Spanton (1829) - Ronald Staneke (1336)
II Open Internacional de Ajedrez Dama NegraCaro-Kann Classical
1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 c6 3.e4 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Ngf6!?
This somewhat unusual continuation has been tried by Alexander Grischuk, Alexey Dreev, Šarūnas Šulskis and other strong players.
10.Bxh7 Nxh7 11.Qe2
11.Qd3 Nhf6 is a transposition to the mainline position normally reached by the move-order 9...Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Ngf6. I felt the queen would be more usefully employed putting pressure on the e file.
11...e6 12.Bf4
The less-active 12.Bd2!? is preferred by Stockfish14.1, but Komodo12.1.1 prefers the text. Both engines also like castling.
12...Be7 13.0-0-0 Nhf6
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| This position is normally reached with Black to move, as White usually spends two tempi (Qd1xd3 and Qd3-e2) to get the queen to e2 |
14.c4, to prevent Black's next move, is possible, but I did not like the look of a quick ...b5.
14...Nd5 15.Bd2
This is the disadvantage of having played the bishop to f4 instead of immediately to d2 at the 12th move. However 12 .Bd2 gives Black options not available after 12.Bf4, eg 12...Qc7, which is Komodo12.1.1's choice. Stockfish14.1 prefers 12...Be7, which is the most-popular move in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database.
15...0-0 16.Kb1 Bb4?!
Black is already behind in development, and this does not help. The engines suggest developing the queen with 16...Qb6 or starting to bring the queen's rook into play with 16...a5.
17.c3 Be7
Black can argue his bishop manoeuvre has weakened the white king's position, but almost certainly more significant is that it gives White an initiative.
18.c4 N5f6 19.Bc3 b5?
It is natural to want to open lines on the queenside, but Black's position is not ready for this thrust. The engines like 19...Re8 with maybe a slight edge for White.
20.cxb5?!
Almost certainly better is 20.d5!?, which, after 20...cxd5 21.cxd5, transposes to the game.
20...cxb5
Played automatically, or so it seemed, but Black should have muddied the waters with the engines' 20...Nd5!, when the position is unclear. Komodo12.1.1 gives best-play as 21.bxc6 Nxc3+ 22.bxc3 Qb6+ 23.Ka1 Qxc6, claiming equal chances (Stockfish14.1 reckons Black is better). Stockfish14.1 gives best-play as 21.Ne4 bxc6 22.Qxc6, claiming dead-eye equality, a verdict with which Komodo12.1.1 agrees.
21.d5!
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| How should Black reply? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
21...Qb6!
Giving up a pawn is Black's best chance, according to the engines. They reckon the main alternative, 21...Nxd5 22.Rxd5 exd5 23.Qxe7, is much worse, even though materially Black is only down bishop and knight for rook and pawn.
22.dxe6 fxe6 23.Qxe6+ Qxe6 24.Rxe6 Bc5 25.Bd4 Ng4?
Best, according to the engines, is 25...Rad8, although that leaves White a sound pawn up.
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| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
26.Bxg7!
This seems best, but other moves, eg 26.Rg6 and and 26.Ne5, are also good.
26...Rf7
This is best, according to the engines, eg 26...Kxg7 and 26...Nxf2 are both met by capturing on d7.
27.Rg6
Other moves also win.
27...Rxg7 28.Rxg7+ Kxg7 29.Rxd7+ Kg8 30.Nf5 (1-0, 67 moves).
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