One Shot

Peter Veniaminovich Svidler – Denis Khismatullin
68th Russian Chess Championship; Chita, August 12, 2015
Sicilian Defence B23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 a6 3. Nge2 d6 4. g3 g6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bg7 7. Bg2 Nf6 8. b3 0-0 9. Bb2 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nc6 11. Nde2 b5 12. 0-0-0? Castling long to San Quentin... We would have castled Kingside. 12. ... Ng4 13. Rdf1 Qa5 14. h3 Nf6 15. Kb1 b4 16. Nd1. 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Na7 also seems to give Black a powerful attack. 16. ... Qc7 17. Ne3 a5 18. f4 a4. Svidler has achieved less than nothing from the opening, so he decides to embark on a hazardous adventure: 19. e5!? dxe5 20. fxe5 Nxe5! Khismatullin is very happy to sacrifice the Exchange! 21. Bxa8 Rxa8 22. Rf4 axb3 23. axb3. Comparatively best is 23. cxb3, though after 23. ... Bh6 Black retains a decisive advantage. 23. ... Qa7 24. Nd4. No better is 24. Nc1 Ne4! 25. Rxe4 Nc4!! 26. Nxc4 Qa1+! and mate next move. 24. ... Nh5 25. Nd5 Bc6 26. Nxc6 Qa2+ 27. Kc1

27. ... Qa1+!! An elegant finish! 28. Bxa1 Rxa1+ 29. Kb2 Nc4 mate. Or – as a “dual” – 29. ... Nd3 mate.