The Modern Sicilian Surprise - 5...h5!? in the 2…Nc6-Sicilian

6.Bf4 - Endgame Variation

 

 

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 h5 6.Bf4 To my mind the most critical move, and after this White has an advantage but not a large one. d6
7.Nxc6 The computer offers 7.Bb5 Bd7 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Ba4 which I am not sure would appeal to many humans, for instance after e5 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Bb3 this seems like a position that most Rauzer players would appreciate as Black. Black of course threatens to win a piece, e.g. 7.Bc4?? Nxd4 8.Qxd4 e5-+ 7...bxc6 8.e5 For people who have had time to prepare against 5...h5 and want a safe if small edge, this seems the most likely continuation. 8.Bc4 is perhaps most strongly met by the unusual idea Qa5 9.0-0
9...g5!? (the last move was very normal, but this one isn't!) 10.Bd2 Bg7 when Black's kingside formation 'makes sense' and there are even possibilities to continue in more original vein with ...Qe5 and ...Ng4.
8...dxe5 Black's best bet is going for the endgame. 8...Ng4?! 9.exd6 e5 10.Bd2 Qxd6
11.Bd3± was unpleasant for Black in Kadric,D-Ivanisevic,I Gorazde 2023
9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Bxe5 Nd7!N 10...Ng4 seems more active, but after 11.Rd1+ Bd7 11...Ke8 12.Nb5± 12.Bg3 h4 13.Bf4 Black faces concrete problems on the light squares which cannot be solved so easily, e.g. e5 13...f6 14.Be2 and Black no longer has time for ...e5 13...h3 14.gxh3 Nf6 15.Ba6± is inconvenient for the a8-rook 14.Be2
14...f5 15.Bxg4 fxg4 16.Bxe5 Rh5 17.Bd6 Bxd6 18.Rxd6± Kollen,Z-Zwirs,N Netherlands 2018
11.0-0-0 f6 12.Bf4 12.Bd4 simply leaves White fewer options as after e5 there is only 13.Be3 available and not Bd2. 12...e5
13.Bd2 An interesting decision point. After the apparently more logical 13.Be3 Kc7 14.f4 Black has a semi-forcing line available which seems to equalise: Bd6 14...h4 threatens a more impactful version of ... Bd6 but sadly it will never come to fruition. 15.Ne4! exf4 16.Bxf4+ Ne5 17.Be2 15.g3 exf4 16.Bxf4 Bxf4+ 17.gxf4 Nb6 18.Bd3
18...Bg4 Connecting rooks. With Black's queenside pawns being no less split than White's, and the development situation being level, the only way White can try for a continuing edge is to exploit the g-file. However 19.Rdg1 can be met by the enterprising offer of two pawns for an exchange: 19.Rde1 Rhe8= 19...g5 20.fxg5 Bf3 21.gxf6 Bxh1 22.Rxh1 Raf8 23.Ne4 Nd5 24.Rf1 Rhg8= , and after checking that the f-pawn poses no particular danger we can award Black full equality. Ideas from here include ...Rg4-f4.
13...Kc7 14.f4 This still needs to be played, and now we see the point that Black no longer has ...Bd6 available. exf4 15.Bxf4+ Ne5 16.Be2 Be6
Probably White has a small advantage due to better pawn structure, but a tough game remains.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
6.Bf4-endgame variation-