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| Río Algar |
Mark E Page (2052) - Spanton (1808)
Spanish Berlin
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6!?
This somewhat-surprising capture is fashionable at the highest levels, and is the top choice of Komodo14.1. However Stockfish16 prefers the, arguably even-more surprising, 5.Ba4!?
5...dxc6 6.Nbd2
There are 97 games in Chessbase's 2023 Mega database with the losing 6.Nxe5??, although only 51 blacks managed to find 6...Qd4.
6...Be6 7.Nb3 Bd6 8.h3 a5!?
This may be a novelty. It is liked by Komodo14.1 and Stockfish16, along with 8...Qe7, which would also likely be a novelty.
9.Ng5 Qe7
Withdrawing the light-square bishop to preserve the bishop-pair may well be better.
10.Nxe6 Qxe6 11.a4 0-0 12.0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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White has the better bishop and better pawn-structure - factors the engines reckon add up to a slight edge.
12...b6
The engines show 12...Rad8? fails to 13.Nxa5 Bb4 14.Nxb7 Rb8 15.c3.
13.f4!?
The engines prefer developing the queen, to e2 or f3, or developing the bishop to e3.
13...exf4 14.Bxf4 Bxf4 15.Rxf4 Qe5 16.Rf5?!
The engines reckon the game is equal after 16.Qc1.
16...Qxb2 17.Qe2
The engines quite like 17.Qc1!? Qxc1+ 18.Rxc1, when White remains a pawn down but seems to have decent drawing chances. The text would appear to give better winning chances.
17...Rae8 18.Raf1 Re5 19.R5f2
Not 19.Rxf6? gxf6 20.Rxf6? Rxe4.
19...c5 20.Qe3 Qc3
I offered a draw.
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| Should White accept? |
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Objectively, yes, according to the engines, but the position is complicated and it is easier for White to play.
21.Nd2 Qd4?!
Black has a large advantage after 21...Re6, according to the engines.
22.Qg3!?
White wins back the pawn with 22.Qxd4 cxd4 23.Nf3, and has the better side of equality, according to the engines.
22...Re6 23.Qxc7!?
The game is completely equal after 23.Nf3 Qd8 24.Ng5 Nh5, according to the engines.
23...Qxa4 24.Nc4
Not 24.e5? Qd7 25.Qxd7 Nxd7, after which the e pawn falls,
24...Qd7 25.Qg3 Qe7 26.Ne3 Nh5 27.Qg4 Nf6 28.Qg3 Nh5 29.Qg4 ½–½
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