Suttles - Kaltenecker [B23]
Vancouver, 1965
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g4!?

A “SEXY MOVE”

The two square leap of the g-pawn is a damn sight sexier than 3.g3; admit it! Yes, this vigorous advance is the subject of this month's column. Call it what you will but White cannot be faulted for lack of ambition. Of course, this is an interesting attempt to get an accelerated version of the Closed Sicilian. If the game develops in traditional fashion White will whack up his pawns and get a massive space advantage, hopefully coupled with a winning attack. This original and audacious plan could only attract Duncan Suttles like a moth to a flame.

3...d6 4.Bg2 g6 5.d3 Bg7 6.f4 e5   

I really do feel that Black must find something different. Kaltenecker needs an original solution himself and not a main line a crucial tempo down!

7.f5! g5?!

He really doesn't like having to think for himself at this early stage. Obviously 7...Qh4+ is the critical move but I daresay Suttles would have been quite happy after that. White threatens to recuperate with Nf3 and in general his position is much easier to handle. I've sketched out some analysis: 7...Qh4+ 8.Kf1 and now:

A) 8...h5 9.Nf3! Qd8 (Not falling for 9...Qxg4 10.h3 Qg3 11.Ne2) 10.h3 hxg4 11.hxg4 Rxh1+ 12.Bxh1 Nf6 13.g5 Nh5 14.f6 Bf8 15.Kf2 Be6 16.Nd5

TROUBLE FOR BLACK

It will be very hard to coordinate the Black pieces. The f6-pawn throttles the Bishop on f8.

B) 8...Nf6 (Somehow he has to stop the “free” move Ng1–f3.) 9.h3 Nd4 10.Nf3 Nxf3 11.Qxf3 Bd7 12.Be3 0–0–0 13.a3 White has the initiative – again his position looks far more “together.”

As 7...Qh4+ doesn't seem that great, we arrive at another sharp retort. Once more the White pawn chain inhibits the flow of Black's development: 7...gxf5 8.gxf5 Qh4+ 9.Kf1 Nd4 (9...Nf6 10.Nf3 Qh5 11.Nb5 Kd7 12.Bg5! Ng4 13.h3 Qxg5 14.Nxg5 Ne3+ 15.Ke2 Nxd1 16.Raxd1 Nd8 17.Rdg1 Bh6 18.h4 f6 19.Nf3 Nc6 20.a3) 10.Nd5 Qd8 11.c3 and White's advantage is obvious.

8.h4 h6 9.hxg5 hxg5 10.Rxh8 Bxh8 11.Nf3 f6 12.Kf2!

WHITE'S IN HEAVEN

An ideal situation for White. All thoughts of a theoretical struggle have had to be abandoned and Black is engaged in a life or death battle for survival on the Kingside. The game does not last much longer. Suttles funnels his pieces over and finishes cleanly.

12...Qd7 13.Nd5 Qh7 14.c3 Rb8 15.Be3 Bg7 16.Qb3 Bf8 17.Rh1 Qg7 18.Rh5

With the idea of, amongst other things, Qd1–h1 and then Rh7.

18...Nh6 19.Kg3 Nf7 20.Rh7, 1-0.

I love games like this, or, to be more precise, I love playing them when I am the winner. Kaltenecker had no chance whatsoever, no counterplay at all. He lacked imagination and was soundly thrashed. Would that playing against the Sicilian was always this simple.

Hort (2595) - Kindermann (2500) [B23]
Bath, 1983

I feel that a cautionary tale is in order at this point. Two very strong players fight in out in this obscure line and now it is Black's turn to put the boot in.

1.Nc3 c5 2.e4 Nc6 3.g4 e6

He may go back into regular channels, he may not. The preparation for ...d7-d5 seems positionally correct. 

4.Bg2?!

I like 4.d3! in order to answer 4...h5 with 5.g5 h4 6.f4, unclear. I wouldn't like to call this one, but Black will not be as active as he is in the game.

4...h5!

4...a6 5.d3 Bd6 6.Be3 Nge7 is downright weird.

STRANGE STUFF

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