Alicante Round Five

PLAYED this evening.

José Joaquin Amorós Morán (1912) - Spanton (1829)

II Open Internacional de Ajedrez Dama Negra
Spanish Berlin

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.h3!?

This has been played by grandmasters, but is only eighth in popularity in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database.

5...Nd4 6.Nxd4 Bxd4 7.c3 Bb6 8.0-0

The point of White's fifth move, at least when essayed by players rated 2600+, is to follow up with 8.Bg5!?, but Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1 reckon the resulting position is dead-equal.

8...c6 9.Ba4 d6 10.Nd2 Be6 11.Qe2 0-0 12.Kh1 d5 13.Nf3 dxe4!?

It may have been better - ever so slightly, according to the engines - to maintain tension in the centre with, for example, 13...Bc7.

14.dxe4 Qc7 15.Ng5 Bd7 16.Bb3 h6 17.Nf3 a5 18.Nh4 a4 19.Bc4 Kh7!?

Played against the threat of Ng6, but it may be a little slow. The engines like 19...Ba7, intending ...b5, and if 20.Ng6 Rfe8 21.f4, then 21...Be6!? 22.Nxe5 Bxc4 23.Qxc4 b5!?, when Black's activity at least compensates for being a pawn down, they reckon, eg 24.Qxc6 (possibly retreating the queen is better) Qxc6 25.Nxc6 Nxe4 26.Kh2 Bf2.

20.f4 Bc5!?

The engines prefer centralising the queen's rook with 20...Rae8.

How should White proceed?

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21.f5!?

This looks menacing, but opening lines with 21.fxe5, or maintaining the tension with 21.Bd3, is better, according to the engines.

21...b5 22.Bd3 Rh8!?

Preparing to play ...Kg8 and be ready to play down the h file in the event of White pushing the g2 pawn.

23.a3 Rad8 24.Bc2 Be7 25.b3!?

The engines prefer repositioning the king's knight with 25.Nf3, or developing the queen's bishop with 25.Be3.

25...axb3 26.Bxb3 Be8 27.Bc2 c5 28.Nf3 Nh5 29.Qe1 Bc6 30.Kh2 Bd6 31.g3 Qb7 32.Rb1 Nf6 33.Nd2 Qa8 34.Qe2 Bc7 35.Re1 Rd7 36.c4 bxc4 37.Nxc4 Rhd8 38.a4

After much mutual manoeuvring, Black has emerged with the much-better coordinated pieces, but how should Black continue?

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38...Rb8

I felt sacrificing the exchange, starting with 38...Rd4!, must be the way to go, but I could not make it work after 39.Bb2. However the engines reckon the continuation 39...Nxe4 40.Bxd4 Rxd4 gives Black a large advantage, the threats including winning the white knight with ...Bd3, capturing the a and f pawns, and all the time menacing the white king's position.

39.Rxb8 Qxb8

Not 39....Bxb8?? 40.Nb6.

40.Ba3 Qa7 41.Bb2 Qb8 42.Bc3 Re7 43.Kg1 Qa8 44.g4 Qe8 45.Ra1 Qa8 46.Re1 Qe8 47.h4!

White's attack seems well worth a pawn.

47...Bxa4 48.g5 Bxc2??

Playing too quickly in my opponent's mild time-trouble. Instead 48...Ng8 leaves Black only slightly worse off, according to the engines.

There now follows the most ridiculous time-scramble I can remember.

49.gxf6 Rd7 50.Qxc2 gxf6 51.Ne3 Bb6 52.Nd5 Rd6 53.Kh1 Qd8 54.Qg2 Qf8 55.Rb1 Ba7 56.h5 c4 57.Qb2 Qg7 58.Qg2 Qf8 59.Bb4 Qb8 60.Qb2

White is still winning after this, but 60.Bxd6 Qxb1+ 61.Kh2 leaves Black without hope.

60...Bd4 61.Bc3 Qd8 62.Bxd4 exd4 63.Qb8??

63.Qxd4 was obvious and good, but now Black is winning.

63...Rxd5 64.exd5 Qxd5+?

But this only draws. Correct is 64...Qxb8 65.Rxb8 d3 etc.

65.Kg1 Qxf5 66.Rb2 Qf3?

Throwing away the draw, which is to be had with, for example, 66...Qg4+ 67.Rg2 Qd1+ 68.Kh2 Qxh5+ etc.

67.Qb7

Also winning is the engines' 67.Qe8, eg 67...Qd1+ 68.Kf2 Qxh5 69.Qe4+ with Qxd4 to come.

67...Qd1+ 68.Kf2!

This ends the checks.

68...c3?

This allows a mate-in-two. A better try is 68...Qxh5, but 69.Qe4+ with Qxd4 to come wins.

69.Qe4+

Missing 69.Qxf7+ Kh8 70.Rb8#, but White is still winning after the text.

69...Kg7 70.Qg2+ Kh7 71.Qe4+ Kg7 72.Qg2+ Kh7 73.Qe4+ ½–½

The engines point out 73.Re2 wins, eg 73...d3 74.Qe4+ Kg7 75.Qg4+ Kh7 76.Qf5+ Kg7 77.Re4 Qd2+ 78.Kg3 c2 79.Rg4+ Qg5 (forced) 80.Rxg5+ fxg5 81.Qc5 etc. The move Re2 also wins in the position after 69...Kg7 (and 71...Kg7).