0368 SICILIAN Najdorf
Immaculata Swiss, Rd 1, 1-3-04, Hendersonville
Brad McDaniels (1565)  Patrick McCartney (1986)
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 e5 7 Nb3 Be6 8 Qd2 Qc7 9 O-O-O Nbd7 10 f3 b5 11 Qf2 Be7 12 g4 h6 (12...O-O allows 13 g5 Ne8 and White has complete control of the d5-square.) 13 h4 Rc8 14 Bd3 (Here I think 14 Rg1 is better.  It re-instates the threat of pushing g5, and also keeps the d-file open for the rook to eye on the d5 square.  Putting the bishop on d3 allows Black to create more headaches for What than what it's worth.) 14...b4! (Driving the knight away now that it can't go to d5.) 15 Na4 (I think 15 Nb1 was better, as the knight is loose on a4.)  15...Bg4! (15 d5 can be answered by 16 g5 and White maintains the balance.) 16 Nb6 (White's other option is 16 Rhg1. Note that White can't take the bishop: 16 fg4?? Ng4 17 Qf3 Ne3 18 Qe3 Qc6 and Black's winning as the knight on a4 is trapped. 16 Ba6 also fails, in this case to 16...Bf3 17 Bc8 [17 Qf3 Qc2 is mate] Bh1 18 Bd7 Qd7 19 Rh1 Qa4 and again Black is winning.) 16...Rb8 17 Nd7 (Now is where White should play 17 fg4 as the position is roughly equal after 17...Nb6 18 Qe2.  Note that 17...Ng4 fails for Black to 18 Nd5! while after 17...Nb6, 18 Ba6 gives Black a big advantage after 18...Ng4 19 Qf3 Ne3 20 Qe3 Nd7.) 17...Bd7 (Black has a clear advantage now.) 18 Rhg1 a5 19 Kb1 (19 Rg7 is probably better than the move played, but after 19...a4 20 Nd2, Black still has the advantage.) 19...a4 20 Nd2 Be6 21 Rc1? (Again, 21 Rg7 a3 22 Nb3 should be considered) 21...a3 0-1 (White of course can't play 22 b3 as 22...Qc3 leads to a fast mate.  If White tries something like 22 Rg7, then it's finally time for Black to play 22...d5, and in the long run, his attack will be overwhelming, and so White decided he had enough.) (Notes by McCartney)