London League Weekender Game Three

Spanton (1959 ECF/1824 Fide) - Aryaman Ganguly (1758 ECF/1518 Fide)

Sicilian Bb5(+)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Nxd7 5.0-0 Ngf6 6.Re1

This and 6.Qe2 are equally popular.

6...g6

The mainline in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database runs 6...e6 7.c3 be7 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 Ne4 11.Nbd2 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish15.1 and Komodo14.1.

7.c3 Bg7 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 e5!?

Komodo14.1 prefers the more-popular 9...0-0, but Stockfish15.1 very narrowly gives the nod to the text.

10.Nc3 0-0 11.Bg5 Re8

Robert Fischer (2760) - Ricardo Velarde (-), Mar del Plata (Argentina) Simul 1971, went 11...Qb6 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Qd2 Rfe8 with a slight edge for White, according to the engines (½–½, 35 moves).

12.Nd5 Qb8 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Rc1 Nxd5 15.Qxd5

How would you assess this middlegame position?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

The pawn-structure is almost symmetrical, but White has the better minor pieces and a lead in development. Nevertheless the engines reckon White only has a slight edge.

15...Nb6 16.Qb3 Rc8 17.a4 h6 18.Be3 Nd7 19.Rxc8+ Qxc8 20.Rc1 Qb8 21.Qc4 b6 22.Qc7 Qxc7 23.Rxc7 Nf8 24.Kf1 Ne6 25.Rd7 Kf8 26.Ke2 Ke8 27.Rd5 Nc7 28.Rd3 Ne6 29.Kd2?

The engines reckon 29.Rc3 may keep a tiny pull.

How should Black continue?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

29...Rd8?

Black is winning after 29...f5, eg 30.exf5 gxf5 31.Rd5 f4 etc. The text leads to a difficult minor-piece ending.

30.Rxd8+ Kxd8 31.b4 Kc7 32.Kd3 g5 33.Kc4 Kc6 34.b5+ Kd6

The engines prefer 34...Kd7!?, but the position remains tricky for Black.

35.a5 Kc7?!

Probably better is 35...bxa5 36.Bxa7 Kc7, but White is on top.

36.axb6+ axb6 37.Kd5 Kb7!?

This is best, according to the engines.

38.g4?!

Both 38.Kd6 and 38.h4 are very strong.

38...Bf6!? 39.Nd2 Nc7+ 40.Kc4 Ne8 41.Kb3?!

Dubious decentralisation. White remains on top after 41.f3, according to the engines.

41...Nd6 42.Ka4 Bd8 43.f3 f6 44.Bf2 Kc7 45.Nb3 Kd7?!

Black equalises with 45...Kc4 or 45...Be7, according to the engines.

46.Be1?!

White should probably prevent the black knight entering the white position via c4, so 46.Nd2 is indicated.

46...Nc4 47.Bb4 Nb2+ 48.Ka3 Nc4+ 49.Ka2!? Be7 50.Be1?

The game is completely equal after 50.Nd2, according to the engines.

50...Nd6 51.Bf2 Kc7 52.Nd2?!

After 52.Nc1 the engines reckon Black 'only' has the upper hand.

52...Nxb5 53.Kb3 Bc5 54.Bxc5 bxc5 55.Kc4 Kc6 56.Nb3 Nd4 57.Nd2 Nb5 58.Nb3 Nd6 59.Kc3 c4 (0-1, 72 moves).