Cambridge Round Four

DOWNFLOATED against a junior (born 2008).

Nina Pert (2158 ECF/2010 Fide) - Spanton (1916 ECF/1766 Fide)

Sicilian Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nxc6!? bxc6 6.Qd4

This line seems to have been first played by Emanuel Lasker in 1892, and was a favourite of Harry Pillsbury.

6...Nf6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Bc4!?

The main continuation in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database runs 8.e6 f6 9.exd7+ Bxd7 10.Bc4, with an equal game, according to Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1.

8...Qb6 9.Qe4 Bg7 10.0-0 0-0

Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position?

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White has more space in the centre, but Black has a central pawn-majority, and is slightly better, according to the engines.

11.Nd2!?

This apparent-novelty is liked by the engines. Known moves are 11.Bb3!?, 11.Nc3!? and 11.Bxd5!?

11...Ba6 12.Re1 Nc7!? 13.Bxa6 Qxa6 14.Nf3 d5 15.Qh4 Rae8 16.a4!?

Preparing a rook lift.

16...Ne6 17.Ra3 f6 18.Qh3 Qc8 19.Bh6 Nc5 20.Qh4 Ne4 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.e6 g5?

Weakening. The engines reckon Black is slightly better after 22...c5.

23.Qh3 c5 24.Qf5 Rd8 25.Rd3 Qb7

The engines suggest 25...Qb8, but give White has the upper hand.

White to play and win

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26.Rxe4!!

Bearing in mind White, among other things, is susceptible to a back-rank mate, this seems to me a remarkable combination.

26...dxe4 27.Nxg5! fxg5 28.Qxg5+ Kh8 29.Qe5+ Rf6 30.Rxd8+ Kg7 31.Rd7

White has a forced mate. The game finished:

31...Qb6 32.Rxe7+ Kg6 33.Qxe4+ 1-0