Move

   This game was played in the last round of the Western States Open in Reno. Shabalov was leading, while I and a few others were half of point behind. Winning this game I tied for first in the tournament.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bg5 Be6!?
   Somehow, I predicted and expected this set-up, as Shabalov had already tried it before. Black's idea is not that bad: he wants to play ...Nbd7, ... Qc7 and then he won't need to worry about the pin and would have firm control over the e5-square. White needs to react to this plan quickly!
8. Ne5!? h6 9. Bh4 g5!?
   After 9...Nbd7 10 Nxd7 Bxd7 11 e3 0-0 12 Bd3 Re8 13 0-0-0 White is a little better. More importantly, the arising position won't suit Shabalov'saggressive style, so he found a way to complicate the position.
10. Bg3 Ne4 11. e3
   It's important not to get involved into complications before the development is completed, so White avoids 11 Nxe4 dxe4 12 0-0-0 Bxa2 13 e3 Bd5.
h5?
   Black pushes too hard. After 11...Nxg3 12 hxg3 Bxe5 13 dxe5 Nd7 14 f4 Qb6 he would be OK.
12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bc4!
   This is what Black missed! Now he cannot play 13...h4 14 Bxe6 fxe6 15 Qxe4 Qf6 16 Ng4 Bb4+ 17 Ke2+-.
Qe7 14. h4 Rg8
   Black missed a chance to put up more resistance by playing 14...Bxe5 15 Bxe5 f6. However, White keeps advantage after 16 Bxe6 Qxe6 17 Bxb8 Rxb8 18 hxg5 fxg5 19 Qc5 Qe7 20 Rc1! Rd8 21 Rc4! a6 22 Qe5.
15. O-O-O Bxe5 16. dxe5 Nd7 17. Bxe6
   17 hxg5 was also winning.
fxe6
   Or 17 ..Qxe6 18 b3!, followed by 19 Rd6.
18. Qxe4 g4 19. Rd6 O-O-O 20. Rhd1+- Nb6 21. Qb4 Rde8 22. e4 Rg7 23. Qb3 Qf7 24. a4 Na8 25. Qe3 Nb6 26. a5 Nc4 27. Qxa7 Kc7 28. R6d4 1-0