Sicilian Alapin
1.e4 c5 2.c3 g6!?
This is the fifth-most popular continuation in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database.
3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 d5 5.Nc3!?
The mainline in Mega23 runs 5.e5 Nc6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Bb5 Nh6 8.Nge2 0-0 9.0-0 with an equal position, according to Stockfish15.1 and Komodo14.1.
5...dxe4 6.Nxe4
Much more popular is 6.Bc4!? with sharp play.
6...Ng7 7.Nf3 Nf6 8.Bb5+!?
8.Nxf6+ Nxf6 9.Bh6 is met by 9...Qa5+, when White faces a difficult choice, one line running 10.Qd2 Qxd2+ 11.Kxd2!? with a slight edge for Black, according to the engines.
8...Bd7 9.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 10.Nxf6+
I expected the developing 10.Qd3!?
10...Nxf6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Be3 Nd5 13.Rc1 Qb6 14.Qd2 Rfd8
 |
| White to play and lose |
*****
*****
*****
*****
15.Ne5? Nxe3 16.Qxe3
Not 16.fxe3?? Bxe5.
16...Qxd4 17.Qxd4 Rxd4
 |
| White has no compensation for being a pawn down - indeed Black has the better minor piece for operating in an open position with rooks |
*****
*****
*****
*****
18.Nf3 Rd7 19.Rc2 Rad8 20.h3 e5 21.Ng5?!
This leads nowhere and, if anything, helps Black.
21...h6 22.Ne4 f5 23.Nc3 Rd2 24.Rfc1 e4 25.Kf1 Rxc2 26.Rxc2 Rc8 27.Ke2 b5 28.Kd2 a6 29.b3 Kf7 30.Ne2 Rxc2+ 31.Kxc2 Be5 32.Kd2 Ke6 33.Ke3 Kd5 34.g3 Kc5 35.Nf4 g5
Even stronger is 35...Bxf4+, but the text is plenty good enough.
The game finished:
36.Ne6+ Kd5 37.Nf8 f4+ 38.gxf4 gxf4+ 39.Ke2 Kd4 40.Ne6+ Kd5 41.Nd8 f3+ 42.Ke1 Kc5 43.Nb7+ Kb4 44.Kd2 Bd4 45.Ke1 Ka3 46.Nd6 e3 47.fxe3 Bxe3 0-1
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