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1. e4
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Playing Black is my friend Baker who's been teaching me for over a year. I've beaten him lots of times in practice games, but this was the only time I ever beat him in a tournament, and FINALLY I found this game after scavenging through my papers. I play 1.Nf3 now, but a few months ago I was only copying Baker's openings, now I have my own style. |
 
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1... c5
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The Sicilian Defense is probably the strongest response to e4, since it stops White from creating a strong centre with d4. The move 1...e5 also does this, but it simply matches me in the centre, while c5 creates more imbalances. |
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2. Nf3
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Against Sicilian, Baker usually plays c3, or the Morra Gambit (d4 cxd4 c3), but I didn't want to play one of his openings since he would probably crush me due to having more knowledge. |
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2... e6
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This move has a lot of purposes. It defends the c5-pawn, it opens lines for the bishop to develop, it prepares a d5 pawn advance in the future, and it also controls the important d5 square. |
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3. d4
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This is Open Sicilian since I am opening up the centre. Most variations are good for Black if White does not reclaim the d4 square. |
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3... cxd4
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Another playable move is d5, but it is frowned upon by most players since it offers to open up the centre even more while White is ahead in development. |
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4. Nxd4
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c3 would've transposed into the Morra Gambit, and Qxd4 is just dubious since Black gets a free developing move Nc6. |
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4... Nc6
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The most common continuation for Black is Nf6, and I cannot attack his knight with e5 because of Qa5 |
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5. Nc3
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Nxc6 just strengthens Black's pawn structure by allowing him to bring a pawn closer to the centre. It's better for me just to develop a piece. |
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5... Qc7
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I thought Baker would play Bb4, but I guess he had a more strategic move in mind. Qc7 sets up queenside counterplay later. |
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6. Ndb5
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Forcing the queen to move again |
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6... Qb8
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The purpose of Nc6 was to get the queen to b8 where it will control the b-file after ideas like a6 b5 giving Black good queenside play. |
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7. Be3
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This is usually the best square for the bishop in all Open Sicilians. Although in some variations, the bishop goes to g5 depending on how Black plays. |
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7... a6
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Baker is initiating his plan to play b5 and gain space on the queenside, so I had to think hard about my next move. |
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8. Bb6
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In order to beat Baker, you have to think like him. Baker's specialty is sacrificing pawns and/or pieces to gain lots of attacking potential, so here I sacrifice a piece to get an attacking initiative. |
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8... axb5
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I was threatening Nc7 |
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9. Nxb5
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I'm threatening Nc7 once more. |
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9... Bb4+
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This move was good since it gives Black an extra move to play Ba5. I was a little disappointed since I was expecting Ra4, where Nc7 Ke7 c4!! intends c5 threatening Qd6 where I have a very strong attack on the weak dark squares for compensation for the piece. |
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10. c3
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I played this instantly since it was clearly the best move. |
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10... Ba5
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I'm still down a piece, so trading bishops would be winning for him since I'd no longer have the pressure on c7. |
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