Marco Gallana (2337) - Spanton (2016)
Catalan
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7
The point of Black's well-known manoeuvre with the dark-square bishop is to lure the white dark-square bishop to d2, where it is misplaced, or at least less well placed than it would be on b2.
6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 b6!?
The main line in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database runs 7...c6 8.Qc2 b6, when 9.cxd5 (not considered best) can be met by 9...cxd5.
8.cxd5 exd5
After 8...Nxd5 White dominates the centre with e4, either immediately or in any event soon.
9.Nc3 Bb7 10.Rc1 Nbd7 11.Bf4 a6?!
This has been played by Étienne Bacrot, but as Black seems unable to later get in a successful ...c5 it may well be 11...c6 is better.
12.Ne5 Rc8?
Bacrot (2669) played the superior 12...Re8 in a 2019 rapid-play draw against a 2331.
13.Qb3
Even stronger may be 13.Bh3!?
13...c6
This is the commonest move in Mega22. It leaves White well on top, but Black does not seem to have a good move, eg Komodo12.1.1 gives 13...c5 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.Qxb6, when 15...Rc6 16.Qb3 cxd4 17.Na4 Rxc1 18.Rxc1 is clearly good for White, while Stockfish14.1 suggests 13...b5!?, albeit claiming White is positionally winning.
14.Bh3 c5?!
Both engines prefer 14...b5, although Black is in great difficulties.
15.Nxd7 Nxd7 16.Nxd5 cxd4 17.Bc7 Rxc7!?
This desperate exchange sac is the engines' second choice behind 17...Qe8, when 18.Nxb6 Nc5 19.Rxc5 Bxc5 20.Bxc8 Bxc8 21.Nxc8 Qxc8 22.Bf4 leaves White a pawn up with play against two isolanis.
Worse is 17...Bxd5? 18.Bxd8 Bxb3 19.Bxe7, eg 19...Rfe8 can be met by 20.Bxd7 as 20...Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Rxe7? loses to 22.Rc8+ etc.
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| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
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18.Nxc7
This is much clearer than 18.Nxe7+?! Kh8.
18...Bc5 19.Nd5 Ne5 20.Rxc5! bxc5 21.Qxb7
White is a bishop up. The game finished:
21...d3 22.exd3 Re8 23.Qc8 Nf3+ 24.Kh1 Qxc8 25.Bxc8 1-0
Update 28/3/22: the result of the match was published today at the London League website; Hammersmith won 8-0 (no defaults).
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