SicilianB38

IM Amon Simutowe (2424)
IM Odion Aikhoje (2278)

ch-Africa (5)
Abuja NGR, 2003


1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 g6 5. e4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 d6 7. Be2 Bg7 8. Be3 Bd7 9. O-O O-O 10. Nc2 Qa5 11. f4 Be6 12. Rb1 Rfc8 13. Kh1 Nb4 14. Na3 Nd7 Critical position 15. Bd2 Nc5?










Aikhoje played the first moves relatively fast till we reached the following critical position. He then played this move after only two minutes thought. I am sure he thought he was creating a flight square for e6 Bishop when f5 arrives in future. Is there any other move he could have played that could have saved this position. This move was played due to loss of concentration but I cant think of lasting solutions for him. 16. f5! decides the game










16... Bxc3 16... Bd7 17. Nd5 Nca6 18. Nxe7+ (18. Nxb4 Nxb4 19. Nc2 wins a piece for white) 18... Kh8 19. Nxc8 Rxc8 20. Nc2 Qb6 is better for white 17. Bxc3 Nxe4 17... Bd7 18. Nc2 Nca6 19. Nxb4 Nxb4 20. a3 18. fxe6 fxe6 19. Bxb4 Qxb4 and the game is over 20. Bg4 Qd2 21. Bxe6+ Kh8 22. Bxc8 Nf2+ 23. Rxf2 Qxf2 24. Bxb7 Rb8 25. Qf3 1-0 [Simutowe A.]

Game(s) in PGN