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1. e4 c5
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Sicilian defence. Black creates an asymmetrical position in hopes of getting counterplay on the queenside. |
 
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2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 d6
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I think this is where we leave the book lines. |
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5. Be2
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Because of the trapped dark bishop, I start anticipating a transposition to the dragon formation. I always look forward to playing against the dragon. |
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5... e5 6. Nf3
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Losing tempo by replacing my knight on the same square. In other variations, Nb3 is common. I don't know which is better. I don't want to trade knights and give black a stronger center though. |
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6... f5
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Very aggresive, attempting to remove my center pawn and opening the f file for the rook. It weakens the e8-h5 diagonal, but with my bishop and knight positioned as they are, I don't see a way to take advantage of it. |
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7. Nc3
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I decide against exf5, since that would develop his bishop, further strengthening black's center. |
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7... Nf6
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Attacking my e pawn again. |
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8. Bg5
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Pinning the knight to counter the attack on my e pawn. |
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8... Be7
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Breaking the pin, allowing black to castle. |
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9. Qd3
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Defending the pawn. |
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9... O-O 10. O-O-O
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Castling queenside since I plan on pawnstorming black's king. Looking at Bxf6 Bxf6, Qxd5 winning a pawn and at the weak a2-g8 diagonal. |
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10... fxe4 11. Nxe4 Bf5
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Bunder, overlooking Nxf6 and hanging the bishop. |
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12. Nxf6+ Bxf6
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12...Rxg6 is probably better, leading to something like 13. Qd2 Rf7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Qxd6 Rd8 16. Qxe7 Rxd1 17. Rxd1 Rxe7, leaving black a pawn down and an isolated e pawn. |
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13. Qxf5 Bxg5+ 14. Qxg5 Qxg5+ 15. Nxg5 Rxf2 16. Bc4+ Kf8 17. Rhf1
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Pinning the rook, preventing it from causing any further havok. |
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17... Rxf1 18. Rxf1+ Ke8 19. Nxh7
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I had originally planned on Rf7, trapping the king on the back rank, but couldn't find a good continuation. I decided to take black's kingside pawns and start pushing mine. |
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19... Kd7 20. Rf7+ Ne7 21. Rxg7 Rh8 22. Bd5 b6 23. Nf6+ Kd8 24. h3 Nxd5
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Trading pieces in the endgame is better for the side with more/passed pawns. |
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25. Nxd5 Rf8 26. b3 Rf1+ 27. Kb2 Rd1 28. c4 b5
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28...Rd2 29. Kb1 Rd1 30. Kc2 |
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29. a3 bxc4 30. bxc4 a5 31. h4
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Finally pushing my passed pawns, I should probably have started earlier. |
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31... e4 32. h5 Rh1 33. g4 Ke8
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I didn't fear black's passed e pawn, but this gave it to me for free. |
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34. Re7+ Kd8 35. Rxe4 Rh2+ 36. Kb3 Rh3+ 37. Re3
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More than happy to trade rooks. |
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(1982)