Ilya Iyengar (2130) - Spanton (1884)
*****
*****
*****
MY BATTERSEA SEASON 2023-4
London System
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bf4!?
This is more popular in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database than transposing to a Chigorin with 3.c4.
3...e6!?
There is a lot to be said for developing the light-square bishop, either to g4 or f5, before playing ...e6 as it does not seem White can take advantage of the bishop's absence from the queenside.
4.c4!?
Overwhelmingly more popular is 4.e3.
4...Bd6 5.Bg3 Nf6
 |
| This may look like quite a mainstream position, but there are just three examples in Mega24 (not counting one game inputted twice) |
*****
*****
*****
*****
6.Nc3 0-0 7.e3 Re8!?
The rook will be well-placed here if Black manages to get in the move ...e5, but if that does not happen the rook will probably be better off on the f file.
8.Ne5!?
Making ...e5 less likely, at least in the short term.
8...Bd7!?
Offering the bishop-pair, but not expecting White to take it - the white king's knight is much better than Black's light-square bishop.
9.f4 Ne4 10.Bd3 f5
Not 10...Nxg3? 11.Bxh7+!
11.cxd5 Nxc3 12.bxc3 exd5
 |
| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
13.Qc2
Grabbing a pawn seems to be good too, eg 13.Qb3 Be6 14.Qxb7 Na5 15.Qb2, when Black's compensation is minimal.
13...Ne7 14.Bh4 Qc8!?
This is the top choice of Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1, but they give White at least a slight edge.
15.Kd2!?
The engines are not keen on this. But note that White cannot win a pawn by 15.Bxe7 Rxe7 16.Nxd7 Qxd7 17.Bxf5?! as Black has 17...Rxe3+.
15...g6?!
This is Komodo14.1's top choice for a short while, but it is probably too weakening as well as passive. They do not agree on what Black should play, but one line runs 15...Bxe5!? 16.dxe5 Ng6 17.Bg3 c5, seeking to open lines to White's king.
16.Bg5 Kg7 17.h4 h5 18.g4!?
The engines prefer a slower build up, eg 18.Rh3!? with Rg3 to come.
 |
| How should Black respond to White's pawn offer? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
18...hxg4??
Black is lost after this as White breaks through on the h file. Correct is 18...fxg4. I missed that after 19.Bxe7 Rxe7 20.Bxg6 Black has 20...Kh6, with equality, according to the engines.
19.h5 Bxe5 20.fxe5 gxh5 21.Rxh5 Ng6 22.Rah1 Rh8?!
Black's position is so bad that this oversight - I missed White's obvious reply - does not greatly change the engines' evaluations.
23.Bf6+ Kf7 24.Rxh8!? Nxh8 25.Rh7+!
23.Bf6+ Kf7 24.Rxh8!? Nxh8 25.Rh7+!
This is even better than capturing the knight as it leads to a quick checkmate.
25...Kg6 26.Rg7+ Kh6 27.Qb1 Be8 28.Qh1+ Bh5 29.Rh7+!? Kxh7 30.Qxh5+ Kg8 31.Qxh8+ Kf7 32.Qg7+
Mushrooms won the match 6-2.
MY BATTERSEA SEASON 2023-4
DATE.....EVENT...........................COL..RATING..OPP'S RATING..SCORE..SEASON PERF
24/10/23 London League B 1870 2102 = 2102
26/10/23 Central London League W 1870 2118 = 2110
21/11/23 Eastman Cup W 1882 2118 = 2113
14/12/23 Central London League B 1882 2152 0 2023
10/1/24 London League B 1884 2130 0 1964
No comments:
Post a Comment