Michael Schwartz (1237) - Spanton (1824)
Sicilian Grand Prix Attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 e6
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| Black's position has several holes - can White take advantage of this? |
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6.0-0
This is the most popular continuation in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, but White has many other possibilities, including the sharp 6.f5!?, when the mainline in Mega23 runs 6...Nge7 7.fxe6 fxe6 8.d3 d5 9.Bb3 b5!? with equal chances, according to Stockfish15.1 and Komodo14.1.
The latter engine suggests 6.e5!?, and if 6...d6 then 7.Qe2, although Stockfish15.1's reply of 7...Nge7 splits the engines after 8.Ne4 dxe5 9.fxe5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Bxe5. Komodo14.1 reckons White has full compensation for a pawn, but Stockfish15.1 gives Black at least a slight edge.
Instead of castling or pushing a pawn to the fifth rank, Stockfish15.1 suggests 6.d3 Nge7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Bb3!?, but gives Black the better side of equality.
6...Nge7 7.Qe1!?
The mainline in Mega23 runs 7.d3 0-0 8.Qe1 d5 9.Bb3 Nd4 10.Nxd4 cxd4 11.Ne2 dxe4 12.dxe4 with equality, according to Komodo14.1, although Stockfish15.1 reckons 12...b5!? gives Black a slight edge.
7...Nd4!?
Much more popular is 7...0-0, when White usually replies 8.d3, transposing into the previous note.
8.Nxd4 cxd4 9.Nb5!?
The engines much prefer 9.Ne2.
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| How should Black proceed? |
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9...0-0?!
Ukrainian grandmaster Andrey Vovk played the text in a 2009 rapid game, but almost certainly better is 9...d5 10.exd5 exd5, the point being 11.Bxd5?? loses to 11...a6 (but not 11...Qxd5?? 12.Nc7+).
10.e5
MS offered a draw.
Possibly better than the text is 10.Nd6, when 10...Qc7 11.e5 Nf5 12.Nxf5 exf5 is equal, according to the engines, but Black must avoid 12...Qxc4? 13.d3, eg 13...Qc5 14.Nxg7 Kxg7 and either 15.Qh4 or 15.f5!?, in each case with a very strong-looking attack.
10...d5!?
This temporary pawn sacrifice may be a novelty, but at any rate is an improvement on Martina Skogvall (2100) - Vovk (2512), Warsaw AIG Life Rapid 2009, which saw 10...Qb6, when the engines reckon 11.Bd3 or 11.b3 would have given White at least a slight edge.
11.exd6?!
The engines prefer 11.Bd3 or 11.Be2, but give Black a slight edge.
11...Nf5 12.b3?!
The engines suggest 12.g4!? but much prefer Black.
12...a6
Probably not 12...Nxd6?! as 13.Nxd6 Qxd6 14.a4 leaves Black with at best a slight edge, according to the engines. However White should avoid 13.Ba3 Nxc4 14.Bxf8?? Bxf8 15.bxc4 as 15...a6 traps the white knight.
13.Na3 Nxd6 14.Bb2 b5 15.Be2??
White has to play 15.Bd3, although the engines believe Black is positionally winning.
15...d3 16.Bxg7 dxe2 17.Qxe2 Kxg7
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| White is down a pawn for a piece, and it soon gets much worse |
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18.Rae1 Nf5 19.g4 Qd4+ 20.Kh1?? Bb7+ 21.Rf3 Nh4 22.c3 Qxf4 (0-1, 33 moves)
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