1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 e6 4. O-O g6

White has already taken me out of what I wanted to play, the Four Knights Variation of the Sicilian Defense, by not playing d4. So, I decided to play a Dragon type setup against this Closed Sicilian setup White has.

5. d3 Bg7 6. Nc3 Nge7

At this point we have transposed into a Closed Sicilian variation that I have faced a few times before. In a normal Dragon Variation my pawns would be on e7 and d6 instead of e6 and d7 and I would have played the King Knight to f6 instead of e7. Because White keeps the Center closed in this variation and attacks on the Kingside as normal, I usually play the King Knight to e7 in order to avoid some unpleasant pins on the Knight that often result here. Also, I like to keep the long diagonal open for the Bishop to support an attack in the Center or on the Queenside.

7. Be3 d6 8. a3 a6 9. Qd2 b5 10. Ba2 f5

Here I decided to delay castling because White was threatening to play Bh6 and force the exchange of dark-squared bishops if I did. I wanted my Knight on f5 to prevent that exchange because losing that Bishop would weaken my King's position after the exchange. Also, I didn't like the idea of my King landing on a square the the White Bishop on a2 was indirectly attacking.

11. Bh6 Bxh6 12. Qxh6 fxe4 13. Ng5

If Black had castled earlier he would be unable to defend h7 now.

Nf5 14. Nxe6 Nxh6 15. Nxd8 Nxd8 16. dxe4 Bb7

Now, Black is up a Knight for a Pawn, or two points. Once Black completes his development he should have a won game.

17. Rad1 Nhf7 18. Rfe1 c4 19. b3 cxb3 20. Bxb3 Rc8 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5+

Up to this point Black has been trading down pieces to get into an easily won endgame. Here Black makes an error that gives back the Knight. Better would have been 22... Kd7.

Ne5? 23. f4! Kd7 24. fxe5 dxe5 25. Rxe5 Nb7

Black has completed his development and White is up a passed Center Pawn. White has a slight edge. White also has a Bishop over a Knight and better piece placement. Black's only real saving grace here is the fact that his King is in front of the White passed Pawn.

26. d6

If instead of 26... Rhe8 Black had played 26... Nxd6 then 27. Red5 Rc6 28. R5d4 Ke7 and the pin on the Knight is broken.

Rhe8 27. Re7+ Rxe7 28. dxe7+ Kxe7

Now the material is even. White has the Bishop over the Knight and an isolated c Pawn that Black can target. Still, it looks drawish here.

29. Re1+ Kf6 30. Rf1+ Kg5 31. Rf7

Here is where Black loses a Pawn and transposes into a typical Rook and Pawn endgame. It is still drawish here.

Nc5 32. Rxh7 Nxb3 33. h4+ Kf6 34. cxb3 Rc3

Black tried to win back the lost Pawn and eventually does.

35. Ra7 Rxb3 36. Rxa6+ Kf5 37. Kh2 Kg4 38. Rxg6+ Kxh4 39. Ra6 Rb2 40. Ra8 Ra2 41. Rb8 Rxa3 42. Rxb5 Kg4

Black has the opposition here. So, even if the Rooks were both gone it would still be a draw.

43. Rb4+ Kg5 44. g3 Rc3 45. Rf4 Rc2+ 46. Kh3 Rc1 47. Kg2 Rc2+ 48. Rf2

Here Black can exchange rooks and still get a draw. 48... Rxf2 49. Kxf2 Kg4! 50 Kg2 Kg5! 51. Kh3 Kh5 52. g4+ Kg5 53. Kg3 Kg6 54. Kf4 Kf6 55. g5+ Kg6 56. Kg4 Kg7 57. Kf5 Kf7 58. g6+ Kg7 59. Kg5 Kg8 60. Kf6 Kf8 61. g7+? Kg8! Kg6 stalemate. If instead 61. Kf5 Kg6 62. Kg5 Kg8! 63. Kh6 Kh8 and the game will continue like this until a draw is agreed or stalemate is reached as long as Black plays the correct moves to keep the opposition.

Rc3 49. Rf4 Rc2+ 50. Kh3 Rc1 51. Rg4+ Kh5 52. Rh4+ Kg5 53. Rg4+ Kh5 54. Rf4 Rc3 55. Rf5+ Kg6 56. Kg4 Rxg3+

Here Black forces the exchange of rooks and a draw. I read an advertisement for a chess tournament that has a no draw rule. How would they handle this situation?

57. Kxg3 Kxf5 1/2 - 1/2

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