Beating the Najdorf (6)

Submitted by Phobetor on Sun, 08/02/2009 at 8:36am.

It's been a while since my last blog post. The biggest reason is that I haven't played much chess lately, so there wasn't much to 'blog' about. But not too long ago I played in my first real tournament in months, and although my overall result was not so great (50% against average 2162) I played a few good games. The most spectacular of those was with white against the Najdorf, which is below. It involves some sacrifices, so have fun playing through it :)

» posted in Phobetor's Blog
 

Comments:

by da_tornado - 3 months ago
Honolulu United States
Member Since: Mar 2009
Member Points: 1018

well played

by Phobetor - 3 months ago
Eindhoven Netherlands
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 1201

Konstantyn, a possible plan for white could be to play f4-f5, Rf3-h3 and try winning the weak h-pawn. So for example 16. f5 Rg8 17. Qf2 or 16. Qf2 Rdg8 17. Rh3 h4 18. f5. Chances may be about equal, since white can't easily win black's h-pawn without losing the g-pawn.

by Konstantyn - 3 months ago
United States
Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 214

It is unclear about the correct 15...Kb8! What is the best continuation for White?  Thanks.

by Phobetor - 3 months ago
Eindhoven Netherlands
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 1201

SkpVwls, that sounds just right :) you forgot that Nd5 is a fork though ;)

by SkpVwls - 3 months ago
United States
Member Since: Jan 2009
Member Points: 254

WOAH. A decoying discovered pin-threat at 16. Nd5 ! I was having trouble identifying the tactic used so that's what I came up with. A decoying discovered pin-threat.

by gambitattack - 3 months ago
Singapore Singapore
Member Since: Dec 2008
Member Points: 137

excellent game!

by Phobetor - 3 months ago
Eindhoven Netherlands
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 1201

SerbianChessStar, the funny thing is that I was actually doubting between 15. Rd3 and 15. Rf3. I thought that if I played 15. Rf3, it would be less obvious that it was heading for c3, and not h3 :) I immediately walked away from the board after that move not to show my bad pokerface (and to get a drink) and when I walked back to the board I saw the rook from d8 had moved to g8 :D

And, well, I like to believe that I'm worth more than 2200, but I play way too little (about 25-30 FIDE-rated games this season) and sometimes still make dumb mistakes. I mean, in this tournament I easily drew a 2480-rated IM with the black pieces, but the next round I lost to a 2000-rated player with white. If I played well more consistently, I could get a higher rating.

And my Online Chess rating here is low because I usually don't spend a serious amount of time on my moves. Sometimes I quickly make a move, click Submit move and a few seconds later see there's a simple fork I forgot about.

by Glaedr - 3 months ago
Karachi Pakistan
Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 147

cool game!

by PavleKosic - 3 months ago
Belgrade Serbia
Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 225

Tnx, I dont really study Sicilian very much, I like to play more crazy Sicilian, like wing gambit, so I am not very familiar with the Naidorf, thanks for clarifing that to me.

by Phobetor - 3 months ago
Eindhoven Netherlands
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 1201

PavleKosic, the sac Nd5 is actually very common in the 6. Bg5 Najdorf, so I bet you can find hundreds of games with similar sacrifices :)

And in this game the sacrifice was actually quite obvious, since it only required a few calculations to see it worked (16... exd5 17. Rc3 Bc6 obviously fails to 18. exd5, so black either loses his queen or can't accept the knight).

by PavleKosic - 3 months ago
Belgrade Serbia
Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 225

I saw the same knight sac on move 16. in one of Tal games, did you knew that game or you find it yourself?

by SerbianChessStar - 3 months ago
Belgrade Serbia
Member Since: May 2009
Member Points: 2339

Very nice game!

I like how you played much better then your opponent, and very little rating differences.

Also how come your Online chess rating is lower then your R/L rating? i find it wierd

 

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