1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Qb6 5. Nc3!?

The critical test of Black's ambitious last.

5... cxd4?!

I'm not a huge fan of Black's fourth and this is definitely an error. For once, Sulskis wasn't well prepared. 5... Nc6! is a better try and continues to be upheld by Jiri Stocek: 6. Nb5 Nd5 7. dxc5 (7. Nd6+? Bxd6 8. Bxd6 Nxd4 was rather embarrassing for White in Kogan-Stocek, Lazne Bohdanec 1996, ) (while Eric considered 7. Bd6!? Nxd4 8. Bxf8 Nxf3+ 9. Qxf3 Kxf8! to be the critical line) 7... Bxc5 8. Bd6 a6 9. c4?! (9. Bxc5 Qxc5 10. c4 axb5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bd3 Qb4+ 13. Qd2 would have been about equal) 9... axb5 10. Bxc5 Qxc5 (10... Qa5+! shouldn't give White enough for his pawn, such as after 11. Nd2 bxc4 12. Bd6 b5) 11. cxd5 Nb4 (11... exd5!? 12. Qd2 O-O 13. Rc1 Qe7 14. Bxb5 Rxa2 15. O-O Qb4 was Eric's analysis, ending with an edge for Black of course, the second player cannot be worse here, but perhaps 16. Qxb4 Nxb4 17. b3 Ra5 18. Be2 d6 19. Nd4 Rc5 20. Nb5 enables White to claim equality) 12. Rc1 Qxd5 13. Qxd5 Nxd5 14. Bxb5 Ke7 15. a3 and the position was about equal in Teglas-Stocek, European Rapid Championship, Wroclaw 2014.

Before we move on with our main game, don't forget that 5... d5?! 6. Nb5 Na6 7. a4! is also quite pleasant for White, as we saw in Kosic-Rindlisbacher, Gabicce Mare 2014.

6. exd4

Dangling the b-pawn, although we might just condemn Black's move order on account of 6. Nb5!? Na6 7. exd4 Be7 8. c3 d6 9. a4! , with a definite edge for White.

6... Qxb2?

Oh dear. Sulskis is a wonderfully creative player and must have been on his own by this point. In another recent game Black preferred the prudent 6... a6 and after 7. Rb1?! (7. a3 d5 8. Bd3 would effectively gain a tempo and with it a plus) 7... d5 8. a3 Nc6 9. Bd3 Bd7 10. Ne2 Nh5!? 11. Be3 Qc7 wasn't doing too badly in San Diego-Habla, Quezon City 2014.

7. Nb5 Nd5 8. Rb1 Qxa2 9. Bd2

A powerful retreat. Black might be two pawns up, but how is he ever going to rescue his queen without dropping the rook on a8?

9... a6

As Eric has shown, 9... Na6?! 10. Ra1 Qb2 11. Bc4 Nab4 12. O-O! was already pretty much winning for White in Kosic-Berczes, Budapest 2007.

10. Ra1 Qb2 11. Bd3

Simple development and a clear improvement over the previously played 11. Bc4? axb5 12. Rxa8 bxc4 13. Rxb8 Nb6 ,

but the text isn't the only good move. Indeed, 11. c4!? Nb4 12. Bc3 Qc2 (the only real try, as 12... Nc2+ 13. Kd2 Bb4 14. Rb1 leaves Black devoid of a good discovered check) 13. Qxc2 Nxc2+ 14. Kd1 Nxa1 15. Nc7+ Kd8 16. Nxa8 b5 17. Ne5 also seems to work out rather well for the first player from what I can see.

11... Nc6

Another attempt to develop is 11... Bb4!? . White has a few options in response, including 12. Rb1 (12. O-O Bxd2 13. Qxd2 is possible, but 13... O-O 14. Nc7 Nxc7 15. Rfb1 Qxb1+ 16. Rxb1 does give Black a fair amount for the queen) 12... Qa2 13. Rxb4 axb5 14. Rxb5 Nc6 15. O-O O-O 16. Qe2 with the initiative and promising attacking chances in return for the pawn.

12. O-O Rb8?

This pretty much loses by force, but neither would I be at all happy as Black after the alternatives:

a) 12... Ncb4 13. Be4 f5 14. Bxd5 Nxd5 15. c4 will win the queen unless Black tries the desperate exchange sacrifice.

b) 12... Bb4 13. c4 axb5 14. Rxa8 Nb6 15. Bc1! Qc3 16. Ra2 continues to hound the black queen.

c) 12... Be7 13. Qe2 O-O 14. c3 axb5 (once again, pretty much the only try) 15. Rxa8 Nxc3 16. Bxh7+! Kxh7 17. Qd3+ f5 18. Bxc3 Qb3 19. Rb1 Qc4 20. Ne1 and White will have good chances to convert his extra exchange.

13. c4 axb5 14. cxd5 Nb4

Desperation, in view of 14... exd5 15. Re1+ (or just 15. Qe2+ Be7 16. Rfb1) 15... Be7 16. Re2 .

15. Bf4 Nxd5

15... d6 saves the rook, but after 16. Bxb5+ Ke7 17. Qa4 Black won't be long for this world.

16. Bxb8 b4 17. Qc1 Qc3 18. Qb1 Qc6 19. Be4

Not only is Black a rook down, but he continues to trail somewhat in the development stakes, and already Sulskis might well have resigned.

19... Nc3 20. Bxc6 Nxb1 21. Rfxb1 dxc6 22. Ra8 f6 23. Ba7 Kd7 24. Nd2 1-0 [Richard Palliser]