[Event "London"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Steinitz"] [Black "MacDonnell"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B23"] [Opening "Sicilian: Closed, 2...Nc6"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. g3 {White's idea is to fianchetto his light squared bishop on g2 Thus preventing Black from striking back in the center with pawn d5.} 6... Bc5 {6...Nf6 would be less commital.} 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. e5 {A good move. The idea is to restrain Black's normal development by controlling the key squares f6 and d6.} 8... Qb6 9. Qd2 Ne7 10. Ne4 {The White knight gains a grip on the dark squares.} 10... O-O 11. Bd3 Ng6 12. f4 d6 13. exd6 f5 14. Nxc5 Qxc5 { Black stands worse due to his broken pawn structure and bad bishop.} 15. Qc3 { The White queen wastes no time in attacking Black's weakened dark squares.} 15... Qxd6 { 15...Qxc3+ 16.bxc3 Rd8 17.Ba3 would allow White to keep his extra pawn.} 16. b3 a5 17. a3 Qd5 {17...a4 18.b4} 18. Rf1 Ra7 19. Bb2 {White's two bishops and control of the dark squares give him a winning advantage.} 19... c5 20. O-O-O Qc6 {20...Ba6 would allow White to win material.} 21. h4 Rff7 {Played to protec t the seventh rank. However, by moving this rook Black has weakened his back rank.} 22. h5 Ne7 23. Bc4 { White's bishops have the Black pieces tied down defending each other.} 23... Nd5 24. Qe5 {This centralization of White's queen brings just enough extra pressure to break Black's position.} 24... Qc7 { 24...Rfc7 would allow White a winning rook sacrifice.} 25. Rxd5 { A brilliant sacrifice which exposes Black's weakened back rank.} 25... exd5 { 25...Qxe5 26.Rd8+ Rf8 27.Rxf8+ Kxf8 28.Bxe5 would simply leave White a pieceup. } 26. Qe8+ Rf8 27. Bxd5+ Qf7 28. Bxf7+ Raxf7 29. Qe5 Rf6 30. h6 { Black resigned since he has no compensation for his lost material.} 1-0