B40: Sicilian: 2...e6, Unusual lines

1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5 3. Nf3 d5 It's intere sting how perspective can influence your thinking. Chessbase classifies this as a Sicilian. Over the board, I was thinking I playing against the French. 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Nxd7 7. O-O Be7 8. Qe2 This move was intended to make it difficult for Black to castle. If I can keep his king in the center of the board, I will have a natural target. 8. Re1 would also do the trick, but I liked the idea of putting my queen on the a6-f1 diagonal. It threatens to check on b5 at an opportune moment. Black can easily parry that threat, but only at the cost of valuable time. 8... Ngf6 9. Re1 Ne4 10. Nc3 10. Nbd2 may be better as the text move allows Nxc3 fracturing my pawn structure. However, in this position I didn't mind that because it opens up the b-file for my rook and creates some ways to increase the pressure on blacks position. 10. Nfd2 is also possible. 10... Ndf6? This loses material. 11. Qb5+ Qd7 12. Qxd7+ Kxd7 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. Rxe4 White has won a pawn, and Black's king will have no safe refuge. 14... f6 A nice move which limits the scope of my knight by covering e5 and g5. 15. Bd2 I want to play c4!, but I don't like black's possible Nb4. So, I thought this simple move helped prepare c4 and allows me to get my queen rook into the game. 15... Rac8 15... c4 taking the option of c4 away from white. 16. c3 16. dxc5!? Bxc5 17. c4 Nc7 16... Rhe8 17. Rd1 I seem to have gotten a bit off my plan at this point. The c4 push is still strong. 17. c4 Nb6 18. b3 Bd6 But the idea behind the text was set up tactical play based on the x-ray attack after dxc5. 17... Bd6 18. Rxe8 Rxe8 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Be3 20. c4 is also interesting, but I am now thinking about simplifying into an advanageous endgame and this path looks clearer to me. 20... Kc6 21. Bxc5 Kxc5 22. Nd4 Re5 23. Kf1 Okay, I have strongly posted knight, my king is keeping the black rook at bay, so now we can start maneuvering. I do have to be careful about letting the black knight in via f4 or alternatively b6. 23... a6 24. h4 b5 25. g3 Ne7?! I was happy to see this move. It allows me to exchange rook in a favorable way. 26. Re1 Rxe1+ 27. Kxe1 Kd5 28. Ke2 h5 29. Kd3 Now it is just a matter of technique. I am generally very confident in knight endings. This one looks like it will play itself. 29... f5 30. b3 g6 31. Ne2 Taking advantage of the black king's obligations on the queenside, I can now attack on both sides of the board. 31... a5 32. Nf4+ Kc5 33. a3 a4 34. b4+ Kd6 35. c4 Kc6 36. c5 Kc7 36... Kd7 doesn't improve the situation as white is winning after 37. Ne2 37. Kd4 Kc6 38. Ke5 Kd7 39. Kf6 Almost there! But there is a rat in the woodpile. Black has one more tactical trick up his sleeve. White much be watchful of the treat of Nxb4 after which black has some counterplay. 39... Nc6 40. Ne6 40. Nxg6 immediately is possible, but after 40... Nxb4 41. Ne5+ Kc7 42. Kxf5 Nc2 White is winning, but black has some hopes based on b5-b4. Ne6 allows axb4 and then running back via d4-b3 to squelch any play. 40... Ne7 41. Nd4 And black is out of moves. 1-0 [J Todhunter]