[Click here to follow along on an interactive JavaScript board]
 

1.e4 c5 2.b3 d6

For 2...Nc6 see Part One.

Here's an example of what might happen should Black just settle for ...e7-e6, leaving the long diagonal open:  2...Nc6 3.Bb2 e6 4.Nf3 (4.Bb5!? Nd4 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd3 Ne7 7.Nf3 is interesting here, as is 4 f4!?) 4...a6 5.g3 (5.c4 is possible too!) 5...d5 6.e5 f5 7.Bg2 Nh6 8.0-0 Be7 9.d4 0-0 10.Nbd2 b5 11.c4 bxc4 12.bxc4 Rb8 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Ba3 c4 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Rb1 Rxb1 17.Nxb1 f4 18.Nc3 fxg3 19.fxg3 Ng4 20.Qd2 Bf5 21.Ng5 h6?! Pritchett errs. After (21...Qd7 he wouldn't have anything to worry about.) 22.Nh3! redirecting to f4. 22...Nxe5 23.dxe5 d4 24.Ne4 c3 25.Qd1 Bxh3 26.Bxh3 Rxf1+ 27.Bxf1 Qc7 28.Qb3+ Kh8 29.Bd3 Qxe5 30.Qf7 Ng8 31.Qg6 Qb8 1-0  Lyell,M-Pritchett,C/Edinburgh 2003

Paradoxically, it may be better for Black to play without ...e7-e5, despite the recommendation of the theory books.

3.Bb2

3.Bb5+!? is possible too, clearing the back rank.

The plan is the same: White will force through f2-f4 at the right moment.  3...Nc6 4.Bxc6+ bxc6 5.d3 Nf6 6.Bb2 e5 7.Ne2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.h3 Ne8 10.f4 f6  Passive.  (10...exf4 11.Nxf4 Bf6 would classify in the 'active' category, but there can be no doubt about White's structural advantage after 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 (12...Qxf6 13.Nd2 Qd4+ 14.Kh1 f5 15.Qe1) 13.Nd2) 11.Nd2 g6 12.Ng3 Ng7 13.Kh1 exf4 14.Rxf4 Qc7 15.Rf1 Ne6 16.Nf3 Ba6 17.Qd2 Rf7 18.Ne2 Re8 19.Nf4 Ng7 20.Nxg6!!

A brilliant idea, highlighting just how remote the Bishop on a6 really is.  20...hxg6 21.Qh6 f5?  (21...Qa5 was a more combative try, intending 22.Qxg6  (An afterthought 22.Nh4! may be very strong indeed: 22...c4 23.e5! dxe5 24.Nxg6 Rff8 25.dxc4‚ White has a massive attack.) 22...c4! 23.bxc4 Qh5  I prefer White after 24.Qxh5 Nxh5 25.Kh2 Rb8 26.Bd4 c5 27.Bc3 Bd8 28.Nh4 Ng7 (28...Bc8 29.Nf5 Bxf5 30.Rxf5 Ng7 31.Rf3 with an unclear position, but there can be no doubt that this is preferable to the game.) 29.Rf3)  22.e5 Bd8 23.Rae1 Bc8 24.exd6 Rxe1 25.Rxe1 Qxd6 26.Re8+ 1-0 Tenti, J-Aguilar, M / 1st Chesspangenberg Open, Buenos Aires 2003  Just look at that Bishop on b2!

3...Nc6 4.Nf3 e5 5.Nc3 g6 6.Bc4 Bg7 7.0-0 Nge7

Miron sets out this game along traditional Sicilian lines, organizing counterplay with what he hopes will be a quick...f7-f5. It is true that this pawn advance will be awkward for White so Pessi gets going immediately.

8.Ng5! 0-0 9.f4! exf4

9...h6? 10.Nxf7! Rxf7 11.Bxf7+ Kxf7 12.fxe5+ Kg8 13.exd6 Qxd6 (13...Bd4+ 14.Kh1 Qxd6 15.Nb5) 14.Nb5 Qd8 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qf3 strips the Black King bare.

10.Rxf4 Ne5

Blocking in the same way that Prasad tried to do.

11.Qf1! Nxc4

Forced, in view of the pressure against the f7 pawn.

12.Qxc4 d5

12...b5! was a better chance for counterplay, e.g. 13.Qxb5 Bd4+ 14.Kh1 h6 15.Nh3 Bxh3 16.gxh3 f5÷  However, it takes foresight and a considerable understanding of chessboard danger to play in this manner.

13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nxf7!!

Frightening!

14...Rxf7 15.Rxf7 Bxc3

One can see why he does not take - in a trembling state it is difficult to calculate. But even if Black saw everything, it's doubtful whether he could have survived :  15...Kxf7 16.Rf1+ Bf5 (16...Kg8 17.Nxd5 Bxb2 18.Nc7+ Kh8 19.Nxa8 Bf5 20.Qf7! Qxa8 21.Re1+-) 17.g4! Bd4+ (17...Bxc3  This may be the only, narrow path. 18.Bxc3 Qd7 19.gxf5 gxf5 20.Qxc5 Rg8+ 21.Kh1 Qe6 22.Qc4 Rg5 23.Bb2 Kg6 24.Qd4 with an unclear position.

A messy position has arisen. White's a pawn up but there's a long way to go before he can call his King totally safe.) 18.Kh1 Bxc3 19.Bxc3±.

16.Raf1! Bxb2 17.Rf8+!

Showing good judgment. The White Queen will sweep around, capturing Black pawns en route before Miron has the chance to organize his extra pieces.

17...Qxf8 18.Qxd5+ Kg7 19.Rxf8 Kxf8 20.Qxc5+ Kg7 21.Qe7+ Kg8 22.Qd8+ Kg7 23.c3!

A further point. To extricate the Bishop will cost Black further time.

23...Ba3 24.b4 a5 25.bxa5

Another one bites the dust.

25...Kf7

Just cracking up, but by this stage I suppose Miron was psychologically gone anyway.

26.a6!

A small, attractive combinative stroke.

26...Be7

26...Rxa6 27.Qxc8; 26...bxa6 27.Qd5+

27.Qd5+ Be6 28.Qf3+ Ke8 29.axb7 1-0

Enough is enough. After 29...Rb8 30 Qc6+ Bd7 31 Qc7 kills.

I think you'll agree with me that 1 e4 c5 2 b3! is worth a shot.
 

[Return to the Index of IM Andrew Martin's Columns]