An important game in the recent match was the encounter between Dean Howard, one of the “old guard” Experts locally, and Philip Sells, a newly minted Expert. It was very nearly the last game to finish, and had Mr. Sells not carried the day, it would have led to a most surprising upset win of the match for Albany.
Howard, Dean - Sells, Philip [B22]
Albany - Schenectady Match, SCC, 19.08.2010
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be2 Nc6
The c3 Sicilian is one way for White to avoid the heavily analyzed body of theory in the mainstream Sicilian. Philip Sells is a notorious “Siciliano” who has excellent results in both the open lines (3 d4) and the closed lines (an early Nb1-c3 with no d2-d4). The c3 Sicilian, otherwise known as the Alapin variation, shows in my databases only a small edge for White - 1180 wins, 1150 drawn and 1090 lost in general. For this particular move order not quite so good results are reported; White won 198, drew 180, lost 210.
7.c4!?,..
More normal is 7. Be3.
7..., Qd6!?;
Both players are striving for originality. With 7..., Qf5 8 d5 Bxf3 9 Bxf3 Nd4 10 Na3 0-0-0; Black could have obtained a comfortable game. I believe neither side wanted to see off a pair of minor pieces just yet; they want to keep the tension in the position.
8.d5 Ne5 9.Nc3,..
White is somewhat better placed than is Black.
9..., a6
I like the way Philip plays chess, it is “hard chess”. He knows that risks have to be taken if you want to win. Objectively, trading a couple of pairs of minor pieces at f3 might bring the game closer to the friendly splitting of the point, but maintaining tension keeps alive winning chances.
10.0–0 Nxf3+ 11.Bxf3 Bf5
One pair of minor pieces go off, but Philip retains his light squared Bishop for both attack and defense. Howard now has a solid positional edge. He will develop easily, the e-file is naturally in his hands and he controls a bit more space.
12.Bg5!?..,
It looks natural for Black to castle long and 12. Qb3, is a natural answer to that possibility. Another try is 12 Re1, taking control of the e-file. The text is another valid path. It makes both sides make difficult positional judgments over the next several moves.
12..., g6?!
Now White can get a firmer handle on the position if he reads the position correctly. Black would do better with 12..., 0-0-0.
13.Qd2?!..,
Piling up on the e-file with 13 Qe2, then 13..., Bg7 14 Rae1, will make castling difficult for Black. If not impossible.
13..., Bg7 14.Bf4 Qd7 15.d6!?..,
White decided taking immediate action in the center before Black can castle is the best course. Another way to go forward is 15 Rfe1,
15..., e6!?
Black continues to court danger in order to play for victory. Maybe better is 15..., 0-0-0; I suspect Sells did not care for the immediate tactical dust-up after 16 Nb5. Of course 16..., axb5 17 Qa5 exd6 18 Qa8+ Kc7 10 Qxb7 is mate, but the alternative 16..., e6 17 Qe3 Ne4 18 Bxe4 Bxe4 19 Qxc5+ is so dangerous that Black will have to give up too many pawns to stifle the raging attack White can make. One other try in this line should be examined; 15..., 0-0-0 16 Nb5 e5?!; while this move is flawed, White would have to calculated 17 Bxe5 Rhe8 18 Bxf6 Bxf6 19 Qa5 Be4 20 Bg4 Bf5 21 Bxf5 gxf5 22 Rad1 Re4 23 Rd5 Rxc4 24 Na3, and White is better. This is a line with many complications and sub-variations, quite a challenge to find one‘s way through. It may be Black’s best chance.
16.Qe3?!..,
Missing the strong move 16 Qd1, threatening 17 Na4, hitting both the pawn on c5 and the tender b6 square, as well as preparing 17 g4, which picks up a pawn after 17..., g5 18 Bxg5 Bg6 19 Bf4, when White is clearly has a significant advantage. After the text move White retains some of his edge.
16.., Rc8 17.Rad1 0–0 18.b3 b6
At this moment in the game White had 17 minutes remaining and Black 13 minutes of the 90 minutes allotted. Serious time trouble was near for even these two “time trouble specialists“.
19.Na4 Qa7 20.d7?..,
White trades the pride of his position, the d-pawn for the Black b-pawn giving up just about all of his advantage. Better is 20 Be5, then if 20..., Ng4 21 Bxg4 Bxg4 22 Bxg7 Kxg7 23 f3, embarrasses the Bg4. And, worse is 20..., Ng4 21 Bxg4 Bxe5 22 Qxe5 Bxg4 23 f3 b5 24 d7 Rcd8 25 Nxc5, when a pawn is gone while the Bishop is still in trouble. Taking a different track is the immediate 20..., b5; hoping to make an outlet for the Bf5 via c2 and a4. This is the best bet for Black, but White retains a substantial advantage.
20..., Nxd7 21.Rxd7 Qxd7 22.Nxb6 Qd8 23.Nxc8 Bd4?;
An error that could lose the game, or at best leave Black struggling to hold the draw. The straight forward 23..., Qxc8; is best. Has Black forgotten about the problem Bishop at f5 to say nothing of the potential weakness of his K-side? It seems so.
24.Qe2 Qxc8 25.Rd1?,..
Here the best move for White is 25 Bh6. If the Black Rook moves away, 25..., Rd8; we enter an absolutely fascinating tactical sequence; 26 Rd1 (not 26 g4 Bd3! 27 Qxd3 Bxf2+; is winning for Black) 26..., Qd7; (if 26..., e5 27 Rxd4!, followed by 28 Queen to the e4-square with mate soon) 27 Bg5 R-moves 28 g4, and the hapless Bf5 is trapped. It is probably best for Black to give up the Exchange with 25..., e5; then 26 Bxf8 Qxf8 27 Be4 Bd7 28 Bd5 Kg2; and there will be a long technical struggle for White to demonstrate the superiority of his Rook and Bishop over the two Bishops. Given the small amount of clock time each player had at this point in the game, it certainly is easier for Black to hold the draw than it is for White to show the win.
25..., e5 26.Bh6 Re8 27.g4,..
Now the Bf5 has options and this move introduces an unnecessary weakness in the White formation. Better 27 h3, or 27 Qd2. The game is just about dead even now.
27..., Bd7 28.h3 Bc6 29.Bd5?!,..
Making another weakness unnecessarily. Better 29 Be4, 29 Be6, 29 Bd2, or 29 Bxc6. Even though his time is dwindling, Mr. Howard is trying to win the game. This transaction trades the newly minted d-pawn for the Black a-pawn creating a passed outside pawn for White. The idea is good if properly followed up.
29..., Bxd5 30.cxd5 Qd7 31.Qf3?..,
Time pressure was by now severe for both sides, something like a minute and change. Dean made this move almost instantly and unfortunately it is an error. Better 31 Qxa6, then 31..., Qxd5 32 Qf6, (setting up a mate threat that limit’s the choices for Black) 32..., e4 33 Qg5, and the game is headed towards equality.
31..., e4 32.Qe2 Qxd5 33.Qxa6??..,
This now drops the Exchange.
Bxf2+ 34.Kxf2 Qxd1 35.Qf6 Qd4+
It is likely Dean did not see this reply when he chose 31 Qf3. The mate is prevented and the Queens are forced off leaving things hopeless for White.
36.Qxd4 cxd4 37.Bf4.
Bill Townsend records Howard’s clock fell in the next couple of moves. Dean said he resigned. My notes indicate both happened at about the same moment.
This was a fighting game with honor for both sides in their stern resolve to go for victory. The all out effort by the contestants, as well as the importance of the game to the results, made the game interesting and well worth the time to play it over, analyze it and make it part of this blog.
I thank the participants for their considerable efforts.
My score of this game, recorded while looking over the shoulders of the participants, was not quite accurate after move 33. In the fury of time pressure I missed a couple of moves. The generous help Bill Townsend extended allowed the correct reconstruction of most of the final moves of the game. My thanks to Bill also.
More soon.
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