Cap Negret Round One

Playing hall

FACED a Belgian.

Spanton (1808) - Monique Weck (1148)

King's Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.f4 d6!? 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 d5?

A simple mistake.

5.Bxd5 Bc5 6.c3 Nf6 7.Qb3 0-0

Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon better is 7...Nxd5, albeit giving White at least a slight edge after 8.Qxd5!?

8.fxe5 Nxd5?!
Probably better is 8...Na5.

How should the d5 knight be captured?

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9.exd5?

White has a huge advantage after 9.Qxd5.

Black to play and win

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9...Na5?

After 9...Nxe5! 10.Nxe5 Re8 11.Kd1 Rxe5, Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon Black has a winning advantage.

10.Qc2 g6 11.b4 Bf5 12.d3 Qxd5 13.bxc5 Bxd3 14.Qa4 c6?!

White is a knight up

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15.Qd4

Possible is 15.Qxa5!? Objectively it is stronger, according to the engines, but the consequences of missing one nuance could be very unpleasant.

The game finished:

15...Bf5 16.Bg5 b6 17.cxb6 Rab8 18.Nbd2 c5?? 19.Qxd5 axb6 20.Bf6 Be6 21.Qe4 Bf5 22.Qf4 b5 23.Qh6 Rfe8 24.Qg7#.