World Senior Teams Round Four

Spanton (England 2 - 1850) - Luigi Santolini (2178)

Board Four

French McCutcheon

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3!?

This is considerably more popular than 7.Bxc3, after which 7...Ne4 8.Bb4 c5!? 9.Bxc5 (9.dxc5? Nxf2!) Nxc5 10.dxc5 Qc7 is equal, according to Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1

7...Ne4 8.Bd3!?

The mainline in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database runs 8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Kxd2 with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish16, although Komodo14.1 calls the position equal.

8...Nxd2 9.Qxd2 c5 10.Nf3 c4!?

Much more common in Mega23 is 10...Nc6, but the engines prefer the committal text.

11.Be2 Bd7 12.0-0

Now White has castled, how would you assess the position?

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Black has more queenside space and no weak pawns, but a bad bishop. White has more central space, but queenside weaknesses. White's bishop is technically good, but has little scope. Komodo14.1 reckons the position is completely equal, but Stockfish16 gives Black a slight edge.
12...Bc6!? 13.Ne1 Nd7 14.f4 g6 15.Qc1!?

This may be a novelty. Known moves are 15.g4!?, which is Stockfish16's top choice, and 15.Rf3, which was played by a 2210 but is not liked by either engine.

15...Qe7 16.Qb2 Nb6 17.Qb4 Na4 18.Qxe7+ Kxe7 19.Rf3

Now queens are off the board, how would you assess the position?

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The essential features of the pawn-structure have remained the same as in the previous diagram. It is perhaps easier for Black to organise play on the queenside than it is for White to do so on the kingside. The engines reckon Black has the better side of equality.

19...b5 20.Rb1 Rab8 21.Re3 Rb6 22.Nf3 Rhb8 23.a3 h5 24.Nd2 a5 25.Kf2 b4 26.axb4 axb4 27.cxb4 Rxb4 28.Rxb4 Rxb4 29.Ra3!?

It is important to activate the rook, especially as 29.c3? loses a pawn to 29...Rb2 30.Ke1 Rc2 etc.

29...Rb2 30.Bd1 c3?!

A quieter move such as 30...Kd7 seems to maintain equality.

31.Nf3 Bb5 32.Ne1 Kd7 33.Be2 Kc6 34.Ra1 Bxe2 35.Rxa4

White is at least slightly better after 35.Kxe2, according to the engines.

35...Kb5 36.Ra1?

Correct is 36.Ra3 Kb4 and then 37.Ra1, with an equal position.

36...Bg4 37.Ke3 Bf5 38.Rc1?

Horrible passivity. Even worse is 38.Nd3+? Rxc2 39.Rb1+ Ka4, but counterplay with 38.Ra7 offered more hope.

38...Kc4 39.h3

Not 39.Nd3? Bxd3 40.cxd3+ Kb3.

39...Be4 40.g4 h4

White is in zugzwang

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The game finished:

41.Nf3 Bxf3 42.Kxf3 Kxd4 43.Rd1+ Kc4 44.Rc1 d4 45.Ke4 Rxc2! 46.Rxc2 d3 47.Ra2 c2 48.Ra4+ Kb3 49.Kxd3 c1=Q 50.Re4 Qf1+ 51.Kd4 Kc2 52.Re3 Qxf4+ 0-1

FULL TEAM RESULT (Italy had white on odd boards)

Carlos Garcia Palmero (GM 2410) 1-0 John M Quinn (2077)

Roberto Messa (IM 2289) ½–½ Geoffrey H James (2082)

Mario Cocozza (FM 2226) 1-0 Brian Valentine (1907)

Luigi Santolini (2178) 1-0 Tim Spanton (1850)

Italy won 3.5-0.5.