(1) Sturniolo,Lou (1512) - Kernighan,Mark (2234) [B88]
4th Irving Ellner Memorial Kenilworth, NJ (1), 14.04.2011
[Houdini 1.5a & J. Moldovan]

B88 Sicilian Defense Scheveningen Variation Sozin Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bc4 a6 7.Bb3 Nc6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Nxc6 [RR9.Be3 0-0 10.f4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 Nd7 14.Ne4 Bb7 15.Nd6 Bxd6 16.exd6 Qg5 17.Rf2 a5= J. Polgar - Lutz : Frankfurt 1999; 9.f4 Nxd4 (9...Qc7 10.Kh1 0-0 11.f5 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 b5 13.fxe6 Bxe6 14.Bf4 Qc5= Ivanchuk - Anand : Morelia/Linares 2008) 10.Qxd4 0-0 11.f5 Kh8 12.Kh1 Bd7 13.Bg5 Qa5 14.Rad1 Rad8 15.Qd3 Illescas - Andersson : Ubeda 1997 15...Qc5= ]

9...bxc6 Diagram



10.Kh1N [RR: 10.f4 (1 of 8 previous tries in the position) 10...d5 11.e5 Nd7 12.Na4 a5 13.Be3 0-0 14.c4 Ba6 15.Rc1 Rb8= Zapata - Dobrov : Neiva 2005]

10...0-0 11.f4 d5 12.e5 Nd7 13.Qh5 f6 14.Be3 Nc5 15.Bxc5 [>=15.Rf3 g6 16.Rg3= threatening to draw by 17.Rxg6+ hxg6 18.Qxg6+ Kh8 19.Qh6+ Kg8 20.Qg6+, etc.]

15...Bxc5 16.Rad1 [>=16.Na4 Ba7 17.c3 ]

16...fxe5 17.fxe5?! [>=17.Qxe5=/+ ]

17...Qe7?! [>=17...Ra7!-/+ /\ ...Raf7]

18.Ne2 a5 19.c4 g6 20.Qg4 Ba6? [20...Rxf1+ 21.Rxf1 Bd7=/+ ]

21.Nf4 a4 22.Bc2 Bxc4?? Diagram

[22...Rae8 23.Nxg6 hxg6 24.Qxg6+ Qg7 25.Rxf8+ Rxf8 26.Qxe6+ Qf7 , with a draw to follow after 27.Qg4+ , was required.]

23.Nxg6! Rxf1+? [>=23...hxg6 24.Qxg6+ Qg7 but White is winning after 25.Qxe6+ Kh8 26.Rf6 ]

24.Rxf1 hxg6 25.Qxg6+ Qg7 26.Qxe6+ Kh8 Diagram



27.Qh3+? With less than 90 seconds left, White heads for a repetition... [... But, to the kibitzer, 27.Rf3 resigns 1-0 was obvious.]

27...Kg8 28.Qe6+ Kh8 29.Qh3+ Drawn by agreement. Lou had quite a week, drawing IM Dean Ippolito (in a simul) & Mark, in a 6-day span. 1/2-1/2