1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bb5 We have a reversed Sicilian - where the extra tempo for White proves rather useful. The pin on the c6 knight forces the following exchange of knights, and gives White a strong centre 6... Nxc3 6... Bg4? 7. Qa4 wins at least a pawn 6... Ndb4? 7. Nxe5 covers the d3 square 7. bxc3 Bd6 8. d4 Black's traditional freeing move in the Sicilian - here it can be played early by White, and gives White a mobile pawn centre 8... exd4 9. cxd4 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 There's li ttle point in doubling Black's pawns on c6 - it's better to keep the bishop to help support an pawn advance later 11. Bb2 Ne7 'Recycling' the knight 12. e4 c6 13. Bc4 Bf4! 14. d5? Too early - I was attracted to the idea of a passed pawn and open diagonals for the bishops - but there's a tactical problem 14... Bxf3? Missing his chance to play 14... cxd5 15. exd5 Qc7! when Black wins a pawn 15. Qxf3 Ng6 16. dxc6 Rc8? Perhaps disheartened, Black seeks to muddy the waters - but the simple ..bxc6 was better 16... bxc6 17. Ba3 Re8 18. g3 Ne5 19. Bxf7+ Nxf7 20. gxf4+/- 17. Ba3 Rxc6 Trying to hold on with 17... Bd6 fails to 18. cxb7! Rxc4 19. Rfd1! Bxh2+ 20. Kxh2 Qc7+ 21. Qg3 Qxb7 22. Bxf8 Nxf8 and White is an exchange up anyway 17... Re8? 18. g3 18. Bxf8 Rxc4! the most active response - the moves lost on grabbing the f8 rook give Black time to activate his pieces and he takes the initiative 19. Ba3 Qc7 20. g3 Rc3 21. Qg4 h5!? 22. Qxh5 Rxa3 23. gxf4 Nxf4 24. Qg4 Rh3 with the horrific threat of Ne2+ 25. Rfe1? 25. Kh1+- would have left Black's pieces looking silly 25... Ne2+? It's hard to resist the allure of this move - but White always has enough to defend from now, having given the king a square on f1 better was the hard-to-see 25... Rh6! 26. Qf3 (26. Rec1 Ne2+! 27. Qxe2 Qxh2+ 28. Kf1 Qh1#) (26. Kh1 Nd3 27. Qg3 Qxg3 28. fxg3 Nxe1 29. Rxe1=) 26... Ne2+ 27. Kf1 (27. Rxe2 Qxh2+ 28. Kf1 Qh1+ 29. Qxh1 Rxh1+ 30. Kg2 Rxa1 is better for Black) 27... Nd4 28. Qd3 is rather unclear 26. Rxe2 Qxh2+ 27. Kf1 Qh1+ 27... Rh4 28. Qc8+ Kh7 29. Qf5+ Kg8 30. Rd2 Qh1+ 31. Ke2 Rxe4+ 32. Kd3 28. Qg1 Qf3 29. Re3 I had to smile - without this move I'd be lost 29... Qf6 30. Rae1 Rh6 31. Qg3 Qa6+ 32. R1e2 Rd6 33. Qg4 Rd1+ 34. Kg2 now it's all over 34... Qc6 35. Re1 Rd6 36. Rg3 Rg6 37. Qf4 Rf6? 38. Qb8+ 1-0