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ANNOTATED GAME

able and aspiring average
paradoxal (1524) vs. coupigwe (1593)
Annotated by: paradoxal (1200)
Chess opening: Sicilian defence (B30)
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Pages: 12
1. e4
Freeing the queen and dark-squared bishop.
1 comment
 
1... c5
1 ... c5 Currently the most popular response to 1 e4 - known as the sicilian defence. Immediately stakes a claim in the centre by attacking d4.

 
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3
Preparing for d4.

 
3... d5 4. Bd3 e6 5. O-O
Castling the King into safety before proceeding with queenside development.

 
5... Nf6
The pressure on the e4 pawn mounts.

 
6. e5 Nd7 7. Bb5 a6 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. d4 cxd4
At this stage Black already has the upper-hand with a far superior pawn chain and a strong foothold in the centre. White's loss of control in the centre will limit the activity of the pieces in the later stages of middle-game.

 
10. cxd4 c5 11. b3 cxd4
Leaves the e-file pawn unprotected.

 
12. Nxd4 Nxe5
And white has no pawns in the centre; on reflection this is, probably, the end of the start of white's downfall.

 
13. Be3 Bd6 14. Nc3 O-O 15. Nce2 Ng4
Attacking the h3 pawn.

 
16. Bf4
By attempting to protect the h-file pawn I neglected to see the fork 16 ... e5. A fatal error which leaves me a minor piece down. g3 would have been a far better move, or Ng3.

 
16... e5
Forking the bishop and knight.

 
17. Nc6 Qc7 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Bxe5 Qxe5
A pawn for a minor piece leaves white down in material and black is threatening 20 ... Qxh2 mate.

 
20. Ng3 h5 21. Re1 Qd6 22. Qd4 h4
Attempting to force the knight away for 23 ... Qxh2

 
23. Nf1 h3 24. g3 Bf5 25. Rac1 Be4
Leaves the knight on g4 hanging.

 
26. Nd2 Bg2 27. Qxg4
Material is even again, though black has a distinct positional advantage with the queen, bishop and h-pawn in threatening positions whilst the black king remains in safety.

 
27... Rfe8 28. Nf3 Re7 29. Nh4 Rae8
Doubles the rook on the e-file. White will have to be extremely careful to survive.

 
30. Re3 Re7xe3 31. fxe3 Qb6
Pins the pawn on e3. The white king already looking trapped by the bishop and queen.

 
32. Nf5
Threatening 33 Qxg7 mate.

 
32... g6 33. Nd4
A mistake; the pawn is unpinned but is undefended against the black rook.

 
33... Rxe3
Both material and position in blacks favour now.

 

Pages: 12