Simon Spivack (2141) - Spanton (1947)
Queen's Pawn Game
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nc6 3.d4 Bf5 4.c3
This not only prevents ...Nb4 but prepares queenside expansion, partly in anticipation of Black castling long.
4...Qd7 5.b4 a6 6.a4
Jan Votava (2538) - Richard Biolek (2464), Czech Team Championship 2012, the only game in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database to reach the position after 5...a6, went 6.Nbd2 f6 7.Nh4 Bh3 8.Nb3!? e5!? 9.Bxh3 Qxh3 10.dxe5 0-0-0 11.exf6!? with a hard-to-assess position that ended prematurely with a draw agreement on move 26.
6...f6!? 7.Na3
 |
| How should Black proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
7...e6!?
I cannot recall why I shied away from 7...e5, the obvious follow-up to my previous move, and indeed that is the choice of Komodo13.02. However Stockfish15 prefers the text.
8.Bg2 Bd6 9.0-0 Nge7 10.Qb3
The engines give 10.Nd2!? Bg4!? 11.Qe1 e5!? 12.e4, claiming a slight edge for White.
10...Ng6?!
The engines strongly dislike this, preferring the aggressive 10...h5.
11.Bd2
The point of the text is not just to develop a piece, but to prepare the pawn push c4. However White has a positionally won game after 11.Nd2!?, according to Stockfish15, eg 11...0-0 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4, when White has more space and open lines for his pieces. Komodo13.02 is less enthusiastic, but agrees White is much better.
11...Be4
 |
| What should White play? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
12.Qb2
Supporting d4 and ensuring the queen cannot by hit by ...Na5 after a later b5. However it seems 12.c4!? is possible, eg 12...Bxe4 13.exf3!? (much better than 13.Bxf3, according to the engines) Nxd4 14.Qd3 with an unclear position but one which the engines reckon favours White. They prefer 12...0-0, eg 13.c5 Be7, when Stockfish15 gives White a slight edge but Komodo13.02 calls the position equal.
12...Qe7
Pressurising b4.
13.Rfc1 0-0
 |
| How would you assess the position now both sides have connected rooks? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
White has more space on the queenside, where White's pieces are well-placed for action, although the dark-square bishop is rather passive. Black is better placed for play in the centre. The engines reckon the position is equal.
14.Nc2 e5 15.b5 Na5 16.Ne3 f5 17.c4 Nxc4 18.Nxc4 dxc4
 |
| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
19.dxe5!?
The engines suggest 19.Qc3 or 19.bxa6 with equality.
19...Nxe5 20.Qc3?!
Stockfish15 gives 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.Bc3 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Bxc3 23.Rxc3 Qe4+ 24.Kg1 f4 25.Rac1, claiming equality. Komodo13.02 also claims equality after 20.Qd4!? Bxf3 21.Bxf3 Nxf3+ 22.exf3.
20...Nxf3+ 21.Bxf3 axb5 22.axb5 Qe6 23.Rxa8 Rxa8 24.Qxc4?!
Probably better is 24.Bxe4 Qxe4 25.Qxc4+ Qxc4 26.Rxc4, and if 26...Ra1+ 27.Kg2 Rb1 the engines give 28.Bf4, eg 28...Rxb5 29.Bxd6 cxd6 30.Rc7 with what the engines reckon is a completely equal position.
24...Qxc4 25.Rxc4 Bxf3 26.exf3 Ra1+ 27.Rc1?
This loses, whereas 27.Kg2 Rb1 28.Bf4 gives drawing chances, albeit Black is on top thanks to White's compromised pawn-structure.
The game finished:
27...Rxc1+ 28.Bxc1 Kf7 29.g4 Ke6 30.h4 g6 31.Kg2 h5 32.Be3 Kd5 33.b6 c5 34.Bg5 Kc6 35.Bd8 Kd7 36.Bg5 Be7 37.gxh5 gxh5 38.Kf1 Bxg5 39.hxg5 Ke6 0-1
White can protect the passed g pawn with 40.f4, but the white king cannot cope with Black's two passers.
Rangers won the match 3-2.
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