SicilianB90

Stancil K.
Newcomb M.

Mechanics Institute M/X
San Francisco, USA, 2007


The following game was played at the Mechanics Institute which runs an invitation Master/Expert Round Robin event for FIDE players and improving young players who presently dont have FIDE ratings. This past summer 2007, Dr. Stancil received his 2nd invitation to this event, and scored an amazing undefeated score of 8/8 with one unplayed game (total games = 9). His performance rating was USCF 2631 (based on all 8 players), and FIDE 2588 (based on 4 players). In this game, he metes out theoretical bruising of the Najdorf.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 The Najdorf Sicilian has been a fighting line for black for more than 40 years. Perhaps its popularity was strengthened by two greats in two different eras... Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov. 6. Be3 The so-called 'English Attack' became a popular refrain from the main lines of the Najdorf such as the exhaustively-analyzed 6. Bc4 (Fischer's favorite) 6. Bg5 (leading to serious complications including the Poison-Pawn) 6. Be2 (Karpov's favorite) The move 6. g3 is less often seen, but has been played at top level. The text move provide white with rapid development and attacking possibilities. 6... Ng4










This is a move taking advantage of the fact that white has not played f3. In fact, after facing this move, white had begun playing 6.f3 first followed by 7.Be3. 6... e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 h5!? is Veselin Topalov's creation. 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Be2 10. h3 Ne5 11. Nf5 Bxf5 12. exf5 Nbc6 13. Nd5 e6 14. Ne3 Qa5+ 15. c3 Nf3+!! 0-1 (44), Svidler-Topalov, San Luis 2005. 10... Ne5 10... h5 is another line commonly seen. 11. Bxg4 hxg4 12. Nd5 (12. f3!?) 12... Nc6 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5 Bxb2 15. Rb1 Qa5+ 16. Qd2 Bd4 17. Qxa5 Nxa5 18. O-O Kd7 19. Rb4 Ba7 20. Re1 Rhe8 21. Rxg4 Rac8 22. Rge4 Nc6 23. c3 f6 24. Re6 Ne5 25. Rb1 b5 26. Rd1 Rc4 27. h3 Bc5 28. Bxe5 fxe5 29. Rg6 Rf8 30. Rxg5 Rf7 31. g4 a5 32. Rg6 b4 33. cxb4 axb4 34. Rd2 Bd4 35. h4 Kc6 36. Ne3 Rc3 37. Re2 Kc5 38. h5 e4 39. Kg2 d5 40. h6 Ra3 41. Rg8 1-0 Judit Polgar-R. Leitao, Buenos Aires, 2000. 11. O-O Nbc6 12. Nf5 Bxf5 13. exf5 Rc8










If we take a look at this position, we will see that white has a slight space advantage and possibilities on the white squares. What does black have in compensation? Strong centralized knights, a well-place bishop on g7 and a potential pawn storm on the kingside. However, the black king often has to stay in the center in this line and his last move made it official. Stancil suggested 13... Nd4 14. Bd3 (14. f4?! Nxe2+ 15. Qxe2 (15. Nxe2 Nc4) 15... gxf4 16. Rxf4 Qb6+) 14... Nxd3 15. Qxd3 Qd7 however white can still complicate with 16. f6! 14. Nd5 Nd4 15. Ne3?! White decided to protect f5 with the knight, but perhaps 15. Bd3 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 looks stronger for white. White's knight was certainly well-placed on d5. 15... Qd7 16. Bd3 h5 17. c3 Ndc6 18. h4 g4 19. Be4 White has managed to maintain the bishop pair and strengthen his grip on the light squares. 19... b5? Creating more light-square weaknesses. 20. Qe2 On 20. Nd5 (xb6) 20... Rb8 21. Re1 Kf8 (21... e6 is recommended by Fritz, but seems dubious.) 20... Qa7 21. Rad1 Na5 Black will waste a lot of time moving this knight in circles. Just as a demented dog spins around in circles before it dies, this knight will meet the same fate. 22. Nd5!










22... Nac4 23. b3 Nb6 24. Qe3 Maybe changing the move order with 24. f6! exf6 (24... Bf8 25. Qe3 Rb8 26. Bxe5! dxe5 27. Nb4) 25. Qe3 is stronger. After 25... Rb8 there is(25... Rc5 26. Nxb6 Qxb6 27. b4 Rc6 28. Bxc6+ Qxc6 29. f4 gxf3 30. Rxf3 and black's position is in shambles.) 26. Nxf6+ Bxf6 27. Rxd6! 24... Rb8 25. f6 Busting down the door! 25... Bh6 26. Nf4 Nc8 27. Qxa7 Nxa7 Black is no doubt relieved to get the queens off, but white keeps up the pressure. 28. Nxh5 Rc8 29. Rd5! Fritz likes 29. fxe7 but instead white decides to sacrifice a pawn to launch a rook attack on the centralized king. I would agree with Stancil here. Black's position is pathetic and quick deployment of forces is probably the most direct way to exploit weaknesses. The black knight looks on as a mere spectator. Black has backrank problems, but... 29... Rxc3 he bites! 30. Rfd1 Rc1??










Trying to neutralize the battery on the d-file, but logically speaking, 30... Nac6 31. fxe7 Kxe7 32. Rxd6 Bd2!? and at least black is still breathing. 31. Ng7+ Also 31. Rxc1 Bxc1 32. Ng7+ Kf8 33. Bxe5 exf6 34. Bxf6 31... Kf8 31... Bxg7 32. Rxc1 (32. fxg7 Rxd1+ 33. Rxd1 Rg8) 32... Bxf6 33. Bxe5 Bxe5 34. Rc7 32. Rxc1 Bxc1 33. Bxe5 dxe5 34. Rd8#










This game was played with good energy by Stancil although he got a bit of cooperation in crucial stages from his opponent. 1-0 [Shabazz D.]

Game(s) in PGN