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ANNOTATED GAME
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jstevens1 (1761) vs. rjacobs (1524)
Annotated by: rjacobs
(1691)
Chess opening: Sicilian (B90), Najdorf, Byrne (English) attack
jstevens1 (1761) vs. rjacobs (1524)
Annotated by: rjacobs
(1691)
Chess opening: Sicilian (B90), Najdorf, Byrne (English) attack
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1. e4 |
This was my 18th game against Jo. We started with a string of draws, then she beat me game after game after game (if these had been rated, her rating would have been marginally higher, mine lower - her choice). Finally, after she's got me playing against masters like Freddy and annotating my games so that they're criticised constructively by the likes of ionadowman, easy19, dmaestro, nuntar and ruachessnut (thanks lads), I've finally broken my duck. | |||||
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1... c5 |
We've been varying the openings a lot. Jo reverts to traditional territory and I reply with my favourite Sicilian. | |||||
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2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 |
At last an orthodox response! I'm heartily sick of 2. c3, 3. c3, 2. Nc3, 2. Bc4, 3. Bc4, 2. Bb5 and 3. Bb5 ... | |||||
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3... cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 |
The Najdorf Variation | |||||
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6. Be3 |
Preparing the English Attack. I quite often respond with 6. Ng4, which leads to well-analysed and tactically complex lines. Kasparov was a pioneer in that line. But I'm no Kasparov and I've been listening to Freddy's advice: sit back, ignore the database and wait for Jo to make a mistake. In this game, I did more or less ignore the database. I relied on instinct, background knowledge of the opening theory, calculation and feel for the positions. | |||||
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6... e6 |
In the past I've been punished when taking the more aggressive approach of 6. ...e5, so I stick to my favoured Scheveningen formation. | |||||
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7. f3 |
Again part of the standard English Attack. This prevents ... Ng4 and prepares g2-g4, as well as reinforcing e4. | |||||
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7... Be7 8. Qd2 |
again part of the standard build-up | |||||
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8... Qc7 |
Before committing myself to kingside castling into the teeth of the gale of Jo's incipient attack, I prepare development of my queenside, first moving the Q in order to support ...Nc6 so that the a-pawn isn't left isolated after an exchange. | |||||
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9. g4 |
Again characteristic of the English Attack. It looks frightening and wins a lot of games. Black has to remain cool and concentrate on his own opportunities. | |||||
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9... Nc6 |
Development is still my priority but I don't want to commit too early to a wing for my king and I want to challenge White's centre with this N rather than just defend with Nbd7, which deprives the wsb of options and offers no attacking options | |||||
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10. O-O-O |
White commits first. Queenside castling is a standard element in White's English Attack strategy. | |||||
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10... O-O |
I decide that I can delay White's attack with appropriate counter-measures, so castle into the storm after all. It's now a race to attack the king, basically. | |||||
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11. Kb1 |
?! A typical prophylactic move by White. But how lily-livered can you get? Time is of the essence and this does not help White's cause. Of course, if White had won, I'd be praising her prescient sagacity! | |||||
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11... b5 |
! Launching the attack. | |||||
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12. Nxc6 |
Avoiding the diversion of her bishop that would occur if Black took on d4, but this N is often a key attacker for White, so possibly not the most attacking option: if White is in an attacking frame of mind in these sorts of positions, the N often impales itself on b5, e6 or f5.... | |||||
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12... Qxc6 13. Bd3 |
looks at h7 and defends e4 and c2 but blocks the battery down the d-file: so it has its advantages and disadvantages. Alternatives were 13. Be2 and 13. Bg2. | |||||
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13... Bb7 |
Better than 13. ...Bd7, when it would be vulnerable on the d-file. The important thing is to connect the rooks and to launch the attack at White's King's position. Admittedly, this B is pointing in the wrong direction for that objective; but it does look across the centre of the board at e4, f3 and a1. | |||||
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14. g5 |
White makes contact. | |||||
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14... Nd7 |
Both e5 and c5 are attractive positions for this N. | |||||
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