I lost one game to Kudrin in this line and began analyzing it, looking for a definitive answer to this novel idea espoused by Nigel Short. At one point I noticed a very interesting nuance based on the indirect defense of the knight on d7. This became the answer to White's set-up. After the game, journalists asked me why White lost. "Nigel played 18.Rhe1," I replied, "and his position fell apart."
This continuation of the Rauzer Sicilian is one of the most popular today.
9. Be3 Nxd4!?A rare move. With this move Black eliminates a number of possibilities from White involving Nxc6.
10. Qxd4 Qc7 11. f4White immediately starts the attack in the centre.
11... b5Black is not worried about development. In the Sicilian it often happens that Black is far behind in development.
12. Be2 Bb7 13. Bf3 Rc8 14. Kb1A useful move. The king is much safer on the b-file.
14... Be7White is too confident about his attacking chances.
15... Bxf3 16. gxf3 dxe5 17. fxe5 Nd7After the exchanges, White is left with a weakness on f3, and it is unclear if he can generate a dangerous attack.
18. Rhe1?White continues the dangerous play he started with 15.e5.
18... b4! 19. Ne4 O-OIt looks like the castling is not safe, the g-file is open, but Black was correct in his calculations.
20. Bxh6?White was so confident about his attack starting with 15.e5, that he could not stop and look objectively at the position.
After this move it becomes clear that only Black has attacking chances.
22. Bg5 Bxg5 23. Qxg5 Qxc2+ 24. Ka1 Qc7With ideas like Qf4 - Black is happy to trade queens.
25. Qh5 Rfd8 26. Rb1 26... Qf4! 27. Ng5 Qh4Black suceeds in trading queens. The endgame down a pawn is hopeless for White.
28. Qxh4 Nxh4 29. Re4 Nf5 30. Rxb4A blunder in a lost position.
30... Ne3 0-1