FM Todd Andrews Versus Grandmasters Robert Hungaski and David Arenas at the American Continental Chess Championship 2023

In the fourth round of the ongoing American Continental Chess Championship 2023 FM Todd Andrews

thechessdrum.net

faced fellow American GM Robert Hungaski.

Episode 149- GM Robert Hungaski — The Perpetual Chess Podcast
perpetualchesspod.com

After the latter made his eighth move this position was reached:

White to move

We will return to this position momentarily.

It seems like only yesterday this writer heard it said that, “The Nashville Strangler has found him one.” The Strangler was, and still is, FM Jerry Wheeler. To give you an example of what it means for a Chess coach to have “found him one,” can best be explained by the time the Legendary Georgia Ironman informed me that, “Mr. Vest has found him one.” That “one” turned out to be Georgian IM Arthur Guo. When teaching Chess grizzled ol’ veterans “know” when a child “has it,” whatever “it” is… These children are special. Although I have taught Chess to many children the special “one” “with it” was never found. Without that whatever it is, let us call it a “spark”, a young player can still become a Chess Master, or even a titled player, especially today when there are so many titled players because the title has been cheapened to the point of ridiculousness. Without that ‘spark’ it is almost impossible for a Chess player to earn the Grandmaster title, unless that player is a woman. Even then there are female Chess players who have earned a “male” Grandmaster title, which is GM. The WGM title is only for women. The WGM title is laughed and scoffed at by most in the Chess community, for obvious reasons.

Position after 9 g4

This is being written because ‘back in the day’ g4 was the kind of move for which I was known, I am sad, but honest enough to report. The AW was famously known for “lashing out” prematurely while playing wild and crazy Chess. Hey, it worked at the Stein Club…

https://xpertchesslessons.wordpress.com/2021/06/06/shanglei-lu-seeks-bishops-opening-truth/

FM Todd Andrews vs GM Robert Hungaski
American Continental Chess Championship 2023 Rd 4
English Opening: Agincourt Defense (lichess.org)
A13 English opening (365Chess)

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. e3 c5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. d3 Nc6 6. a3 Be7 7. Qc2 O-O 8. h3 a6 9. g4 b5 10. g5 Ne8 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bg2 Nc7 13. h4 Bf5 14. e4 Bg4 15. Ne2 Ne6 16. Be3 Rc8 17. Rd1 d4 18. Bc1 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Ne5 20. Bg2 c4 21. dxc4 bxc4 22. O-O d3 23. Qc3 Qc7 24. Ng3 Bc5 25. Be3 g6 26. Bh3 Nf3+ 27. Kg2 Nxh4+ 28. Kh2 Bd4 29. Bxd4 Nf3+ 30. Kg2 Nexd4 31. Rh1 Rb8 32. b4 Nb5 33. Qf6 Nh4+ 34. Kf1 Rb6 35. Qa1 c3 36. Bg4 c2 37. Rxh4 d2 38. Ne2 Rc6 0-1
   https://lichess.org/broadcast/american-continental-chess-championship-2023/round-4/z5ktllVR

1…e6 is a rather tepid response to the English. If one is going to push the e-pawn why not push it all the way to e5? 3 e3 is a rather tepid response. If one is going to push the d-pawn why not push it all the way to d4? 4 Nf3 (?! SF) is so lame it gives the advantage to black. The Stockfish program at lichess.org shows, “Inaccuracy. d4 was best.” GM Hungaski replied with 4…Nf6, to which Stockfish responded with, “Inaccuracy. d4 was best.” After Todd played 5 d3, Stockfish responded with, “Inaccuracy. d4 was best.” I cannot make this up…

In yesterday’s round six game Todd faced GM David Arenas with the white pieces. After twenty moves this position was reached:

Position after 20…e5. White to move.

After only twenty moves Todd had fallen behind on time with a little less than twenty seven minutes remaining. His opponent had more than twice as much time. Todd used almost one third of his remaining time to produce his move. This writer knows how difficult it is when returning to the board after not having played serious OTB Chess in some time. When “not in form” even the pros will take more time than when “in form.” Scraping off the rust can be difficult. ‘Back in the day’ when Todd ruled at the House of Pain his moves came quickly and easily. These daze they are more difficult and are coming more slowly. Because Todd took so much time this writer, and Chess fan, had time to cogitate at length on the above position. Everything was considered. The first thought was not wanting the pawn coming to e4. Nevertheless I checked 21 cxd5 and did not like anything about the move, so I concentrated on 21 dxe5. I could “see” 21 Bxe5, followed by 21…Nxe5 22 dxe5 Rxe5 23 Nf3, attacking the Rook. That is about as far my Chess vision allows. I can “see” that because it is all forced. Then it hit me…”What if he plays 22…d4?” I certainly did not like the looks of 23 Nf5 followed by 23…Bxg2, but what else is there to play? I stopped looking and decided the move to make had to be 21 Bxe5.

As you will see, Todd made several questionable moves but the most questionable was not moving his Knight to f5. Then GM Arenas made a very questionable move with 24…f4?! and it was back to square one, as Todd was back in the game. Unfortunately, Todd refused to accept the gift when moving the Knight to the rim, where it was dim, and then followed up with the game losing 23 Qg4?

FM Todd Andrews vs GM David Arenas
American Continental Chess Championship 2023 Round 6
A45 Queen’s pawn game

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 cxd4 5. exd4 b6 6. Nf3 Bb7 7. Nbd2 Be7 8. h3 O-O 9. Bd3 a6 10. a4 d6 11. Bh2 Nbd7 12. O-O h6 13. Re1 Qc7 14. Nc4 Rfe8 15. Ne3 Bc6 16. Nd2 Bf8 17. Qe2 Qb7 18. c4 d5 19. b3 Bb4 20. Rec1 e5 21. cxd5 Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. Ne4 f5 24. Ng3 f4 25. Nh5 exd4 26. Qg4 Ne5 27. Qf5 Nxd3 28. Qxd3 Bc3 29. Bxf4 Qf7 30. g4 Bxa1 31. Rxa1 g6 32. Ng3 Qxf4 33. Qxg6+ Kh8 34. Nf5 Qg5 35. Qxb6 Re6 36. Qxd4+ Qf6 37. Qxd5 Qxa1+ 38. Kg2 Rae8 39. Nd6 Qe1 40. a5 Rf8 0-1

Lars Karlsson (2501) vs Leif Erlend Johannessen (2564)
Event: Rilton Cup 35th
Site: Stockholm Date: 12/30/2005
Round: 4 Score: ½-½
ECO: A45 Queen’s pawn game
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 e6 3.e3 b6 4.Nd2 Bb7 5.Ngf3 Be7 6.h3 c5 7.c3 cxd4 8.exd4 O-O 9.Bd3 a6 10.a4 d6 11.Qe2 Nbd7 12.O-O Re8 13.Bh2 Nf8 14.Rfd1 Ng6 15.c4 d5 16.b3 Bb4 17.Qe3 Rc8 18.Ne5 Qe7 19.Ndf3 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 Ne4 21.Bf4 f6 22.Rac1 e5 23.Bh2 exd4 24.Nxd4 Qf7 25.Qf3 Bc5 26.Bf1 Kh8 27.Bf4 Rcd8 28.Be3 Qg6 29.Qg4 Qxg4 30.hxg4 dxc4 31.Bxc4 Bc8 32.Be2 g6 33.Bf3 Bb7 34.Nc2 Kg7 35.b4 Bxe3 36.Nxe3 Rxd1+ 37.Rxd1 Re7 38.Bxe4 Bxe4 39.Rd6 Rb7 40.a5 bxa5 41.bxa5 Ra7 42.f3 Ba8 43.Nc2 Kf7 44.Nd4 Ke7 45.Re6+ Kf7 46.Rd6 Ke7 47.Rb6 Kf7 48.Nb3 Bd5 49.Nc5 Rc7 50.Nxa6 Rc1+ 51.Kh2 Ra1 52.Rb5 Bc4 53.Rb7+ Kg8 54.Nc5 Rxa5 55.Ne4 Ra6 56.g5 fxg5 57.Nxg5 h6 58.Ne4 Bd5 59.Rb4 Bxe4 60.Rxe4 Kf7 ½-½
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=3283470&m=20

What has happened to the Todd with the Big Head? (https://xpertchesslessons.wordpress.com/2023/04/17/big-head-todd-the-monster-in-iceland/) This is not the kind of Chess FM Todd Andrews played ‘back in the day’. It is almost as if another entity has taken over Todd’s big head, because his play recently has been unrecognizable. When discussing this with the Legendary one, Tim said, “Todd ain’t no spring chicken, Mike. He will be eligible for the Senior in less than a decade, and he’s got a house full of children… He runs the Nashville Chess Center and gives lessons all the time. How much time does he have to work on his game?”

The Day Kasparov Tanked Versus Deep Blue

Kasparov-Deep Blue, 1997 (https://en.chessbase.com/post/25-years-ago-deep-blue-beats-kasparov)

Way back in 1997, the chess-playing computer Deep Blue beat human chess champion Garry Kasparov. The two adversaries had faced off in a six-game match the year before. The computer won the first game, but Kasparov won the contest. So IBM went back to work and upgraded Deep Blue.

When the time came for the rematch, Kasparov won the first game easily. And in the second game, he laid what he considered to be a foolproof trap for the computer — but the computer didn’t go for it. It made a completely unexpected move. That rattled Kasparov’s confidence, and he was confused even more when the computer’s next move was a really bad one. Kasparov was visibly frustrated, and eventually got up and left the stage, forfeiting the game. “I lost my fighting spirit,” he later said.

It turns out that that unexpected move by Deep Blue was probably due to a glitch in the software. It was faced with so many choices that it couldn’t decide which move to make, so it just picked a move at random. A later analysis shows that Kasparov could have played that game to a draw, but he had psyched himself out, convinced that the random move was a sign that Deep Blue had a long-term strategy that he, Kasparov, was unable to visualize. And in game six, with the match tied at two and a half games each, Kasparov misplayed his opening. Deep Blue took advantage and defeated him in 12 moves.

IBM’s work on Deep Blue led to the development of Watson, a computer that played against humans on the game show Jeopardy, and won. Deep Blue has retired and now lives in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
https://www.writersalmanac.org/index.html%3Fp=9985.html

Comp Deep Blue vs Garry Kasparov (2785)
Event: New York man vs machine
Site: New York Date: 05/11/1997
Round: 6 Score: 1-0
ECO: B17 Caro-Kann, Steinitz variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3 h6 8.Nxe6 Qe7 9.O-O fxe6 10.Bg6+ Kd8 11.Bf4 b5 12.a4 Bb7 13.Re1 Nd5 14.Bg3 Kc8 15.axb5 cxb5 16.Qd3 Bc6 17.Bf5 exf5 18.Rxe7 Bxe7 19.c4 1-0
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?gid=1208181

Final position

Kasparov’s eight move, 8…Qe7, was the move that gave him a losing position according to the Stockfish program at lichess.com. Kasparov could have resigned right then and there, but continued to suffer torture because no Chess player wants to resign prior to hitting double digits on the game score. It was a pitiful game, one of the most ridiculous games played by Kasparov. I have always thought Kasparov intentionally tanked because it is the only thing that makes any sense.

The Spike Attack Rocks The Qe2 Chigorin World

Jordi Ayza Ballester (2096) vs Ramon Ibanez Aullana (2292)
II CHESSABLE SUNWAY FORMENTERA Rd 9
C00 French, Chigorin variation

1. e4 e6 2. Qe2 c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 g5 5. h3 Bg7 6. Bg2 h6 7. O-O Nge7 8. c3 d6 9. a4 e5 10. Kh2 f5 11. exf5 Bxf5 12. d4 cxd4 13. cxd4 e4 14. Ng1 Nxd4 15. Qd1 d5 16. Nc3 Qd7 17. f3 e3 18. Ra2 Nc2 19. f4 Nb4 20. Bxe3 d4 21. Nb5 Nxa2 22. Nxd4 Rd8 23. Nge2 Nb4 24. Qb3 Nbd5 25. Bg1 Bg6 26. fxg5 hxg5 27. Nb5 a6 28. Nbc3 Bf7 29. Ne4 Nf4 30. Nd6+ Qxd6 31. Qf3 Bd5 32. Qf2 0-1

This game was followed in ‘real time’ I stopped watching after seeing the ridiculous 12th move, d4 as it caused me to wonder how many times the player of the white pieces had previously attempted the Chigorin Variation, and/or how much time was spent studying games in which 2 Qe2 had been played. Then I wondered if the 4th move by black had messed with the mind of the general of the white army…

To begin, the Stockfish program at lichess.org responds to 2 Qe2 with 3 e5. That is right, one of the top, if not the top Chess programs will move the same pawn with each of his first two moves. “But coach,” you say, “you taught us to complete development before moving a piece twice.”
“That’s right, Bobby, I did. But did I say anything about not moving a PAWN twice?” The Chess coach must have an answer for everything, even when he doesn’t…

Here’s the deal… 2 Qe2 is the move that wins the most against the French defense. I kid you not. In 3758 games 2 Qe2 has won an impressive 44.3% of the time. In over 200,000 games 2 d4 has won’only’ 38.5%! In 17,542 games 2 d3 has won 41.7%.

I was pleased to see SF will play the only third move I have ever played in the position, 3 g3. Jordi Ayza Ballester played 3 Nf3, which happens to be the most often played move, according to 365Chess.com. 3…g5, as Brian McCarthy was fond of saying, must have “Rocked his world.” I have played the Chigorin ‘attack’ against the French for over half a century, and never seen the move. 365Chess contains only 4 (FOUR!?) games in which the move has been played (https://www.365chess.com/opening.php?m=8&n=899&ms=e4.e6.Qe2.c5.Nf3.Nc6.g3&ns=3.16.118.234.898.1077.899)

After seeing 10 Kh2?! the realization struck that Jordi Ayza Ballester had no clue what he was doing. Certainly d3 must be played in this opening. When Jordi played 12 d4?! I stopped following the game… The Stockfish program determines white has a lost position, down by -1.7, after the twelfth move, and it was all over but the shoutin’. This is one of the most pitiful performances with the white pieces you will ever see. How did the dude obtain a rating of 2092 without having a clue? Is there any validity in the rating system these daze?! Just askin’…

Johnny Wieweg (2140) vs Lars Hjelmaas (2302)
Event: Oslo International 2014
Site: Oslo NOR Date: 10/05/2014
Round: 9.16 Score: 1-0
ECO: C00 French, Chigorin variation
1.e4 e6 2.Qe2 c5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 g5 5.h3 Bg7 6.d3 h6 7.Bg2 Nge7 8.c3 d5 9.O-O b6 10.Na3 Ba6 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nc4 Qc7 13.Re1 Bxc4 14.dxc4 Nde7 15.h4 g4 16.Nh2 h5 17.Bf4 e5 18.Rad1 O-O 19.Bg5 f6 20.Bc1 Rad8 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.f3 f5 23.Bg5 Rd7 24.Nf1 Qd8 25.fxg4 hxg4 26.Bxc6 Rd6 27.Bd5+ 1-0
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=3914841&m=14

6 Qe2 Versus The Najdorf Sicilian

Although I would like to write that the best was saved for the last post concerning the venerable Najdorf variation of the Sicilian defense it would be far more accurate to classify it as exactly the opposite, as it could possibly be the worst move to make against the Najdorf. In the Stockfish vs Stockfish game that follows the best Stocky can do is move the Queen to the d3 square two moves later, which at least moves the Queen out of the way for the bishop. Fishy did not play the move g3, which would be the obvious way to play, as is done in the 2 Qe2 variation against the French.

1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Qe2

e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Qd3 Be7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Nc6 11. a3 d5 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 Bxd5 14. Rd1 Bxb3 15. Qxb3 Nd4 16. Qd3 Qc7 17. c3 Nb3 18. Rb1 Rad8 19. Qe4 Nxc1 20. Rbxc1 g6 21. Bf3 b6 22. Qb7 Qxb7 23. Bxb7 a5 24. Kf1 Kg7 25. Ke2 f5 26. f3 Bg5 27. Rb1 h5 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Rd1 Rxd1 30. Kxd1 1/2-1/2

I had seen enough to declare the moribund game a draw. If you have been having trouble when facing the Najdorf maybe you should consider playing 6 Qe2 as a way of potentially making a draw…

PR. Watson vs Alec Aslett
Event: Combined Services-ch
Site: England Date: ??/??/2002
Round: 7 Score: 1-0
ECO: B90 Sicilian, Najdorf
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Qe2 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.g3 Qc7 10.Bg2 Rc8 11.O-O-O Bc4 12.Qd2 b5 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Bxb3 15.axb3 h6 16.Be3 f5 17.h4 Be7 18.Kb1 Nf6 19.Bh3 g6 20.h5 O-O 21.hxg6 Ne4 22.Qd3 Nc5 23.Bxc5 e4 24.Qd2 dxc5 25.d6 Bxd6 26.Qxd6 Qg7 27.Bxf5 c4 28.Bxc8 1-0
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=202700&m=14

Winshand Cuhendi Sean (2406) vs Martin Nayhebaver (2450)
Event: Dunajska Streda GM 2017
Site: Dunajska Streda SVK Date: 06/24/2017
Round: 1.1 Score: 0-1
ECO: B90 Sicilian, Najdorf
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qe2 e5 7.Nf5 d5 8.Bg5 d4 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Nd5 Qd8 11.Qg4 g6 12.Qg3 Nd7 13.Nxd4 Qa5+ 14.c3 Bd6 15.Nb3 Qd8 16.O-O-O Nf6 17.Qd3 Bb8 18.Qe3 Nxd5 19.Rxd5 Qe7 20.h4 Be6 21.Rd2 O-O 22.h5 a5 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.Qc5 Qf7 25.Qb5 b6 26.Qc6 Bc7 27.Bc4 Bxc4 28.Rd7 Qf4+ 29.Nd2 Bf7 30.Qxc7 b5 31.g3 Qg4 32.Rh4 Qe6 33.Rd5 Qf6 34.Rxe5 Rac8 35.Qe7 Qxf2 36.Rxb5 Rfd8 37.Qg5 Rxd2 38.Qxd2 Qf1+ 39.Kc2 Qxb5 40.Qh6 Qe2+ 41.Kc1 Qe1+ 42.Kc2 Qf2+ 43.Kc1 Qe1+ 44.Kc2 Qxg3 45.Qxh7+ Kf8 46.Qh8+ Ke7 47.Qxc8 Qxh4 48.Qc5+ Ke8 49.e5 Qe4+ 50.Kd2 Qd5+ 51.Qxd5 Bxd5 52.b3 Ke7 53.Ke3 g5 54.Kd4 Ke6 55.c4 Bh1 56.a3 g4 57.b4 g3 58.Ke3 Kxe5 59.b5 Kd6 0-1
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=4054803&m=18

365Chess.com contains only 48 games in which the player of the white pieces chose 6 Qe2. There is a reason.

With this post the series on the Najdorf ends. With the series of posts I attempted to give an overview of the most popular Chess opening. If you are contemplating playing the Najdorf, or want to know how to play against it, there is enough material, if you replay each and every game, to obtain an excellent overview of the venerable Najdorf. It really is

because Stockfish provides the theory and 365Chess.com provides the practice. Good luck with that!

The following video does NOT contain anything concerning 6 Qe2, but does present 6 g3 TWICE, which makes me wonder…why…

GM Brandon Jacobson Let Go Of The Rope

In the fourth round of the II CHESSABLE SUNWAY FORMENTERA Chess tournament the American GM Brandon Jacobson

GM Brandon Jacobson assessing his next move at the 2022 U.S. Open. Photo: Mark Cieslikowski (https://new.uschess.org/news/day-6-rancho-mirage-gangs-all-here)

“lost the thread” as the saying goes when playing the Indian, GM Chithambaram Veerappan Aravindh.

https://www.sunwaychessfestival.com/

In the following position Aravindh has just made the move recommended by Stockfish at lichess.org, 19…Qb6. The ‘Fish also shows white with a winning advantage of +1.7.

Position after 19…Qb6

After Na3 Rab8 21. Nd3 Na4 the next position has been reached:

Position after 21…Na4

In reply GM Jacobson played the SHOCKING 22 b3, jettisoning the advantage. After 22…Ncd5 the game was even, Steven.

Position after 22…Ndc5

GM Jacobson let go of the rope completely when making one of the worst moves you will ever see any Grandmaster make, 23 bxa4? Although the game continued for a few moves, it should not have continued. Possibly Brandon was in a state of shock, like a deer caught in the headlights, and continued making moves out of inertia.

https://socalmulligan808.blogspot.com/2012/05/what-happens-when-you-let-go-of-rope.html

GM Brandon Jacobson vs GM GM Chithambaram Veerappan Aravindh
II CHESSABLE SUNWAY FORMENTERA
E90 King’s Indian, 5.Nf3

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Bg4 7. Be2 Nfd7 8. Be3 e5 9. d5 a5 10. Ng5 Bxe2 11. Qxe2 Na6 12. O-O-O h6 13. Nh3 Nac5 14. f3 f5 15. Nf2 f4 16. Bd2 c6 17. Be1 cxd5 18. cxd5 b5 19. Nxb5 Qb6 20. Na3 Rab8 21. Nd3 Na4 22. b3 Ndc5 23. bxa4 Rfc8 24. Kd2 Qb3 25. Rc1 Qxa3 26. Rc2 Nxd3 27. Qd1 0-1 (https://lichess.org/broadcast/sunway-chess-festival/round-4/XXo9O1Lq)

The move 8…e5 appears to be a Theoretical Novelty:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Bg4 7. Be2 Nfd7 8. Be3

Next Move # of Games Last Played Winnings percentage
White / Draw / Black Engine Eval.
8… a6 1-0, Dardha (2610) vs. Assaubayeva (2440)
8… Nb6 ½-½, Van Foreest (2678) vs. Yakubboev (2620)
8… Bxf3 ½-½, Mueller vs. Dueck (2112)
8… c5 ½-½, Stukan (2431) vs. Dimic (2337)
(https://www.365chess.com/opening.php?m=16&n=159991&ms=d4.Nf6.c4.g6.Nc3.Bg7.e4.d6.Nf3.O-O.Bd3.Bg4.Be2.Nfd7.Be3&ns=7.14.11.15.17.17.18.18.200.87.11702.39810.159990.183788.159991)

This could, and would, be considered an aberration under most circumstances, but since GM Jacobson ‘let go of the rope’ in his previous tournament, the 2023 Reykjavik Open, it could be an indication of something else.

Position after 37…Qf4+

In the seventh round of the 2023 Reykjavik Open game with Frenchman IM Quentin Loiseau (2449) Brandon had to move his King. Cogitate on the position and decide were you would move your King.

GM Brandon Jacobson (2543) vs IM Quentin Loiseau (2449)
Reykjavik Open 2023 (Reykjavik), 02.04.2023 Rd 7
A13 English opening
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 dxc4 4.Qa4+ Nd7 5.Qxc4 Rb8 6.Nf3 b5 7.Qc2 c5 8.d3 Bb7 9.O-O Ngf6 10.a4 a6 11.Nc3 Qb6 12.axb5 axb5 13.Be3 Bd6 14.h3 O-O 15.b4 Rfc8 16.Rfc1 Qd8 17.bxc5 Bxc5 18.Bxc5 Nxc5 19.Rab1 Bxf3 20.Bxf3 b4 21.Nd1 b3 22.Qd2 Na4 23.Bc6 Nb6 24.Bb5 Qd5 25.Rxc8+ Rxc8 26.Nc3 Qh5 27.Kg2 Nbd5 28.Bc4 Nxc3 29.Qxc3 Qxe2 30.Rxb3 h5 31.Rb2 Qd1 32.Qa5 Qc1 33.Rb7 h4 34.Qa7 hxg3 35.Rxf7 gxf2 36.Rxg7+ Kh8 37.Kxf2 Qf4+ 38.Kg2 Rb8 39.Kh1 Rb1+ 0-1
https://chess-results.com/PartieSuche.aspx?art=36&id=4685998

https://lichess.org/broadcast/reykjavik-open-2023/round-7/Aum2wxIP

Imre Hera Jr (2598) vs Davit Shengelia, (2522)
Event: TCh-HUN 2018-19
Site: Hungary HUN Date: 01/27/2019
Round: 4.2 Score: 1-0
ECO: A13 English opening
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 dxc4 4.Qa4+ Nd7 5.Qxc4 Rb8 6.Nf3 b5 7.Qc2 Bb7 8.O-O Ngf6 9.Nc3 c5 10.d3 a6 11.a4 b4 12.Nb1 Bd6 13.Nbd2 O-O 14.Nc4 Bc7 15.b3 e5 16.e4 h6 17.Bb2 Qe7 18.Nh4 g6 19.Rae1 Nh5 20.Qd2 Qg5 21.Qd1 Kh7 22.Bh3 Rbd8 23.Bxd7 Rxd7 24.Nf3 Qd8 25.Nfxe5 Bxe5 26.Nxe5 Rd6 27.Qc1 Qc8 28.f3 f6 29.Ng4 g5 30.Qc2 Rdd8 31.Rc1 Rf7 32.Rfd1 f5 33.Ne5 Rc7 34.exf5 Nf6 35.d4 Rd5 36.g4 Qe8 37.Re1 Re7 38.Qf2 Qd8 39.Rxc5 Rxc5 40.dxc5 Qd5 41.c6 Bc8 42.Nd7 Rxe1+ 43.Qxe1 1-0
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=4174397&m=12

IM Arthur Guo At The 2023 US National High School Chess Championship

Atlantan IM Arthur Guo

https://new.uschess.org/news/2023-scholar-chessplayer-awards-announced

finished in a tie for third place with many other players in the recent 2023 US National High School Championship, a half point behind the two leaders. I would like to inform you of the names of the winners, but after being unable to access the USCF webpage contained the information I contacted my friend, Mulfish, who reported, “The US Chess website has had service outages off and on for the last two days. Once it’s up you should be able to get to the crosstable. Once it’s working again you shouldn’t have any trouble.” Some things never change…

Arthur Guo vs Avi Harrison Kaplan

https://il-chess.org/meet-our-members/1356-ica-meet-our-members-mitchell-3

2023 US National High School Championship Rd 4
B40 Sicilian defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 a6 3. g3 b5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. d3 d6 6. Nh3 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. g4 Nf6 9. g5 Nfd7 10. f4 Nc6 11. Ne2 Nb6 12. Ng3 d5 13. f5 exf5 14. exf5 g6 15. f6 Bd6 16. Re1+ Kd7 17. Nf4 Ne5 18. c3 Re8 19. d4 Nec4 20. b3 Na5 21. Nd3 c4 22. Ne5+ Bxe5 23. dxe5 Qc7 24. Bf4 Kd8 25. Ne4 Nc8 26. b4 Qd7 27. Nc5 Qc6 28. Nxb7+ Qxb7 29. bxa5 1-0
   https://lichess.org/broadcast/2023-us-national-high-school-championship/round-4/kOmWdoHl

Stockfish still considers 2 Nf3 best. In reply to the game move, 2 Nc3, SF considers the move played in the game, 2…a6, best. The move 2…Nc6 has long been favored by we humans, with 365Chess.com showing almost 50,000 games with the move. 2…d6 and 2…e6 are almost tied with each showing over 12,000 games. The best move, according to the ‘Fish, 2…a6, has only been seen in about 3,000 games. 3 g3 has been the far and away favored by humans in 1344 games. Then come 3 Nf3 with 485 games, followed by 3 f4 with 469 games. 3 a4 shows 417 games, while the SF best, 3 Nge2 has only been seen in 2015 games. 3…b5 has been the most often played move, and SF considers it best. Ditto for 4 Bg2, and 4…Bb7. Arthur played 5 d3, as have most other players, but SF will play 5 Nge2. Mr. Kaplan played 5…d6, but 5…e6 has been seen in ten times more games, possibly because SF considers it best. Mr. Guo played 6 Nh3, and SF considers it best, but 6 f4 has been the most often played move. SF will play 6…g6. After 7 0-0, the move 7…Nd7 has been played in 9 games; 7…Nf6 (8); 7…Nc6 (5); 7…Be7 (3); followed by the only game featuring the move SF considers best:

Alexandr Predke (2632) vs Sergey A Fedorchuk (2633)
Event: Tal Memorial Rapid 2019
Site: Riga LAT Date: 07/17/2019
Round: 10.6 Score: 0-1
ECO: B23 Sicilian, closed
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 a6 3.g3 b5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.d3 e6 6.Nh3 d6 7.O-O b4 8.Ne2 Nf6 9.f4 Nbd7 10.Nf2 h5 11.h3 Qc7 12.a3 a5 13.c3 bxc3 14.bxc3 Be7 15.a4 Rb8 16.c4 Rd8 17.Nc3 Nb8 18.Nb5 Qc8 19.Bb2 Nc6 20.e5 dxe5 21.fxe5 Nd7 22.Qe2 h4 23.g4 O-O 24.Rae1 Qb8 25.Bc3 Nd4 26.Bxd4 cxd4 27.Nxd4 Nc5 28.Nc6 Bxc6 29.Bxc6 Nxd3 30.Nxd3 Qb6+ 31.c5 Qxc6 32.Rc1 Rd4 33.Qf3 Qxf3 34.Rxf3 Rfd8 35.c6 Rc8 36.Nb2 Rd5 37.Rb3 Rc5 38.Rxc5 Bxc5+ 39.Kg2 Bd4 40.Nc4 Rxc6 41.Nxa5 Ra6 42.Rb5 Bc3 43.Nc4 Rxa4 44.Nd6 Rf4 45.g5 Kh7 46.Nc8 Kg6 47.Nb6 Kxg5 48.Nd7 Kg6 49.Nf8+ Kf5 50.Nd7 Bd4 51.Ra5 Rf2+ 52.Kh1 Rf3 53.Kg2 Rg3+ 54.Kh2 Bg1+ 55.Kh1 Be3 56.Nb8 Rxh3+ 57.Kg2 Rg3+ 58.Kh2 Bf4 59.Kh1 h3 60.Nc6 Rd3 61.Ra1 g5 0-1
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=4206004&m=15

Gus Huston

https://new.uschess.org/news/upsets-everywhere-as-elementary-nationals-enters-final-day

vs Arthur Guo
2023 US National High School Championship Rd 5
B40 Sicilian defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Na3 a6 7. Nc4 Nbd7 8. Be2 Qc6 9. O-O Qc7 10. a4 b6 11. Nfe5 Nxe5 12. Bf4 Nd5 13. Bxe5 Qc6 14. Bf3 f6 15. Bg3 cxd4 16. Bxd5 exd5 17. Re1+ Kd8 18. Qxd4 Bc5 19. Qd2 Ra7 20. b4 Rd7 21. Ne5 fxe5 22. bxc5 bxc5 23. Rxe5 Bb7 24. Rae1 Kc8 25. Qf4 Rd6 26. Re6 d4 27. f3 Rxe6 28. Rxe6 1-0 https://lichess.org/broadcast/2023-us-national-high-school-championship/round-5/m6sp9J3n

The third move of the game by Mr. Houston has been seen in 9504 games. 3 d4 has been played in almost 100,000 games. 3 c3 is second with 9504 games. 3 Nc3 has been played 9,259 times. It is the move favored by Stockfish. After 4… Qxd5 the move played in the game, 5 d4 has been played in 1844 games. The move favored by Stockfish, 5 Be2 has been seen in action only 43 times. 5…Nf6 followed. Stockfish would play 5…cxd4, which would be a Theoretical Novelty. After 7…Nbd7 Gus played 8 Be2. Stockfish would play 8 a4, for what should be obvious reasons. That brings us to this position:

Position after 8 Be2

I expected Arthur to play 8…b5, which is the choice of SF. The move played, 8…Qc6, was shocking. Stockfish says, “Inaccuracy. b5 was best.” Stockfish gives the move played in the game a dubious (?!) distinction. After 8 Be2 the ‘Fish shows white with an advantage of +0.3. After moving the Queen for the second time in the opening, SF shows the white advantage improving to +0.9. Granted, that is not much of an increase, but it caused me to think of something one Legendary Atlanta area Chess Coach is more than a little fond of saying when a student retreats a piece that has no business retreating: “There you go running back scared again!” Sometimes he will exchange “scared” to “crazy” depended on the student. One of the “rules” of Chess is to not move an already developed piece the second time before completing development. The computer Chess programs have shown that particular reasoning needs to be rethought, but when teaching neophytes, it is best for them to learn the rules before teaching them when to break the rules. Arthur’s game went downhill from here. Stockfish shows him with a lost game, down by -1.8, after only eleven moves. After his 12th move, Arthur was down by -2.5. It was all over but the shoutin’… This is one of the worst games Arthur has played in some time. Let us hope it is an aberration.

IM Kyron Griffith vs GM Brandon Jacobson: Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation

Kyron Griffith

FM Kyron Griffith (left) went 5/5 in the TNO (https://www.milibrary.org/chess-newsletters/921)

is an International Master with whom I am familiar because he plays out of the the venerable Mechanic’s Institute in San Francisco, California. (https://xpertchesslessons.wordpress.com/2021/07/22/san-francisco-mechanics-institute-tuesday-night-marathon-games-and-newsletter/) He is participating in the current 2023 Reykjavik Open, where he faced Grandmaster Brandon Jacobson

new.uschess.org

in the sixth round. Because the good people at the MI put out an excellent newsletter each month the game will, most probably, be annotated in the next issue I will keep the comments on the game brief. I was surprised to see IM Griffith move the King with the little played 9 Kb1, with only 132 games showing at 365Chess.com. The best move, 9 f4, has 3782 games in the 365Chess database. Playing a second rate opening move versus any GM is usually not a good idea. One of the reasons a player earns the GM title is that he has kept the blunders to a minimum. 9 Kb1 was not a blunder, but just not the best move. Examine the following position:

Black to make 12th move

In this position there are only two games shown at 365Chess.com, 12…Qc7 and 12…h5. Stockfish will castle. The GM played a TN, 12…Bc6, which will, most probably, not be repeated. We are now out of theory and have taken it to the streets.

Position after 21…Qxg5

What move would you make? There is absolutely no doubt in this writer’s mind that, given the position in an over the board game, the move would be 22 f4! Which is the move played by IM Griffith. The game at lichess.com (https://lichess.org/broadcast/reykjavik-open-2023/round-6/IbB7uWY9) shows an arrow pointing to the move, but attaches a dubious, ?!, sign after 22 f4. But underneath one sees, “Inaccuracy. Bd3 was best.” Here’s the deal… Last night the arrow was pointing to Bd3, but it was different this morning. I cannot help but wonder, why? After 22 f4 attacking the Queen it must be moved, but where, and why?

Now we come to the last diagram:

Position after 30…Kf8 with White to move

Bd 15
IM Kyron Griffith (2342) vs GM Brandon Jacobson (2543)
Reykjavik Open 2023 Rd 6
Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. Kb1 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Be7 11. f3 b5 12. g4 Bc6 13. Be3 O-O 14. h4 Nd7 15. Bg5 Nf6 16. Be3 Nd7 17. Bg5 Bxg5 18. hxg5 Qxg5 19. Qxd6 Qc5 20. Qh2 h6 21. g5 Qxg5 22. f4 Qe7 23. Bxb5 axb5 24. Rdg1 f5 25. Qxh6 Qf6 26. Rg6 Kf7 27. Rxf6+ Nxf6 28. Qg5 b4 29. Rg1 bxc3 30. Qxg7+ Ke8 31. Rg6 Rd8 32. bxc3 Rd7 33. Qh6 Rh7 34. Qg5 Nxe4 35. Rxe6+ Kd7 36. Rxe4 Bxe4 37. c4 Rh2 38. Qg7+ Ke8 39. c5 Rxc2 40. Qg6+ Rf7 41. Qe6+ Re7 42. Qg6+ Kd8 43. Ka1 Rd7 44. Qf6+ Kc8 45. Qa6+ Bb7 46. Qe6 Rxa2+ 47. Kb1 Be4+ 48. Kc1 Rc2+ 49. Kb1 Rxc5+ 50. Kb2 Kc7 51. Qf6 Kb7 52. Kb3 Rdc7 53. Kb4 Rc4+ 54. Ka3 R4c6 55. Qb2+ Rb6 56. Qe5 Rh7 57. Qd4 Rh3+ 0-1

B91 Sicilian, Najdorf, Zagreb (fianchetto) variation 6 g3

‘Back in the day’ there was a NM, Stuart Rundlett, who favored what he called the “quiet variation.” He said, “Be careful with the Najdorf because at any moment the quiet variation can quickly get loud.”

As previously in this ongoing series I let the Stockfish program at lichess.com do its thing as I sat there watching it do its thing:

1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 a6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. g3 e5 7. Nde2 Be7 8. Bg2 b5 9. Nd5 Nbd7 10. Nec3 Nb6 11. Nxf6+ Bxf6 12. O-O Be6 13. b3 O-O 14. Bd2 Qd7 15. a4 bxa4 16. Nxa4 Nxa4 17. Rxa4 Rfc8 18. Re1 Bd8 19. Be3 Qc6 20. c4 Rcb8 21. Qd3 Bb6 22. Bxb6 Qxb6 23. Ra3 Qb4 24. Rea1 a5 25. Bf3 Bd7 26. Bd1 Bc6 27. Kg2 Qc5 28. R3a2 g6 29. f3 f5 30. exf5 e4 31. fxe4 gxf5 32. Bf3 fxe4 33. Bxe4 Rxb3 34. Qe2 Kh8 35. Bxc6 Qxc6+ 36. Kg1 Rab8 37. Rxa5 Rb1+ 38. Rxb1 Rxb1+ 39. Kf2 Qb6+ 40. c5 Qxa5 41. Qe8+ Kg7 42. Qe7+ Kg8 43. Qg5+ Kf7 44. Qf5+ Kg7 45. Qd7+ Kf6 46. Qxd6+ Kg7 47. Qd4+ Kg8 48. Qg4+ Kf7 49. Qf3+ Kg7 50. Qg4+ Kf6 51. Qf4+ Kg7 52. Qg5+ Kf7 53. Qf4+ Kg8 54. Qg4+ 1/2-1/2

It should come as no surprise that Maxime, MY MAN, Vachier Lagrave,

reigning king of the Najdorf, figures in both of the games in which a human player most closely followed the ‘Fish:

Anish Giri (2782) vs Maxime Vachier Lagrave (2789)
Event: GCT Blitz YourNextMove
Site: Leuven BEL Date: 06/15/2018
Round: 2.5
ECO: B91 Sicilian, Najdorf, Zagreb (fianchetto) variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.Bg2 b5 9.Nd5 Nbd7 10.Nec3 Nb6 11.Nxf6+ Bxf6 12.O-O O-O 13.b3 b4 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.Qxd5 Be6 16.Qd3 Qc7 17.Bd2 a5 18.a3 bxa3 19.Rxa3 Rfc8 20.c4 Bd8 21.Rfa1 Qc5 22.b4 Qc6 23.bxa5 Bxc4 24.Qe3 Qb5 25.Qe1 Ra6 26.Qb1 Qxb1+ 27.Rxb1 Rca8 28.Rc1 Bb5 29.Rb1 Bc4 30.Rc1 Bb5 31.Bh3 Kf8 32.Rc8 Ke8 33.Rxa8 Rxa8 34.Bb4 Bc7 35.Ra1 Ra7 36.Bg4 g6 37.h4 h5 38.Bh3 Bd3 39.f3 Bb6+ 40.Kg2 Bc5 41.Bxc5 dxc5 42.Kf2 Bb5 43.Bf1 c4 44.Ke3 Kd7 45.Kd2 Kc6 46.Kc3 Kc5 47.Be2 Ra6 48.Rd1 Rxa5 49.Rd5+ Kb6 50.Bxc4 Ra3+ 51.Kb2 Bxc4 52.Kxa3 Bxd5 53.exd5 Kc5 54.Kb3 Kxd5 55.Kc3 f5 56.Kd3 e4+ 57.Ke3 Ke5 0-1
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=4119495&m=27

Maxime Vachier Lagrave (2778) vs Radoslaw Wojtaszek (2749)
Event: 2nd Du Te Cup 2018
Site: Shenzhen CHN Date: 11/06/2018
Round: 3.1
ECO: B91 Sicilian, Najdorf, Zagreb (fianchetto) variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.Bg2 O-O 9.O-O b5 10.Nd5 Nbd7 11.Nec3 Nb6 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.b3 Be6 14.Ba3 Qc7 15.Qd3 Rfc8 16.Bb4 a5 17.Nxb5 Qxc2 18.Qxc2 Rxc2 19.Bxd6 Nc8 20.Rfc1 Rxc1+ 21.Rxc1 Nxd6 22.Nxd6 a4 23.Nc4 Rb8 24.Rc3 axb3 25.axb3 Be7 26.Bf1 g6 27.Rc1 Rxb3 28.Nxe5 Bf6 29.Nd3 Bd4 30.Be2 Rc3 31.Rb1 g5 32.Ne1 h6 33.Kg2 Rb3 34.Rd1 Bb6 35.Nd3 Ra3 36.Rb1 Ba7 37.Nb4 Rb3 38.Rxb3 Bxb3 39.Bg4 Kg7 40.h4 Bd4 41.Nc6 Bc5 42.Bf5 Kf6 43.f4 Be3 44.fxg5+ hxg5 45.h5 Kg7 46.g4 Bc4 47.Kf3 Bc1 48.Ne5 Bb5 49.Kf2 Bf4 50.Nf3 Bd3 51.Ke1 Be3 52.Kd1 Bf4 53.Ne1 Bb1 54.Ke2 Kh6 55.Nf3 Kg7 56.Nd4 Be5 57.Nc6 Bf4 58.Nb4 Kh6 59.Nd5 Bc2 60.Nc3 Kg7 61.Nb5 Bc1 62.Nd4 Bb1 63.Kf3 Bd3 64.Bd7 Ba6 65.Nf5+ Kf8 66.Bc6 Bf4 67.Bd5 Bc8 68.Nd4 Kg7 69.h6+ Kxh6 70.Bxf7 Kg7 71.Be6 Ba6 72.Bd5 Kf6 73.Ne6 Bd6 ½-½
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?back=1&gid=4152789&m=27

Jennifer Ishee vs Dan Bock: B25 Closed Sicilian

Jennifer Ishee (1660)

vs Dan Bock (1764)

chess.com

Alto Round 5
B25 Sicilian, closed

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 g6 5. d3 Bg7 6. Nge2 e6 7. O-O Nge7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Qd2 Rb8 10. Bh6 b5 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. Nf4 b4 13. Nce2 e5 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Nd4 16. c3 bxc3 17. bxc3 Nxe2+ 18. Qxe2 Bd7 19. Rab1 Qa5 20. c4 Rb4 21. f4 Rxb1 22. Rxb1 Re8 23. fxe5 Rxe5 24. Qf2 Bc8 25. Rf1 Qc7 26. Qb2 Qe7 27. Re1 f6 28. Rxe5 Qxe5 29. Qxe5 fxe5 30. Kf2 Kf6 31. Bf3 Kg5 32. Ke3 h6 33. Kf2 Kf6 34. Ke3 Bd7 35. Kf2 Ba4 36. Ke3 a5 37. Kd2 g5 38. Ke3 Kg6 39. Ke4 Bd7 1/2-1/2 (https://lichess.org/broadcast/alto/round-5/ufP9u2rq)

‘Back in the day’ 2 Nc3 was the choice of the AW. There were two reasons for playing the closed variation. The Nadjorf was my choice when beginning to play the game, therefore there was no desire to face MY opening. The other was there was so much theory one needed to know to play against all the different Sicilian defenses and I did not have enough time to devote to studying the best way to play against the myriad Sicilian variations.

After 2…d6 Stockfish shows 2…a6 as best. That it may be, but ‘back in the day’ we ‘humans’ did not play the move. The numbers at 365Chess show almost 50,000 games in which the second move was 2…Nc6. All other moves total about 30,000. 2…d6 and 2…e6 have each been played in about 12,000 games. Then comes 2…a6, showing about 3,000 games.

Then we come to the third move, 3 g3. It was de rigueur to move the g-pawn one square with the third move. Stockfish shows 3 Nge2 best. According to 365Chess the second choice, according to the numbers, has been 3 f4 (4332), with 3 g3 (4169) close behind. The bronze move is 3 Nf3 (1346). The choice of SF, 3 Nge2, comes next with 1089 games. The move did not appear in the above game until move 6.

Then we come to the third move, 3 g3. It was de rigueur to move the g-pawn one square with the third move. Stockfish shows 3 Nge2 best. According to 365Chess the second choice, according to the numbers, has been 3 f4 (4332), with 3 g3 (4169) close behind. The bronze move is 3 Nf3 (1346). The choice of SF, 3 Nge2, comes next with 1089 games. The move did not appear in the above game until move 6.

Position after 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 g6 5. d3 Bg7

The above position has been on a board in front of me on numerous occasions. It was the reason for playing the Closed Sicilian. White plays 6 Be3, follows with Qd2, and you can say, “Kingside ATTACK!” In the above position the Stockfish program at lichess.com plays 6 Be3, and so should you. Jennifer played 6. Nge2. Mr. Bock answered with 6…e6 when the best move is 6…e5. After Jennifer castled kingside with her seventh move the following position was reached:

Position after 7 0-0

Dan Bock played 7…Nge7. There was a better move. Can you find it? The moved played in the game looks natural but when the position is examined closely one sees that the player of the white pieces has left herself open to the dangerous thrust, 7…h5! Now in lieu of white attacking it is Mr. Bock who would be attacking on the kingside, something no player with the white pieces wants to see this early in the game. If the knight that moved to e2 had been played to f3 there would be no h-pawn storm with which to contend. After 7…Nge7 things were “back to normal” so to speak, and Jennifer was allowed to play the thematic Be3; Qd2; and Bh6, to attack the black king.

Then we come to the position after 11…Kxg7:

Position after 11…Kg7

We again have a thematic position. From much personal experience this former player of the Closed variation of the Sicilian Defense knows the move played in the game, 12 Nf4, is not good. Although most players are taught to “go forward” there are times when a retreat is called for, and this is one of those occasions. Jennifer should have played the retrograde 12 Nd1. Although black obtained an advantage that grew to alarming proportions, the General of the white pieces somehow kept it together enough to hold the draw in this hard fought game.

B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Adams attack

Since the move 6 h3 in the Najdorf is known as the “Adams attack” I went to 365Chess.com to find examples of Weaver Adams playing the move named after him. This was the only game located:

Weaver Warren Adams

thechessdrum.net

vs Max Pavey

https://tartajubow.blogspot.com/2015/10/max-pavey.html

Event: US op
Site: Baltimore Date: ??/??/1948
Round: 10 Score: 1
ECO: B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Adams attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 Qc7 7.g4 e6 8.Bg2 Nc6 9.Be3 Na5 10.Qe2 Bd7 11.Rd1 h6 12.Bc1 Be7 13.f4 O-O-O 14.O-O Kb8 15.g5 Ne8 16.h4 Qc8 17.f5 hxg5 18.hxg5 Nc6 19.fxe6 Nxd4 20.Rxd4 fxe6 21.Rf7 Qc5 22.Qc4 Qxc4 23.Rxc4 Bf8 24.g6 Rc8 25.Rxc8+ Kxc8 26.Bg5 Nf6 27.Bxf6 gxf6 28.g7 Bxg7 29.Rxg7 1-0
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?gid=2683175

The opening moves were plugged into the Stockfish program used at lichess.com and this was what came out:

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 8. g3 b5 9. Nd5 Nbd7 10. Nec3 Bb7 11. Be3 Be7 12. Bg2 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 h4 14. O-O Rc8 15. c3 O-O 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. gxh4 Rc4 18. Re1 Qe6 19. f3 f5 20. Bg5 f4 21. Kh2 Nb6 22. Rc1 Rc6 23. b3 d5 24. Qe2 Qf7 25. exd5 Nxd5 26. Qxe5 Ne3 27. Qe7 Qxe7 28. Bxe7 Rfc8 29. Bg5 Rxc3 30. Rxc3 Rxc3 31. Bxf4 Nxg2 32. Kxg2 Rxf3 33. Re7 Rxf4+ 34. Rxb7 Rd4 35. Kg3 Rd2 36. a4 bxa4 37. bxa4 Rd4 38. a5 Ra4 39. h5 Rxa5 40. Rb6 Ra3+ 41. Kh4 Kh7 42. Kg5 Rxh3 43. Rxa6 1/2-1/2

11 Be3 is not shown at 365Chess.com making the move a Theoretical Novelty of sorts, I suppose…

Addendum:

This game was played TODAY!

Giga Quparadze vs Jules Moussard
23rd European Individual Championship 2023 Last Round
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Adams attack

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. Bg2 Be7 9. b3 Nc6 10. Bb2 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 e5 12. Qd3 Be6 13. O-O-O O-O 14. Kb1 b5 15. Ne2 Qc7 16. f4 exf4 17. Nxf4 Rac8 18. Nh5 Nxh5 19. gxh5 f5 20. Rhg1 f4 21. Bf3 Bf6 22. Rg6 Bxb2 23. Kxb2 Bf7 24. Rxd6 Qc5 25. Rd2 a5 26. Rg2 b4 27. Qd4 Qc3+ 28. Qxc3 Rxc3 29. Bg4 Re3 30. Ra6 Rxe4 31. Rxa5 Be6 32. Rf2 Re3 33. Ra4 Bxg4 34. hxg4 Rg3 35. Rxb4 f3 36. Rd4 Rg2 37. Rdd2 Rxg4 38. Rd3 Rgf4 39. a4 Kh7 40. a5 g5 41. hxg6+ Kxg6 42. a6 Kg5 43. Rd7 R4f6 44. a7 Kf4 45. Rf1 h5 46. b4 h4 47. b5 Ke3 48. Rb7 Ra8 49. b6 Ke2 50. Ra1 f2 51. Rb8 f1=Q 52. Rxf1 Rxb6+ 53. Rxb6 Kxf1 54. Rh6 Rxa7 55. Rxh4 Ke2 56. Rd4 Ke3 57. c3 Rb7+ 58. Kc2 Rh7 59. Rg4 Kf3 60. Rd4 Ke3 61. Kb3 Rb7+ 62. Rb4 Rh7 63. Rb5 Rd7 64. c4 Kd4 65. Kb4 Rd8 66. Rb6 Ke5 67. Kb5 Rc8 68. c5 Kd5 69. Rd6+ Ke5 70. Rd1 Ke6 71. Kb6 Rb8+ 72. Kc7 1-0 (https://lichess.org/broadcast/european-chess-championship-2023/round-11/eaI2lMgF)