Brno Game One

Spanton (1771) - Adam Jánský (1205)

1.Nc3

1.Nc3 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7?!

This natural-looking move is second-most popular in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database but is probably a mistake. The analysis engines Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 prefer 5...Bb4 or 5...Bc5.

There seems no good answer to White's aggressive next move

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6.Nf5 Nh5?

The mainline in Mega22 runs 6...0-0 7.Nxe7+ Qxe7 8.Nd5 Qe5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.c3, after which White has the upper hand, according to the engines.

7.Nxe7 Nxe7 8.Nd5?!

Almost certainly stronger is 8.e4.

8...f6 9.Bh4

The engines prefer 9.Bh6!?, and if 9...gxh6 then 10.e4 is good as 10...Ng7 11.Nxf6+ Kf7 (or 11...Kf8) 12.Qf3 gives a huge attack.

9...c6 10.e4 cxd5 11.Qxh5+ Ng6?!

Probably better is 11...g6, but White is on top after 12.Qh6.

12.0-0-0 b6?

Better, but still winning for White, according to the engines, are 12...d6 and 12...dxe4, although each is well-met by 13.Bg3.

13.Qxd5 Bb7?!

Probably a better try, but still horrible for Black, is 13...Rb8 14.Bg3 Bb7 15.Qb3 Rc8.

The game finished:

14.Qxb7 Nxh4 15.Rxd7 Qxd7 16.Qxa8+ Qd8 17.Bb5+ Kf7 18.Qxa7+ Kg6 19.Rd1 Qc8 20.Qxb6 Qa8 21.Qa6 Qb8 22.Bd3 Qf4+ 23.Kb1 Qxf2 24.e5+ Kg5 25.exf6 gxf6 26.Rf1 1-0