Tempo Is The Key

I've been busy with my correspondence games and work but here's an annotated game I finished a while ago:

T. Lassila - N.N (B20 - Sicilian, Wing Gambit)

1. e4 c5 2. b4

I seldom play 1. e4 so haven't really got any worked lines against Sicilians. The Wing Gambit is not very strong but is useful against weaker Sicilian players who get lost when down some tempo.

2...cxb4 3. a3 bxa3 4. Nxa3 a6 5. Bb2 Nc6 6. Nf3 d6 7. d4 Bg4 8. Be2 Bxf3?!

Trading off the bishop pair gives nothing for Black and in fact my position is bolstered by this trade.

9. Bxf3 Qa5+ 10. c3 e5 11. Nc4

Conquering space from the center and allowing for the pawn push.

11...Qc7 12. d5

Maybe even better is 12. dxe5, trying to break through while Black is down on development.

12...b5 13. dxc6 bxc4 14. Qd5 Nf6

My plan is clear - to queen the passed c-pawn. My queen unfortunately must stand in the defence of her subject so I need to mobilize my other pieces quickly before Black gets his defence together.

15. Qxc4 a5 16. O-O Be7 17. Rfb1

With the idea 18. Bc1, 19. Be3 and 20. Bb6.

17...O-O 18. Bc1 Rfb8 19. Be3 Ne8!

Now I realize that 20. Bb6 doesn't work with the rook on b8. Black meanwhile plays a good move that mobilizes his bishop and safeguards c7.

20. g3 Rxb1+ 21. Rxb1 Rb8 22. Rxb8 Qxb8 23. Qa6 Bd8 24. Bg4!?

I was running out of ideas here and instinctively played the risky looking Bg4, which turned out to be a key move in the end.

25...Qb1+ 25. Kg2 Qxe4+?

Surprisingly, this move loses. For example: 26. Bf3 Qf5 27. Qa8 e4 28. Be2 Qf6 29. Bb6 e3 30. fxe3 Qxc3 31. Bxd8 Qxe3 and White wins.

26. Kh3 f5

Seems to block things but doesn't. For example 27. Bh5 g6 28. Qc8! gxh5 29. c7 Qg4+ 30. Kg2 Bxc7 31. Qxe8+ Kg7 32. Qe7+ Kg8 33. Qe6+ Kh8 34. Qc8+ Kg7 35. Qxc7+ wins. The best try is 27...g5 28. Bxg5! Bxg5 29. Qc8! wins.

27. Bh5 Nf6??

This loses by force.

28. c7! Nxh5

Since 28...Bxc7 29. Qc8+ and mate in two follows.

29. cxd8=Q+ Kf7 30. Qa7+ Kg6 31. Qg5# 1-0