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[Event "Continental Open in Atlanta"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1973.05.09"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Momic, Milan"]
[Black "Browne, Walter S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Bill Melvin"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[ECO "B98"]
[TimeControl "0"]
[WhiteElo "2200"]
{ This game is considered Milan Momic's best ever. Milan destroys a
GrandMaster in his namesake opening. Milan passed away in Sheffield, Alabama
November 1997. } 1. e4 { B98: Sicilian Najdorf: 6 Bg5 e6 7 f4 Be7, sidelines } 1... c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 h6 { This isn't just the Najdorf Sicilian. This is the BROWNE variation!!! Yup,
just turn to page 204 of 'Najdorf for the Tournament Player' by John Nunn and
you will see that chapter 18 is titled 'Browne System (...h6 by Black).'
Momic has played into a minefield. Whether he knew this or not, I cannot
imagine. Perhaps he was setting an ambush for Browne. Perhaps he was
clueless. All I know is playing the white side of a Najdorf against Browne
would have been like playing a Benko against Benko or a Polugayevsky against
Polugayevsky. Browne is THE definitive authority in this opening. } 9. Bh4 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Bg3 b5 12. e5 Bb7 13. Qe2 Nd5 14. Ne4 Nxf4 { The
Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO) gives the game continuation up until
black's 14th move in the Momic game. Instead of the game continuation, ECO
gives 14... dxe5 15. fxe5 O-O 16. Nf6 with a slight edge for white in Barczay
- Kavelek, Sousse Interzonal 1967. It would seem that Browne (and perhaps
Momic) were each familiar with this game. Browne's try is definitely an
attempt at more. } 15. Bxf4 dxe5 16. Nxe6 { This sacrifice appears to be
thematic. My computer appears unable to find any of this and the game is
blowing its mind (I just saw a little smoke...). } 16... fxe6 17. Qh5+ Kf8 18. Ng5 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Rc8 20. c3 Nc5 21. Be3 Bd5 22. Be2 Ne4 23. Rhf1+ Kg8 24. Rxd5 exd5 25. Bg4 Nd6 { I was surprised by 24. Rd5 as that move isn't obvious at
all to me. Better, and perhaps forced is 25... Rf8 when Browne would have to
sue for peace after 26. Be6+ Kh7 27. Bf5+ Kg8 28. Be6+ etc. with a draw by
repetition. } 26. Be6+ Kh7 27. Rf6 { White was threatening Qg6 mate and 27...
gxf6 runs into Qxh6 mate. What a lovely victory. } 1-0