Welcome to my Sicilian Defense (ECO B44) game with Yossue Leyva page!

On this page I have posted one my chess games in which I played the Black side of the Sicilian Defense. The game includes analysis and diagrams. This is from the last round of a tournament in which I won 1 game and lost 3.

Tampa Chess Club Tornado
Round 4, Board 4
White: Yossue Leyva (Unrated) Black: Mike Serovey (1537)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Be2 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4

Sicilian defense after 6... Bb4.

I got the Four Knights Sicilian that I wanted. Against weaker players I have done quite well with this defense because White usually misplays this position and drops either the pawn at e4 or the Knight at d4. This player was better than I gave him credit for. I have to get over the tendency to underestimate some of my opponents!

7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Bd3 d5 9. exd5 cxd5

Sicilian defense after 9... cxd5.

Getting the pawn on d5 is critical in this variation. At this point in the game the position is even but Black has a strong Center.

10. O-O O-O 11. Ne2 a5 12. c3 Be7 13. Bf4 Ba6 14. Bc2 Qb6 15. Rb1 Rfc8

Sicilian defense after 15... Rfc8.

Black is preparing for a queenside attack while White's pieces are not really coordinated. White is keeping the Black rooks of b8 so Black decided to get rid of that Bishop on the next move.

16. Re1 Bd6 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. h3 Bc4 19. a3 Rab8 20. Nd4 Ba2!

Sicilian defense after 20... Ba2!

This move begins a combination that I miscalculated. I made a blunder on move number 22 and it cost me the game. Instead of 22... Qxa3?? which loses material I should have played 22... Qb6! which protects everything and leads to a won endgame.

21. Ra1 Rxb2 22. Qc1 Qxa3 23. Nb5!! 1-0

Sicilian defense after 23. Nb5!! (Final position).

The Black Queen is being attacked by the Knight on b5. I missed that move when analyzing this combination. If I had seen 22... Qb6! instead I would have won this game. The Black Queen cannot move off a3 without losing the Rook at b2 and the pawn on a5. I originally planned to capture the pawn on c3 but the Knight is guarding that square!

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