Had a bad day at work and this game I won made my day:
1. e4 d5
2. exd5 Qxd5
3. Nc3 Qa5
4. Nf3 Nf6
5. h3 Bf5
6. Bc4 e6
7. Bb3 c6
8. d4 Bd6
9. Bd2 Qc7
10. O-O Nbd7
11. Re1 O-O-O
12. a4 g5
13. Nxg 5h6
14. Nxf7 Rdg8
15. Nxh8 Bxh3
16. g3 Bxg3
17. Kh1 Bh2
18. Bxe6 Bg2#
Game's
here.
Welcome to the forum!
Nice little game, even if I am not convinced about it correctness. But then, when did that become so important as long as the fun is there
I decided to show my very last game of last year. 2010 was on the whole a year of recovering, and I managed to go through it without losing a single game while meeting some rather good players. After having paid a heavy tribute to the Classical School utilising the Slav and the Smyslov Variation of the Ruy Lopez and drawing a lot against strong opposition, I decided to use the autumn for some serious re-education. So I excavated some of my old notebooks, checked and refined some analyses and gave the sharp openings from my youth another try. As I believe Sicilian is quite a popular opening among the community, I think the following game is interesting. It is not a masterpiece by any standard, especially since White collapsed quite early, but I think it shows some themes and ideas typical of this opening. I have supplied some short notes, and since I haven't had proper time for analysing it thoroughly I would be grateful for corrections.
NN - Cribb, 2010
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 9.f4 Be7 10.Nf3 b5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 I used this system with a considerable success in the late 80s and early 90s. It is rather risky, but suitable when playing for a win.
12.Kb1 A useful semi-waiting move. White frees the c1-square for his rook or knight, while the covering of a2 might be useful in certain variations.
12...Qb6 The control of the diagonal g1-a7 is important in the Sicilian. I consider this move to better than 12...Qa5.
13.f5 The correct reaction. White must break up Black's pawn screen. Besides the road to h6 is opened up for his Queen.
13...Rc8 The sharpest response. Black mobilises his Rook for an immediate counter-attack not fearing the intrusion of White's queen while at the same time renouncing ...0-0-0. There are quite a few playable alternatives, like for instance 13...h5. It goes without saying that 13...exf5 or 13...e5 are huge errors.
14.fxe6 fxe6 15.Qh6 Na5 Inferior is 15...Kf7 as they played in some old games.
16.Qg7 Rf8 17.Qxh7 Rxc3 This is not an inspiration of genius, but simply technique. Black removes one of White's most dangerous pieces while at the same time disrupting the pawn shelter around the white King.
18.bxc3 e5 In my opinion, which is based on both rather extensive analyses and practice, Black has full compensation for his modest investment of material. The situation is unclear. But I don't like White's next move.
19.Nh4 Initiates a doubtful manouver. However, since I intend to continue to play this variation, I am not going to reveal what I think White should play. I hope people have understanding for that.
19...Be6 20.Ng6 Rf7 21.Qh8+ Kd7 22.Nxe7 Kxe7 23.Be2 With the intention 24.Bf7, but after
23...Qc5 he discovers that that is unplayable; 24.Bh5 Qa3 25.Bxf7 Bxf7 (With the idea 26...Bxa2+) 26.Qg7 Nc4 and mate on b2. So he tries
24.Kc1 Bc4 There might be better moves here, but this seems to win in a non-problematic way. Now White blunders and the rest is silence.
25.Bxc4 He had to try 25.Bh5, even if Black should win anyway. An amusing variation is 25.Bh5 Qe3+ 26.Kb1 (26.Rd2 Qxc3 -+) Qxc3 27.Bxf7 Bxf7 (With the idea 28...Nc4)28.Rd3 (28.Qh3 Bxa2+ 29.Kxa2 Qxc2+-+) Bxa2+ 29.Kxa2 Qxc2+ 30.Ka1 Qxd3 31.Qg7+ Ke8 32.Qg8+ Kd7 33.Qa2 Nc4 and I fail to see how White should survive; Black will prepareto advance his pawns while picking up the white e-pawn with check sooner or later, and due to White's open king position he is unlikely to organise any counter attack. The Queen endings will also usually be won for Black. However this is far better than the game continuation.
25...Nxc4 26.Rd3 Qa3+ 27.Kd1 Qxa2 Black is ouf course in no hurry to exchange his formidable Knight for the white rook. First he cleans up White's queen side.
28.Ke1 Qxc2 29.Rd1 Qxc3+ 30.Ke2 Qxc2+ 31.Kf3 Qb3+ 32.Kg4 he might as well. 32.Ke2 Qe3+ 33.Kf1 and Black has a pleasant choice between 33...Nd2+ and 33...f5 which both wins easily.
32...Ne3+ 35.Kh5 Nxg2 36.Qa8 Qh3+ 37.Kg6 Nf4#