0019 SICILIAN DEFENSE
Midtown VIII, Rd:5, 12-3-98
NM Fuerstman (2101) Newton (2102)
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nf6 (the Nimzovitch Sicilian) 3 Nc3 (Frankie said this was the same answer I played against him in a tournament game 10 years ago) 3…d6 4 d4 cd 5 Nd4 a6 6 Bd3 e6 7 Be3 Qc7 8 f4 Nc6 9 g4? (this dubious aggressive move loses a pawn after the simple 9…Nd4 10 Bd4 e5 undermining the "g" pawn) 9…d5!? (Black instead chooses to set a trap which White accommodates) 10 e5?! (much safer was 10 ed Nd5 11 Nd5 ed=) 10…Ne5! 11 fe Qe5 12 Kf2 h5! 13 gh Rh5 14 h3 Bc5 (Here White thought about trying the trick move 15 Kf3 after which 15…Bd4 16 Bd4 Qd4?? 17 Bb5 winning the Black Queen, but if Black doesn’t play 16 Qd4 White’s King is extremely exposed) 15 Be2 (Here my opponent recommended 15 Nce2!) 15…Rh4! 16 Bg4 Ng4 17 hg Rh1 18 Qh1 Bd4 19 Re1 Qf4 20 Qf3 Qf3 21 Kf3 (forced) 21 Be3 22 Ke3 Bd7 23 Kd4 (threatening Nd5) 23…0-0-0 (23…Bc6 may be slightly better allowing the Black King to protect his King wing more rapidly) 24 Rh1 Bc6 25 Rh7 Rg8 26 Ke5 (Charge!!) 26…Kd7 27 g5! Ke7 28 Ne2 Bd7 29 Nf4 Rc8 (In time trouble, Black chooses to counter attack) 30 Rg7 Kf8 31 Kf6! Be8 32 g6! Rc4! (not 32…fg?? 33 Ne6#) 33 Nd3 e5! (An excellent defensive resourse which threatens …Rc6!) {Here, White sealed the move 34 gf! threatening 35 Rg8# which pretty much forces the following continuation: 34…Rc6 35 Kg5! Bf7 36 Rf7 Kf7 37 Ne5 Ke6 38 Nc6 bc 39 Kf4= Now, only a foolish mistake by either side can prevent a Draw} Notes by Fuerstman