The Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defense is a very exciting game. White attacks. Black counterattacks. One misstep and either side could go down to defeat. This game is a fine example of the possibilities for both sides and how the misstep can cost you the game. It started out like this: Cherepkov,Alexander V - Averbakh,Yuri L [B77]Moscow-Leningrad match in Moscow , 1960: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0–0 9.Bc4 a6 10.0–0–0 Na5 11.Bb3 Qc7 [a little more active was 11...b5]12.Bh6 Nc4 [The game could have gone in a completely different direction with 12...Bxh6 13.Qxh6 b5 14.h4 Nxb3+ 15.axb3 e5 16.Nde2 Be6 17.h5 b4 18.Qg5 Qe7 19.Rxd6 bxc3 20.hxg6 cxb2+ 21.Kxb2 fxg6 22.Qxe5 Rae8 23.Rxa6 Nd7 24.Qd6 Qg7+ 25.Nd4 Bf7, which gives you an idea how complicated it can get.]13.Qg5 b5 14.h4 b4 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Qxd5 Nb6 18.Qg5 h6 19.Qg3 e5 [Best is actually the dangerous looking 19...h5] 20.Nf5+ Bxf5 21.exf5 a5 [Have to get that last piece into play: 21...Rac8]22.Bxf7! Qxf7 23.Rxd6 Nc4?? [Here’s the misstep. Black could have fought harder with 23...Qxf5 24.Rxb6 Rac8. He may have seen the first move, but clearly not the second move by White. (See Diagram)

24.Rxg6+ Kh7 25.Qg5 and Black resigned as there is not defense to White capturing on h6 and taking the queen leads to a quick mate as well.

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