1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
a6
6.Be3
e6
7.f3
b5
8.Qd2
Nbd7
9.g4
Nb6
10.0-0-0
Bb7
11.Nb3
Rc8
12.Na5
Ba8
13.a4!?
This rare line has only been played two times, both games were draws. [ 13.g5
Nfd7
14.a4
b4
15.Na2
Nxa4
16.Bxa6
Qxa5
17.Bxc8
Ndb6=/+
Perez-Novikov, Aosta Open Italy 2002]
13...Nc4
[ 13...d5
14.g5
Nfd7
15.exd5
Bxd5
16.axb5
Bb4
17.Nc6
Bxc6
18.bxc6
Rxc6
19.Bxb6
Rxb6
20.Qd4
0-0
21.Na4!
Rb8
22.Qxd7
Qxg5+
23.f4
Qxf4+
24.Kb1+/-
Andreev-Voitsekhovsky, 2000]
14.Nxc4
bxc4
15.Qd4
Qc7
16.g5
Nd7
17.f4N
[ 17.h4
e5
18.Qa7
Qxa7
19.Bxa7
h6
20.Bh3+/=
De la Villa Garcia-Suba, Benasque Open 1995]
17...h6
18.g6!?
The idea behind sacking the pawn is to weaken the e6 and g6 pawns, and force black to move his king to f7. [ 18.gxh6
Rxh6
19.f5
Rh7
( 19...Rh4
20.fxe6
fxe6
21.Bf2
Rh7
22.Bg3!+/=
) 20.fxe6
]
18...fxg6
Novikov accepts the challenge. Perhaps f5 was better because once he takes on g6 his pieces get tied down, and black ends up with a very passive position. [ 18...f5!?
19.Bg2
Nf6~~
]
19.Rg1
Kf7
[ 19...e5?!
20.Qd2
g5
( 20...exf4
21.Bxf4
Qb6
22.Rxg6
Rb8
23.b3
cxb3
24.Re6+
Kf7
25.Bc4+/-
; 20...Qb7
21.Qd5!
Qxd5
22.Nxd5+/=
) 21.fxg5
hxg5
22.Nd5+/=
]
20.f5
gxf5
[ 20...exf5
21.exf5
gxf5
22.Bh3->
]
21.exf5
e5
22.Qh4?!
Missing a chance to get a winning position. [ 22.Qg4!
Nf6
23.Qg6+
Ke7
24.Bg2+/-
]
22...Nf6
23.Be2
Ke8
24.Rg6
Qf7
25.Qg3
Rb8
26.a5!
Bc6
27.Bb6
h5
This is the only move which makes any sense here, but it allows white to win an exchange. Maybe Novikov felt like giving up the exchange to get some counterplay because if he does not play h5 white has all the play.
28.Qh4
d5
29.Qg3
Qe7
30.Bd4!
Rxb2[]
31.Kxb2
exd4
32.Rxd4
Qa3+
33.Kb1
Bd6?
[ 33...Qb4+
34.Kc1
Bd6~~
After the game, when I analysed with Novikov , he suggested this line. I did not find anything which was winning for white, and I think that black is at least even in this position if not better.]
34.Qe3+
Kd8
35.Nxd5!!+-
Clearly Novikov did not see this brilliant tactical shot as he used up most of his time trying to come up with a good move. In the end he had to settle for a losing endgame down an exchange.
35...Qxe3
[ 35...Bxd5
36.Qxa3
Bxa3
37.Bxc4
Bc5
38.Rd3+-
; 35...Qxa5
36.Nxf6
Qe1+
37.Qc1+-
; 35...Nxd5
36.Qxa3
Bxa3
37.Rxc6+-
]
36.Nxe3
Kc7
37.Rxg7+
Nd7
38.Nxc4
Rb8+
39.Nb6
Re8
40.Bf3
Re1+
41.Ka2
Ra1+!
Desperation
42.Kxa1
Be5
43.c3
Bxg7
44.Bxc6
Bxd4
45.cxd4
[ 45.cxd4
Kxc6
46.d5+
Kd6
47.Nxd7
Kxd7
48.f6+-
] 1-0