SicilianB87

FM Emory Tate (2400)
GM Leonid Yudasin (2600)

U.S. Masters (Chicago)
1997


1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 Bobby Fischer's favorite reply to the Najdorf Sicilian. It suits Tate's ferocious style perfectly. 6... e6 7. Bb3 Nbd7 Recently 7...Nbd7 has become very popular, proplay because White has scored well against the main line, 7... b5 8. O-O Be7 with 9. Qf3 8. Qe2 8. f4 Nc5 White has tried 9. e5 (9. f5) (9. Qf3 with moderate success.) 8... Nc5 9. g4!? Apparently a novelty. Several games have continued 9. Bg5 Be7 10. f4 h6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. O-O-O Qc7 which gives Black about even chances in a sharp position. 9... b5 Black correctly declines the offer to grab a pawn by 9... e5?! 10. Nf5 g6 11. Ne3 (Weak is 11. g5? Nfxe4!) 11... Ncxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 as White takes the initiative with 13. Qc4 Ng5 14. Nd5 Ne6 15. Be3 then 15... b5 drops the exchange to 16. Qc6+ Bd7 17. Nf6+ Qxf6 18. Qxa8+ 10. g5 Nfd7 11. Bd5!?










If Black had hoped for a quiet game, this move informs him that he cannot avoid a slugfest. White probably sacrificed the bishop intuitively, but analysis confirms that he obtains a strong attack. For example, on 11. Bd5!? he can meet 11... exd5 12. Nc6 Qb6 13. exd5+ Ne5 by either 14. Nxe5 (14. f4!? Bg4 15. Qe3 Ncd3+ 16. cxd3 Qxe3+ 17. Bxe3 Nxc6 18. dxc6 Bf3 19. O-O Bxc6 20. Bd4 and 20... h6 runs into 21. Rae1+ Kd7 22. g6!? fxg6 23. f5 g5 24. Re6) 14... dxe5 15. Qxe5+ Kd8 16. Be3 In both cases, Black has trouble completing his kingside development. 11... Bb7 12. Bxb7 Nxb7 13. a4 bxa4 Black must accept a vulnerable a-pawn, because he gets a miserable position from 13... b4 14. Nd5! exd5 15. Nc6 Qc7 16. exd5+ Ne5 17. f4 14. Rxa4 Nbc5 15. Ra3 Qb6 Black stands only slightly worse. 16. O-O Be7 17. Kh1 O-O 18. b4!? With this move and his next, White begins another onslaught. The routine 18. f4 looks promising too. 18... Na4 Best. Obviously 18... Qxb4 loses to 19. Nc6 but not so clear is 18... Nb7 19. Be3 (welcoming 19...Qxb4?? 20.Rb3) 19... Qc7 then 20. Rfa1? lets Black fight back with(The ugly 20. Na2!? creates disturbing threats of 21.Rxa6 and 21.Rc3.) 20... d5! 21. Ncb5 Qe5 19. Nf5! exf5 20. Nd5 Qd8 21. exf5 Re8 Black gambles that he can survive White's kingside attack. After 21... Bxg5 22. Bxg5 Qxg5 23. Rg1 Qh6 24. Rxa4 Black's king is in little danger, but his a-pawn will fall. 22. Qh5!? Nab6? The only chance is 22... g6 23. Qh4 Nab6 when neither player can safely deviate from 24. fxg6 fxg6 25. Rh3 h5 26. Qe4 Ne5 27. f4 Rf8 when White should pass up 28. Nxb6? (28. Nf6+? Bxf6 29. fxe5 Bg7) (Instead, White can force a draw by 28. Nxe7+ Qxe7 29. Re1 Qd7! 30. fxe5 Qxh3 31. Qxg6+ Kh8 32. Qh6+) (If he risks 28. Ne3 Qd7! (worse is 28... Bxg5 29. fxe5) 29. Rh4 Black gets out of danger by 29... Bxg5 30. fxg5 Rxf1+ 31. Nxf1 Qc6) 28... Qxb6 29. Re1 Qc6 23. Rh3 Nf8 24. f6!!










One piece is not enough! White offers a second to smash through Black's defenses. 24... Nxd5 Black is lost. If he eliminates the annoying pawn by 24... gxf6 25. gxf6 Bxf6 White clinches victory by 26. Rg1+ Bg7 (26... Kh8 27. Qxf7 White mates on g8 or h7.) 27. Bb2 Re5 28. Rxg7+ Kxg7 29. Qh6+ Kg8 (or 29... Kh8 30. Nf6 intending 31. Qxh7+) 30. Bxe5 f6 (Hopeless is 30... dxe5 31. Nf6+) 31. Bxf6 Qd7 32. Rg3+ Ng6 33. Nxb6 Qb7+ 34. Kg1 25. fxg7 Kxg7 There is no salvation in 25... f5 26. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 27. Qxh7 Bxg5 28. Qxf5+ Qf6 29. Qxd5 26. Bb2+ Kg8 After 26... f6 27. gxf6+ Bxf6 White mates quickly by 28. Rg1+ Ng6 (28... Kh8 29. Qf7) 29. Qxh7+ Kf8 30. Qxg6 Bxb2 31. Rh7 27. g6!










27... Bf6 28. gxf7+ Kh8 29. Rg1?! 29. Qg5! A slight inac curacy does not spoil an outstanding attack. However, White could end it sooner by 29. Qg5! Ne6 30. Qg6 Ng5 31. fxe8=Q+ Qxe8 32. Bxf6+ Nxf6 33. Qxf6+ Kg8 34. Qxg5+ 29... Re1 30. Rxe1 Bxb2 31. Re8 Threatening 32.Qxh7 mate. 31... Nf6 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 Another cute finish is 32... Nxh5 33. Rxa8 Nf4 34. Rg3 Bg7 35. Rxf8+ Bxf8 36. Rg8# 33. Qh6 Threatening chiefly c3. 33... Ne4 If 33... Ng4 34. Qg5 Nf6 then 35. c3 N8d7 36. Rg3 mates. 34. Qh4! Nf6 35. Rg3 Setting up 36.Qxf6+ Bxf6 37.Rg8 mate. 35... N8d7 36. Qh6










Most lethal is 36. Qg5! but 36. Qh6 will gain material: 36... Ne4 37. Rg8+ Rxg8 38. fxg8=Q+ Kxg8 39. Qe6+ Kf8 40. Qxd7 1-0 [IM Jack Peters]