1. e2e4  1... c7c5  2. g1f3  2... d7d6  3. f1b5  3... b8d7 This and 3...Bd7 are the most popular moves. My old favorite, 3... Nc6, is not enough for equality. 4. a2a4 White has many possible plans in this system. This is one of the popular choices right now. The pawn push is useful because the bishop will go back after a7-a6, and Black will not have the chance to play b7-b5. 4... g8f6  5. b1c3  5... a7a6  6. b5e2  6... g7g6  7. e1g1  7... f8g7  8. d2d4 This natural move brings back the typical Open Sicilian pawn structure. I like it, but for some reason, it's not the most popular. 8... c5d4  9. f3d4  9... b7b6  10. d4c6 [%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A new and interesting move, exploiting the weakness of the c6-square to improve the knight's position. 10... d8c7  11. c6b4  11... c8b7  12. b4d5 The knight completes its journey. Of course, it's not the end of the world for Black. 12... c7d8  13. c1e3  13... e8g8  14. d1d2  14... e7e6 It's necessary to remove the unpleasant knight. 15. d5f6  15... d7f6  16. e2f3  16... d8c7  17. f1d1  17... f8d8 The opening play was natural and good for both sides. White might have a tiny advantage, but nothing serious. In any case, the next move is not the most accurate, since Black manages to equalize completely. This is a good moment to look for an improvement. 18. e3d4  18... d6d5 [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The classical Sicilian break solves Black's problems. 19. e4d5  19... f6d5  20. f3d5  20... b7d5  21. d2e3  21... g7d4  22. d1d4  22... d5b7  23. a1d1 The position is balanced. While it's true that Black has a bishop against a knight in an open position with pawns on both sides, his dark squares near the king are somewhat weak, and White controls the only open file. 23... d8d4  24. e3d4  24... a8c8  25. h2h4  25... h7h5  26. d1d2  26... b6b5 [%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Exploiting a tactical idea to gain space on the queenside. 27. a4b5  27... a6b5  28. f2f3  28... e6e5 I have a feeling that Volokitin, a very aggressive player, was playing for a win at this point. If he wanted a draw, he could achieve it without any trouble. 29. d4e3  29... c8a8 [%c_effect a8;square;a8;type;Mistake;persistent;true] But this move is already too ambitious and based on a miscalculation. 30. c3b5 [%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 30... a8a1  31. g1h2 [%c_effect h2;square;h2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 31... c7c4 This is Volokitin's idea. He threatens the c4-knight and the h4-pawn. Obviously, this looks very dangerous for Black as well since White can now exploit the weaknesses on the dark squares.