Spanton (1952) - Aharon Landman (1532)
1.Nc3
1.Nc3 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4
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| I commented in some detail on these opening moves, and in particular Black's choices here, in my post on Tuesday: Tu |
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4...d5?!
The mainline in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database runs 4...Nf6 5.Bg5 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Qd4, a position from which White scores an excellent 70%, although Komodo13.02 reckons the game is equal (Stockfish15 gives White a slight edge). The space-grabbing text is plausible but probably a mistake.
5.Bf4
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| What should Black play? |
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Black's position may look OK at first glance. He has opened diagonals for both bishops, has developed a knight and has taken space in the centre. In addition it is Black to move, and White is yet to open a diagonal on the kingside. However White has the temporary but significant advantage of having three pieces developed, including a knight on the fourth rank. The white queen is not developed but it provides latent pressure against d5, which is weaker than it may appear, and c7 is vulnerable. The engines reckon best is 5...a6, but agree 6.e4 and 6.Nxc6 give White an advantage worth the better part of a pawn.
5...Bd6? 6.Bxd6!?
Also strong is winning a pawn immediately with 6.Nxd5.
6...Qxd6?
Better is the unpleasant 6...cxd6 but 7.Nxd5 leaves White with a large advantage.
7.Ndb5 Qe5 8.Nxd5 Kf8 9.Ndxc7 Rb8 10.Qd6+!?
Black's queen dominates the centre of the board, so exchanging it seems a good idea even though it takes pressure off the black king's position.
10...Qxd6 11.Nxd6 Nb4 12.0-0-0!?
Returning a pawn but speeding development.
12...Nxa2+ 13.Kb1 Nb4 14.e4 Bg4 15.f3 Bh5 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.Rxd5 Nf6 18.Rd2 Rd8 19.e5 Ne8
Not 19...Nd7? 20.Nxb7.
20.Bb5 Nc7
Also very good for White is 20...Nxd6 21.exd6.
21.Rhd1 Nxb5!?
This is best, according to the engines, but it allows White to restore a two-pawn advantage.
22.Nxb5 Rxd2
Even worse is 22...Ra8? 23.Rd8+ (23.Nc7 is also very strong) Ke7 24.R1d7+ Ke6 25.Nc7+ etc.
23.Rxd2 Ke7 24.Nxa7
White is two pawns up and has pawn-majorities on both sides of the board.
The game finished:
24...Ke6 25.f4 Ra8 26.Nb5 Rc8 27.h3 f6 28.g4 Bf7 29.Nd4+ Kd5 30.Nf5+ Ke4 31.Nd6+ Kxf4 32.Nxc8 fxe5? 33.Rf2+ 1-0
Last night's full results in the tournament can be seen at L7.
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