A recent Najdorf Victory!

(1) Andrew6 (1592) - maestrogaffney (1721) [B92]

ICC Internet Chess Club, 06.09.2012

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6

Can you believe it!? I get to play a Najdorf in tournament play! 6.Be2 The Karpov System. I have been reading up on this and was way more prepared than I expected for this game. I had no idea what opening to expect from this guy. I couldn't find any recent games by him to prepare with. I got lucky I guess. 6...e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Kh1 Nc6 10.f4 a5!

 While the normal move in the Karpov system is to get b5 in, I decided to try this move to stop his eventual a5. This move was to keep his queenside ideas to a minimum.  He wanted to launch a kingside pawn storm, but I thought that with his knights on the queenside and his bishops not yet fully developed I need to hurry with my plans and fire away at the queenside. 11.a4 Nb4 12.Be3 Be6 This move was perfect here, I thought. 13.Nd2?! [13.f5 Bxb3 14.cxb3 d5 15.Nxd5 Nbxd5 16.exd5 Qxd5 17.Bc4 Qxd1= I thought there was more but at least I'm not worse.] 13...exf4 [13...d5 14.fxe5 d4 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.e5 dxe3 (16...Bxe5? 17.Nf3 dxe3 18.Nxe5) 17.exf6 Qxd2 18.Qxd2 exd2 19.Rad1 This was just way too messy for me to want to go into so I decided on the move in the game instead.] 14.Rxf4?! [14.Bxf4 Rc8 15.Rc1 d5 16.e5 Nd7 17.Nf3 Nc5 18.Nd4 Both the knights have good outposts.] 14...d5 15.exd5? Nfxd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Rf3 Bg4 [17...Nxe3 18.Rxe3 Bg5 19.Rd3 Qb6 20.b3 Bf5 21.Rf3 Qc5 Might've been better, but I was happy with what I chose. It led to threats against the white king that had to be dealt with and I wasn't sure if he would find all the perfect moves.] 18.Rg3 Bd6 19.Bg5? Qxg5 20.Rxg4 Qh6 [20...Qh5?? 21.Rxg7+! Kxg7 22.Bxh5 I'm guessing this was what he was hoping for with Bg5.] 21.Nf1 Ne3 These are some of my favorite moves in chess. It can be captured for free. It would just cost him his king. 22.Rxg7+?? This told me my opponent was feeling kinda desperate. The more I looked though, I still had to be careful. 22...Kxg7! The right capture. [22...Qxg7 23.Nxe3 Bxh2 24.Bd3 Qg5 25.Qf3 Rae8 26.Qh3 h5 There's just too much space around my king for my liking here.] 23.Qd4+ Kg8 And not... [23...Qf6?? 24.Qxf6+ Kxf6 25.Nxe3] 24.Qxe3 Qxe3 25.Nxe3 Rae8 26.Nf5 Rxe2 27.Nxd6 b6! Killing some of his counterplay. 28.Kg1?! Trying to eliminate backrank problems, but more care needs to be on the queenside. [28.Nc4 Rxc2 29.Nxb6 Rb8 30.Nd5 Rbxb2 31.Rg1 Rc4 And I'm crushing.] 28...Rxc2 29.Ra3? This seems more of a scare tactic than a real threat. I think he knew he was lost and was just trying for a blunder on my part. I've tried really hard through the years to not relax in a won position. Hardest thing to win is the won position, right? 29...Rd8! 30.Rg3+ Kf8 [30...Kh8?? 31.Nxf7#] 31.Rd3 Rc6 32.Nxf7 Rxd3 33.Ne5 Rc1+ {Game 352 (Andrew6 vs. maestrogaffney) Andrew6 resigns The finish might have been. 34.Kf2 Rc2+ 35.Ke1 Re3+ 36.Kd1 Rxb2 37.Nc4 Rd3+ 38.Kc1 Rxg2 39.Nb2 Rc3+ 40.Kb1 Rb3 41.Ka2 Rgxb2+ 42.Ka1 Re2 43.h3 Rxh3 44.Kb1 Rh1# 0–1

5...a6

10...a5!

13.Nd2?!

14.Rxf4?

19.Bg5?

22.Rxg7??

33...Rc1+
White Resigns