B30: Sicilian: 2...Nc6 3 Bb5, lines without ...g6
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.a3!? Paul French is known for his off-beat openings
3...Nf6 4.Nc3 d6 5.Bc4 a6 6.d3 b5 7.Ba2 Nd4 8.Nxd4 cxd4 9.Ne2 Qb6 10.Bd2 e6 11.c3 dxc3 12.Nxc3 Be7 13.Be3 Qd8 it seems like so far White has gotten an advantage out of the opening
14.Qd2 [14.Qf3!? Bb7+/= ]
14...Bb7 15.Bg5 Rc8 16.0-0 0-0 17.Rac1 Nd7 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Qe3 Rfe8 20.Rc2 Nf6 21.Rfc1 Red8 22.h3 h6 23.d4 Qd7 24.Re2 [24.f4 Rc7+/= ]
24...d5 [24...Qe7= ]
25.e5+/= Ne4 26.Bb1 Nxc3 27.bxc3 [27.Rxc3 Qe7+/- ]
27...Kf8 28.Qd3 Ke7 [28...Qe7 29.Qh7 Qxa3 30.Rcc2+/= ]
29.Re3 Rg8 30.f4 g6 31.Rf1 Rcf8 [31...Kf8 32.Bc2+/= ]
32.Bc2+/- h5 33.Ra1 Qc8 34.Qd2 Qc7 35.Ree1 [>=35.Rf3+/- ]
35...Rc8= 36.Rec1? [sometimes you have to admit you've made a mistake 36.Re3 ]
36...Qxc3=/+ 37.Qf2 [>=37.Qxc3 Rxc3 38.Bxg6 Rxc1+ 39.Rxc1 Rxg6 40.Rc7+ Kd8 41.Rxb7=/+ ]
37...Qa5? [>=37...Rc4-/+ would have left White gasping for air]
38.Qh4+ [>=38.a4 b4 39.Qh4+ Kd7 40.Bb3= ]
38...Kd7 39.Qf2 Qb6 [39...Rc4 40.Ra2= ]
40.a4 Rc4 41.axb5 axb5 42.Rd1 Ra8 43.Rab1 [43.Rxa8 Bxa8 44.Qd2= ]
43...Qc6?? overlooks a simple tactic [>=43...Ra2 44.Rd2 Qc6-/+ ]
44.Bd3+/- Ba6 [44...Raa4 45.Qe2+/- ]
45.Bxc4+- bxc4 [if Black captures the other way White should immediately blockade 45...dxc4 46.Rb4+- ]
46.Rbc1 Bb5 47.Qh4 Kc7 [>=47...Qa6+- ]
48.Qe7+ Qd7 White ended up sacrificing an exchange back to try to win on time, but the game was being played on a delay clock and White was lucky to escape with a perpetual 1/2-1/2