I WAS upfloated against a Guernsey-registered player.
Sicilian Grand Prix Attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.a4!?
This unusual continuation is the top choice of Stockfish16.1; Dragon1 prefers the much commoner 5.Bb5, and 5.Be2.
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| How should Black respond? |
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5...a6!?
Most popular is 5...e6, which has been played by Magnus Carlsen. However Stockfish16.1 reckons 6.e5!? gives White a slight edge, although Dragon1 comes to rate the game as equal.
6.Bc4 e6 7.d3 Nge7 8.0-0 d5 9.Ba2 0-0
6.Bc4 e6 7.d3 Nge7 8.0-0 d5 9.Ba2 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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White has a lead in development and more kingside space, but the white queen's bishop does not have a good square to go to. Black has a powerful fianchettoed bishop. The engines reckon Black is at least equal.
10.Qe1
This occurred in 42 of the 82 games to reach the position in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database, but the engines prefer 10.Ne2!? or 10.e5!?
10...Nd4 11.Nxd4
10...Nd4 11.Nxd4
The engines point out 11.Bb1!? as an alternative, but neither move is ideal.
11....cxd4 12.Ne2 dxe4 13.dxe4 d3
The engines suggest 13...b5!?, which would seem a novelty.
14.cxd3 Qxd3 15.Ng3 Bd7 16.f5?!
Sacrificing the white f pawn on the f5 square is thematic in the Grand Prix Attack, although it does not seem to work here. However it is tricky as after ...
16...exf5
... White has ...
17.Bg5!?
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| Bearing in mind the black knight is hanging, and the black light-square bishop is loose, how should Black proceed? |
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17...Nc6?
Correct is 17...Qd4+, and if 18.Kh1 then 18...Rae8 (18...Rfe8 is also good), the idea being 19.Rd1?! is met by 19...Qxa4.
18.Rd1 Bd4+ 19.Kh1 Qc2 20.Bb1!
The engines agree this is best.
20...Qxb2 21.exf5?!
This throws away much of White's advantage, whereas the engines' 21.Ne2! wins, eg 21...Be6 runs into 22.Nxd4 Nxd4 23.Bf6.
21...Rae8 22.Qd2
White still has at least a slight edge, according to the engines, after 22.Be4.
22...Qxd2 23.Rxd2 Bc8!?
This backward bishop move - the second in the game - solves Black's problems, as does, according to the engines, 23...Bxf5.
24.Be4
Maybe 24.Ne4 is slightly better, eg 24...Bxf5 25.Nd6 Re5 26.Nxf5 gxf5 27.Bf6 Rd5 28.Bxf5, a sharp line in which the engines reckon White gets full compensation for a pawn.
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| What should Black play? |
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24...Be5
The engines also like 24...Bh8, but the exchange sacrifice 24...Rxe4? 25.Nxe4 Bxf5 does not seem good, despite Black having two pawns and the bishop-pair for a rook. After the further move 26.Nd6 Black has major problems, eg 26...Bc8 runs into 27.Rxd4! Nxd4 28.Be7 etc.
25.fxg6?!
The engines prefer 25.Rdd1!? or 25.Bh6.
25...hxg6
25...fxg6!? may be even stronger, according to the engines.
26.Bxc6 bxc6 27.Ne4 Kg7 28.Nd6
White has equality after 28.Nf6 Re6 29.Ng4, according to the engines.
28...Re6 29.Nxc8 Rxc8 30.Rd7 Rf8
Possibly stronger is 30...Bf6 31.Bxf6+ Rxf6 (Dragon1 reckons Black is winning at first, although later gives Black 'only' the upper hand; Stockfish16.1 gives Black a slight edge).
31.Be8 Re8 32.Bg5 Bf6 33.Bxf6+ Rxf6
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| How should White proceed? |
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34.Rg1?
Even worse is 34.Rxf6?? Re1+ 35.Rf1 Rxf1#, but the engines reckon 34.Kg1 leaves Black with at best a slight edge.
34...Re4 35.a5 Rh4 0-1
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