Spanish Berlin
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6!?
This somewhat surprising continuation, which has become popular at the elite level, is the top choice of Komodo14.1, while Stockfish16 prefers 5.Ba4!?
5...dxc6 6.Nbd2
The e5 pawn is poisoned, for now, but White intends targeting it anyway.
6...Qe7!?
The mainline in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database runs 6...Be6 7.0-0 Nd7 8.Nb3 Bb6 9.Ng5 Bxb3 10.axb3 f6!? 11.Nf3, with equal chances, according to the engines.
7.Nc4 Nd7 8.Bd2 f6 9.Qe2 Nf8 10.Ne3 Ne6 11.Nf5 Qf7
 |
| Who has the advantage? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
Stockfish16 instantly gives Black a slight edge. Komodo14.1 starts by giving White a slight edge, but comes to agree with its fellow engine.
12.a4 a5 13.0-0 b6 14.c3 Ba6 15.Rfd1 Rad8
The engines reckon Black gains the upper hand by castling long.
16.Be3 0-0 17.Qc2 Bxe3 18.fxe3 c5 19.d4 cxd4 20.cxd4 exd4 21.exd4 Nf4!?
The engines prefer 21...Rfe8, or reposting the bishop to b7 or c8.
22.Qd2?!
This allows an interesting combination, whereas 22.d5 gives at least a slight edge, according to the engines.
22...Ne2+ 23.Kf2!? Nxd4!?
The engines suggest 23...Rfe8 or 23...Qe6.
24.N3xd4 c5 25.Qf4 cxd4 26.Rac1!?
If White recaptures on d4, either way, Black has the upper hand, according to the engines.
26...Qb3?
Better is 26...Rd7.
27.Rc7!?
Clever, but stronger is the engines' 27.Qc7, after which 27...Qf7 (forced) 28.Qxb6 gives White at least a slight edge.
 |
| What should Black play? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
27...g5??
Not 27...Qxd1?? 28.Rxg7+ Kh8 29.Rxh7+! Kxh7 30.Qh6+ Kg8 31.Qg7#, but 27...Rf7 defends.
28.Rg7+ Kh8 29.Qc7! 1-0
No comments:
Post a Comment