Werner Kugelmann (2046) - Spanton (1880)
Sicilian Grand Prix Attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.Bc4
3.f4 is the normal GPA move-order, but we soon transpose to a mainline of White's system.
3...Nc6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 e6 6.0-0 Nge7 7.f5!?
The pawn-thrust f5 is a main idea in the Grand Prix Attack, although in this move-order it is more popular at move six.
7...d5
Not the only move, but probably the safest.
8.exd5?!
The second-most popular move in ChessBase's 2019 Mega database, but it may be a mistake.
Slightly-more popular is 8.Bb5, as played by Juan Bellon Lopez and Lev Gutman, although my main analysis engines Stockfish10 and Komodo9 give a reply that is not in the database in this particular position, namely 8...gxf5!?, claiming a clear advantage for Black after 9.d3 or 9.exd5.
Going back to the position after 7...d5, Stockfish10 suggests 8.fxg6!?, and if 8...dxc4 then 9.gxf7+ with a messy position, although both engines prefer Black.
8...exd5 9.Bb3
This appears to be a novelty, or at least is not in Mega19. Stockfish10 prefers the most-popular continuation, 9.Bb5. This time it is Komodo9 that suggests the speculative 9.fxg6!? In both cases Black seems to be better.
9...Bxf5 10.d3 0-0 11.Bg5 Qd7 12.Qe1 h6 13.Bh4
I was a bit concerned about 13.Qh4!? hxg5 14.Nxg5 but decided Black is doing well after 14...Rfe8. The engines reckon a simpler solution is 13...Be6, which is possible as 14.Bxh6?? loses to 14...Nf5.
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| WK's decision to retreat with 13.Bh4 is effectively an admission that he has no compensation for his pawn-minus |
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| I faced a key decision at move 25 |
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25...Ne3?
I rejected 25...Ne7 because of 26.Rxe5 Qxe5 27.Bg3, missing that after 27...Qe6 28.Nc7 Black has 28.Qc6+ with a large advantage.
26.Nxe3?
26.Bxe3, preserving White's unchallengeable knight on d5, is a much better decision from a positional viewpoint, and, as it happens, the text is tactically bad too.
26...dxe3?
Tamely giving the pawn back. The engines point out 26...Bf4.
27.Bxe3 Qc6+ 28.Kg1 Bd4?
Now Black gets a weak d pawn. Correct was 28...Kh7! as 29.Bxh6?? fails to 29...Bd4+ 30.Be3 Rxe3! 31.Rxe3 Re8, which wins for Black, eg 32.Re1 Rxe3 33.Rxe3 Qf3.
29.Bxd4+ cxd4 30.Rxe8 Qxe8?
Another mistake. Correct was 30...Rxe8 as 31.Qf4 e6 32.Qxd4 leads to a perpetual by 32...Re2 33.Rf2 Rf1+ etc.
31.Qf4 Qe3+?
A hallucination. Somehow I thought my rook was supporting the queen from e8.
32.Qxe3 dxe3 33.Rf3 Re8 34.Kf1 e2+ 35.Ke1 Re5 36.Rf2 Rg5 37.Rf4 h5 38.h3 Re5 39.d4
39.Re4 may also be winning, but is more committal by White.
39...Re3 40.gxh5 gxh5 41.h4 Kg6
I could see no way to save this ending, so I thought I should at least play actively, and hope for the best.
42.d5
Even stronger seems to be 42.c5.
42...f5?!
The f pawn is weak here, so almost certainly better was 42...f6.
43.d6 Re8
Not 43...Kf6? 44.Rxf5+!
44.b4 Kf6 45.Rd4?!
45.c5 is more clear-cut.
45...Ke5?
45...Ke6 makes White's task more difficult, eg 46.Kxe2 Kd7+ 47.Kf3 a5 48.bxa5 bxa5, when Black has counterplay.
46.Rd2?
46.Rd3 was correct, as will become clear.
46...Kf6??
Black has drawing chances after 46...Ke6. I rejected it because of 47.Rxe2+?? Kd7 48.Rxe8 Kxe8 as somehow I thought 49.b5? won for White, but the position is an easy win for Black. Even after the better 49.Ke2, Black wins, eg 49...Kd7 50.c5 bxc5 51.bxc5 a5 as White's protected passed pawn is no match for Black's two distant passed pawns.
After 46...Ke6 play should proceed 47.c5 bxc5 48.bxc5 Kd7 with what seem to be good drawing chances for Black. However, if White's rook were on d3 (as a result of playing the more-active 46.Rd3 instead of 46.Rd2?), he would be winning with 49.Ra3.
The game finished:
47.c5 bxc5 48.bxc5 Ke6 49.c6 Ra8 50.d7 1-0
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