Brill-Sagona

1. e4, c5; 2. Nf3, d6; 3. d4, cxd4; 4. Nxd4, Nf6; 5. Nc3, a6; 6. Be2, e5; 7. Nb3, b5?

Premature — black needs to develop his pieces before attacking.

8. a4! bxa4; 9. Rxa4, Bb7; 10. Na5, Qc7; 11. Nxb7, Qxb7; 12. 0-0?

Better is 12. Be3, Nbd7 (12...Qb2? 13. Nb5!); 13. Qa1 with a clear advantage for White.

12...Nbd7; 13. Be3, Be7; 14. Qa1

With pressure on the weak a-pawn, greater control of the center, and the bishop pair, white still has the edge. Black must seek counterplay in the center.

14...a5; 15. Rb1, 0-0; 16. Bf3, Nb6; 17. Bxb6, Qxb6; 18. b4, Rfc8; 19. Rxa5, Rab8; 20. b5, Qd4; 21. Rb3, Bd8; 22. Ra6?

The wrong square! White won a pawn and could easily win the game with Ra4!, driving the queen away. Now Black gets counterplay.

22...Bb6; 23. Qe1, Nd7?

Black messes up in turn and returns the favor. 23...Rc7! followed by doubling the rooks on the c-file, creates difficulties for White.

24. Ra4!

I was strongest in the openings, which I studied intently. Here, my opponent, as Black makes a positional error early on in the Sicilian Defense, which I exploit it to advantage. I win a pawn and press on. Things get complicated, neither player plays with perfect accuracy, but White prevails.