U2000
Spanish Berlin
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.h3!?
The main moves are 5.c3, 5.0-0 and 5.Bxc6.
5...Nd4 6.Nxd4 Bxd4 7.c3 Bb6 8.Nd2
Grandmasters have played 8.Bg5!?, eg Ilya Smirin (2609) - Dimitry Andreikin (2719), World Rapid Championship (St Petersburg) 2018, continued 8...c6 9.Ba4 d5 10.Qf3 Be6 11.Nd2 h6 12.Bh4 g5!? 13.Bg3 dxe4 14.dxe4 g4!? 15.Qe2 Nh5? 16.Bxe5 with a large advantage for White (but 0-1, 54 moves).
8...c6 9.Ba4 d5 10.Qe2 0-0 11.Nf3 Re8 12.Bg5 d4
Black is slightly better after 12...Qd6, according to Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02.
13.c4?!
The engines strongly dislike this, preferring 13.0-0 or 13.cxd4.
13...Ba5+
 |
| How should White meet the check? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
14.Kf1!?
This is the top choice of both engines at first, although Komodo13.02 comes to fluctuate between the text and 14.Nd2. Neither engine much likes 14.Bd2 Bxd2+, eg 15.Qxd2 Nd7!? 16.0-0 a5 17.Rae1 h6, when they reckon Black has at least a slight edge.
14...Qd6 15.a3 h6 16.Bc1 Nh5!? 17.g3
Stockfish15 gives 17.g4!? Nf6 18.g5 Nh5 19.Nxe5 g6 20.Ng4 hxg5 21.Bxg5 with equality. Komodo13.02 agrees with that verdict, but reckons Black has a significant improvement in18...hxg5, when 19.c5 Qd7 20.Nxg5 is completely equal, according to Komodo13.02, but gives White at least the upper hand, according to Stockfish15.
17...Qg6
 |
| What should White play? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
18.Nh4!?
Komodo13.02 is OK with this, but Stockfish15 prefers 18.g4!?, or 18.b4 followed by 19.g4!?
18...Nxg3+
Forced but good.
19.fxg3 Qxg3
 |
| How should White defend? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
20.Ng2?
Best, according to the engines, is 20.Nf5 Bxf5 21.exf5 e4 22.b4, when Black has two pawns and attacking chances for a bishop, eg 22...Re5 (22...exd3 23.Qf2 favours White, according to the engines) 23.Qg4! Qxd3+ 24.Kg2 e3 with a sharp and unclear-looking position, although the engines reckon it is completely equal.
20...Bxh3 21.Bc2??
White had to play 21.Kg1 with an unclear position, but one that looks easier for Black to play. The text defends d3, presumably with the intention of playing 22.Qf2, but allows a quick checkmate.
21...Bxg2+ 22.Qxg2 Qe1#
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