The full game can be seen at https://beauchess.blogspot.com/2021/06/crete-round-four.html, but here I will look in some depth at the opening.
Sielicki - Spanton
QGD Bf4
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7
This is Black's most-popular reply, with more than 46,000 examples in ChessBase's 2021 Mega database. Other popular moves include 4...c6 (27,000+), 4...Bb4 (16,000+) and 4...Nbd7 (14,000+).
5.Bf4
This scores a very good 63% in Mega21, whereas the more-popular 5.Bg5 scores 58%. The analysis engines Stockfish13 and Komodo12.1.1 prefer the text, although it is often unwise to place much reliance on engine choices early in an opening unless there is a major tactical point.
5...0-0 6.e3
6.Nb5?! has been played in a handful of games in Mega21. The engines give the interesting, and apparently unplayed, 6...dxc4!?, the point being that 7.Nxc7? runs into 7...Bb4+, when 8.Nd2 e5! 9.Bxe5 Ne4 10.Bf4 Qxd4 wins for Black. In this line, 9.dxe5 is simply met by 9...Qxc7, when the e5 pawn is pinned. Also bad for White is 7.Bxc7? Bb4+ 8.Nd2 Qd7.
Also strong after 6.Nb5?! is 6...c6!?, which has similar ideas to 6...dxc4 and also does not appear in Mega21.
6...Nbd7
This is second in popularity to the more-aggressive 6...c5. The engines' top choice, but by a small margin over other moves, is 6...b6, which has been played by Magnus Carlsen.
7.a3
The main line in Mega21 runs 7.c5!? c6 8.Bd3 b6 9.b4 a5 10.a3 Ba6 11.0-0 Qc8, when the engines give White an edge.
7...a6!?
Easily most popular is 7...c5, when the commonest continuation is 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Nxc5 with an IQP position that looks very reasonable for Black.
Anatoly Karpov has played 7...Nh5, which I rejected because after 8.Bg3 (Karpov's opponent preferred 8.Be5) I felt it would be dangerous for Black to follow up with 8...Nxg3 as 9.hxg3 half-opens the h file.
The text has been played by grandmasters, but may be too slow.
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| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
8.Qc2?!
White is set up to play 8.c5, and probably should.
8...c5
Thematic in this type of position is 8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5, although Black would ideally wait for White to spend a tempo on Bd3 or Be2 before capturing on c4.
9.dxc5 Bxc5?!
Probably better is 9...Nxc5, when 10.Rd1 Qe8!? 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 exd5 is only slightly better for White, according to the engines, the point being that 13.Rxd5 is met by 13...Be6!?, eg 14.Rxc5 Bxc5 15.Ng5 g6 16.Qxc5 Rc8 with an initiative for Black.
10.0-0-0!?
Stronger, according to the engines, is 10.cxd5 with probably short-castling to follow. However the position after the text is far from clear.
10...Nb6!?
This may be too defensive. The engines prefer 10...b5 or 10...dxc4.
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| Here the engines come up with a very aggressive continuation for White |
*****
*****
*****
*****
11.cxd5
The engines like 11.g4!?, when 11...Nxg4 12.Rg1 Nf6 13.Bh6 seems strong for White. Instead the engines reckon Black should probably play 11...Bd7, when they agree 12.g5 Nh5 13.Be5 is better for White.
11...exd5 12.Kb1
If 12.e4!? the engines like Black after 12...Bd7, the point being that 13.exd5?! Rc8 seems very good for Black.
12...Qe7
Getting out of a pin, but the engines prefer 12...Be6 or 12...Bd7.
13.Ng5?!
It was probably better to get on with development and connect the rooks with 13.Bd3.
The text threatens 14.Nxd5! Nbxd5 15.Rxd5, but that is easily parried.
13...h6 14.Nxd5?
TS suggested 14.h4!?, which is much better than the text, although the engines prefer Black after 14...Rd8.
14...Nbxd5 15.Rxd5 hxg5 16.Bxg5 Bd6!?
The bishop is not as safe here as it would be on b6 or a7.
17.Bd3
White has two pawns and an initiative, but that is not enough for a knight.
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