Bodensee Senioren Round Three

DOWNFLOATED against a German Fide master.

Spanton (1902) - Christian Hess (2157)

Sicilian ...e6/Maróczy Bind

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4!?

This is the fifth-most popular continuation in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database.

3...Nc6 4.d4

And here most popular is 4.Nc3.

4...cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Nxc6

This strengthens Black's centre, but it is difficult to successfully avoid, eg 7.f3 can be met by 7...d5, when Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon Black is already slightly better.

7...bxc6 8.Bd3

How should Black respond?

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8...e5!?

This is easily the commonest move in Mega 24.

Possible is 8...d5, but the engines reckon 9.exd5!? exd5 (9...cxd5?? loses to 10.Qa4+ etc) 10.0-0 0-0 11.cxd5 favours White.

On this move, and for several moves to come, both players have to ask themselves whether ...Bxc3(+), smashing White's queenside pawn-formation, but giving up the bishop-pair, is better for White or for Black. According to the engines, 8...Bxc3+ marginally favours White.

9.0-0 0-0 10.Be3

Magnus Carlsen in rapid and blitz games has preferred 10.Qe2!?, drawing all three times.

10...d6

The engines reckon this and 10...Bxc3 are of roughly equal value.

11.Qa4 Qa5

Here the engines reckon 11...Bxc3 12.bxc3, and now the apparent-novelty 12....c5!?, gives Black a slight edge (Stockfish16) or at least the better side of equality (Komodo14.1).

12.Qxa5 Bxa5 13.f3 Rb8

Marek Matlak (2440) - Josef Nun (2460), Nałęczów (Poland) 1987, went 13...Be6 14.Rfd1 Rab8 15.Na4 c5 16.Bd2 Bxd2 17.Rxd2, with a draw agreed seven moves later.

14.Rab1 Be6!?

Is the a7 pawn poisoned?

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Not really, although the engines prefer other moves to capturing the pawn (except that Komodo14.1 changes to liking the capture when it is played on the screen).

15.Bxa7 Ra8 16.Be3

Black is slightly better after 16.b4 Rxa7 17.bxa5 Rxa5, according to the engines.

16...Bxc3 17.bxc3 Rxa2 18.Rf2 Rxf2

Not 18...Rfa8?? 19.Rxa2 Rxa2 20.Rc8+, but the engines reckon 18...Ra3 gives a slight edge (Komodo14.1) or the better side of equality (Stockfish16).

19.Kxf2 Rc8 20.Bg5 d5 21.c5!? dxe4 22.Bxe4?!

The engines prefer 22.fxe4 or 22.Bxf6.

22...Nd5

Black is at least slightly better after 22...Nxe4 23.fxe4 f6, according to the engines.

23.Bxd5 Bxd5

After 23...cxd5 both 24.Be7 and 24.Be3 are fine for White.

24.Be7 h5!? 25.Bd6 f6 26.Rb8 Rxb8 27.Bxb8 h4 28.g3 h3 29.Ke3 g5 30.f4 exf4+ 31.gxf4 Kf7 32.fxg5 fxg5 33.Be5 Ke6 34.Bg3 ½–½