Vucic Needs to Win Against the English in So Cal

The English Opening is very flexible for both sides. In many games, the player who is more flexible is the winner. Each move played gives the opponent information and while gaining ground a move can reduce the flexibility of the position. An advantageous position often requires the use of the initiative to achieve a win. This may entail an element of risk because the player may not see everything and have to rely on judgment. Just holding the advantage to avoid risk or hope for a draw is not without risk. The advantage, according to Steinitz, can be temporary if it is not maintained by attack. The English Opening can be used by both players to test the judgment of the opponent. I believe that is what happened in the following game from the Southern California Open Championship at San Marcos in 1997.
In the sixth and final round, FIDE Master Thomas Wolski was in clear first place with 4.5 and had white. Facing him was International Master Mladen Vucic who was tied for second with 4. Vucic was born in 1955 and later won the Yugoslav Junior Championship. In 1988 he won the New York Open. He has played in the Yugoslav Championship and the United States Championship. He has been a chess instructor in Bosnia and the United States. In this game Vucic needed a win for clear first place and a draw for a tie for second. Wolski also needed a win for clear first and a draw for a tie for second. Someone was going to get a lesson.