Cyril Foster (1798 ECF/1710 Fide) - Spanton (1976 ECF/1835 Fide)
Scotch
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qf6!?
This is only fifth-most popular in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, but even so there are 3,800 examples of the move.
 |
| How should White respond? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
5.Nf3!?
Given enough time, this becomes the top choice of Komodo14.1, although Stockfish15.1 prefers the mainline 5.Be3.
5...Qg6!?
Applying immediate pressure against e4 (and g2), while vacating f6 for the king's knight. The engines prefer 5...Bb4+!? or 5....Bc5.
6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Bd2!?
An interesting pawn sacrifice, but perhaps 7.Bd3!? is even stronger, one point being 7...Qxg2?! can be met by 8.Rg1 Qh3 9.Rxg7, so Black should probably decide between 7...d6 and 7...Bxc3+.
7...Bxc3 8.Bxc3 Qxe4+
The engines reckon 8...Nf6!?, which does not appear in Mega23, gives equality.
9.Be2 Nf6 10.0-0 0-0
Nina Mediankova - Svetlana Struchkova, Moscow Women's Championship 1981, saw 10...Qe7? 11.Re1 0-0 12.Bd3 Qd8 13.Ng5 with a large advantage for White (1-0, 17moves).
11.Bd3 Qg4 12.Bxf6!?
Giving up the bishop-pair, but wrecking Black's kingside.
12...gxf6 13.Re1 d5!?
The pawn is loose on d5 but prevents the white king's rook using the e4 square.
 |
| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
14.Qd2
I was more concerned about 14.c4!? dxc4 15.Re4, but the engines prefer the text.
14...Bd7 15.h3 Qg7
White has a mating sequence after 15...Qb4? 16.Qh6, while 15...Qh5?! 16.Qf4 is also good for White, according to the engines.
16.Re3!? Rfe8
Not 16...Bxh3? 17.Nh4 with Rg3 to come.
17.Rae1 Rxe3 18.Qxe3
 |
| What should Black play? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
18...Nb4?
Not 18...Re8? 19.Qxe8+! etc, nor 18...Bxh3? 19.Qe8+! etc, but best may be 18...Kh8!?, eg 19.Kh2 Rg8 20.g3 Qf8, although the engines reckon White has more than enough for a pawn.
19.Qe7 Nxd3 20.cxd3 Bc6?!
Probably better is 20...Be6, or counterplay with 20...Bf5!?
21.Nd4 Qg5 22.Nxc6 bxc6 23.Re3
 |
| The weakness of Black's king, together with the numerous black pawn-weaknesses, mean White is winning despite being a pawn down |
*****
*****
*****
*****
23...Qh6 24.Rg3+ Kh8 25.Qxf7 Rc8 26.b3!?
Hardly necessary, but it is a sign of how much better White stands that spending a tempo like this does not alter the fundamental assessment that White is winning.
26...Qf8 27.Qe6 Rd8?! 28.Qxc6
Even stronger is 28.Rg8+! Qxg8 29.Qxf6+ Qg7 30.Qxd8+.
28...Qd6 29.Qc1 Rg8?!
The engines are happy enough with this, but better practical chances were probably to be had in keeping the rooks on.
30.Rxg8+ Kxg8 31.Qe3 c5
30.Rxg8+ Kxg8 31.Qe3 c5
Queens stay on the board after 31...Kf7!?, but then 32.Qxa7 gives White a second extra pawn, which also happens to be passed.
32.Qg3+ Qxg3 33.fxg3 Kf7 34.g4 Ke6 35.Kf2 Ke5 36.Ke3 a5 37.a4 h6 38.g3 Kd6 39.Kf4 c4!?
A desperate last try.
40.bxc4 dxc4 41.dxc4 Kc5 42.Kf5 Kb4 43.c5!
Best, although 43.Kxf6 should also win.
43...Kxc5 44.Kxf6 Kb4 45.g5 hxg5 46.Kxg5 a4 47.h4 1-0
No comments:
Post a Comment