1. e2e4  1... c7c5  2. g1f3  2... e7e6  3. d2d4  3... c5d4  4. f3d4  4... a7a6 The Paulsen Variation of the Sicilian is not a frequent guest in strong tournaments anymore. It's not that there's something particularly bad with it. It's just that other options are simply better. 5. f1d3  5... g8f6  6. e1g1  6... d8c7  7. c2c4  7... d7d6  8. b1c3  8... b8d7 Black's opening choice is playable but passive. There's no doubt White has the advantage in this so-called \"hedgehog\" setup. 9. a2a4 A rare move. 9... d7e5  10. b2b3  10... e5d3  11. d1d3  11... f8e7  12. f1d1 A positional plan. White can also play for an attack advancing the pawn to f4 and later to f5. For this plan, the rook is useful on its initial square. 12... e8g8  13. d4e2  13... b7b6  14. c1a3  14... f8d8  15. d3g3  15... c8b7  16. f2f3  16... a8c8  17. d1d2 The problem with Black's position is that there's no active plan available. The pawn breakthroughs on d5 and b5 are well protected. 17... f6h5 A nice move. Mammadzada's play is very creative. 18. g3f2  18... e7g5 [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Inviting White to play f4, when the b7-bishop will have more life. 19. d2d3  19... h5f4 [%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 20. e2f4  20... g5f4  21. c3e2  21... f4g5 [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] The wrong square. After 22. a1d1  22... g5e7  23. f2g3 Now, Mammadzada is forced to make a huge positional concession to protect the d6-pawn. 23... e6e5 Fatally weakening the d5-square. 24. e2c3 White has a strategically winning position. 24... e7f8  25. g3f2  25... b7c6  26. c3d5  26... c6d5  27. d3d5  27... d8d7  28. f2d2  28... c8d8  29. a3b2  29... f7f6  30. h2h4  30... d8e8  31. b2a3  31... e8e6  32. d2f2  32... c7c6  33. g1h2  33... d7f7  34. f2d2  34... f7d7  35. d2d3  35... h7h5  36. a4a5 [%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] There's no reason to rush. White can improve the position further. A possible plan is to place the queen behind the rooks. 36... d7b7  37. a3d6 [%c_effect d6;square;d6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] And this is just bad. It wins a pawn but offers the opponent excellent drawing chances in the rook endgame. 37... f8d6  38. d5d6  38... e6d6  39. d3d6  39... c6d6  40. d1d6  40... b6a5  41. d6a6  41... b7b3 