0209 SICILIAN DEFENSE
Wendy's XXXIII, 2-27-02, Charlotte, N.C.
Patrick McCartney (1899) Justin Daniel (2186)
1 e4 c5 2 c3 d5 3 ed5 Qd5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 e6 6 Bd3 (Modern theory recommends 6 Be3,  though 6 Bd3,  the old main line,  also brings balanced play) 6...Nc6 7 O-O cd4 8 cd4 Be7 9 a3?! (not the best.  9 Nc3 is normal.  9 a3 is probably a waste of time,  though it may be a useful move later on to prevent ...Nb4) 9...O-O 10 Bf4 (the bishop is usually better placed on e3 to protect the d-pawn) 10...Rd8!? (alas,  10...Nd4 11 Nd4 e5 12 Be5! Qe5 13 Re1! Qd6 14 Nf5=(the d4 knight is poison due to Bh7+) Black was looking to win the game,  not a dead-drawn endgame) 11 Nc3 (11 Bc7!?) 11...Qd7 12 Bb5 a6 13 Ne5 Qe8 14 Bc6 (14 Nc6 bc6 15 Ba4-keeping the light squared bishop,  is perhaps a slightly better alternative) 14...bc6 15 Qf3 Bb7?! (Not 15...Rd4 16 Be3 with a perpetual attack on the rook on the dark squares,  but 15...Nd5!,  with the idea of ...a5,  ...Ba6,  and the liberating ...c5 gives black an edge due to the bishop pair,  best for white is 16 Rfd1! with the idea of 17 Ne4) 16 Rfd1 Nd5 17 Ne4 Nf4 18 Qf4 Rd5= 19 Rd3? (19 Nc3! draws immediately due to a positional stalemate- 19...Rd8 20 Ne4 Rd5 21 Nc3 with a repetition of moves-Black has nothing better than to prepare the c5 pawn break with the rook move as else white plays his knight into c5) 19...f6! 20 Nc4? (20 Nf3 was better although 20...e5! opens the position for Black's bishop pair.  White is still dreaming of a rook lift to the kingside when he should defend his isolated pawn) 20...Rad8 21 Rad1 c5! 22 Nc3? (22 Rg3? Rd4! 23 Rd4 Rd4 24 Nf6?? Bf6 25 Qf6 Rd1 mate; white had to play 22 Qe3 although he is still under heavy pressure from the black bishops after 22...Rd4 23 Rd4 Rd4 24 Rd4 cd4 25 Qd4 Qc6 26 f3) 22...e5-+ 23 Qg3 Rd4 24 Rd4 cd4 25 Na4?? (white was in severe time trouble) Qa4 0-1 [Notes by Justin Daniel]