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Brian Early (1989)
-Brill (1730)
Metropolitan Congress
Amateur Championship, 6/14/75
Knight
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Sicilian Defense, Closed Variation

Brian was a friend for years, when we played in the same tournaments and belonged to the same chess club (The Marshall). (I wonder what he's doing today.) Always substantially higher rated, he'd beaten me in one game and we drew another one. This was my chance to even the score.

Playing an uncharacteristically quiet variation of the Sicilian, both sides commit inaccuracies in the opening: Black hands White attacking opportunities on the kingside, but he doesn't make a key move to set the attack into motion. Then Black takes the initiative executing a strong attack on the queenside and in the center with complete accuracy, leading to a very satisfying (for me) rout.

1. e4, c5; 2. Nc3, d6; 3. Nge2, a6?

Better is 3...g6

4. g3, g6; 5. Bg2, Bg7; 6. 0-06...d6, Nc6; 7. d3, e6; 8. Be3, Nge7?

Better is 8...Nd4.

9. d4, cd4; 10. Nd4, 0-0

10...Rb8!?

11. Nb3?

White should play 11. f4!, with the idea of 12. g4, and a kingside attack. After 11...f5 (If Black plays 11...Qb6; 12. Qd2 gives White the advantage); 12. h3!, preparing a kingside attack with 13. g4, gives White the advantage.

11...b5; 12. Qe1?

White's can still play 12. f4!, with an equal game.

12...Rb8;

Preparing to go on the offensive on the Queenside, typical of Black's strategy in the Sicilian.

13. Rd113..., Qc7; 14. Bc1?

Again, White should have played 14. f4!, with equality. Now Black gets the advantage through a Queenside attack.

14...a5!
Early-Brill diagram

15. Ne2, b4;

Not 15...a4; 16. Nd4

16. f4, Ba6; 17. Rf3!?

17. Rd2, Be2; 18. Qe2 (18. Rd2, a5; 19. Nd2, Nd4 wins), a5 and the white knight must retreat to a1.

17...Be2; 18. Qe2, a4; 19. Nd2, Nd4; 20. Qd3, Qc2!

Black heads into a winning endgame, much better than grabbing the exchange with 20...Nf3? 21. Nf3, Rfd8; 22. g4, f5; 23. ef5, gf5; 24. g5! with compensation for the exchange through a kingside attack.

21. Qc2, Nc2; 22. Nc4, d5; 23. Ne5, Be5; 24. fe5, d4!

This passed pawn, the knight on c2, the advanced queenside pawns, and Black's material advantage give him a won game.

25. Bg5

25. Bh6, Rfd8 just drives the rook behind the passed pawn, which can't be stopped whatever White tries.

25...Nc6; 26. Rc1, b3; 27. ab3, ab3; 28. Bf6, Rfc8; 29. h4, Ne3; 30. h5, Nb4; 31. Rb1, gh5; 32. Bf1, h6!

Keeps the bishop off the c1-h6 diagonal.

33. Kf2?! Rc2; 34. Ke1? R8c8; 35. Be7, Rc1! 36. Rc1, Rc1; 37. Ke2, Nf1; 38. Rf1, d3! 39. Kf2, d2; 40. Bb4, Rf1; 41. Kf1, d1(Q); White resigns.