chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Nigel Short vs Gawain Jones
Bunratty Masters (2012), Bunratty IRL, rd 6, Feb-19
Sicilian Defense: 2.b3 Variation (B20)  ·  1/2-1/2

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
1/2-1/2

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 7 more Short/G Jones games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: Olga is our default viewer, but we offer other choices as well. You can use a different viewer by selecting it from the pulldown menu below and pressing the "Set" button.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

Kibitzer's Corner
Feb-19-12  luzhin: Short's long-term rook sac 22.Nxd5+! is courageous as well as brilliant, especially as he would have seen he could get a favourable Rook ending with the simple 22.Nxe4 Bxb2+ 23.Kxb2 dxe4 24.Bxe4 Qe5+ 25.c3 Bxe4 26.Qxe4 Qxe4 27.Rxe4. It seems he missed a win with 40.Qxe6, but as that would have involved his King being chased half-way across the board, it's hardly surprising that short of time he avoided it. Perhaps the last chance to win would have been to play 52.cxb5
Feb-20-12  OrigamiArtist: 29.Bf5 wins too but Short was quite low on time. Jones will probably be quite pleased to have escaped again due to the opponent's time pressure - he was also losing to Lawrence Trent earlier in the tournament.
Feb-20-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Wonderful game.

Things already started to get interesting after 2.b3, only the 8th most popular move in the database in the Sicilian (after 2.♘f3, 2.♘c3, 2.c3, 2.d4, 2.f4, 2.♘e2 and 2.d3). Then, 4.♕f3 was only played in E Levushkina vs M Seps, 2010 where in that game 4...d6 was played. So, 4...♗g7 (see diagram 1) is a novelty.

After 6.e6 black wastes time bringing the knight back, so I think 6...f6 is best. I can see 7.exd7+ ♘xd7 8.♗c4 but after 8...♘b6, that bishop can't be on that diagonal much longer.

Lastly, 40.♕e3 seems a little too passive. Why just defend the rook? Why not play 40.♕xe6 (see diagram 3) to defend the rook, grab a pawn, and have some play against the black king?

Diagram 1


click for larger view

Diagram 2


click for larger view

Diagram 3


click for larger view

Feb-22-12  pericles of athens: What if white plays 4. e5?
Feb-22-12  pawn to QB4: 4...Nd5 apparently. Only a few games in the database; White's tried various obvious 5th moves with no great success. I thought this was a good punch up in the line: E Safarli vs I Kurnosov, 2008

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC