The topsy-turvy season continues…with a loss

In my 3rd straight game against the same opponent (this time as black), we played out yet another Sicilian. I avoided any blunders in the opening and was in fact quite satisfied with my position by the time I played d5 on move 17.

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. b3 Nf6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Bb2 Bb4 9. a3 Ba5 10. Qf3 e5
(10… d5)

11. b4 Bb6 12. Na4 Bc7 13. Nc5 O-O 14. Rd1 Qe7 15. Be2 d6 16. Nb3 Bb7
(16… a5)

17. Nd2 d5 18. O-O Rad8
(18… Rfd8) (18… a5)

19. Bd3 a5 20. c3 axb4 21. cxb4 d4 22. Rc1 Bd6
(22… Rd6 23. Nc4 Re6)

23. Nb3 Rc8
(23… Ra8)

24. Nc5
(24. Na5)

24… Bxc5 25. Rxc5 Nd7 26. Rcc1
(26. Ra5)

26… c5 27. b5 Nb6 28. Bc4? Kh8?
I am much better in this position. Kh8 isn’t a mistake at all, with the idea of playing f5 and unleashing the bishop on b7. The big mistake in my thinking was that my knight on b6 was a very powerful piece and would aid in the c4 push, after which my connected passers would determine the result of the game. What I should have done is to trade the c4 bishop and play f5 immediately! 28… Nxc4! 29. Rxc4 f5! 30. Qb3 Qe6 31. exf5 Rxf5

29. Qd3 Qg5 30. f3 f5
(30… Nxc4! 31. Qxc4 f5)

31. exf5 Rxf5??
I would still be better after trading knight for bishop! 31… Nxc4! 32. Rxc4 Bd5 33. Ra4 c4 34. Qc2 Rxf5

32. Be6 Rff8
32… e4 33. fxe4 Rxf1+ 34. Rxf1 Re8 35. Bf5 only gives up a pawn but the position offers no counterplay, but is probably what I should have tried.

33. Bxc8 Rxc8 34. Rce1 Nd5
(34… Bd5)

35. Bc1 Qf6 36. Qe4 Re8 37. f4 Qb6 38. Qf5 Qd8
(38… e4 39. Rxe4 Qxb5 40. Qf7 Rg8) (38… Qxb5 39. fxe5 Ne7 (39… Rg8) 40. Qf7)

39. Rxe5 Nc3
(39… Nf6) (39…Rf8)

40. Rfe1
(40. Qf7)

40… Rxe5
(40… Rf8)

41. Qxe5 h6 42. Qxc5 Qf6 43. Qe5 Qxe5 44. Rxe5 d3 45. Kf2 Ne2 46. Bd2 Kh7 47. b6 Kg6 48. Re7 1-0

After a big rating gain last year, I’m taking a big step backward this year 😦