Max Hoffmann (2072) - Spanton (1731)
Spanish Berlin
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3
This scores just as well - 59% - in ChessBase's 2021 Mega database as the much more popular 4.0-0.
4...Bc5 5.0-0 Nd4 6.Bc4!?
Normal is 6.Nxd4 but the text has also been played by grandmasters and is, very narrowly, the choice of Stockfish14.
6...d6 7.h3 Be6
Not in Mega21, but then the position after 7.h3 is uncommon and is often reached with White to move, White having lost a tempo in this game with Bb5-c4.
8.Nbd2 Qd7 9.c3 Nxf3+ 10.Qxf3 0-0 11.a4 a5 12.Bb3!?
Both Stockfish14 and Komodo12.1.1 are happy with this move - indeed it is the latter's top choice for a while - but it lets Black gain a slight initiative in the centre. Perhaps Stockfish14's 12.Re1 is better, or at least simpler to play.
Both Stockfish14 and Komodo12.1.1 are happy with this move - indeed it is the latter's top choice for a while - but it lets Black gain a slight initiative in the centre. Perhaps Stockfish14's 12.Re1 is better, or at least simpler to play.
12...d5 13.Bc2?!
The bishop moves for the fourth time, and that is probably one time too many. The engines reckon White maintains equality with 13.exd5 Bxd5 14.Bxd5 Qxd5 15.Qxd5 Nxd5 16.Nc4, although it would be easy to worry about the d3 pawn.
13...dxe4
White gets a pleasant advantage after 13...d4?! 14.Qg3, according to the engines.
14.Nxe4
On 14.dxe4 I planned 14...Qc6 with lasting pressure.
14...Nxe4 15.Qxe4
Similarly 15.dxe4 Qc6 seems better for Black.
 |
| How should Black proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
15...f5!?
Offering the white queen the choice of two pawns - e5 and b7.
The engines prefer 15...Qd5.
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| How should White reply? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
16.Qxb7?!
The engines give best-play as 16.Qxe5 Bd6 17.Qe2 Rae8 18.Qf3 c6, when Stockfish14 reckons White has the upper hand but Komodo12.1.1 judges Black as having good compensation for a pawn.
16...Bb6!?
Even stronger seems to be 16...Rab8. If then, as in the game, 17.Qf3 Bd5 18.Qh5 Qc6 19.Kh2 Bxg2 20.Rg1 Bf3 21.Qh6, White seems to be busted as, unlike in the game, White does not have the resource ...Bb3+ at a timely moment. Instead the engines reckon White should play 17.Qa6, but 17...Rf6 puts the white position under intense pressure.
17.Qf3 Bd5 18.Qh5?!
Probably better is 18.Qd1!?, giving the option of Bb3, but Black gets plenty of play after 18...Kh8 or 18...f4.
18...Qc6 19.Kh2 Bxg2 20.Rg1 Bf3?!
Probably better is 20...Bd5, keeping the white light-square bishop out of play.
21.Qh5 g6
Even stronger seems to be 21...Qd7!?
22.d4 Rae8?
Both 22...Bd5 and 22...Rf7 (23.Bb3 Bd5) are better.
23.Be3?
The engines reckon 23.Bb3+ Kh8 24.Re1 gives White an advantage.
23...exd4
Not 23...f4? 24.Bxg6!
24.Bb3+ Kh8 25.cxd4
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| Black to play and lose |
*****
*****
*****
*****
25...Bxd4?? 1-0
Black has a big advantage after 25...f4 26.Bd2 Bxd4, when the engines reckon best-play runs 27.Rae1 Be4 28.f3 Bg7 29.Bc3!? Qxc3! 30.bxc3 Bxh6 31.Rxe4 Rxe4 32.fxe4 Rb8 - Black is a pawn up and all White's pawns are isolated, but opposite-coloured bishops must give White some drawing chances.
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