GM Alexander Ivanov (2578)
GM Daniel Raznikov (2582)
Boston Chess Congress (4)
01.10.2016
Sicilian – Najdorf, Zagreb Variation [B91]  

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3

My pet line doesn't offer White much in terms of opening advantage, but I have a lot of experience with it.

6... e5

6... e6!? and 6... g6!? are both intriguing

7. Nde2 b5

The most active try. Other moves are 7... Nbd7, 7... Be7, and 7... Be6.

8. Bg5 Nbd7 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11. Nec3 Bb7

11... O-O!? 12. a4 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 Bb7 14. axb5 Bxd5 (14... axb5!? 15. Bxb5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Qb6 was Burnett-Gustafsson New York 2000) 15. Qxd5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. Qxa8 Rxa8 18. Kd2 Ra1 19. Kc3 and although Black should be able to hold, this is not a dead draw yet, and I won this ending against GM Har Zvi (New York State Open, Lake George 2006).

12. a4 b4 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Nd5 O-O?!

14... Rc8 is better. Here if White wants to place Bf1 on c4, he must start with 15. b3 which helps Black.

15. Bc4 Rc8 16. Qd3

(16. Qe2)

16... Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Qc7?

Perhaps a desicive mistake. I was expecting 17... a5 18. O-O-O!?².

18. Qxa6!± Qxc2 19. O-O Qxb2 20. a5

Now the white passer on a5 supported by the Bishop is much more dangerous than Black’s pawn on b4.

20... h5?!

(20... Qd4 21. Qb6!?±)

(20... Qc3 21. Qxd6!? b3 (21... Rfd8 22. Qb6 Rb8 23. Qa7 b3 24. Ra3!+-) 22. a6 b2 23. Rab1 +-)

21. Qb7!?+-

Although 21. Qxd6!? should be enough to win, White's move is more logical: Black’s pawn on d6 is a liability here because it prevents the bishop on f6 from getting into play.

21... Qc3

After 21... Rb8 the computer sees a forced win after 22. a6! Rxb7 23. axb7 Qd4 (23... Qc3 24. Ra8 Qc7 25. Rfa1+-) 24. Ra8 Qb6 25. Rfa1+-)

22. a6 h4 23. a7 Qf3 24. Qd7

24. Bxf7+ also wins if after Kh7 White finds the precise 25. Be6! Ra8 26. Qxb4 Bg5 27. Qb3+-)

24... Ra8

24... hxg3 25. hxg3 Bg5 26. a8=Q and there is no perpetual after Be3 27. Qaxc8 Qxg3+ 28. Kh1 Qf3+ 29. Kh2 Bf4+ 30. Kg1+-

25. Bxa8 Rxa8 26. Rfc1 Qxe4 27. Rc8+ Kh7 28. Rxa8 Qxa8 29. Rc1 b3 30. Qf5+ g6

(30... Kh6 31. Rc8+-)

31. Qxf6 h3 32. Qh4+ Kg7 33. Qxh3 b2 34. Rb1

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