On 1st December 2005 we played Chetenham in the Cup.

Duncan has kindly sent me his game with annotations, anyone who like me has trouble v the Sicilian, take note!

Graham

(1) Dicks,Duncan - Hosken,Nigel
Stroud v Cheltenham
[Duncan Dicks]



1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bb5 Nd4 6.0-0
White can play Bc4, Be2 or a4 here. O-O is a little unusual but fast development - a lot of black knight moves to swap it off

6...Nxb5 7.Nxb5 d6
a6 is more common following up with b5

8.a4 e6
is an unlikely looking mistake but this gives white a clear advantage

9.e5 Bf8 10.Nxd6+ Bxd6 11.exd6 Qxd6
Blacks kingside black squares are still very weak and he lacks development

12.d3 Ne7 13.Bd2 Nf5 14.Qe1 Nd4 15.Bc3
Fritz believes Nxd4 s much stronger

15...0-0
Nxc2! 16 Qh4 Rf8! and Black holds on with his extra pawn

16.Nxd4 cxd4 17.Bb4 Qb6 18.Bxf8 Kxf8 19.Qe5 Kg8 20.a5
White will penetrate with his queen

20...Qb4
taking on b2 is similar

21.Qc7 Qf8 22.Ra4
To free his queenside pieces Black has to give up more material. 1-0