Mark Hladiy (1576) - Spanton (1743)
Scotch
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.f3!?
The main moves are 7.Be2, 7.g3 and especially 7.Bc4.
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| How should Black respond? |
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7...0-0
This is the commonest continuation in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database, but Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon Black is already able to play the central break ...d5.
8.Be2 b6
8.Be2 b6
Again the engines like ...d5.
9.0-0 Bb7 10.Qd2!?
This may be a novelty, and is the top choice of the engines. Known moves are 10.b4 and 10.a3.
10...d5 11.Bg5?
The engines give 11.b4 Bd6 and then Bg5.
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| How can Black exploit White's last move? |
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11...Bxd4+?!
Black is at least slightly better after this, but the engines point out the strength of 11...Nxd4!, eg 12.cxd4 Qxd4+ 13.Qxd4? Bxd4? 14.Kh1 Bxb2. White can improve with 13.Kh1, but will be a pawn down and under pressure.
12.Kh1
The engines' evaluations fluctuate, but possibly a tad better is 12.cxd4 Qxd4+ 13.Be3, when White is a pawn down but has the bishop-pair.
12...Qg6
Possibly better is the engines' 12...Qd6.
13.cxd4 f6!? 14.Be3 dxe4 15.fxe4
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| Can Black safely capture the e pawn? |
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The engines gives 15...Qxe4 as their top move, although White gets an initiative, eg 16.Nc3 Qg6 17.Bd3.
15...Rad8 16.Qc3
The engines reckon White has at least the better side of equality after 16.d5!? Ne5 17.Nc3.
16...Rfe8
Again the engines reckon ...Qxe4 is best.
17.Nd2 Rc8?
Horribly passive. The engines give 17...Na5, one point being 18.Qxc7 Bxe4 19.Nxe4 Nd5!? seems good for Black. They prefer 18.Rf4, claiming at least a slight edge for White.
18.Rf4 f5 19.d5
Even stronger seems to be continuing to build the attack with 19.Raf1.
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| What should Black play? |
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19...Ne5!
The best move in a horrible position, according to the engines.
20.Qxe5
Better may be the engines' 20.Bd4!?, but the position is complicated.
20...Nxd5 21.Qd4 Nxf4 22.Bxf4 fxe4
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| Black has rook and two pawns, one of which is passed, for bishop and knight (White also has the bishop-pair on an open board), but who is better? |
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Komodo14.1 gives White a slight edge; Stockfish16 reckons White is winning.
23.Bc4+
The engines prefer immediately blockading the passed pawn with the queen.
23...Kh8 24.Re1?
This lets Black open the diagonal of the black light-square bishop, with strong effect. Better is 24.Qe3, or defending g2, for example with 24.Rg1, but not 24.Be3? Rcd8 25.Qc3 Rd3!
24...e3 25.Nf3 Re4
White is busted.
26.Qd3 Rxf4 27.Qxg6 0-1 (Time)
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