Spanton (2016) - Christopher Russell (2334)
French Burn
1.Nc3 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e4 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 gxf6!?
This is a popular alternative to 6...Bxf6, and better-scoring, at least in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database.
7.Nf3 f5 8.Ned2!?
The main line in Mega22 runs 8.Nc3 a6!? 9.g3, which Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1 reckon slightly favours White.
8...c5 9.Bb5+!? Bd7!?
This gives up the bishop-pair but accelerates Black's development, as after ...
10.Bxd7+ Nxd7
... both players have two pieces developed, whereas two moves earlier White had two pieces developed against Black's one.
11.c3
The engines like 11.d5!?, which is not in Mega22, meeting 11...exd5 with the calm 12.0-0, claiming a slight edge for White.
11...Qc7 12.Qe2
Bearing in mind what comes next, 12.0-0 may be better.
 |
| How should Black proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
12...cxd4 13.Nxd4 Qe5!
This comes to be Stockfish14.1's main sequence, the point being an exchange of queens benefits Black more than White as the white king can find a safer haven than is available to the black king.
14.Qxe5 Nxe5 15.0-0
The engines' 15.Ke2!? deserved serious consideration.
15...Rd8 16.N2f3 Nc4 17.b3 Nd6 18.Rfe1
Hoping to create something along the e file, but a damage-limitation exercise was in order, hence the engines preferring 18.Rfd1 or 18.Rad1.
18...Ne4 19.Rac1 Bf6 20.Kf1 0-0 21.Re2 Rd7 22.h3
This comes to be Komodo12.1.1's top choice for a while, but eventually the engines agree best is 22.Rec2, albeit giving Black at least the upper hand after 22..Rc8.
22...Rc8 23.Rec2 a6 24.Ke2?!
The engines prefer 24.g4 (the main reason for playing 22.h3) or 24.Ne2.
24...b5 25.Ke3 Rcd8 26.Nc6 Rc8 27.Ncd4
If 27.Nce5 then 27...Rdc7 28.c4 Bg7!? 29.Ke2 Bh6 with continuing pressure, although no immediate breakthrough.
27...Bg7!?
 |
| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
28.Nd2?
28.Nd2?
Necessary is 28.g4, meeting 28...Bh6+ with 29.g5, when 29...Nxg5? runs into 30.Rg1. However the engines reckon Black is winning after 29...Bf8, eg 30.Ne5 Rd5 31.Nec6 Ba3.
28...Nxc3 29.N2f3 Bh6+ 0-1
The match was drawn 2.5-2.5.
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