[Event "US Championship, Berkeley"] [Site "masterchessopen.com"] [Round "0"] [White "Shirazi, K."] [Black "Peters, J."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B20"] [Opening "Sicilian: Wing Gambit, Marshall Variation"] 1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb4 3.a3 { This is the standard way to play the Wing Gambit. White offers to exchange pawns on a3, after which the queen's rook will be active on the a-file, while recapturing on a3 with the bishop accelerates his development. } ( { Also possible is } 3.Bb2 d5 { (the thrust in the centre is the recommended response to this gambit opening; the idea is to activate the queen and open lines for his pieces) } 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Nf3 { (White carries on developing, which I think is the best approach) } 5...Nf6 6.c4 bxc3 7.Nxc3 Qa5 8.Bc4 { (a logical choice to pinpoint f7 as a target and maintain the temporary initiative provided by the lead in development) } 8...e6 9.O-O Ba3 { (Black is eager to thwart White's attacking ambitions by exchanging the dark-squared bishops) } 10.Qb3 Bxb2 11.Qxb2 O-O { and Black consolidated the extra pawn, Z. Harari-A.Dunnington, Highgate 1997. } ) 3...d5 { Peters challenges the centre and ignores the a3-pawn. } ( { I think Black should avoid } 3...bxa3 { , but one still needs to know the options. For example, } 4.Nxa3 e6 5.Nf3 { (this works out well with the emphasis on rapid development, though other moves are possible) } 5...d5 6.exd5 exd5 7.Bb5+ Nc6 8.O-O { (as usual in this line it is important for White to get on with the job of developing in order to maximize attacking options) } 8...Bd6 9.Bb2 { (the bishop takes its place on the long diagonal, which is virtually an automatic idea having made space for it with 2 b4) } 9...f6 10.c4 { was J.Perez Reclusa-A.Skripchenko, Pamplona 2000. White is playing very energetically and is seeking to undermine the centre and open more lines for his pieces. } ) 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.axb4 { The obvious move is to grab the pawn back; and when you are playing in the US Championship, with the knowledge that every move will be scrutinized around the world, you don't want to go wrong. The motivation was probably based upon the line 5...Qe4+ 6 Ne2 Qxb4, which is a little bit greedy in view of 7 Na3 planning to chase the black queen around the board. } ( { The benefit of hindsight suggests that } 5.Bb2 { was necessary, when I think } 5...e5 { is fine for Black. } ) {#R} 0-1