1. Nf3

[1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Qc7 7. Be2 Nc6 is Kan (Paulsen) Sicilian which this transposes into.]

1... c5

2. c4 Nc6

3. Nc3 a6

Novelty- an eccentric though understandable move. Black wishes to eliminate a Nb5 move which occurs in the 4 Knights variation.

4. d4 The Open Symmetrical leads to more tactical and exciting chess than Closed g3 lines

cxd4

5. Nxd4 e6 Giving White the opportunity to transpose into the Paulsen Sicilian

6. e4  which he accepts – We finally have a Sicilian in the match !

[6. g3!? is the main alternative  Qc7 (6... Nf6 7. Bg2 Qc7 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. O-O Be7 10. Bf4 e5 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bd2 Rb8 13. Qc2 O-O 14. Rab1 Nh5 15. e4 Bc5 ...eventually1-0, Rack Matthias 2179  - Hagenauer Joerg 2084 , Bad Zwesten 2000 It (open)) 7. Bg2 Ne5 8. Bf4 d6 9. Rc1 Nf6 10. O-O Be7 11. b3 O-O 12. Qd2²]

6... Qc7

[6... Bb4 is more aggressive, but double edged. 7. Be3 (7. Be2 Nf6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. e5 Ne4 10. Qd4 Qa5 11. Bd2³) 7... Nf6 8. Bd3 d5 9. exd5 exd5 10. O-O has scored 71% for White]

7. Be2

[7. Nxc6 bxc6 is often played but it is not really my style to strengthen Black's centre.]

7... Nf6

[7... Bb4 was still possible. 8. O-O Nf6 see line on Black's 8th move.]

8. O-O

[8. Nc2 looks slow, but is interesting, White prevents Bb4 and will regroup the knight to e3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. f4 Bc5 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Nxe3 d6 13. Rc1²]

8... Be7

[8... Bb4 looks best (though double edged) 9. Bg5 (9. Nxc6 dxc6 10. Qb3 Bd6 11. h3 O-O 12. Rd1 Bd7 13. Bg5 =) 9... Bxc3 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. bxc3 d6 12. Nxc6 Qxc6 13. Qd3²]

9. Be3 O-O 10. f4

[10. Rc1 is the normal move 57% for White. Nxd4 11. Bxd4 d6 12. Qd2²]

10... d6 11. Qd2?!

[11. Qe1 has scored highest Bd7 12. Qg3². 11. Rc1 is also popular. Qd2 is probably not the best, but I was out of my book knowledge by now.  ]

11... Rd8

12. Rad1  (Novelty Rac1 has been played here.) Nxd4

[12... Ne5 was interesting. 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Nxe6 Bxe6 15. Nd5]

13. Bxd4 b6

[13... e5 14. Be3 b6 15. fxe5 dxe5 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. cxd5±]

14. Qe3 Apparently risky, but White has an annoying pin with the Queen available. Rb8

[14... Nd7 15. f5 e5 16. Nd5 exd4 17. Rxd4 Qc5 18. Nxe7 Kf8 19. b4�]

15. b4 Gaining space and controlling c5. White's  e5 threat is now greater as Black doesn't have Qc5. The position is becoming a typical Sicilian - horribly complex middlegame.

.....e5

16. fxe5 dxe5

17. Qg3 I felt I was in a winning position now, but I was wrong - Black does have counterplay !

.... Bd6?

[17... Rxd4 !  is the only chance.  18. Rxd4 Bxb4 19. Rdd1 Bxc3 20. Rxf6 Qc5 21. Kh1 Bd4 is unclear.]

18. Bxe5 Bb7? This loses quickly.

[18... Bxe5 19. Rxd8 Qxd8 20. Qxe5 Bb7 21. Nd5±]

19. Rxd6�  Rxd6

20. Bxd6 Qc8

21. Bxb8 Bxe4

22. Rxf6 Bb7

23. Rxb6 a5

24. Nd5 Bxd5

25. Be5 g6

[25... f6 26. Bxf6 g6 27. Rb8]

26. cxd5 axb4

27. Rb8 Black resigns

[1:0]

Match Score

Peake GM  9-0  Kev-Blitz

 

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