Judit Polgar and Gregory Kaidanov drew their Sicilian Defence Theme Match 2-2. All games were won by the player of the white pieces. Game two was a Sicilian Dragon.

Polgar sacrifices two pawns to open lines towards the black king, a well known strategy in this kind of position and plays 16.Rdg1 when 16.Bh6 has been often played at the top level. The intention is Bh6 and Rxh5 breaking through. Kaidanov returns one pawn and rushes his queen to the defence of his king. Polgar’s next few moves are very natural, she simply forces open the ‘h’ file and puts all her heavy pieces on it.

J Polgar – G Kaidanov

Sicilian Theme Match Hilton Head (2)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.Kb1 Re8

(Black invests a tempo to prevent Be3-h6 exchanging his bishop)

13.h4 h5

(13…Nc4 14.Bxc4 Rxc4 15.g4)

14.g4 hxg4 15.h5 Nxh5 16.Rdg1 e6 17.Bh6 Qf6 18.fxg4 Bxh6 19.Qxh6 Qg7 20.Qd2 Nf6 21.g5 Nh5 22.Nce2! Nc4 23.Bxc4 Rxc4 24.b3 Rc5 25.Ng3 Nxg3 26.Rxg3 Rec8

(26…e5 27.Nf5! gxf5 28.Qxd6 Rec8 29.g6 wins 26…e5 27.Nf5 Bxf5 28.exf5 gxf5 29.Qxd6 is good for White)

27.Rgh3 e5 28.Rh4! exd4 29.Qh2 Kf8 30.Qxd6+ Kg8 31.Qxd7 d3 32.c4 Qc3 33.R4h2 b5 34.e5! Qxe5 35.Rh7 R5c7 36.Qd6!

1-0 In view of 36.Qd6! Qc3 37.Qf6!

http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/malcolmpein/polgar-wins-game-2-of-the-sicilian-theme-match

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Tags: , , , , ,