White: Michael Opaska Black: Tom Magar Golden Triangle Open, April 2003 Sicilian Defense, Alapin variation (by transposition) 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 c3 Nf6 4 ... dxc3 would transpose to the Morra Gambit. 5 e5 Nd5 6 cxd4 b6 7 a3 Bb7 7 ... Ba6 could also be considered, but the text move is good. 8 Bd3 d6 9 O-O Nd7 10 exd6 Bxd6 11 Nc3 Nxc3 12 bxc3 Qc7 13 Bb2 O-O 14 h3 This looks odd, but there is a reason. Before Black castled, he didn't have time for 13 ... Bxf3 14 Qxf3 Bxh2+ 15 Kh1, because after he protected his hanging rook, White would play 16 g3 trapping the bishop. But now 14 ... Bxf3 and 15 ... Bxh2+ was threatened, so White saves the pawn. The need to do this shows that he has frittered away the opening advantage. 14 ... Nf6? 14 ... e5 would have been at least equal, but now White gets great pressure. What a difference one move makes. 15 c4 Be7 16 Rc1 Rfd8 17 Ne5 Rac8 18 Bb1 Bd6 19 f4 g6 20 Qe2 Qe7 21 Qe3 Ne8 22 Rfe1 I prefer 22 g4. 22 ... Qh4 23 Ba2 Ng7 24 c5 White wants to play Nxf7. Black's cavalry arrives just in time. 24 ... Nf5 25 Qe2 Bxe5 26 Qxe5 Bd5 27 Bxd5 Rxd5 28 Qe4 Black has a nice blockade. After 28 ... b5 the players could just about shake hands. 28 ... Rcd8 29 c6 Rc8 30 c7 Now Black is under some pressure, because only his queen and knight can move. 30 ... Qe7?? 31 g4 If the knight moves, 32 Qxd5 wins. 31 ... Qh4 32 gxf5 Qg3+ 33 Qg2 Qxf4 34 Rf1 Qe3+ 35 Kh1 Rb5 36 Rce1 Qh6 37 fxe6 fxe6 38 Qg4 Rf5 39 d5 Qf8 40 Rxf5 exf5 41 Qd4 Qh6 42 Qh8+ Kf7 43 Qf6+ Kg8 44 Qe6+, Black resigns.