At one point, Ponomariov had a very active position and it looked like Kamsky would be in trouble. One of the key moves was White’s 29th move. Black offered a pawn to open up his position. Ponomariov declined and got nothing out of his position. The question is should he have played 29.Rxb6?
GM Ponomariov (2705) – GM Kamsky (2714) [E21]
06.12.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 b6 6.Bg2 Bb7 7.0–0 cxd4 8.Qxd4 0–0 9.Rd1 h6 10.b3 Nc6 11.Qd3 Qe7 12.Bb2 Ba3 13.Bxa3 Qxa3 14.Nb5 Qe7 15.Nd6 Rab8 16.a3 Ba8 17.b4 Rfd8 18.b5 Na5 19.Ne5 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Rf8 21.Qf3 Qd8 22.Rd4 Qc7 23.Rad1 Nb7 24.Nxb7 Rxb7 25.Rd6 Qc8 26.R1d4 Rc7 27.Qd3 Rd8 28.f3 a6 29.a4 axb5 30.axb5 Rb7 31.g4 Qc5 32.Nxd7 Rbxd7 33.Rxd7 Rxd7 34.Rxd7 Nxd7 35.Qxd7 Qxc4 36.Kf2 Qc5+ 37.e3 Qc2+ 38.Kg3 Qc5 39.Kf2 Qc2+ 40.Kg3 Qc5 41.Kf2 Game drawn ½–½
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Well done Gata! Now he’ll win with white next game.
32 Nd7? Ponomoriov got cold feet. 32 f4!? Nd5 33 Rd5 ed5 34 Rd5 and white has more than enough for the exchange. Why take a draw over a position that offers chances, when you have black next game?
-Justin Daniel