Alicante Round Three

PLAYED this evening.

Lauren González Cáceres (1416) - Spanton (1829)

II Open Internacional de Ajedrez Dama Negra

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Bd3 c5!?

This is arguably Black's most unbalancing continuation.

5.Qe2+

The main line in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database runs 5.dxc5 Bxc5 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.0-0 0-0 8.Bg5 with what Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1 reckon is a position with equal chances.

5...Be6!?

The engines much prefer 5...Be7 6.dxc5 Nf6, when the main line in Mega22 runs 7.Nf3 0-0 8.0-0 Bxc5, again with equal chances. Note that trying to hold on to the extra pawn is asking for trouble, eg 8.b4?! Re8 9.Be3 a5 10.c3 axb4 11.cxb4 Ng4, when the engines reckon Black is winning.

6.dxc5!?

This is not necessary, eg 6.Nf3 c4 is met by 7.Bf5, and the text helps Black's development. On the other hand it ensures Black will have an IQP.

6...Bxc5 7.Be3

Possibly a novelty. Normal is 7.Nf3.

7...Qb6!?

7...d4 may well be better.

8.Bb5+?!

Moving the bishop for a second time in what is an open position. White could have played 8.Bxc5 without fearing 8...Qxb2?, when 9.c3 Qxa1 10.Nf3 leaves White with a large lead in development, while Black will have problems getting the king safely castled.

8...Nc6 9.Bxc5 Qxc5 10.c3!?

The engines do not mind this move - indeed it becomes their second choice, at least for a while, after they are shown it - but White falls further behind in development.

10...Nf6 11.Nd2?!

But this is very questionable. The engines reckon Black has only a slight edge after 11.Nf3.

11...0-0 12.Nb3 Qb6 13.Bxc6

It is too late for Nf3 at this point as Black replies ...Rfe8.

13...bxc6 14.Nf3

How should Black proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

14...Rfe8

This is good enough for a sizeable advantage, but almost certainly better is the engines' 14...Bc8!?, when 15.0-0? Ba6 is a disaster. That leaves 15.0-0-0, when Black has much the better attacking chances.

15.0-0 Bg4

White is over the worst of it after 15...Bf5!? 16.Qd2 Ne4 17.Qd4, although other 16th moves for Black, eg ...c5 or ...Bg4, keep White under pressure.

16.Qd3 Re7?!

Probably better is 16...c5.

17.Rae1 Rae8 18.Rxe7 Rxe7 19.h3 Bh5 20.Ng5??

An extraordinary blunder as, even if it were White to move again, he may have nothing better than 21.Nf3.

20...Be2 (0-1, 40 moves).