Last Wednesday saw the final game of the play-off match for the Albany Area Chess Club Championship. Dean Howard had won the first game. Gordon Magat faced the considerable task of winning with the Black pieces, any other result and Dean has the title. In the first game things were evenly balanced until in the time pressured ending Gordon erred, and Dean was able to secure the full point. In this game Mr. Magat uses the Sicilian Defense to look for a fight, and Mr. Howard answers in kind with the 2 c3, variation, and so hand-to-hand combat was the order of the day from the beginning. A worthy finish to a title match!
Howard, Dean - Magat, Gordon [B22]
AACC Finals Match Guilderland, NY, 17.03.2011
1.e4 c5 2.c3,..
The 2 c3, line in the Sicilian is favored by such chess warriors as Sveshnikov and Tiviakov. Sveshnikov is maybe the most consistent user of this line. I found examples of his games in the c3-Sicilian from 1976 to 2007.
2..., Nf6
The most common move for Black is 2..., d5. It can lead to a game with an open center and lots of piece play, or revert to something like a French Defense. Black has reasonable chances in this line. The text is provocative. Faced with the absolute need to win this game, Gordon angles for a position difficult for both sides.
While 2..., Nf6; is a less usual move, that is not to say it is unknown. A list of wonderful players have brought it out on occasion; Walter Browne (of course), Taimanov, Tal (again of course), Tiviakov & Sveshnikov (the c3 Sicilian specialists when facing their own weapon), Kasparov (once), Gelfand (in his youth) and Anand (in a Corus rapid game).
3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4,..
The top flight players usually recapture on d4 with the c3-pawn here. Some very talented 2400 - 2500 players like the offer of the c-pawn in the interest of grabbing a lead in development.
6..., Nb6 7.Bd3 dxc3!?
Mr. Howard gave the opinion during the postmortem that this move favors White. Rybka says the game is equal. Very few examples are found in my databases.
8.Nxc3 d6?
This restrained move may be the root of subsequent troubles for Black. Better 8..., d5; and Black can develop his pieces normally. After the text, difficulties abound. Choosing the text was probably influenced by the match situation. After 8..., d5; 9 Nb5 Nc6 10 0-0 Be7 11 Bd2 0-0; the game looks very like a French with the usual plans; White ginning up some kind of K-side attack, and Black defending counting on warding off the attack and hoping to win the endgame with his strong d-pawn. For some reason Magat did not want that kind of long-winded struggle. It was his best chance I believe.
9.Bg5 Be7?
A natural looking move, but somewhat better is 9..., Qd7; but then Black is getting his pieces rather badly placed. If 9..., Qd7 10 0-0 Nc6 11 Bf4 d5 12 Qd2 a6; Black has avoided making an immediate positional concession, but White is very naturally developed. Black will not be able to castle on the K-side safely I think; White has both Bishops aimed there, and they will certainly be the basis for a rip-roaring attack if the Black King seeks refuge in his natural home. Given the must-win circumstances, who can blame Black for opting for something less-good but murky.
10.Bxe7 Kxe7?!
Black is motivated by the desire to not allow some serious positional concession such as a White pawn installed on d6. He therefore avoids 10..., Qxe7 11 Bb5+ Bd7 12 exd6 Qf6; even though this might well be the best way to handle the position. If the game goes that way, the central question becomes; is the pawn on d6 really strong, or is it a target for Black? For Mr. Magat that is a question he sees as leading to a drawn out positional battle, and he apparently made up his mind going into the game it is a path not to be taken.
11.0–0 dxe5 12.Nxe5 N8d7 13.f4!?,..
White has a nagging advantage, not by any means a winning edge but persistent nonetheless. Continuing logically with 13 Re1, would keep the psychological pressure on Black. Mr. Howard, encouraged by Black’s risky play must have decided here to pursue a tactical solution.
13..., Nxe5?
After this error Black is all but lost. Holding out some hope is 13..., f5. Then, after 14 Qe1 Nxe5 15 Qxe5 Kf7; the extra pawn Black has is almost valueless and White continues in possession of a strong initiative. It is hard to imagine Black achieving anything more than a draw if that. Of course, 15..., Qxd3? Is answered by 16 Qxg7+, picking up the Exchange and a pawn or two for the Bishop.
14.fxe5 Qd4+ 15.Kh1 Qxe5 16.Qf3 Rf8
Gordon put in a long think for this move. He had built up a substantial lead in clock time up to here and used that cushion to look carefully at his options now. The alternative to the game move is 16..., f6. Very probably one of the key lines he examined was 17 Rae1 Qg5 18 Nb5 Rb8 19 Bf5 Rd8 20 Qa3+ Kf7 21 Nd6+ Kg8 22 Qa7+, and White will win a piece at least. There are several lines at this point in the proceedings that can be examined. The one cited illustrates many of the key tactical ideas available.
17.Rae1 Qb8
Black investigations on the previous move must have convinced Magat that all the other Queen moves had problems. When the Black Queen went to b8, I was certain the game was lost for Black. That is not quite true. I thought it is now a matter of calculating the combinations and picking the one that wins most simply.
18.Qg4 g6 19.Qh4+ Ke8 20.Bb5+!?,..
Watching the game I was convinced that 20 Qxh7 Bd7 21 Bxg6 fxg6 22 Qxg6+ Kd8 23 Rxf8+ Kc7 24 Qg3+, wins simply. However, every Black move is not forced. What if Black varies? White still wins after 20 Qxh7 Qd6 21 Bxg6 fxg6 22 Nb5 Qc5 23 Rxf8+ Qxf8 24 Rxe6+ Bxe6 25 Nc7+ Kd8 26 Nxe6+ Ke8 27 Nxf8, but it is a long line and by no means simple with plenty of places to err in calculation. With everything on the line, no one can blame White for looking for something with more clarity.
18..., Bd7!? 21.Bxd7+ Nxd7 22.Qxh7 a5?
Now the Black position crumbles. More resistance can be made with 22..., Qd6; and then there is no immediate win for White although his initiative persists. Mr. Howard carries out closing combination with accuracy and energy.
23.Rxf7 Rxf7 24.Rxe6+ Kd8 25.Qxf7 Qa7 26.Qe7+ Kc8 27.Qe8+ 1–0
A most interesting struggle illustrating how the choice of moves and ideas can be influenced by sporting circumstances off the board.
More soon.
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