Second straight loss

Unlike in my three previous games, I went down without a fight in this one – I don’t think I created any threats at all.

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. f4 d5 4. Nf3 d4 5. Ne2 Nf6 6. Ng3 Nc6 7. Bc4 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. d3 Na5 10. Bb3 Nxb3 11. axb3 b6 12.  Ne5 Bb7 13. Bd2 a5 14. Qe2 Qc7 15. Nc4 Rfe8

Until now, the position has been about equal. White is ready to make his kingside push while I have some activity on the queenside. I didn’t want to play 15…g6 because I thought that would make his f5 push stronger. I also thought that in many variations it would be better to have my bishop or knight (via d7) on f8, hence the move.

16. f5 Bc8??

Now this gives white some good chances. I should have played 16…e5 to keep things under control but I was worried that I would be blocking the activity of my own pieces.

17. e5!

I completely underestimated how powerful this move was. I was more worried about 17. Bf4?!. It was only when I saw this move on the board did reality start to sink in.

17…Nd5 18. Qg4?

Now he lets me off the hook and gives me a fighting chance. Just pushing ahead with the pawns, 18. f6 gxf6 19. exf6 Bxf6 20. Nh5 is winning.

18…exf5  19. Nxf5 Bxf5 20. Rxf5 Ra7?

My next big mistake. I was trying to be cute and allow for my rook to come to the aid of the kingside via the 7th rank. Fritz suggests the following two variations as ok for black: 20…Qc8 21. Qe4 Qe6 or 20…b5 21. Qe4 Qd7 22. Raf1 Bf8, still holding everything together (barely!).

21. Raf1 Bf8??

I wasn’t to know how bad this move was until my opponent made his move. I was prepared to suffer further with 22. Rxf7 Qxf7 23. Rxf7 Kxf7 24. Nd6, after which I need a miracle to survive.

22. e6!!

Most masters, I’m sure, would have seen this from miles away. However it was a rude shock for me to see this at the board. The rest was plain sailing for white.

22…Ne3 23. Bxe3 dxe3 24. exf7+ Qxf7  25. Rxf7 Rxf7 26. Rxf7 e2 27. Rf1! 1-0

He didn’t fall for my last little trap, so I resigned.

In my more recent games, I have felt like I am always fighting an uphill battle, fighting for equality.

• My last 8 games have been with black! (excluding this abandoned game)
• In all, 14 out of my 19 completed games have been with black.
• I can’t wait for my next game with white (next week!)
• I can’t wait for the return of that winning feeling.
• After this game, I feel I need to come up with a better repertoire against the closed Sicilian.