1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
a6
6.Bg5
Ive never played this move before. Of course I was hoping that Igor would play the Poisoned Pawn, as I basically dont even know the first move against the other variations. Fortunately my dreams came true.
6...e6
7.f4
To show how much I know this line, I even wrote down the move Qd2 on my scoresheet, before realizing that I was mixing up the order
7...Qb6
8.Qd2
Qxb2
9.Rb1
Qa3
10.Be2
The rarest move in the position, and thus a choice I felt was justified. While I played in Bermuda, my friend Elisabeth Paehtz claimed that this was a forced win for white. Of course she loves to exagerate, but it seemed as though the idea had some merit, and I like to get confusing types of positions with Novikov.
10...Be7
11.0-0
Nbd7
12.e5
This is the point, I am sacraficing right away....going for the kill. In a search of games where both players average rating is 2400 and up, white had a very big score with this position...something like 80 percent.
12...dxe5
13.fxe5
Nxe5
14.Bxf6
gxf6
[14...Bxf6
15.Rxf6
gxf6
16.Ne4
This was the idea if Bf6.....white has some very serious compensation for the exchange.]
15.Ne4
f5
16.Rb3
Qa4
Now of course I forgot everything I looked at that afternoon. When preparing I have the bad habit of first asking myself "What are the chances I will play Novikov anyway, and then asking what are the chances I will also be white?" Of course my answer was that the chances are low, so I should not use too much of my mental energy remembering this line. I think I need to become more professional....
17.Nb5
Now both my knights are in take, but I was confident that they were poisoned. Unfortuantely I forgot that it was still legal for him to castle... [17.Qc3
This is the move that other people played....of course I have no idea whats going on here. Most likely course of events is that he will take one of my pieces and then in response I will sacrafice one of mine.]
17...Qxe4
Maybe he forgot also? [17...0-0
I think this move is pretty strong, I dont see what compensation or attack I have here...]
18.Nc7+
Kf8
19.Qh6+
[19.Nxa8
Ok I could take this rook, but I didn't really consider it very much. Blacks pieces looked too active to me, and now I felt like I would be on the defensive.....something like ....b5 or Rg8 looked normal]
19...Kg8
20.Ne8
Haha Mr. Novikov, now I will checkmate you......well ok i saw blacks defense during the game, but I figured that Id find a way to breakthrough.
20...Qd4+
ONLY MOVE
21.Re3
Ng6?
[21...Ng4!!
22.Bxg4
f4-+
uh oh, I lose...this was the whole point of Ng4....just to be able to play ....f4. Admittedly this is hard to figure out in a 30 minute game with pieces flying all over the place. 23.Qxf4
Qxf4
24.Rxf4
Bc5
]
22.Rd1
Bf8
23.Qg5
At this point I was pretty sure he was going to take a draw, by allowing repitition, although he had some chances to try to win if he was feeling ambitious. Novikov is a very safe player.....he doesnt lose often, but sometimes this may stop him from finding some winning chances in positions.
23...h6
[23...Bc5!?
24.Rxd4
Bxd4
25.Nf6+
Kf8
Black seems to have some good chances here...]
24.Nf6+
Now it is simply a draw...
24...Kg7
25.Nh5+
Kh7
26.Nf6+
Kg7
27.Nh5+
Hopefully next time I will be more prepared to take this variation head on. The Najdorf is such a solid, powerful opening these days that even if you prepare very hard for it, it can be quite difficult to get any kind of advantage. 1/2-1/2