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1. e4 c5
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The Sicilian. I play it myself but don't necessarily do very well against it ... |
 
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2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6
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The Dragon Variation, not something I know much about, though I am doing alright in a tourney devoted to it on Gameknot at present. |
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6. Bc4 Bg7 7. Be3 Nc6
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Both sides are developing as quickly as possible at this stage. There are, of course, many options at each move but I think this is a main line. |
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8. f3
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Supports e4 and prevents the annoying ..Ng4 |
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8... O-O 9. Qd2 Bd7 10. Nde2
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White keeps his options open as to which side to castle for as long as possible. |
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10... a6
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Is this to prevent White's N or B from moving to b5 or to support ...b5? Or both? |
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11. Bh6
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Fulfilling the purpose of 9. Qd2 but is the timing right? White doesn't seem to have a convincing follow-up and is still slightly vulnerable due to being uncastled. |
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11... Ne5
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Black counters with an attack on the undefended Bc4. |
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12. Bb3
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So the B retreats to its predetermined refuge. |
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12... Rc8
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A standard developing move occupying the half-open c-file, typical of the Sicilian. |
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13. h4
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With the g7-h6 situation unresolved, White sees an opportunity to increase the pressure with a kingside storm. This rather commits White to either castling queenside or not castling at all, which both seem high-risk options, given the way that Black's pieces are arranged. |
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13... Nc4
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The N forks White's Q and bP. The threat on the Q undermines her support of the B on h6. I his uncastled position, White needs to be v careful. |
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14. Bxc4
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So White swaps the long-term asset, the WSB, for the immediately threatening N. |
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14... Rxc4 15. O-O-O
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... and finally commits to the Q-side. I think White's K-side attack is slightly more advanced than Black's Q-side attack. Let's see...
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15... Qa5
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An immediate riposte. |
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16. Kb1
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A standard defensive move when castled Q-side - but isn't it a bit slow? I always find these decisions very difficult but I think the Ns were too tied down while the a-pawn was not defended by another piece. |
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16... Rfc8
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Black proceeds to increase the pressure on the recently castled K. White's decision doesn't look too wise at present. Since the castling, Black has made 2 seriously attacking moves, White is on the defensive. |
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17. Bxg7
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Time to resume the offensive before it's too late ... |
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17... Kxg7 18. g4 b5
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Classic attack and counter-attack on opposite wings. |
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19. h5 b4 20. hxg6
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White allows bxc3 in order to deliver Qh6+, intending to deliver mate before Black can. |
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(1626)
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