Spanton (1858 Fide/1919 ECF) - Richard Porter (1800 Fide/1885 ECF)
QGD Exchange
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 h6 7.Bf4!?
The main move is 7.Bh4, but the text and 7.Bxf6!? are also tried from time-to-time.
7...Bd6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6
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| How would you judge the exchange of Black's good bishop for White's technically bad, but active, bishop? |
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It is hard to say whom the exchange favours. Stockfish16 reckons White now has a slight edge, while Komodo14.1 calls the position equal.
9.Bd3 0-0 10.Qc2 Re8 11.Nf3 Nbd7 12.0-0 Nf8 13.a3 a5 14.Ne5 Ng4 15.Nxg4 Bxg4 16.Na4!?
The Minority Attack is not White's only queenside plan in this type of position.
16...Bh5 17.Nc5 b6 18.Na4 Nd7 19.Rac1 b5 20.Nc5 Nxc5 21.Qxc5 Re6!
This is Black's only defence, eg 21...Qxc5? 22.Rxc5 Re6 23.Rfc1 Ra6 loses to White capturing on d5 or b5.
22.Rc3
If 22.Bf5, then 22...Rf6 holds, but not 22...Qxc5 23.Rxc5 Rf6 24.Bd7 etc, nor 23...Rd6 24.Rfc1 etc.
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| How should Black proceed? |
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22...Qd8!
Black avoids an exchange of queens, which would largely nullify Black's kingside counterplay, and at the same time highlights the awkwardness of White having a queen as a lead attacker along a file that can be defended by a lesser piece.
Black avoids an exchange of queens, which would largely nullify Black's kingside counterplay, and at the same time highlights the awkwardness of White having a queen as a lead attacker along a file that can be defended by a lesser piece.
23.Rc1!? Bg6 24.Qc2 Qg5 25.Qd2
If 25.f4, hoping for 26.f5, then simply 25...Bxd3.
25...Bxd3 26.Qxd3 Rg6 27.g3 h5 28.h4!?
Possible, as 28...Qxh4?? loses to 29.Qxg6 etc.
28...Qf6 29.Rc5 Re8 30.Rfc1?!
Probably safer is 30.Kg2.
30...Qf3
During the game I was more worried about 30...Rf6, thinking it facilitated ...Qxh4, but the engines give 31.Kg2, and if 31...Qxh4 then 32.Rxc6.
31.Rxc6
The engines reckon 31.Qf1!? may be slightly better.
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| Black to play and gain a maybe winning advantage |
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31...Rxg3+
This is enough for a draw, but the engines point out the strength of 31...Rxe3!, eg 32.Qxe3 Rxg3+ 33.Kf1 Qg2+ 34.Ke1 Rxe3+ 35.fxe3 Qxb2, after which Black has queen and two pawns for a pair of rooks, and White has numerous weak pawns. Best seems to be the engines' 32.Qf1!?, but after 32...Rxc6 33.Rxc6 Re2 the engines reckon Black has at least a slight edge.
32.fxg3 Qxg3+ 33.Kf1 Qf3+ 34.Kg1
Now 34...Rxe3?? loses to 35.Rc8+ Re8 36.Rxe8#, but also disastrous is 34...Re4?? 35.Rc8+ Kh7 36.Re8.
34...Qg3+ ½–½
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