1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Bd2 f5 7... Bf6 is also possible and probably more common. By playing ...f5 Black is trying to establish his stake in the center. 8. O-O 8. d5!? 8... O-O 9. Rc1 Bf6 10. d5 Na6 11. a3 11. Qc2?! allows the thematic 11... Bxc3 12. Bxc3 exd5 and White doesn’t seem to have enough compensation for the pawn. 11... Nac5 12. b4 Nxc3 13. Bxc3 Ne4 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Qd4 So far we were following my home preparation. In the game Browne-Najdorf, 1978 white chose 15. Nd4 but after 15... a5 black had his share of fun: 16. Nb5 allows the a-file to be opened and get some counter play, whereas(16. b5 just gives away important c5 square. Instead my opponent opts for a seemingly innocuous move...) 15... Qe7? ...and black doesn’t find the correct response. If Black would realize, that the main threat was exchanging d pawns and placing the knight on e5, he would probably find 15... Rfd8 and after 16. dxe6 dxe6 17. Qxf6 gxf6!? the position is equal. Unfortunately Black decided to keep queens on the board (which looks quite consistent: queen controls c5 square and helps to support a7-a5), completely overlooking White’s powerful reply. 16. Qe5! Simply threatening to win the c7 pawn! 16... Qd6 16... d6 (16... c5 seems like a worthy try but allows the extremely unpleasant(16... Rac8 17. Nd4) 17. Qc7! Rab8 18. dxe6 and Black has little to be excited about.) 17. Qxe6+ Qxe6 18. dxe6 Rae8 19. Nd4 g6 (19... Bc8 20. Nxf5!) 20. Nb5 17. dxe6 Qxe5 18. Nxe5 dxe6 19. Rfd1 Rfd8 20. Rd3 During the game I didn’t like the possible 20. Bxe4 aiming for the minor piece endgame. After 20... Bxe4 and inevitable rook exchange on d-file, White has an excellently placed knight while Black’s seemingly active bishop has nothing to attack. It is anything but easy for White to convert this advantage and I am far from saying that Black is lost, but I certainly wouldn’t be happy to play this endgame. 20... Rxd3 21. exd3 Nd6 22. c5 This move seems a bit impatient. 22. Bxb7 Nxb7 23. Nc6 (23. c5 bxc5) 23... a6! keeps Black in the game, although White still has upper hand. 22... Bxg2 23. Kxg2 23. cxd6? cxd6! 23... Nf7 24. Nc6 The straightforward 24. Nxf7 doesn’t reach the target. After 24... Kxf7 25. cxb6 axb6! (Greedy 25... cxb6? 26. Rc7+ Kf6 gives White clear plus, since Black’s rook is chained to the a-pawn.) 26. Rxc7+ Kf6 27. Rc3 Ke5 and the active king fully compensates the loss of a pawn. After 28. Kf3 Kd4 29. Rc7 g5 black is wiping off all queenside pawns with a draw. 24... Nd8 25. Nd4 Kf8 25... Kf7? would allow 26. cxb6 26. Nb5 c6 27. Nd4 Ke7 28. cxb6? This exchange throws away all winning chances. After 28. a4 black is condemned to passive, although not hopeless, defense. 28... axb6 29. Nxc6+ Nxc6 30. Rxc6 Rxa3 31. Rxb6 Rxd3 32. Rb7+ Kf6 33. h4 h6 34. b5 g5 35. b6 Rb3 36. Rb8 g4 37. b7 Kg7 38. Re8 Rxb7 39. Rxe6 Rf7 40. f3 Rb7 41. fxg4 fxg4 42. h5 Rb2+ 43. Kg1 Rb5 44. Rg6+ Kh7 45. Rxg4 Rxh5 46. Kg2 Rf5 47. Ra4 Kg6 1/2-1/2 [Shmelov]