Saturday 15 June 2019

73rd Hampstead U2200 Round Three

Spanton (1884/171) - Wolfgang Jekel (1684/148)
Tiviakov Scandinavian
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 6.g3
The mainline runs 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nc4 Qc7 8.Qf3 Nb6 9.Bf4 Qd8 10.Be5 Be6 11.Ne3 with a position that is supposed to be a little better for White, but with plenty of play left. What surprises me about this line, and lines like it, is why Black is apparently happy spending several tempi to get his queen back to d8 when he could have put it there without it being harassed on move three.
6...Bg4 7.Bg2 e6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Bf4 Qd8
Again, I do not understand how this line, with the queen ending up back on d8, can be considered good for Black.
10.Re1 0-0 11.h3 Bxf3
This was Tiviakov's choice in a similar position, but without the moves Re1 and ...0-0.
12.Bxf3 Bd6 13.Be5 Qc7?!
A better way to get rid of White's bishop-pair was 13...Bxe5, when 14.dxe5 leaves White with a small edge.
14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Ne4 Be7 16.Bg2
Clearing a way for White's queen to get to the kingside.
16...f5
The choice of Stockfish10 and Komodo9, but the position of Black's king looks increasingly draughty.
17.Nc3
This gives the option of the knight going to f4 via e2.
17...Nd7
White to make his 18th move
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
18.d5!?
Komodo9's choice; Stockfish10 prefers 18.Ne2.
18...e5?
Neither capture is satisfactory for Black: 18...exd5?? loses a piece to 19.Rxe7, while 18...cxd5 19.Nxd5 Qd8 (or 19...Qc5 or 19...Qd6) 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 is problematic for Black after 21.Qf3 (Stockfish10) or 21.c3 (Komodo9).
It seems Black's best try was 18...Nc5, although White has a pleasant choice between 19.dxc6, 19.dxe6 and Stockfish10's ambitious 19.b4!?
19.dxc6 bxc6 20.Qf3 (1-0, 30 moves)
My tournament rating loss is now 6.6 Fide elo.

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