Spanton (1855) - Johannes Schmid (1142)
Sicilian Grand Prix Attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2
The main move in ChessBase's 2020 Mega database is 5.Bb5. My chief analysis engines, Stockfish11 and Komodo11.01, do not like the text, but it is often unwise to pay much regard to positional judgments by engines in the opening.
5...e6 6.0-0 Nf6 7.d3 Be7 8.Be3 0-0 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Bxf3
A 1901 played 10.Rxf3?! in a game in 2012, perhaps hoping for a quick kingside attack. He did sort of get that, but the game was decided early on when his unrated opponent blundered a piece. I thought it was better to activate the light-square bishop and concentrate, at least for now, on the centre.
10...h6?!
This weakens the kingside for no good reason (except perhaps as prophylaxis against a later - much later - back-rank mate). It was better to play in the centre with 10...d5 or 10...Nd4.
11.Qd2 Re8 12.Rad1 Qc7
This was Black's last chance for effective central play.
13.Ne2 Rad8 14.c3 Bf8 15.d4 cxd4 16.cxd4 d5!?
The engines quite like this move - it is Komodo11.01's first choice and Stockfish11's second choice, behind 16...e5!? - but White gets easy kingside play with a closed centre.
17.e5 Nd7
White is also clearly better after 17...Ne4 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Qc2.
18.Ng3 Qa5
 |
| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
19.Qf2!?
The engines reckon 19.Qxa5 Nxa5 20.f5 is also very good for White.
19...Qxa2?
Too greedy, although the engines reckon White has a very good game even after their choice, 19...Ne7.
20.f5 Ne7
The engines reckon Black's best bet is to sac a piece by 20...Ndxe5
21.fxe6 fxe6 22.Bh5 g6 23.Qf7+ Kh8 24.Bxg6 Nxg6 25.Qxg6 Qxb2?
Black had to play 25...Re7 but White is winning after, for example, the simple 26.Bxh6 Bxh6 27.Qxh6 Rh7 (27...Kg8? 28.Rf4) Qxe6.
26.Rf7 1-0
A lightweight game but it was good to get back in the saddle.
Playing on a table 1.5metres across is certainly different, but not as much of a stretch as might be thought. My opponent, for example, despite being either 11 or 12, did not have to stand up to play moves or press the clock.
I could not take any photos of play as the arbitrating team is very hot on electronic devices, but presumably photos will appear this evening at the festival website: https://www.bielchessfestival.ch/Homepage.html
Clearly 12.Rad1 not 12.Rfd1.
ReplyDeleteMight Black have considered 19...g6 when 20.f5 exf5 21.Nxf5 gxf5. Does White have a winning line now? Black might counter sac ...Ndxe5 to defend f7 if necessary.
Thanks - yes, I have edited to correct 12.Rfd1 to 12.Rad1.
ReplyDeleteYour 19...g6 line is very interesting, although White does not have to dive in with a piece sac. Having said that, Stockfish11 and Komodo11.01 reckon the sac is v good for White.