For this game of the week, I chose to annotate the critical last round encounter at the Canadian Closed between Leonid Gerzhoy and Thomas Krnan. In this game, White chooses an uncommon opening, and faces certain problems after the opening. I hope you find it instructive.
[Event "2015 Canadian Closed"]
[Site "Guelph, Ontario"]
[Date "2015.07.16"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Gerzhoy, Leonid"]
[Black "Krnan, Tomas"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2538"]
[BlackElo "2557"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.10"]
{Going into this round, Gerzhoy had a full point lead over Krnan. To tie for
first, Krnan was required to win this critical game with the Black pieces.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Be2 {Gerzhoy chooses to avoid common theory, and develops
his bishop to the somewhat passive square e2.} Nf6 4. d3 g6 5. O-O Bg7 6. c4
O-O 7. Nc3 d6 {The position seems to be similar to some King's Indian
positions, but the White pawn is on d3 instead of d5, leaving White with less
space. Black has fully equalized, and seems to have a clearer plan with f5 at
some later moment.} 8. Nd5 Nd7 9. Bg5 f6 10. Be3 Nc5 11. b4 Ne6 12. b5 Ncd4 13.
Nxd4 exd4 {Black accepts doubled pawns, but because d3 is a backward pawn, as
long as Black maintains a Knight to pressure d3, the backward pawn may prove
weaker than the doubled pawns.} 14. Bd2 c6 15. bxc6 bxc6 16. Nb4 (16. Nf4 Nc5
17. Rb1 f5 18. f3 Bd7 $15) 16... Bd7 17. Bg4 Nc5 18. Bxd7 Qxd7 19. Qe2 f5 $17 {
Black's pieces are harmoniously placed, while the placement of White's knight
is somewhat awkward.} 20. f3 Rab8 21. Rab1 Rb7 22. Nc2 fxe4 23. fxe4 Rxf1+ 24.
Rxf1 Rb2 25. Bb4 Na4 26. a3 c5 27. Be1 Nc3 28. Bxc3 (28. Qd2 {is not
immediately losing}) 28... dxc3 29. Kh1 h5 30. e5 (30. Qf2 Kh7 31. Rc1 Qe7 $19
32. g3 Qg5 33. Rf1 Qd2 34. Qxd2 cxd2 35. Ne3 Rb3) 30... dxe5 31. h3 e4 32. d4 (
32. dxe4 Qa4 33. Rc1 Bh6 $19) 32... cxd4 33. Qxe4 d3 34. Ne3 c2 35. c5 Rb1 36.
Qc4+ Kh7 37. c6 Rxf1+ 38. Nxf1 Qd4 {This entire game was played extremely
precisely by Black.} 0-1
