Spanton (1919 ECF/1928 Fide) - Adam Walkowiak (1642 ECF/1729 Fide)
Sicilian Maróczy
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 g6?!
The mainline in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database runs 5...Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 e5!?, with equality, according to Stockfish16.1 and Dragon1.
6.Nc3 a6
Overwhelmingly more popular in Mega24 is 6...Bg7?, but then White has 7.Ndb5.
7.Be3 Bg7 8.Qd2 Nge7 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0
 |
| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
White is well ahead on development and has more space, while Black seemingly will have trouble challenging the Bind. The engines reckon White has a positionally won game.
10...e5!?
The engines suggest 10...d5 11.Nxc6!? bxc6 12.Rad1 Qc7, but reckon White is winning.
11.Nb3 Qc7 12.c5!? Na5 13.Nxa5 Qxa5 14.Rfd1 Qc7 15.Rac1 Nc6 16.Nd5 Qa5 17.b4 Qd8 18.a3 Nd4 19.Bc4 Kh8
This allows Bg5 to be met by ...f6.
20.Bg5
But Bg5 is still good.
20...f6 21.Be3 Rb8
Or 21...Nc6 22.Nb6 etc.
22.Bxd4 exd4 23.Qxd4 f5 24.e5 Qg5!? 25.f4 Qh4 26.g3 Qd8 27.Nb6 g5!?
 |
| Black is completely lost, so must strive for counterplay of any kind |
*****
*****
*****
*****
28.Qd6 gxf4!? 29.Qxb8 fxg3 30.hxg3 Qg5 31.e6?
White is winning easily after several moves, including 31.Rc3, 31.Qd6 and 31.Kg2.
31...f4
Also drawing is 31...Qe3+.
32.Rd3 Be5
 |
| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
33.Qa7?
The engines show 33.Qxe5+, 33.e7 and 33.exd7 draw, eg 33.e7 Qxe7 (33...Re8? 34.Qxc8! Rxc8 35.Nxc8 Qh5 36.Nd6 Bxd6 37.cxd6 Kg7 38.Re1 Qe8 39.gxf4 etc) 34.Nxc8 Bd4+! 35.Rxd4 Qxe3+ etc.
33...f3 34.Rc2 Qxg3+ 35.Kf1 Qxh3+ 36.Ke1 Bg3+?
Black has several wins, including 36...Qh1+ 37.Kd2 f2 etc.
37.Kd2 Qh6+?
The engines reckon Black is at least equal after 37...f2 and 37...Qh1.
38.Kc3 Be5+ 39.Kb3 f2 40.Rd1 Qh3+ 41.Ka4 Qf3
Or 41...f1=Q 42.Rxf1 Rxf1 43.e7 etc.
The game finished:
42.Rf1 Qc6+ 43.Kb3 Bg3 44.Rc3 Be5 45.Re3 Rf3 46.Rxf3 Qxf3+ 47.Ka4 Qc6+ 48.Ka5 dxe6 49.Qa8 Bc7!? 50.Qxc8+ Kg7 51.Qxe6 1-0
No comments:
Post a Comment