The Moscow Variation, a cousin to the Rossolimo (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3 .Bb5). I think the Moscow variation was viewed as a rather cowardly dodge of the complexities of the Dragon/Nadjorf in previous decades but, as with many opening sidelines, they end up rehabilitated or suddenly show up in the repertoires of world champions.

In fact, I often play 3.d4 but the reason wasn't good. As it was because, as noted before, the very first defense that Jack made me learn was the Sicilian, and of course, it was the Siclian Nadjord where then, you exchange pawns, and after Nc3, that's when black plays ...a6, to prevent white from playing this move or Nb5.

3. ...Nd7 is looked at as more "dynamic" in certain quarters though slightly riskier if white pursues an open game following 4. d4.

Since this forces white to exchange, I actually view it as better for black since his B if less active then white's B.

I've dabbled in a lot of Sicilian sidelines on the white side and actually I have a fondness for 4. a4!? here, a specialty of Bent Larsen (no surprise) and an Irish IM by the name of Gavin Wall. White wants black to exchange on b5 and give him an open a-file, fight for the b5 square in general, and just play sort of non-theoretical chess.

Interesting information! This is not territory into which I venture, unless led there by my White opponent.

Didn't know that, and with that being said, this is also what I would've played. Now the question is if 5.c5 is more popular then the move played.

I've just corrected my typo to 5.c4 (instead of 5.c5).

I think the premature 6. d4?! is actually dubious and not in the spirit of this particular opening. Moscow/Rossolimo players often aim for supporting a broad classical center like in a Ruy Lopez and this move pretty much vaporizes any hint of opening advantage white would be aiming for. 6. c3 is standard before d4, as Ion pointed out, or 6. Qe2 and 7. Rd1.

Interestingly enough, as noted earlier, I'm more used to the classical lines of the Open Sicilian.

The game resembles sort of harmless Open Sicilian variation with one pair of minor pieces gone.

My thought exactly.

Which might be harmful since I believe that white's position is a little more active then black's position. But, I don't know for sure, as my last sentence is my opinion but not a fact.

The knight is best developed on c3 anyway. Keeping the rook on f1 will support an f4 thrust in certain positions.

I also think that it's because with 8.Re1 a R is centralized which is good for center control. But, I don't know how much of that plays a role, in it of itself since nuntar told me that it sometimes not a good idea to bring a R to d1 or e1 just to centralize, in one of my previous annotations.

I think, Joe, that the centralising idea is pretty much on the money, possibly supporting a subsequent further advance of the e-pawn. This is not a 'normal' Sicilian; 'normal' moves probably won't do, here.

Excellent observation ("a kind of Dragon Defense") It appears that black wants control of the long diagonal (Bg2). With that in mind, 9. h3 would be my move.

... to prevent ...Ng4, perhaps?

I feel that this is the moment the game turns in blacks direction.

Rightly so. These exchanges seem to just serve to put black's army on more active squares. White's KN should have stayed in the game.

This is why I wouldn't have even considered 10.Nxc6 I used to exchange when possible because of Jack's advice, and I hate to say it, but he's not always correct. And, with that, it continued until my first training game with Kenneth_fiore_3, and he noted that this is why you don't just exchange. In fact, he won that game by refusing to exchange, as that way, I couldn't simplify my position or reduce the damage.

Quite right. There is an technique to exchanging - knowing when to exchange and when not. Like everything else, exchanging ought to be a means to an end.

11. Qf3, followed by completing development with 12. Bd2 and 13. Rae1. I think white got impatient and felt like he needed something "forcing" but a successfully conducted attack can only flow from ideal development, initiative, and control of key squares.

I would've played this move myself because this nice looking pawn chain. But, then, I would've missed the, overall, picture of what's going on, and with that, I, especially, have to agree with disquiet. Developing and leaving the R's there would've prevented what's coming for black, and I have yet to see what it is. But, I know that it's something similar to what I saw with bhidragon in our rated. So, I also reckon that white is lost here.

And, his pieces can just swarm in and attack. It's really question of just how soon.

Yes, but I don't think that it would be enough.

I agree - something, but probably not enough.

"Obvious, therefore dubious" as Tartakower said. In lower rated games moves like this seem to always crop up, instead of the more accurate 13. ...Nxe5 and 14. ...Bxe5, moves which improve piece play and activity (and pawns if applicable) AND cover enemy threats at the same time.

Now, he's busted, for sure.

That's probably what black was worried about. Not only that, but what you noted ION is something that TA also emphasized about the N visualization of how many squares they can go. And, that's why it's custom to bring it down, so I strongly agree that 15...Nxe5 was best here.

A king-side majority of two pawns, no less. The black monarch is much less vulnerable in a queenless middlegame and in fact can stay in the center, offering up protection of e7/f7. Castling is much less useful in such a position. White's last good chance to mix it up after black's inaccurate 14. ...Rac8? was 15. Bg5!, as Ion has already pointed out.

Good point, though 16. ...e6 can hardly be bad. After driving away the pesky white knight the maneuvers ...f5, (especially after 17. Ne3) ...Kf7, ...Rhe8, (or Rcd8) and ...Bf6 present themselves. Maybe a redevelopment to the new e4 strongpoint by ...Nd7-c5-e4 at some point, all depending on white play.

I agree, however, with 16...f6 because if you play the right move, the B is also out of play. However, this is what I also would've played, but I think that black might have been worried about giving white the edge. In my opinion, he had to have seen 16...f6 but probably didn't know what to do after 17.Rae1 since it would be easy to make a mistake there.