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This was the crucial 4th round game with the last year’s co-winner of the Bermuda Open.

White: Ivanov 2545 FIDE
Black: Cummings 2360 FIDE
Bermuda Open, Round 4
[B48] Sicilian, Taimanov Variation

1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6

Another popular line here is 6...Nf6 7. f4 Bb4 8. Ndb5 Qa5 9. e5 Nd5 10. Bd2 Nxc3 and now all three captures on c3 have been tried with success.

7. Qd2 Nf6 8. O-O-O Bb4

8...Ng4?! 9. Bf4 Nge5 (9...e5? 10. Nd5 Qb8 11. h3+/-) 10. Bg3!?+/= (8...Be7 happened in many games). 

9. f3 O-O

This was new to me. Three Knight moves 9...Ne5!?; 9...Ne7!?; 9...Na5!? look more consistent with Bb4. 

10. a3!? Be7

Now we get a popular theoretical position with the White Pawn on a3 instead of a2 as usual which may actually help Black to open files on the Queenside. 

11. g4 b5 12. g5 Ne8

12... Nh5!? 

13. Nxc6 dxc6

Now with the closed c-file Black’s Queenside attack doesn’t look that scary. On the other hand there is no weakness on d7 and it’s easier for Black to complete development. 13...Qxc6 14. Ne2!? 

14. h4 e5

The most natural move. (14...a5 15. a4 b4 16. Nb1 e5 17. Qh2+/=) (14...c5 15. h5 b4 16. axb4 cxb4 17. Na4 Rb8 18. b3!?+/-) 

15. Qh2

This is sharper than 15. Qf2 Be6 16. Bb6!? Qb7 17. Bc5 a5=. The computer likes 15. h5 Be6 16. g6 fxg6 (16...h6 17. Bxh6!) 17. hxg6 h6 18. Bxh6! Rd8 19. Qh2 Rxd1+ 20. Nxd1 gxh6 21. Qxh6 Bf6 22. Bh3 Bxh3 23. Qxh3 but even at the end of this long line White’s advantage is not obvious for a human.

15... Be6

15... a5 16. a4 b4 17. Nb1+/= 

16. h5 b4?!

16...a5 17. a4 b4 18. Nb1 and now 18...b3 or 18...c5 with counterplay. 

17. axb4 Bxb4 18. Nb1 Rb8?!

18...Qa5 19. c3 (19. g6?! Qa1 looked scary 20. gxh7+ Kh8 21. c4?! +/= Rybka. I didn’t get this far) 19...Bc5 20. Bxc5 Qxc5 (unclear) 21. h6 g6 22. Qg1 +/=. 

19. g6 h6 20. Bh3 Bxh3?!

20...Qa5 21. Bxe6 fxe6+/= 

21. Qxh3 Nd6

21...Nf6 22. c3 Be7 23. Rhg1 Qb7 24. Rd2+/- 

22. gxf7+?!

22. c3! Nc4 looked scary 23. Rd7! (not 23. Bxh6? Qb6!-/+) 23...Qc8 24. Bxh6!+/- Rybka. 

22... Qxf7

Black had 30m left. 

23. Rhg1 Qa2?

Only after this move White gets a clear advantage. 23...Kh8 24. c3 Nc4 25.Bxh6 gxh6 26. cxb4 Rxb4 with counterplay. 

24. b3+/-

24. Bxh6!? Rf7 (24...Nc4? looked scary. 25. Qe6+ Rf7 26. Rxg7+ Kh8 27. Rh7+!+- Rybka) 25.Rxg7+ Rxg7 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 27. h6+ Kh8 28. Qg3 Rg8 29. Qxe5+ Kh7 30. c3 Qxb2+! 31.Kxb2 Nc4+ 32. Kb3 Nxe5 33. cxb4 Nxf3+/=

24... Ba3+?!

More stubborn is 24...Rf6 25. Qg3 Rb7!? (25...Ba3+ 26. Nxa3 Qxa3+ 27. Kd2 Qa5+ 28. Ke2 Rb7 and here 29. Qe1!?+/-) 26. Qxe5 and now Rybka suggests 26...Nc4! 27. Rd8+ Kh7 28. Qd4 Nxe3 29. Qxe3 Qa5 (with compensation) 30. Qd3 Rxf3 31. Qxf3 Qxd8 unclear. 

25. Nxa3 Qxa3+ 26. Kd2 Nb5?

26...Rf6 27. Qg3 Qa5+ 28. Ke2 Rb7 29. Qe1!?+/- 

27. Qe6+ Rf7

27...Kh8 28. Qxe5 Qa5+ 29. Kc1+-

28. Rxg7+!

After 28...Kg7 29. Qxh6+ Kg8 30.Rg1+ wins.