White: Mike Opaska Black: Tyler Lelis XXX, mmmm yyyy Sicilian Defense, Morra Gambit 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 exd4 4 c3 dxc3 5 Nxc3 d6 6 Bc4 e6 The natural 6 ... Nf6 loses to 7 e5! This well-known trap is the main reason that the Morra Gambit is worth a try. If Black could play ... e5 in one shot as in the main lines of the Sicilian, White would have nothing at all. 7 O-O Nf6 8 Qe2 Be7 9 Rd1 e5 This is ugly, but it's the most realistic measure against the threat of 10 e5. 10 Bg5? Either 10 h3 or 10 Be3 is plausible. 10 ... Bg4 11 Be3 Black threatened 11 ... Nd4. Presumably White is now worse, since he is a whole tempo behind the main lines. However, that's no reason to despair, if you are below the Grandmaster level. 11 ... O-O 12 h3 Bxf3 13 Qxf3 a6 14 a4 This doesn't make sense. White is preventing ... b5, but with two bishops, he should be hoping for that move. 14 Rac1 was logical. 14 ... Rc8 15 Bd5 Qd7 16 Bb6 What was White thinking of? He needed that bishop. 16 ... Bd8 17 Bxd8 Rfxd8 18 Ba2 Nd4 19 Qd3 b5 20 Nd5 Nxd5 21 Bxd5 Rc2 Ouch. The end is near. 22 axb5 axb5 23 Qa3 Qe7 24 Qa7 White seems oblivious to the danger around his king. 24 ... Qf6 25 Rf1 h6 26 Qb6 Rdc8! 27 b3 27 Ra7 is met by 27 ... Rxf2! as in the game. Then 28 Rxf2 Rc1+ mates. 27 ... Kh7 28 Ra8? If White saw this on the previous move, why did he miss it now? But in any case his back was against the wall. 28 ... Rxf2! 29 Re1 Rcc2 White Resigns