<div>The opening theory in chess is the most analysed one but still novelties do crop with regular frequency at the highest level of the game and these indicate the level of depth of home preparation by the players. <br /><br />These novelties are aimed at surprising the opponent or rather pushing him on the back foot by trying to take him off track into unfamiliar territory. These novelties can also backfire at times.<br /><br />The game which follows is a rather unusual Sicilian with White uncorking a novelty rather early on in the game. The game is suddenly open with complications and a volatile position ensues. The middle-game is sharp, with plenty of play for both players but it is Black who ends up on the winning side.<br /><br />White: Hugo Spangenberg (2530) – Black: Lubomir Ftacnik,Lubomir (2570)<br />Moscow, 1994<br />Sicilian Defence<br />1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7<br />The closed Sicilian<br />5.Bc4 e6 6.0–0<br />White can play 6.d4 here<br />6. ..Ne7 7.d3 Nbc6 8.f5<br />Now White gets a bit aggressive<br />8. ..d5. Black could have responded sharply with 8. ..exf5 or 8. ..gxf5<br />9.Bb3 dxe4<br />If 9...gxf5 10.exd5 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxd5<br />10.fxg6. White played a novelty here. If 10.f6 Bxf6 11.Nxe4 Bg7 12.Bg5 f5 13.Nf2 0–0 14.Qe1 Qd7 15.Nh3 Na5 16.Qxa5 And 10.fxe6 exf3 11.exf7+ Kf8 12.Qxf3 Nd4µ; 10.dxe4 Qxd1 11.Rxd1 gxf5 12.Nb5 0–0 were played previously<br />10...exf3. If 10...hxg6 11.Nxe4 b6 12.Bg5, and if 10...fxg6 11.Ng5<br />11.gxf7+. Quite a lot of action by the pawns early in the game. If 11.Qxf3 Bd4+ 12.Kh1 f5 13.gxh7 Rxh7<br />11...Kf8. If 11...Kxf7 12.Qxf3+ and White is better<br />12.Qxf3 Qd4+. If 12...Nd4 13.Qh5 Nef5 (13...Nxb3 14.axb3 Nf5 15.Be3 Bd4) 14.Ne4<br />13.Kh1. If 13.Be3 Qxe3+ 14.Qxe3 Bd4 15.Rae1 Kg7<br />13...Ne5 14.Qe2. Quite a volatile position with the queens early in action and bishops and knights undeveloped. If 14.Qh5 Qg4 15.Qxg4 Nxg4 16.Ne4 b6 17.Nd6 Nd5<br />14...Qg4<br />The game is rather open with a volatile position and Black King is still in the centre of things without castling<br />15.Qf2 b6. If 15...Nf5 16.Qxc5+ Kxf7<br />16.h3<br />If 16.Bf4 Bb7 17.Rae1 Nf3 18.gxf3 Qxf4 19.Bxe6 Rd8<br />16...Qg6 17.Bf4 Bb7. If 17...Nxf7 18.Qf3 And if 17...N7c6 18.Rae1 Bd7<br />18.Rae1 c4<br />If 18...N7c6 19.Nb5 And if 18...Nxf7 19.Rxe6<br />19.dxc4. Better appears 19.Bxe5 Bxe5 20.Rxe5 cxb3 21.axb3 Nf5. If 19.Bxc4 Nxc4 20.dxc4 Kxf7<br />19...Nxf7 20.Nb5<br />If 20.c5 Bd4 ( 20...Bxc3 21.Rxe6 Qxg2+ 22.Qxg2 Bxg2+ 23.Kxg2 Rg8+ 24.Kh2) 21.Bh6+ Kg8 22.Be3 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Nf5 24.Bf4 Re8]<br />20...Nf5 21.Nc7<br />Diagram 1<br />21. ..Re8<br />Black is sacrificing the rook<br />22.Nxe8<br />If 22.c3 Re7 23.c5 e5<br />22...Bd4 23.Qd2<br />A mistake! White should have played 23.Qe2 Rg8 24.Nc7 Bxg2+ 25.Kh2 e5 26.c5 (26.Rf2 Bb7) 26...Bxf1 27.Rxf1 Be3 28.Bxe5 Nxe5 29.Rxf5+ Qxf5 even though Black stands better<br />23...Rg8<br />Setting up a checkmating trap<br />24.Re2 Qg3<br />The final finishing touches and White has no defence to offer for if 24...Ng3+ 25.Bxg3 Qxg3 26.Qh6+ Kxe8 27.Qxe6+ Kd8 And if 24...Qg3 25.Qb4+ Bc5 26.Qxc5+ bxc5 27.Bxg3 Nxg3+ 28.Kh2 Nxf1+ 29.Kg1 Kxe8<br />0–1<br />Diagram 2<br />Black to play and checkmate<br />1. ..Rh1+ 2.Bxh1 3.Qg4 checkmate.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>
<div>The opening theory in chess is the most analysed one but still novelties do crop with regular frequency at the highest level of the game and these indicate the level of depth of home preparation by the players. <br /><br />These novelties are aimed at surprising the opponent or rather pushing him on the back foot by trying to take him off track into unfamiliar territory. These novelties can also backfire at times.<br /><br />The game which follows is a rather unusual Sicilian with White uncorking a novelty rather early on in the game. The game is suddenly open with complications and a volatile position ensues. The middle-game is sharp, with plenty of play for both players but it is Black who ends up on the winning side.<br /><br />White: Hugo Spangenberg (2530) – Black: Lubomir Ftacnik,Lubomir (2570)<br />Moscow, 1994<br />Sicilian Defence<br />1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7<br />The closed Sicilian<br />5.Bc4 e6 6.0–0<br />White can play 6.d4 here<br />6. ..Ne7 7.d3 Nbc6 8.f5<br />Now White gets a bit aggressive<br />8. ..d5. Black could have responded sharply with 8. ..exf5 or 8. ..gxf5<br />9.Bb3 dxe4<br />If 9...gxf5 10.exd5 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxd5<br />10.fxg6. White played a novelty here. If 10.f6 Bxf6 11.Nxe4 Bg7 12.Bg5 f5 13.Nf2 0–0 14.Qe1 Qd7 15.Nh3 Na5 16.Qxa5 And 10.fxe6 exf3 11.exf7+ Kf8 12.Qxf3 Nd4µ; 10.dxe4 Qxd1 11.Rxd1 gxf5 12.Nb5 0–0 were played previously<br />10...exf3. If 10...hxg6 11.Nxe4 b6 12.Bg5, and if 10...fxg6 11.Ng5<br />11.gxf7+. Quite a lot of action by the pawns early in the game. If 11.Qxf3 Bd4+ 12.Kh1 f5 13.gxh7 Rxh7<br />11...Kf8. If 11...Kxf7 12.Qxf3+ and White is better<br />12.Qxf3 Qd4+. If 12...Nd4 13.Qh5 Nef5 (13...Nxb3 14.axb3 Nf5 15.Be3 Bd4) 14.Ne4<br />13.Kh1. If 13.Be3 Qxe3+ 14.Qxe3 Bd4 15.Rae1 Kg7<br />13...Ne5 14.Qe2. Quite a volatile position with the queens early in action and bishops and knights undeveloped. If 14.Qh5 Qg4 15.Qxg4 Nxg4 16.Ne4 b6 17.Nd6 Nd5<br />14...Qg4<br />The game is rather open with a volatile position and Black King is still in the centre of things without castling<br />15.Qf2 b6. If 15...Nf5 16.Qxc5+ Kxf7<br />16.h3<br />If 16.Bf4 Bb7 17.Rae1 Nf3 18.gxf3 Qxf4 19.Bxe6 Rd8<br />16...Qg6 17.Bf4 Bb7. If 17...Nxf7 18.Qf3 And if 17...N7c6 18.Rae1 Bd7<br />18.Rae1 c4<br />If 18...N7c6 19.Nb5 And if 18...Nxf7 19.Rxe6<br />19.dxc4. Better appears 19.Bxe5 Bxe5 20.Rxe5 cxb3 21.axb3 Nf5. If 19.Bxc4 Nxc4 20.dxc4 Kxf7<br />19...Nxf7 20.Nb5<br />If 20.c5 Bd4 ( 20...Bxc3 21.Rxe6 Qxg2+ 22.Qxg2 Bxg2+ 23.Kxg2 Rg8+ 24.Kh2) 21.Bh6+ Kg8 22.Be3 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Nf5 24.Bf4 Re8]<br />20...Nf5 21.Nc7<br />Diagram 1<br />21. ..Re8<br />Black is sacrificing the rook<br />22.Nxe8<br />If 22.c3 Re7 23.c5 e5<br />22...Bd4 23.Qd2<br />A mistake! White should have played 23.Qe2 Rg8 24.Nc7 Bxg2+ 25.Kh2 e5 26.c5 (26.Rf2 Bb7) 26...Bxf1 27.Rxf1 Be3 28.Bxe5 Nxe5 29.Rxf5+ Qxf5 even though Black stands better<br />23...Rg8<br />Setting up a checkmating trap<br />24.Re2 Qg3<br />The final finishing touches and White has no defence to offer for if 24...Ng3+ 25.Bxg3 Qxg3 26.Qh6+ Kxe8 27.Qxe6+ Kd8 And if 24...Qg3 25.Qb4+ Bc5 26.Qxc5+ bxc5 27.Bxg3 Nxg3+ 28.Kh2 Nxf1+ 29.Kg1 Kxe8<br />0–1<br />Diagram 2<br />Black to play and checkmate<br />1. ..Rh1+ 2.Bxh1 3.Qg4 checkmate.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>
