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Kamran Shirazi vs Joel Benjamin
United States Championship (1984), Berkeley, CA USA, rd 13, Jul-??
Queen's Indian Defense: Fianchetto. Nimzowitsch Variation Quiet Line (E15)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Dec-22-03  Benjamin Lau: This is the only game in the database I think with 6. Nbd2? It's entertaining to watch Joel tie Shirazi up hand and foot because of this opening error.
Dec-23-03  Catfriend: Very nice positional strangling, but i am not sure white took from the opening all he could.. I agree 6.Nbd2 is an error, but maybe it isn't as fatal as u say... maybe 8.Bg2 Be4 9.0-0 B:Rb1 10.N:Bb1 and white has only -0.6 according to Geinus 2
Dec-23-03  Benjamin Lau: It isn't fatal with best play of course as you pointed out, but any move that gives black a clear advantage straight out out of the opening should be given a ?.
Jan-04-08  Riverbeast: This is the US Championship where Shirazi went on 'tilt'...he scored 1/2 - 16 1/2 (one draw, sixteen losses, in seventeen games).

The (somewhat cruel) joke going around in 1992, when Shirazi went 1-14 at the US Championship, was that he wanted to prove 1984 wasn't a fluke

Dec-26-11  Snehalshekatkar: Please anybody will tell me whats wrong with 8.Qc2 ? I think that that is a good move and loses a pawn only! Please make it clear..
Dec-26-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  OhioChessFan: <Snehal> 8. Qc2 is not awful but still leaves White with problems. In the position after 7...Bb7, here's what is going on:


click for larger view

Black's dark squared Bishop is pinning the Knight. Any time the Bishop is attacked, Black can simply capture Bxd2+. So if White attacks that Bishop with 8. Qc2, the obvious response is 8...Bxf3. That removes the only defender of the d4 Pawn. Your post suggests to me you recognize that since you mention White losing a Pawn. White's only reasonable response to 8...Bxf3 is 9. exf3. The d2 Knight is pinned, and can't capture. Then 9...Bxd4 and we have this position:


click for larger view

White is down a Pawn, and no Pawn on the d and e files. Black has a Bishop in the middle of White's position and no easy way to remove it. I think White's best shot is 10. b4 intending Nb3. But Black has the simple developing move 10...Nc6 I suspect that position is positionally lost for players at the GM level. I think maybe just giving up the Pawn with 8. Bg2 is White's best course of action. At least he can castle and doesn't double Pawns.

Dec-26-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: < Dec-22-03 Benjamin Lau: This is the only game in the database I think with 6. Nbd2? It's entertaining to watch Joel tie Shirazi up hand and foot because of this opening error. >

The opening explorer has a different opinion.
Opening Explorer

Dec-26-11  Shams: <Penguin> Your link seems to support Lau's point, not undermine it.
Mar-17-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  tpstar: The Queen Amidala trap goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2?! (6. Bd2) Bc3 7. Rb1 Bb7 8. Bg2 Be4 9. Nh4 Bxg2 10. Nxg2 Bxd4 and Black won a Pawn.

https://youtu.be/5Q8KK5kI6UY

Shirazi got off to a bad start and never recovered.

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