When Everything Get’s in the Way

Edgardo Garma – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
7th Asian Continental Chess Championship; Olongapo City, May 14, 2009
Sicilian Defence B62

International Master Richard Bitoon laconically commented: “He [Garma] made a mistake and it was exploited quickly”. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 Nc6 7. f4. A sideline which probably won’t remain in Garma’s heart. 7. ... h6 8. Bh4 Qb6!? 9. Ndb5. Strangely, nobody has ever played 9. Nb3 here; there might follow: 9. ... Qe3+ 10. Qe2 Qxf4 11. Bg3 Qg5 12. Nb5 winning back the Pawn with a complex but balanced game. 9. ... a6 10. Bf2 Qa5 11. Nxd6+ Bxd6 12. Qxd6 Nxe4

13. Qd3? 13. b4! was the only move to keep White in the game, though at the cost of a Pawn. 13. ... Nxf2 14. Kxf2 0-0 15. Qe3 e5! Now it is an one-sided story. 16. Bd3 exf4 17. Qxf4 Ne5 18. Rhd1 Qb6+ 19. Kf1 Nxd3 20. Rxd3 Qxb2 21. Re1 Qxc2 22. Ree3 Be6 23. Qe4 Rac8 24. Kg1 Bf5 25. Qxf5 Rxc3 26. Qd5 Qb1+ 27. Kf2 Rxd3 28. Rxd3 Re8 29. Rd1 Qb6+ 30. Kf1 g6 31. h3 h5 32. Rd4 Qf6+ 33. Kg1 Re1+ 34. Kh2 Qf2 35. Re4 Rxe4 36. Qxe4 Qxa2 37. Qxb7 a5 38. Kg3 a4 39. Kh4. Running into mate: 39. ... Qf2+ 40. Kg5 Qf5+ 41. Kh4 Qf4+ 42. g4 g5+ 43. Kxh5 Qf6 44. Qe4 Kg7 0 : 1.