example of how a veteran should try to play against an up-and-coming talent.  Black never got a chance to demonstrate his middlegame skills because his opening play got him a passive position.  Aim for a positional game in an opening line where your opponent is probably not too experienced.  You have got to beat a youngster while you still can, because it doesn't take that long for one of these bright kids to breeze by and leave you back in the dust.  These days, a 13-year-old expert may be a 17-year-old IM the next time you duel––especially with a good chess coach like Fred Lindsay.

Miguel Ballicora
Bill Calton

Ballicora,M.-Calton,B. (1998 Michigan Open, Round 5)
Queen's Gambit: Chigorin [D07/06 (2nd ed.)]
1998.09.06. USA Flint, MI (Kearsley High School)

Annotations by Miguel Ballicora
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6
The Chigorin defense generally gives good activity to the black pieces to compensate a solid white pawn structure.  Black waives the possibility to attack the center with the natural c5 but threats permanently to do it with the more aggressive e5.  Next moves show a battle for this square.

3.Nf3 Bg4 4.cxd5 Bxf3 5.dxc6 Bxc6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.f3
White intends to build with e4 a solid center and reduce the activity of the c6-bishop.

7...e5!
Black temporary sacrifices a pawn to disrupt the white center because there is no time to prepare an attack to it.

8.dxe5 Nd7 9.e4
Trying to keep the pawn with f4 wastes too much time 9.f4 f6 10.exf6 Nxf6 11.Qxd8+ Rxd8 and Black will have all the pieces on the best squares.

9...Bc5
Before taking the pawn is important to control the g1-a7 diagonal to prevent White's king from castling.

10.Bf4 Qe7 11.Qc2 O-O-O 12.O-O-O Nxe5
Black completed the development with an equal game.  White has the center but Black has all the pieces active.  White now has to decide where to develop the KB.  Be2 would be the natural move but is on the way of the rest of the pieces.  For instance, White would not have the possibility to maneuver Bg3 and Bf2 to fight for the important dark squares that surround the white center pawn chain.

13.Bb5
With the idea of exchanging the main protector of d5, best square for the white knight.

13...Bxb5 14.Nxb5 c6
Now it is not necessary to set the goal of reaching d5 with the knight to induce c6 for creating weaknesses (Nimzovich's typical plan of taking advantage of an open file in his book "My System").  Now, the goal is reaching c5, to exploit the semi-open file (Nc3-Na4 and Bg3-Bf2 if necessary)

15.Nc3 Ng6 16.Bg3 h5
Black tries to get the white bishop off of the h2-b8 diagonal.

17.Na4
It follows the plan mentioned above, but it is better Kb1 first avoiding checks in g5 or e3 and preparing Rc1 if necessary.

17...Bd4 18.Kb1 Qb4
Black activates the queen and tries to avoid the white plan but the queen will have to retreat before the attack of the minor pieces.

19.Be1 Qb5 20.Nc3 Qg5?
This is a decisive mistake despite that it looks like a natural move.  20...Qc4 21.Bf2 Bxf2 22.Qxf2 Kb8 23.Qg3+ Kc8 (23...Ka8 24.Rd6 h4 25.Rhd1 takes the d-file.).

21.Nd5!

Position after 21.Nd5!
This position is very interesting.  The knight in d5 obstructs the d-file and the defense of the d4-bishop.  It also closes the escape of the queen towards the queen's side and takes e7, f6 and f4.  Those are squares that the black queen had as an exit.  Now, the only good square where the queen can move is e5 but is also the only reasonable retreat of the bishop that cannot be shared!  If 21....Qe5, 22.Bg3 wins a piece.

21...Be5
Black does not want to leave the dark squares on the queen's side unprotected.  Maybe it is better to threaten the knight with ...Kb8.
A) 21...Bb6 (White can take the bishop getting an advantage in the endgame, B vs N, plus weaknesses on the dark squares, but an intermediate sequence is even better) 22.h4 Qe5 23.Bc3 Qe6 24.Bxg7 [±].
B) 21...Kb8 (Attacks the origin of all problems, the knight on d5, but the king is on a very bad diagonal) 22.Bg3+ Be5 23.f4 Qh6 (23...Nxf4 24.Nxf4 Bxf4 25.Qc1!! wins a piece with a double pin; 23...Qg4 24.Ne3) 24.fxe5 h4! (24...cxd5 25.e6+ Ka8 26.Bc7 Rc8 27.exd5 fxe6 28.d6 is very good for White.) 25.Bf2 cxd5 26.exd5 Nxe5 27.Rhe1 and White is better.
C) 21...Bf6. During the game I saw that h4 was enough to guarantee an advantage in this position, but it seems that Bg3 is stronger.
C1) 22.Bg3!?
C11) 22...Be5 23.Qc5 Kb8 (23...Bxg3 24.Nb6+ wins the queen.) 24.f4 Bxf4 (24...Nxf4 25.Nxf4 Bxf4 26.Qxg5) 25.Nxf4 Qxc5 26.Ne6+ wins material.
C12) 22...h4 23.Bc7 Rde8 24.Qc5 Qxg2 25.Nxf6 gxf6 26.Bd6 and White's attack is very strong.)
C2) 22.h4 Qe5 23.Bc3 Qe6 24.Nxf6 gxf6 is better for White.

22.h4
The black queen is forced to be in a very passive position.

22...Qh6 23.Bd2 Qh7 24.Be3
Taking the best diagonal for this bishop.

24...Bb8
This move leaves the king in an uncomfortable situation but there are no choices.  For instance: 24...Kb8 can be met by 25.Qc5 cxd5 26.Qxa7+ Kc7 27.Qa5+ Kb8 (27...Kd7 28.Rxd5+ Ke7 29.Bc5+ Bd6 30.Qc7+ [+-]) 28.Ba7+ Kc8 29.Rxd5 Rxd5 30.Qxd5 Rd8 31.Rc1+ Bc7 32.Qxf7 Rd7 33.Qe8+ Rd8 34.Qe6+ Rd7 35.Rxc7+ Kxc7 36.Bb6+ [+-].

25.Qa4 Rxd5!?
Black sacrifices the exchange trying to survive in the endgame.  After a discovered check the knight will be in the center supported by a pawn and the queen will come back to the game.  This is the the best practical chance.  All other moves gave not better opportunities.  It was not good to accept the knight:
A) 25...cxd5 26.Rc1+ Bc7 27.Qxa7
A1) 27...Ne5 28.Bb6 Nc4 (28...Nc6 29.Rxc6 [±]) 29.Qa8+ Kd7 30.Qxb7 [+-].
A2) 27...Kd7 28.Qa4+ Kd6 (28...Kc8 29.Bb6 [+-]) 29.Qb4+ Kd7 30.Qb5+ Kd6 31.Qxd5+ [+-].
A3) 27...Rd6 28.Bb6 Rc6 29.Rxc6 [+-].
A4) 27...Nf8 28.Bf4 Ne6 29.Bxc7 Nxc7 30.Qa5 b6 31.Qa7! Rd7 32.Qa8#.
B) 25...a6 (This move leaves huge weaknesses on the dark squares.) 26.Nb6+ Kc7 27.Qa5 Rhe8 (27...Ba7 28.Nd5+ Kb8 29.Qc7+ Ka8 30.Nb6+ Bxb6 31.Qxb6 [+-].) 28.Bf4+!
B1) 28...Nxf4 29.Nd5+ Kc8 (29...Kd7 30.Nf6+ [+-]) 30.Ne7+ Rxe7 31.Rxd8#.
B2) 28...Ne5 29.Bxe5+ Rxe5 30.Na8+ Kc8 31.Rxd8#.

26.exd5 Nf4+ 27.Ka1 Nxd5 28.Rxd5!
This goes for an immediate win.  The black knight became the best piece and a perfect shield for the king.  28.Bxa7 Bxa7 29.Qxa7 Rd8 30.Rhe1 Qf5 (White will still have to sweat in order to win) 31.Qa8+ (31.Re7 Rd7 32.Re8+ Kc7 33.Qb8+ Kb6) 31...Kc7 32.Re7+ Rd7 33.Qa5+ Kd6.

28...cxd5 29.Rc1+ Kd8 30.Qa5+ Ke7 31.Qxd5
With all the pieces over the black king the advantage is decisive.  The threats Bc5+ or Bg5+, opening the e-file to the rook, cannot be stopped.

31...Qg8 32. Bc5+ Kf6 33. Qg5+
33.Bd4+ is the shortest method.  33.Bd4+ Ke7 (33... Kg6 34. Qg5+ Kh7 35. Qxh5#) 34. Re1+ and mate in two.

33...Ke6 34.Re1+ Kd7 35.Qd5+ Kc8 36.Re7 Bd6 37.Qxb7+ Kd8 38.Qd7# 1-0



Hahn,D.-Ballicora,M. (1998 Michigan Open, Round 7)
English: Reversed Sicilian (Carls) [A25/11 (2nd ed.)]
1998.09.07. USA Flint, MI (Kearsley High School)

Annotations by Miguel Ballicora
1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.Rb1
Now Black has to make a decision about the early queenside attack planned by White with b4-b5. Where is the knight is going to go?  The main options are e7 or d8.  The former is more natural but the black bishop must remain on c8 defending b7.  With the knight on d8 the bishop is free to be developed.  Black with the next move chose the latter plan.

5...Nge7
More flexible is 5...d6 because it keeps both possibilities open.

6.b4 d6
Black already decided to place the knight on d8. Therefore, The bishop and the queen must move first.  To do so, Black needs a tempo.  It can be gained with ...Bf5 attacking the rook on b1. 

7.e3
The advance b5 should be played to prepare for this move, e.g. 7.b5 Nd4 8.e3 Ne6; e6 is a nice square for the knight because it controls d4, c5 and helps for a possible attack with f5-f4.

7...Bf5 
Just in time.

8.d3 Qd7 9.b5 Nd8 10.e4 Be6 11.Nd5
White does not want to allow 11.Nge2 Bh3.

11...0-0 12.Nxe7+
To disrupt the combination Qd7-Be6-Bh3; however, it is not that dangerous.  12.Ne2 Nxd5 (12...f5 is problably the right move) 13.cxd5 Bh3 14.0-0 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 f5 16.f3 White is slightly better, because he can pressure on the c-file, and the black bishop is the "bad one".  Black cannot attack so easily on the kingside.  For instance ...f4 is answered by g4 and ...g4 by f4.

12...Qxe7 13.Ne2 Bd7!?
The knight in d8 is misplaced.  Black tries to locate it on c5.  13...f5 deserves consideration.

14.0-0 Ne6 15.Be3 Nc5 16.Nc3 Be6
16...c6! 17.bxc6 Bxc6 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 and the postion is equal. The pawn structure is locked and if White trades the bishop for the knight, an eventual endgame with opposite bishops will make it even more difficult to materialize any advantage. However, Black has no chance to fight for a win. The decision not to play ...c6 was too risky, but only a victory could have given me a clear second place in the championship.

17.Qd2
This is a position where the natural move is either f4 for White and f5 for Black.  However, none of those are recommended because the opponent's fianchettoed bishop will be very active. White develops the queen defending the knight on c3.  This avoids 17...a6 opening the a-file in Black's favor.

17...Rab8
Black also takes care of the diagonal h1-a8. The original plan was ...a6 but it does not work. 
A) 17...a6 18.bxa6 b6 19.f4 f6 (19...exf4 20.gxf4, Black cannot play the typical defensive move ...f5, 20...Rxa6 21.f5 Bd7 22.Nd5 Black is in trouble; 19...Rxa6 20.f5 Bd7 21.g4 with a strong initiative for White on the kingside) 20.f5 Bf7 21.g4± with advantage of space on the kingside and attack.
B) 17...Rae8, similar idea as the text (taking material out of the diagonal h1-a8) but it does not over protect b7, 18.f4 exf4 19.gxf4 f5 20.Bxc5 dxc5 (20...Bxc3 21.Qxc3 dxc5 22.exf5 Rxf5 23.Bxb7±) 21.e5 White is better.

18.Rfe1
White prepares d4.  18.f4 exf4 19.gxf4 f5 
A) 20.e5?!, trying to take over the center tactically, 20...dxe5 21.fxe5 (21.Nd5 Qd6) 21...Bxe5 22.d4
A1) 22...Rbd8 23.Nd5 (23.Qf2 f4) 23...Bxd5 24.Bxd5+ Rxd5 25.cxd5 Ne4 26.Qg2 Bd6 is unclear, but Black is ok.
A2) 22...Bxc4 23.Rfd1 f4 24.Bf2 f3 25.Bf1 Bf4 (25...Bxf1 26.Kxf1 Bf4 27.Nd5 Qd7 Black wins).
B) 20.Bxc5 
B1) 20...Bxc3! (the knight would be better than this bishop if White plays e5) 21.Qxc3 dxc5 22.exf5 Rxf5 (22...Bxf5 23.Bd5+ Be6 24.Rbe1) 23.Rbe1 Qf6 24.Re5 b6 Black is ok.
B2) 20...dxc5 21.e5 b6 22.Nd5 and White is better.

18...b6
Now the long diagonal is empty. The possible action of the white bishop against his fianchettoed bishop does not bother Black anymore.  The knight on c5 is well supported. Black can start to consider ...f5 on the next moves if White stands quiet. 

19.d4
It is a chance to gain an advantage but more accurate is 19.f4.   19.f4 Qd7 (Black wants to play 20...f5, it is necessary to take the queen out of the influence of the e1-rook and not to permit White to advance the pawn to f5) 20.d4, any other move is met by 20....f5 (20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Bxc5 bxc5 22.Rbd1 Rfd8 23.Na4 Bf8 Black is fine) 20...exd4 21.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 22.Qxd4 f6 is a slightly improved version of what was played in the game] 

19...exd4 20.Bxd4 Bxd4
20...Bxc4? 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qd4+ Kg8 23.Qxc4.

21.Qxd4 f6
Once Black disposed of his own dark square bishop, pawns will assume the duty to control those squares. 
22.f4 Qf7 23.Nd5 Bxd5 24.cxd5 Rbe8 25.Rbd1?!
White seems to have a slight advantage because he has more space.  However Black's position is very solid, there is no obvious weaknesses that White can use.  Black's knight on c5 covers them all and cannot be attacked by any white piece. It is not easy to see how White can progress. One possible plan is Re3-Rae1-h4-g4 trying to open a file on the kingside and attack through that.  25.Ra3 can momentarily distract  the a8-rook and then move suddenly to the kingside. White has to be very careful because Black has many defensive resources.  Pe4 can become a weak point and there is always a threat like ...f5.  If White tries to avoid it with g4, the dark squares become weak after ...g5!. The move in the game lost an important tempo. Time pressure will start to harass both players, they had 15 and 10 minutes on the clock,respectively.  
25.Re3 Qg7 26.Rbe1 Re7
A) 27.Qc4 Kh8 28.h4 Rfe8 threatens f5.
B) 27.Ra3 f5 28.e5 dxe5 29.fxe5 Nd7 30.Rxa7 Nxe5 31.Kh1 Rfe8 32.Rc1 c5!? 33.Rxe7 Qxe7 34.Qd2 Qd6 Black is not worse.
C) 27.h4 Rfe8 28.h5 a5 (28...f5 29.e5, White is better, 29...dxe5? 30.fxe5 Nd7 31.h6! Qxh6 32.d6 cxd6 33.Bd5+ Kf8 34.exd6 Rxe3 35.Qh8#) 29.bxa6 Nxa6 30.Bf1 Nc5 31.Bb5 Rf8 White is better but Black can resist.

25...Qg7 
White wants to play e5, Black does not want to allow it so easily.

26.Re2
26.Re3!?

26...Re7 27.Rde1 Rfe8 28.Qc4 Kh8 29.a4?!
This move is not necessary at all.  This pawn now becomes a permanent weakness.

29...f5 
Once White's center has been restricted, it is logical to undemine it.  This simplifies the game and equalizes it.  However Black could have fought for a win with ...a5 before ...f5.  In the postmortem we analyzed that after ...f5 it is very important to have the pawn on a5 instead of a7.  In many variations, after ...Nxa4, the pawn on a5 is passed and supported. 
29...a5! now 30...f5 is a serious threat 
A) 30.bxa6 Ra8 
A1) 31.Qd4, preparing the advance e5 is too slow, 31...Rxa6 32.e5 fxe5 33.fxe5 Rxa4 34.Qc3 dxe5 35.Rxe5 Nd3! (35...Ne4 36.Qc2!) 36.Qb3 Rxe5 37.Rxe5 Qxe5 38.Qxa4 Qe1+ 39.Bf1 Qf2+[-+].
A2) 31.e5 31...fxe5 32.fxe5 Rxe5 33.Rxe5 dxe5 34.Qc3 e4 35.Qxg7+ Kxg7 36.Bxe4 (36.a5 bxa5 37.Rc1 Nxa6 38.Bxe4 Ra7 [-/+]) 36...Rxa6 37.Bc2 Kf6[-/+]. 
B) 30.Qd4 30...f5 31.e5 dxe5 32.fxe5 Nd7 33.d6 cxd6 
B1) 33...Nxe5? 34.dxc7! Nf3+ 35.Kh1! Qxd4 36.Rxe7 Rg8 37.Bxf3+-
B2) 33...Rxe5 34.Rxe5 Nxe5 35.Kh1 cxd6 36.Qxd6 and Black has problem with the pin) 
B3) 33...cxd6 34.Qxd6 Re6 35.Qd4 (35.Qc7 Nc5 36.Qxg7+ Kxg7 [-/+]) 35...Nc5 [=/+].

30.exf5 Rxe2 31.Rxe2 Rxe2 32.Qxe2 Qa1+ 33.Bf1 Qd4+ 34.Qf2 Qxd5 
Keeping the queen in the center is safest. 34...Qxf2+ 35.Kxf2 gxf5 36.Bh3 Nxa4 37.Bxf5 Nc3 38.Bd3 Nxd5 39.Kf3 Kg7 40.Ke4 Ne7 Black has material advantage but White compensates with a good centralization of the pieces.

35.Qb2+ Kg8 36.fxg6 hxg6 37.Qf6
This activation of the queen forces draw.

37...Kh7 
37...Qf7 38.Qd4 it will take the center for the white queen.  Bc4 is threatened and d5 is not possible without losing a pawn with Bg2.  After Bc4-c5  White will have the advantage.
37...Qe4 38.Qd8+ Kg7 (38...Kf7 39.Qxc7+ Ke6 40.Bh3+) 39.Qxc7+ Kh6 40.Qxd6.

38.Qh4+
It allows an opportunity to refuse perpetual with 38....Kg7 39. Qe7+ Qf7. White corrects it at move 40 with the more accurate Qf8+ 

38...Kg7 39.Qe7+ Kh6
39...Qf7 (Trying to avoid a draw; but is too risky); 
A) 40.Qe3 Qf6! (It takes the important long diagonal and the dark squares of the center. The knight complements it taking the light ones. White has a weakness in a4 but Black's pawn majority is paralyzed for the moment. Black threatens ...Nxa4, ...Nc5 and ...a5 if the white bishop takes the diagonal h1-a8. Another threat is d5-d4.  It would be nice for White to play g4 and g5 to remove the queen from either the diagonal or the protection of the e7 square.  However, it fails because Ne6 wins a pawn) 41.Bc4 (threatens g4-g5) 41...Nxa4 42.g4 Qa1+ 43.Kg2 Qb2+, and if White wishes, with Kg1, making Black's best option to repeat checks.
B) 40.Qxf7+ Kxf7 41.Bc4+! (avoids d5, Black suffers through the white squares) 41...Kf6 42.Kf2 Nxa4 43.Ke3 Nc5 44.Kd4 Nd7 45.Kd5 Nb8, White has a much better endgame despite being a pawn down.

40.Qf8+ Kh7 41.Qe7+ Kh6 42.Qf8+ Kh7 ½-½.
A hard fought game.

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