Miniatures in the Sicilian Najdorf

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Miniatures in the … Series Introduction

Welcome to the Miniatures in the… series. Each eBook will be devoted to one opening or major variation. The idea is to present a mix of interesting miniatures, combinations, instructive mistakes along with some accompanying opening theory putting everything into context.

For the purpose of this series, we are defining miniatures as games lasting 25 moves or less with a decisive result.

In the past, collections of miniatures typically have presented games spanning a large variety of openings, with lines which often are rarely used or irrelevant. In addition, many of the games are between weak players or players with a substantial difference in playing strength.

This series will focus on games between stronger players, a minimum of ELO 2350, thus making the games much more relevant, as they are less marred by obvious blunders, dropping pieces or missing simple mates. Although mistakes or blunders will have to occur to have a game finish decisively in 25 moves or less, the mistakes are more likely to be more instructive. In addition, by only covering a single opening or opening variation, the reader gets better and deeper coverage, as well as an overview of the particular opening’s features and characteristics.

You can use this book as an idea catalogue of tricky and interesting lines or to check your tactical skills. The many diagrams will help you sort out issues, calculate or find a winning continuation. Of course, you can simply enjoy these games which are, by and large, all quite entertaining. Finally, there is a treasure trove of opening theory included, and not just existing theory, but also numerous new ideas and improvements.

Enjoy!

Carsten Hansen

Bayonne 2016

Introduction

Miniatures in the Sicilian Najdorf

The purpose of the book is to entertain and educate you. The entertainment consists of 100 main games all of which are 25 moves or less. In addition to the main games, you will find miniatures included in the notes, along with many other complete games.

The education part involves solving tactical puzzles, reasoning your way to the right move, spotting combinations and studying the theory associated with these lines. While the theoretical coverage may not necessarily be as deep as in opening monographs or repertoire books, there’s usually more than enough to give you a good understanding of the particular line, making it easier for you to incorporate it into your opening repertoire. We have also tried to include some key alternatives with analysis to give you an idea of other possibilities for both sides.

As for the games, they are typically between players with a rating of at least 2350 and in fact are often stronger. However, I have made some exceptions to this guiding principle when a lower-rated player beats a player rated above the magical 2350 number. So that the performances of the players may be evaluated better, I have included their ELO ratings.

The subject of this book is the Najdorf Sicilian, which arises after 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6. (D)

The Najdorf has been and continues to be a tremendously popular opening at all levels. It is sharp, unbalanced, with many theory-laden lines – and fun. The main lines after 6 Bg5 e6 7 f4 are steeped in theory, making them tricky to play, especially for players with limited time to study. That being said, I have presented a number of games in sidelines which will offer both sides the opportunity to play this opening without having to worry about studying sufficient amount of theory. Please note, however, that if you plan to make any of these lines part of your repertoire permanently, studying them in greater detail is recommended.

The material has been divided into seven chapters, not all equal in length. This is of course because some lines are played far more frequently than others and therefore should be represented accordingly, but I think you will find a decent representation of all relevant lines.

One final note – I have refrained from covering lines which start with a Najdorf move order [B90-B99], but then merge with lines which fall in the Scheveningen Sicilian [B80-B89] classification. This means that neither the main lines of the English Attack, 6 Be3 e6 7 f3, nor the Fischer Attack, 6 Bc4 e6, are covered in this volume. These lines will be featured in a future volume on the Scheveningen.

Comments? Please do not hesitate to send them to carstenchess@gmail.com.

Good luck and enjoy!

Carsten Hansen

Bayonne, NJ

February 2016

Chapter 1

Minor Lines

6 h3, 6 a4, 6 g3 [B90] & [B91]

In this chapter, we will focus on the minor lines. Most of this lines have never had a major or regular following by top players, although they have seen their share of action.

For instance, 6 h3 was played a few times by Bobby Fischer, but then faded away. This line has once again emerged from its dusty shelf and found its way into the repertoires of top players, mostly those who would like a breather from the forced and theory-laden lines of the English Attack.

Of the others lines in this chapter, 6 g3 is probably one of the more frequently seen moves, although this mostly positional line should not unduly worry Black.

Game 1

Zhang Pengxiang (2603) – Zhou Jianchao (2652)

Hefei 2010

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2 h5 8.Bg5 Be6 9.f4 Nbd7 10.f5

White has also tried the artificial looking 10.g3, e.g., 10…Rc8 11.Bg2 b5 12.Qd2 Be7 13.0-0 Qc7 14.a3 Bc4 15.Rf3 0-0 16.b3 Bxe2 17.Qxe2 Qa5 with chances for both sides, Sipos-Brkic, Harkany 2009.

10…Bc4

11.b3

The text move aims to lay claim to the light squares and the d5-square in particular. But at the same time it ends up weakening the dark squares dramatically. White should instead opt for 11.Ng3 which has seen support by a couple of top players: 11…Rc8 12.Qf3 (or 12.Bxc4 Rxc4 13.Qd3 Rd4 14.Qf3 Qc7 15.0-0 Rc4 16.Kh1 h4 17.Nge2 Be7 18.Rac1 b5 19.b3 Rc5 20.a3, and a draw was agreed upon, ½–½ Vallejo Pons-Lopez Martinez, Palma de Mallorca 2009, even though there is obviously plenty left to play for) 12…Be7 (12…h4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.Nf1 Qc7 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.0-0-0 d5 17.Nd2 d4? [17…dxe4!? 18.Ndxe4 Be7 is more solid and substantially better] 18.Nxc4 Qxc4 19.Qe2 Qxe2 20.Nxe2 Nxe4 21.Nxd4 Nf2 22.Rhe1 Nxd1 23.Rxe5+ Kd7 24.Kxd1, and White is a pawn up and went on to win, Naiditsch-Olszewski, Trzcianka 2012) 13.0-0-0 Qc7 14.Bxc4 Qxc4 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Nf1 b5? (This is natural, but Black has a much stronger alternative in 16…d5! 17.exd5 Ba3!, and Black is taking over control of the game) 17.Ne3 Qc6 18.h4 Bd8 19.Ncd5 Nxd5 20.Rxd5 Bb6 21.Rd2 Bxe3 22.Qxe3 with a small, but clear advantage for White, Naiditsch-Spoelman, Germany 2010.

11…Bxe2 12.Bxe2 Be7

Another way of addressing the newly weakened dark squares is 12…Qa5!? 13.Bd2 Qc5 14.Bd3 Rc8 with a pleasant position for Black.

13.Bf3

Relatively best, but nevertheless quite pleasant for Black is 13.0-0 Rc8 14.Qe1 Qb6+ 15.Kh1 Qb4.

13…Rc8 14.Bxf6?

This is consistent with White’s strategy, but it further weakens the dark squares. White should consider 14.Bd2 Qb6 15.Kf1 Qc5 16.Rc1 0-0, when White is still alive, but obviously is also clearly worse.

14…Nxf6 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Rxc2 17.Qxb7 Qa5+ 18.b4

How should Black now continue?

18…Bh4+! 19.Kf1 Qa3

Now the invasion on the dark squares is a full-blown reality.

20.Qb8+

Or 20.Qb6 Rc1+ 21.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 22.Ke2 Qc2+ (Black should obviously not start getting greedy at this point: 22…Qxh1?? 23.Qc6+ Kf8 24.Qc8+ Ke7 25.Qc7+ with perpetual check) 23.Kf1 Qd3+ 24.Kg1 Bg3, and White will have to give up material to avoid mate.

20…Kd7 21.Qb6

21…Rb8!

Black can also play 21…Rc1+ 22.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 23.Ke2 Qc2+ 24.Kf1 Qc4+ 25.Kg1 Qc1+ 26.Kh2 Qf4+ 27.Kg1 Rc8 with a winning position, but this is hardly as effective as the game continuation.

22.Qa7+ Rc7

And it is game over for White. 0-1

Game 2

Dmitry Schneider (2405) – Hikaru Nakamura (2452)

USA-ch U20 (Tulsa) 2001

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 b5 7.Nd5

7…Nxe4

Very provocative. 7…Bb7 8.Nxf6+ gxf6 is our next main game, Fischer-Najdorf, Varna ol 1962.

Two other options are:

7…Nxd5 8.exd5 Bb7 9.Nf5 Nd7 10.Be2 g6 11.Nh6 Bg7 12.0-0 Rc8 13.Be3 (13.c3!?) 13…Qc7 14.Bg4 Qxc2 15.Nxf7 Rf8 16.Ng5 Bxb2 17.Rb1 Qxd1 18.Rfxd1 with the initiative for White, Romanov-Perunovic, Warsaw 2005.

7…e6 8.Nxf6+ Qxf6 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.0-0 (White can also consider 10.a4 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Be3, e.g., 12…Nc6 13.axb5 axb5 [13…Nxd4 14.bxa6 Bc8 15.c3 Nc6 16.b4 is very good for White] 14.Rxa8 Rxa8 15.Bxb5 Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Qxd4 17.Bxd4 Bxe4 18.c4, and White should have the somewhat better chances on account of his queenside pawns) 10…Nd7 11.Nb3 Nc5 12.Qe2 Qd8 13.Bd2 Be7 14.Na5 Qd7 15.Nxb7 Qxb7 with more or less even chances, Karim-Brunner, France 2009.

8.Qf3 Nc5 9.b4

White can of course win an exchange with 9.Nf6+ gxf6 10.Qxa8, but Black has an excellent position after 10…Bb7 11.Qa7 Qc8 12.c3 Rg8.

9…e6 10.bxc5 exd5 11.c6 Be7 12.Qxd5 0-0?

Now White gains a strong initiative. The solid 12…Bf6!? 13.Bd3 (or 13.a4!? b4 14.Be3 Bxd4 15.Qxd4 0-0 with a decent game for Black) 13…Qe7+ 14.Be3 Be6 15.Nxe6 Qxe6 16.c7 Qxd5 17.c8Q+ Bd8 18.Qg4 with an on-going initiative for White.

13.Bd3 Bf6 14.0-0 Qc7?

14…Re8 15.Bb2 Ra7 is playable for Black, whereas the game continuation is highly problematic for Black.

15.Bb2 Bxd4 16.Qxd4 f5

Or 16…f6 17.Qd5+ Kh8 18.Be4 and Black is completely tied up.

17.a4 b4 18.Bc4+ Kh8 19.Bd5 a5

How should White proceed? Before you commit to a move, try to define what White is trying to accomplish to finish Black off.

20.Rfe1! Ra6 21.Qh4

This was the idea behind the previous move – the threat is Re7.

21…Nxc6 22.Bxc6 Qxc6 23.Re7

And Black is done…

23…Rg8 24.Rxg7 Rxg7 25.Qd8+ 1-0

Game 3

Robert Fischer – Miguel Najdorf

Varna ol 1962

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3

A Fischer specialty.

6…b5!?

In two other Fischer games, Black tested a couple of other options:

6…g6 7.g4 Bg7 8.g5 (nowadays White typically gives preference to 8.Bg2, e.g., 8…0-0 9.Be3 Nc6 10.Qd2 Bd7 11.0-0-0 Rc8 12.f4 Na5 13.b3 Qc7 14.Nde2 b5 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Rfe8 17.Rhf1 e6 with a razor-sharp position that soon went completely wild: 18.Rf2 Nc4 19.bxc4 bxc4 20.Bd4 c3 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 22.Nxc3 Bxd4 23.Rxd4 Rxc3 24.dxe6 Rxe6, and when the smoke cleared, the chances were equal, Topalov-Mamedyarov, Khanty-Mansiysk Candidates 2014) 8…Nh5 9.Be2 e5 10.Nb3 Nf4 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.Qxd5 Nc6 13.Bg4 Bxg4 14.hxg4 Qc8 15.Qd1 Nd4 16.c3 Nxb3 17.axb3 Qe6 18.Ra5 f6 19.Qd5 Qxd5 20.Rxd5 Kd7 21.gxf6 Bxf6 22.g5 with a comfortable edge for White which eventually was converted, Fischer-Reshevsky, New York 1962.

6…Nc6 7.g4 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 e5 9.Qd3 Be7 (in a relatively recent super GM encounter, Black instead tried 9…Be6 10.f4 Rc8 11.g5 Nd7 12.f5 Bc4 13.Qg3 b5 14.Bg2 b4 15.Nd1 d5 16.exd5 Bc5 17.Be3 Bd4 18.h4 Qa5 with a messy position where Black certainly cannot be worse, Movsesian-Fedorchuk, Sibenik 2012) 10.g5 Nd7 11.Be3 Nc5 12.Qd2 Be6 13.0-0-0 0-0 14.f3 Rc8 15.Kb1, and White’s position is somewhat preferable, Fischer-Bolbochan, Stockholm Interzonal 1962.

6…e5 or 6…e6 are currently the most frequently played moves.

7.Nd5!? Bb7

7…Nbd7?? 8.Nc6 or 7…Nfd7 8.Bg5! h6? 9.Ne6!, both winning for White.

8.Nxf6+ gxf6 9.c4

White blasts forward. The normal 9.Bd3 Nd7 may be a little better for White, but offers Black an almost normal Najdorf position once he has played …e7-e6.

9…bxc4

9…b4 10.f3 followed by Be3 looks quite pleasant for White, whereas 9…Bxe4!? 10.cxb5 leads to a messy position, e.g., 10…e5 (10…Bg7 11.Qg4 Bg6 12.Nf5 0-0 13.Nxg7 Kxg7 14.a4 is possibly better for White, even if he is a bit behind in development) 11.Ne2 Bb7 12.Nc3 d5 13.Qf3, and I’m not entirely sure whose position I prefer.

10.Bxc4 Bxe4!?

If Black plays 10…Qa5+?! 11.Bd2 Qe5, then White should opt for 12.Qb3! Qxe4+ 13.Kd1 with a pretty scary initiative for White.

11.0-0 d5 12.Re1?!

I know it is almost sacrilegious to pick at a classic Fischer win, but the text move is definitely not the best move.

White should have opted for the retreat 12.Bb3! which is very uncomfortable for Black to face, e.g., 12…e6 13.Re1 Bc5 14.Be3 Bxd4 15.Ba4+ Nd7 16.Bxd4 with an unpleasant position for Black.

12…e5?

Black has a number of alternatives that need to be examined:

12…Rg8 13.Rxe4! dxe4 (or 13…dxc4 14.Be3 Qc8 15.Qf3 Nd7 16.Nc6 with a nasty attack) 14.Qh5 Rg6 (or 14…Rg7 15.Nf5) 15.Qxh7 Rg7 16.Qxe4 Ra7 17.Nf5, and White is winning.

12…e6 13.Qh5! Bg6 14.Qxd5 Qxd5 15.Bxd5 Ra7 16.Nc6 with a large advantage for White.

12…h5 13.Rxe4! dxe4 14.Qb3! e6 (14…Qxd4? 15.Be3) 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Nxe6 Qc8 17.Bf4 Ra7 18.Rc1 with a strong attack for White.

12…Nd7 13.Rxe4 dxc4 14.Nc6 Qc7 15.Qf3 is very good for White.

12…dxc4 has been given as Black’s best option but after 13.Rxe4 f5 (13…Qd5 is worse: 14.Qf3 e6 15.Bf4 Nc6 16.Nxc6 Qxc6 17.Rxe6+, and White is winning) 14.Qa4+ Qd7 15.Qxd7+ Nxd7 16.Nxf5 with a clearly better endgame for White.

12…Bxg2! is Black’s only chance: 13.Kxg2 dxc4 14.Qf3 Nd7 15.Nf5 Rg8+ (15…e6 loses to 16.Rxe6+!, e.g., 16…fxe6 17.Qh5#) 16.Kh1 e5 (16…e6 17.Qc6, intending Rxe6+, 17…e5, and Black may well survive) 17.Be3 Rb8 18.Rac1 Qc7, and Black is still very much in the game.

13.Qa4+! Nd7

13…Qd7 is met by 14.Bb5! axb5 15.Qxa8 Bd6 16.Rxe4! dxe4 17.Qxe4 with a large advantage and an on-going initiative for White.

14.Rxe4!

Time for the fireworks to begin.

14…dxe4

14…dxc4 15.Nf5.

15.Nf5!

Strongest, but the simple 15.Qb3 Qb6 16.Bxf7+ is also very good for White, e.g., 16…Kd8 17.Qd5 Rc8 18.Bd2 with a terrifying attack.

15…Bc5 16.Ng7+! Ke7 17.Nf5+

White is not repeating moves, but rather taking away Black’s right to castle.

17…Ke8

Nominally Black is a pawn and an exchange up, but with two doubled pawns, the king stuck in the center and a total lack of piece coordination, his position is in disarray. So how does White take advantage of Black’s many issues?

Tal suggested 18.Bh6 which is also strong, but weakening Black’s defense of the dark squares is far more problematic for Black to deal with.

18.Be3! Bxe3 19.fxe3

White intends to play Rd1 to tie Black up further; it is remarkable that Black is completely without a defense.

19…Qb6 20.Rd1

While 20.Bxf7+ is possible, then 20…Kd8! 21.Rd1 Ra7 is probably winning for White, but the game continuation is more effective.

20…Ra7

How should White continue his attack?

21.Rd6!

21.Bxf7+ Kd8 is the same as above, whereas 21.Nd6+ Kf8 gives Black a chance to survive.

21…Qd8

On 21…Qc7 White plays the decisive 22.Rc6 Qd8 23.Qb4, and it is curtains.

While 21…Qxb2 is met by 22.Bxf7+!, and now:

22…Kd8 23.Qa5+ Rc7 (23…Kc8 actually leads to a forced mate according to my computer after 24.Ne7+ Kb8 25.Nc6+ Ka8 26.Nxa7, and the mate is around the corner) 24.Be6 Qb5 25.Rxd7+, and it is over.

22…Kxf7 23.Rxd7+ Rxd7 24.Qxd7+ Kg6 25.Qg7+ Kxf5 26.Qg4#.

22.Qb3 Qc7

Or 22…Rf8 23.Ng7+ Ke7 24.Qa3, and the discovered check decides.

23.Bxf7+ Kd8

Or 23…Kf8 24.Bh5 and Black is getting mated.

24.Be6

And Black resigned because he cannot avoid losing material, e.g., 24.Be6 Rb7 25.Qd5 Qc8 26.Qa5+ Ke8 27.Rxa6, threatening both Ra8 and Nd6+. 1-0

Game # 4

Axel Bachmann Schiavo (2555) – Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (2599)

Dresden ol 2008

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3

As we saw in the previous game, Fischer enjoyed this move. Nowadays the move has gone through a renaissance and is played frequently in top games.

6…e5 7.Nde2 b5

In game #1 we saw Black avoid this move and play 7…h5.

8.g4 Bb7 9.Bg2 Be7

Two common alternatives are:

9…b4 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.exd5 Be7 12.0-0 0-0 13.f4 Qb6+ 14.Kh2 Nd7 15.Ng3 Rfc8 16.Be3!? Qc7 (16…Qxe3? 17.Nf5 is of course very good for White) 17.Rc1 exf4 18.Bxf4 Bf8, and the chances are about even, Amonatov-Voitsekhovsky, Voronezh 2010.

9…h6 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ng3 Rc8 12.a3 g6 13.Be3 Nb6 14.Qd3 Nc4 15.Bc1 Be7 16.b3 Nb6 17.Be3 Qc7 18.Nge2 Nbd7, and Black has successfully solved his opening problems, Nepomniachtchi-Najer, Moscow 2015.

10.0-0

Another option is 10.Ng3 g6 11.a3 Nfd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.Bh6 Re8 14.Qd2 Nc6 15.Nd5 Bh4 16.Be3 Ne7 17.a4 Bxd5 18.exd5 f5 19.Bg5 Bxg5 20.Qxg5 bxa4, and a draw was rather prematurely agreed upon, ½-½, in Maenhout-Zherebukh,