1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 The famous MacCutcheon Variation of the French Defense. For this encounter Vallejo had prepared a rare sub-variation and achieves a vibrant position right out of the opening. 5. e5 h6 6. Bc1!? A rare continuation. Anand played Bd2 in Wijk ann Zee vs Radjabov. 6... Ne4 7. Qg4 g6 8. Nge2 c5 9. a3 Bxc3+? A dubious decision already. The real test here is Ba5! 10. bxc3 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qc7 12. f3 Nc3 13. Bd2 The result of the opening struggle hasn't been good for black. His King-side is permanently weak, White has pair of bishops, and there is a dark-square complex in the black camp already proving to be a headache. 13... Na4 14. Nf4 a6 15. c4! White explosively strikes at the center! - Black is losing what little foothold he has there and so white's advantage becomes decisive quickly. 15... dxc4 16. Bxc4 Nc6 16... Qxc4? 17. Rc1 17. Rc1 Qe7! Not better ... 17... Nb2 18. Be2 Qd8 19. Nh5! gxh5 20. Qg7 Rf8 (20... Kd7 21. d5 exd5 22. Qxf7+) 21. Rxc6 and black's position is destroyed. 21... bxc6 22. Bb4 18. O-O! 18. Bb3 Nb6! (18... Qxa3 19. Bxe6 Bxe6 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxc6 bxc6 22. Qxe6+ Qe7 23. Qxc6+ Kf7 24. Qxa4) 19. a4 h5! 18... Nb6 18... Nb2 19. Nd3 Nxc4 20. Rxc4 Qxa3 21. Nc5 19. Nd3 19. Nxg6!? Probably not enough 19... fxg6 20. Bd3 g5! 21. f4 h5! 19... Qxa3? Allowing the game to abruptly come to an end. Better was 19... Bd7 20. Ra1? 20. Nf2! The knight belongs on the key e4 square! From there it will be harassing both f6 and d6! Nc5 is a mistake because of Ne5! but -- the text move decides the game. 20... Qb2 (20... Bd7 21. Ne4) 21. Ne4 Qxd4+ 22. Kh1 Nxc4 23. Rxc4 Qd3 24. Rd1 Nxe5 25. Qf4 With a decisive attack for white. 20... Qe7 21. Bb3 Qd8! The best answer. Black has somehow avoided the immediate Nc5-e4 threat. 22. Be3 Nd5 23. Bf2 h5! Thanks to this nuance black wins a second pawn, however, Black's undeveloped Queen-side and weak dark-squares give Vallejo compensation for the material deficit. 24. Qe4 Nc3 25. Qe1 Nxd4 26. Bd1 Ndb5 27. Nc5 O-O 28. Ba4 Nxa4 29. Rxa4 Much stronger was 29. Nxa4! Rb8 30. Nb6 Nd4 31. Rb1 And black's pieces are in zugzwang. 29... f5 30. Qc1! A deep evaluati on and strategical thought. White maintains an initiative because of his active pieces and the weaknesses on the Black King- side. Both of these factors are more important than black's material advantage. 30. exf6 Qxf6 31. Qd2 e5 32. Re1 Bf5= 30... Kh7 31. Rc4 Qe8 32. Qg5 b6 33. Na4 Bb7 34. Be3 Qf7 35. Nxb6 35. Rd1! In the time trouble white missed a clear way to increase the advantage after... 35... Bd5 36. Nxb6 Qg7 37. Nxd5 exd5 38. Rxd5 with a winning position. 35... Rad8 36. Rfc1 Qg7 37. h3? A serious error. 37. Bc5! Rfe8 38. Bd6 Achieving full domination over the cramped Black position! Black is helpless to prevent the crushing Rc7 idea. 37... Rd3! And the Rook finally enters the game. 38. Bc5 Rf7 39. Bf2 Qxe5 40. Re1 Qg7 40... Qf6!? 41. Qxf6 Rxf6 42. Bh4 g5 43. Bxg5 Rg6 44. h4 e5 45. Na4 Bd5 41. Rxe6 Nd4! Time pressure is over and Black has managed to escape with some advantages. The trouble however is that his weakened King-side structure limits his chances to gain the full point. 42. Re1! 42. Bxd4 Rxd4 43. Rxd4 Qxd4+ 44. Kh2 Rg7 45. Kh1 a5 42... f4 Nothing special after 42... a5 43. Ra4! Nc6 (43... Nb3 44. Nc4 Bc6 (44... Rd5) 45. Ne5 Bxa4 46. Nxf7 Rd7 47. Nd6!) 44. Re6! 43. Bxd4 43. Qc5! Keeps some attention at least... 43... Nc6 (43... Nxf3+ 44. gxf3 Rxf3 45. Nd5) 44. Rce4 43... Rxd4 44. Kh1 Rd6 45. Na4! Less attractive is... 45. Nc8 Rd5 46. Qh4 a5 47. Nb6 Rd6 48. Nc8 Rd3 45... Rd5 46. Qh4 Qf8 46... Rd4 47. Nb6 ...still black has retained some advantage but it is not clear how he will benefit from it. 47. Qf2 Qd6 48. Nc5 Rdf5 48... Rd2 49. Nxb7 Rxb7 50. Qh4 Seems to be drawish also. 1/2-1/2 [GM Alterman and J.Doss]