Polugaevsky Variation
analysis by Holger Daum

 
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5 8.e5 dxe5 9.fxe5 Qc7 10.Qe2 Nfd7 11.0-0-0 Bb7 12.Qg4 Qxe5 [12...Qb6!?] 13.Bxb5 axb5 14.Rhe1 h5 (only move) 15.Qh4 Qc5 (D)

16.Ncxb5 [16.Qg3 and; 16.Ndxb5 are the important alternatives] 16...Rxa2 17.Kb1 Bd5 18.Re3 Qb6 19.Nxe6 Bxe6 [19...Rxb2+ 20.Kxb2 Qxb5+ 21.Rb3 Qxb3+ 22.cxb3 fxe6 is unclear according to Polugaevsky] 20.Qc4 Bc5 [20...Rxb2+! 21.Kxb2 Bc5 22.Rd6 0-0 23.Rexe6 Qb7] 21.Rxe6+! [21.Rd6 0-0 22.Rexe6 Qa5 23.Qxa2 Qxb5 -+ This is Nunn's main line. (John Nunn: The Complete Najdorf: 6. Bg5)]21...fxe6 22.Nd6+ Kf8 [22...Bxd6 23.Qxe6+ Kf8 24.Rf1+ Nf6 25.Rxf6+ gxf6 26.Qxf6+ = (perpetual check)]23.Qxa2 Bxd6 [23...Qa6 24.Qxe6 Bxd6 25.Qf5+ (25.Rxd6 Qf1+ 26.Ka2 Qf7 +- =/+) 25...Kg8 26.Qe6+ Kf8 27.Qf5+ =; 23...Bd4 24.Rxd4! +-]24.Qxe6 Bc7 [24...Qf2 25.Re1! (25.Qxd6+ Kg8 26.Qd5+ Qf7 27.Qe4 with compensation) 25...Qf7 (25...Qxe1+!?) 26.Qxd6+ Kg8 27.Re7 Qf1+ 28.Bc1! Qf5 29.b3 +/-]25.Qe7+ Kg8 26.Qe8+ Nf8 27.Rf1 Nbd7 28.Qf7+ Kh7 29.Qxh5+ Kg8 30.Qf7+ = And this is also a perpetual check and therefore Nunn's asessment of the position after Black's 20.-Bc5 has to be changed.

zipped cbv