Chess is art. It is a fascinating game, played all over the world by all kind of players from all walks of life. Sometimes, the game becomes tactical that nobody knows how to predict the outcome. However, it can also be artistic like the one I'm going to share with all of you. Even though I lost the game, I find it so fascinating with the knights dancing beautifully all over the board. It was also my first time encounter with Power Chess.
SICILIAN DEFENSE [B22]
W: Power Chess
B: Yours Truly
Training, 1999
1.e4 c5 Sicilian Defense. Black is aiming for a counterplay on the c-file, whereas White’s play is in the centre. It is the most feared weapon against 1.e4.
2.c3 Alapin Variation. White tries to place his pawns to control the centre. However, it allows Black to plays the freeing move 2. … d5 unhindered.
2...d5! In most Sicilian Defenses, Black must play this move to achieve equality and to free his position.
3.exd5 Qxd5 This early Queen move is justified. White can’t easily dislodge her with the Knight because the square c3 have been taken by the pawn.
4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 This Bishop is the worst piece in Black’s camp. Better to exchange it with the enemy pieces or develop it aggressively at g4.
2.c3 Alapin Variation. White tries to place his pawns to control the centre. However, it allows Black to plays the freeing move 2. … d5 unhindered.
2...d5! In most Sicilian Defenses, Black must play this move to achieve equality and to free his position.
3.exd5 Qxd5 This early Queen move is justified. White can’t easily dislodge her with the Knight because the square c3 have been taken by the pawn.
4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 This Bishop is the worst piece in Black’s camp. Better to exchange it with the enemy pieces or develop it aggressively at g4.
6.Be2 e6 7.h3 Bh5 Not 7. … Bxf3 immediately because the Bishop is equally useful at g6.
8.0–0 Nc6 9.Be3 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Another alternative is to take with the pawn. Maybe White doesn’t like to play with the Isolated Queen Pawn (IQP).
10. ... Bxe2 It is best to exchange the Bishop with its counterpart.
11.Qxe2 Be7 Black plays smoothly, placing all his pieces in their best squares. As for White, his knight on b1 is having a little problem due to the pawn on c3, the usual place for developing it. So White tries to provoke something....
12.Nb5!? Threatens to forks the Queen and the Rook. Other moves such as 12. Rd1 and 12.Nd2 has also been played.
12...Qd7 This move is a mistake. Black should play 12… Qd8; and if 13.Rd1 Qb8 intending a6 dislodging the knight.
13.Rd1 Qc8 14.Nd2 0–0 15.Nc4 Nd5
8.0–0 Nc6 9.Be3 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Another alternative is to take with the pawn. Maybe White doesn’t like to play with the Isolated Queen Pawn (IQP).
10. ... Bxe2 It is best to exchange the Bishop with its counterpart.
11.Qxe2 Be7 Black plays smoothly, placing all his pieces in their best squares. As for White, his knight on b1 is having a little problem due to the pawn on c3, the usual place for developing it. So White tries to provoke something....
12.Nb5!? Threatens to forks the Queen and the Rook. Other moves such as 12. Rd1 and 12.Nd2 has also been played.
12...Qd7 This move is a mistake. Black should play 12… Qd8; and if 13.Rd1 Qb8 intending a6 dislodging the knight.
13.Rd1 Qc8 14.Nd2 0–0 15.Nc4 Nd5
16.Ncd6 Qb8 17.Ne4 a6 18.Nd4 Ne5 Also playable is 18...Nxe3 19.Qxe3 Qc7 20.Nxc6 Qxc6 21.Rd2 with equality.
19.Bg5 Bxg5 20.Nxg5 Nf4 21.Qe4 Threatening mate Qxh7.
21...Nfg6 22.f4 Nd7 23.f5 exf5 24.Nxf5 Nf6
25.Qd4 Qa7 The wrong place to exchange Queens. Better is 25...Qe5 26.Qxe5 Nxe5 27.Rd4.
26.Qxa7 Rxa7 27.Rd6 Re8 28.Rad1 White dominates the d-file.
28...Raa8 29.Nf3 Nf4
30.N3d4 30.Rb6 gives Black counterplay 30.. Re2 31.Rd2 Ne4 32.Rxe2 Nxe2+ 33.Kh2 Nc5.
30...Kf8 31.Rf1 Ne6 Black saw that 31...Ne2+ 32.Kh2 Nxd4 33.Nxg7 Kxg7 34.Rdxf6 will make his fortress collapse.
32.Kh1 Rad8 32...Nxd4!? might be a viable alternative 33.cxd4 Re6.
33.Rb6 Attacking the backward pawn. If 33...Rd7 34.Nd6 Rb8 35.Nxe6+ fxe6 36.c4 gives the advantage to White.
33...Nxd4 34.cxd4 Ne4 A miscalculation. Black thought he can forks the king but White’s next move woke him up from his dream.
35.Rxb7! g6? 36.Nh6! Threatening mate: Rbxf7.
36...Ng3+ 37.Kg1 Ne2+?? Leading to a quick end, but the alternative 37...Kg7 38.Nxf7! also looks grim. [38...Rb8 39.Nd6+ Rxb7 40.Nxe8+ Kh6]
38.Kh2! Kg7 39.Nxf7 Rb8 40.Rd7 Rf8 41.Ng5+ Kh6 41...Kg8 is one last hope [42.Rxf8+ Rxf8 43.Nxh7 Rf7 44.Rxf7 Kxf7 45.Ng5+ Ke7].
42.h4 Kh5 43.Kh3! Nf4+ 44.Rxf4 1–0
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