Annotated chess game: Sicilian Defense Dec 2006

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ANNOTATED GAME

Sicilian Defense Dec 2006
ethansiegel (1809) vs. insuk (1622)
Annotated by: insuk

(2100)
Chess opening: Sicilian (B76), dragon, Yugoslav attack, Rauser variation

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The always exciting Yugoslav Attack of the Sicilian Dragon defense, with a surprise resignation.

1. e4 c5

The purpose of this annotation is not to explain the book moves...any book on Sicilian openings will do a much better job than I.

2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6

I will note that this move indicates black's intentions to play the Dragon, which IMHO is the most logical way to play the Sicilian Defense as black... Najdorf fans may disagree!

1 comment

6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3

This move by white preceeded by the queenside bishop on e3 confirms white's intentions to play the Yugoslav Attack.. experts will say the best test of the Dragon, certainly bringing the most excitement to the board.

7... O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O

All by the book so far, although Bc4 can also be expected here.

9... d5

The queenside castle allows this move.. I think anything else leads to a gain of tempo by white.

10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd4

Positional approach.. offering a trade of bishops, something that black does not have to accept.

12... e5 13. Bc5 Be6

Typical offer of sacrifice here.. all by the book.

2 comments

14. Ne4 Rb8 15. Bc4 f5 16. Ng5 e4

So far these are all standard book moves, something that you can reference in any game database. Chessbase 2004 has 9 games to this point.. with white winning 7 of them!

1 comment

17. Nxe6

Now this is different, for I was counting on a continuation of the line we were on, which would be Bb3. The capture of the light squared bishop, and the three pronged attack on queen, rook, and bishop look so menacing that it would seem black has made a serious error of judgement, but how could that be, since book moves had been followed all the way. I look for a possible solution, and find the only move black has to avoid a serious loss of material.

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17... Bxb2+

This is the only move black can make. It puts the white king in check and eliminates the loss of material, at least for the time being.

18. Kb1

Forced.

2 comments

18... Nc3+

Another check to white's king, and ethansiegal and I are on the way to an exciting finish.

1 comment

19. Qxc3

Again, white is forced into this move.

19... Bxc3+

The capture of white's queen leads to the discovered check by the rook on b8.

20. Kc1

The third forced move in a row by white.

1 comment

20... Qf6

I wish I could say that black had a brilliant mate here, but there is none that I could see. I am simply attempting to save my queen with this move, nothing more. If anyone can see something better here, please let me know.

21. Nxf8+

A move which I had prevented with 17... Bxb2 , but now can do little to stop. A nice discovered check as well.

21... Kh8

Black's only sane move. (Kg7 allows 22. Rd7 ... Kh6 23. R xh7 ... Kg5) and who knows what after that!

22. Rd7

Now this is the move that in a roundabout way leads to black's surprise resignation. I had made mention of this game at the local chess club, and had foolishly put this move on the board, when our first board, who had been following along.. pipes up after a few minutes... "That's incorrect", and goes on to demonstrate that black can force a mate in 6 or 7 moves. I didn't bother to take notes at this point, knowing that I had just received some expert advice on a game in progress.. a very definite no-no. I didn't bother asking him what the correct move was for white, and didn't mention that I was still playing this game, from fear of being stoned by the membership! I do remember he mentioned Qg5 starts the mating sequence, and later that night that is the move I played next.

22... Qg5+

Feeling slightly ashamed of myself... I proceed.

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