Thursday, January 8, 2009

Relentless King Hunt

I have been intrigued by GM Adorjan’s 10…Nf5! line in the B96 Najdorf Sicilian ever since I saw it in New In Chess Yearbook about 10 years ago.

Earlier today, a friend gave me a chance to play the line. Previously (1999) a CCLA correspondence opponent responded with 11. g3 and I won easily after 11…Nxh4 12. gxh4 Qxf6. This time I faced 11.Bxg7.

J.Peterson vs. F.Niro, Boise Idaho, November 28, 2008

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nc6 8. e5 h6 9. Bh4 Nxd4 10. exf6 (more popular is 10.Qxd4) 10…Nf5! (Adorjan’s line) 11. fxg7 Qxh4+ 12. g3 Nxg3 13. gxh8(Q) Ne4+! (this is as far as I remembered from earlier study) 14. Ke2 Qf2+ 15. Kd3 Nc5+ 16. Kc4 b5+ 17. Nxb5 axb5+ 18. Kc3 b4+ 19. Kc4 d5+ 20. Kxb4 Ra4+ 21. Kb5 Bd7+ 22. Kb6 Nd3+ 23. Kc7 Qa7# (0-1)

Can you see where White might have improved his play after Adorjan’s 10…Nf5! ?