JANUARY 25, 2012 8:45PM

Chess: An Interesting Najdorf

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A bemused commentary on the game

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2

Womacka-Urbina Perez after 6. Be2 
 
 is a familiar position in the Sicilian Defense, the invitation by White to the e5 Najdorf variation. Black can easily decline into a safe Scheveningen with 6 ... e6.
 
 6 ... e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Re1 Be6 10. Bf3 Qc7 11. a4
 
  Womacka-Urbina Perez after 11.a4
 
 and White's opening is over. It's now Black's turn to come up with a plan. A struggle for queenside squares ensues.
 
11 ... Rc8 12. a5 Nbd7 13. Nd2 b5 14. axb6 Nxb6 15. Nf1 Nc4
 
Womacka-Urbina Perez after 15 ... Nc4 
 
Black has c4 for the Knight and dispatches it with a draw offer, but White declines to repeat the position and minors exchange on a3 and c3.
 
16. Re2 Rab8 17. b3 Na3 18. Bb2 Nc4 19. Bc1 Na3 20. Bxa3 Qxc3
 
 
Womacka-Urbina Perez after 20 ... Qxc3
 
A combination trading pawns and clearing space follows.
 
21. Ne3 Bf8 22. Rd2 Rb6 23. Ra2 g6 24. Bxd6 Bxd6 25. Rxd6 Rxd6 26. Qxd6 Qe1+ 27. Nf1 Nxe4 28. Bxe4 Qxe4
 
Womacka-Urbina Perez after 28 ... Qxe4
 
White drops back and Black offers the endgame.  White declines, maneuvers, and eventually manages to trade another pawn before the minors and the queens come off, leaving a drawn R+P ending.
 
29. Qd2 Qd4 30. h3 Rc3 31. Qe2 Bc8 32. Ne3 Bb7 33. Ra4 Qd7 34. Rb4 Rc7 35. c4 Qd4 36. Qg4 Qd8 37. Ra4 Bc8 38. Qe4 Qd6 39. Qa8 Kg7 40. Qb8 Bb7 41. c5 Qd7 42. Rc4 f6 43. b4 Bc6 44. h4 Bb5 45. Rc1 Rb7 46. Qa8 Ra7 47. Qe4 Bc6 48. Qc4 Bb5 49. Qb3 Qc6 50. Nc4 Bxc4 51. Qxc4 Rd7 52. Ra1 Rd4 53. Qxa6 Qxa6 54. Rxa6 Rxb4 55. Ra7+ Kh6 56. g3 Rc4 57. Rc7 g5 58. hxg5+ Kxg5 59. Kf1 Rc2 1/2-1/2
 
Womacka-Urbina Perez after 59 ... Rc2 
 

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