[Event "Interzonal IT2E"]
[Site "ICCF"]
[Date "2016.06.17"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rebord, Mauricio"]
[Black "Rubery, Mark"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B96"]
[WhiteElo "2363"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[Source "Chess Mail Ltd"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 b5 8. e5
dxe5 9. fxe5 Qc7 10. exf6 Qe5+ 11. Be2 Qxg5 12. O-O Ra7 13. Qd3 Rd7 14. Ne4 Qe5
15. Nf3 Qxb2 16. Qe3 Bb7 17. Rab1 Qxa2 18. Kh1 Qd5 19. Bd3 Qh5 20. Rfd1 Bxe4
21. Bxe4 Bd6 22. g4 Qxg4 23. Rxd6 Rxd6 24. Rg1 Qh5 25. Qa7 O-O 26. Rxg7+ Kh8
27. Qg1 Nd7 28. Rxh7+ Qxh7 29. Bxh7 Nxf6 30. Bd3 Rd5 31. Ng5 a5 32. Qa1 1-0

Anyway I couldn't find a decent continuation for black after 15...Qc7 16 Qe3 Bb7 17 a4! b4 18 Kh1 Be4 19 fg Bg7 20 Qe4 Bb2 21 Rab1 Bc3 22 Ng5 h5 23 h3!!

Meaning the only continuation for black is 15...Qc7 16 Qe3 Qa7!? when they trade queens with a playable middlegame

Right before giving up the Sicilian forever, I was thinking of playing the Polugajewski in the Najdorf against 6. Ag5. Even with 15...Dc7, how difficult would this be to play on the board? It looks treacherously scary, although White herself might forget the theory.

I was the player who went down in flames as Black

It was my first attempt at this form of chess and I thought with with enough time and engines it would be interesting to venture the Polugayevsky...

Here is part of a letter I sent to my opponent along with my resignation:

'I spent more time on this game than all my other combined (and then some!). Over the board I play 7...Nc6?! against 6 Bg5 which I know is unsound due to a timely g6 from White but nobody has yet ventured down that line. The Poisoned pawn is probably the best bet at this form of chess but I was intrigued by the Polugayevsky variation and why nobody was playing the variation outside of an unknown Chinese GM? (Ma Qun)

Your move 18 Kh1 I think is a serious innovation and I wonder if there is any realistic hope for Black after that? 20 Rfd1! was also a surprise particularly as there is this wonderful tactical line that leaves Black in a doubtful position via 20 Qf4 Bxe4 21 Rxb5!! although I think your move is even better.  In the game the engines were suggesting 21...Qc5 but it leads quickly to an obviously lost ending after 22 fxg7. Hence my choice of 21...Bd6 (as opposed to resigning!) was with the faint hope of reaching a sort of fortress with R and pawns v Q and pawns.

Of course you gave me no chances and I again congratulate on your fine win and perhaps putting the 15...Qxb2 line of the Polugayevsky out of commission!'

Regards Mark

15...Qxb2 was considered rash by Polugayevsky himself and although his 15...Qc7 might not inspire confidence his instinct seems correct.

The quiet, untested so far move 18.Kh1! (instead of 18.c4 where Black is doing rather well) does look like a killer.
So, this leaves 14...Qg6 (which is quite unpleasant for Black, and well analysed by Negi and Goh), and 15...Qc7, which may well be Black's last hope, but to be honest Black's position does look very unpleasant to me.
Your thoughts?