Spanton (1837) - Domenico Natoli (1628)
Sicilian Bb5(+)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Ngf6
The main line goes 5...a6 6.Bxd7+ Bxd7 7.c4 with a Maroczy Bind in which White has exchanged his bad light-square bishop. But Black has the bishop-pair, and my main analysis engines Stockfish10 and Komodo10 reckon the position is equal.
6.Bg5 e5?!
Again the main move is ...a6, but the text has been tried by strong players. The big problem with it, as far as I can see, is that Black will almost certainly never be in a position to follow-up with ...d5
7.Qd3 Be7 8.Nc3 0-0 9.Bxd7!
Giving up the bishop-pair without even being provoked by ...a6, but White's lead in development and the backward d pawn cause Black problems.
9...Qxd7 10.0-0-0 Rd8 11.Kb1 a6?
Ironically, having passed up several good opportunities to play ...a6, the move is played at a time when it is a mistake.
12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Nd5
The threat of Nb6 is difficult to meet.
13...Qc6?
Better is 13...Qb5, when White's advantage my be manageable.
 |
| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
14.Nxe5!
This cannot be successfully met.
14...Qc5
Obviously losing are 14...Bxe5?? 15.Ne7+, and 14...dxe5?? 15.Nxf6+ gxf6 16.Qxd8+.
15.Nxf6+ gxf6 16.Qg3+ Kf8 17.Nd3 Qc6 18.Qh4 Kg7 19.Nf4
The game continued another 22 moves, but the result was never in serious doubt. White's advantage is much larger than a pure material count would indicate.
But there was bad news from elsewhere in the tournament when, on bottom board, Ray Kearsley mated an unrated player in 17 moves, becoming the red-hot favourite to win our 40-euro shortest-win prize.
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