I WAS upfloated for the second time in the tournament, landing on top board against the top seed, a Dane, who was a point ahead of me, and me with a second black in a row!
Mogens Thuesen (2174) - Spanton (2009)
Giuoco Piano
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6!?
This is a popular alternative to the mainline in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database, which runs 5...d6 6.0-0 0-0 7.Bb3!? a6!? 8.Nbd2 Ba7!? 9.h3 h6, with an equal position, according to Stockfish17, although Dragon1 gives White an edge.
6.Nbd2 0-0 7.0-0
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| Both sides having castled, how would you assess the position? |
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Neither side has any weaknesses, and the engines reckon the game is equal.
7...d5!?
Normal is 7...d6. If Black can get away with playing the text, Black should be at least equal, but the move is loosening.
8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Re1
This is Stockfish17's choice. Dragon1 prefers 9.Ne4.
9...f6?
Apparently a novelty, and not a good one. The engines suggest 9...Nf6, or 9...b5 10.Bb3 Nf6.
10.d4 Bb6 11.dxe5 fxe5?
Better is 11...Nxe5 12.Nxe5 fxe5, but the engines reckon White has at least the upper hand after both 13.Ne4 and 13.Rxe5!?, eg 13.Rxe5!? Bxf2+ 14.Kh1 c6 15.Ne4 Bh4 16.Be3 with an initiative.
12.Ne4
Not 13.Nxe5?? Bxf2+ etc.
12...Ne7
Even worse is 12...Be6? as White wins by moving either knight to g5.
13.Bg5 c6 14.Bxe7
Even stronger, according to the engines, is 14.Nxe5.
14...Qxe7 15.Bxd5+ cxd5 16.Qxd5 Kh8 17.Neg5?
White has the upper hand after this, according to the engines, but there are much better moves, including the simple 17.Qxe5.
17...Bxf2+! 18.Kxf2 Qxg5
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| Black has got the pawn back, at least temporarily, but e5 is weak |
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19.Rxe5?!
This might be enough for an edge, but the engines reckon White should get the king to safety first with 19.Kg1, picking up the pawn next move, eg 19...Qf6 20.Nxe5, one point being 20...Qb6+ seems well met by 21.Qd4!?, when 21...Qxb2?! looks to be asking for trouble, one line running 22.Nc4!? Qb5 23.Nd6 Qh5 24.Re7 with strong pressure.
19...Qg6 20.Kg1 Bg4 21.Nd4!
The engines agree this is best, even though it takes a piece away from defence of the king.
21...Qf6?!
Almost certainly better is the engines' manoeuvre 21...Qb6!? 22.b3 Qf6, when 23.h3 (this is the best move, according to them, as also is the case in the game) Rac8! comes very close to equalising, since 24.hxg4 allows a perpetual with 24...Qf2+ 25.Kh2 Qh4+ etc.
22.h3!?
Black equalises after 22.Ree1?! Qf2+ 23.Kh1 Qxb2, according to the engines.
22...Qf2+ 23.Kh1
The engines prefer 23.Kh2!? Qxb2 24.Rae1!?, claiming at least the upper hand for White.
23...Rad8!
The engines agree getting the last piece into play is more important than grabbing the b2 pawn, after which 24.Rae1 looks strong.
24.Qe4
White can take a second pawn with 24.Qxb7!?, according to the engines, when 24...Rb8? 25.Qe4 leaves White well on top, but 24...Bc8 is not so clear.
24...Qxb2 25.Qe1
The engines reckon the text, 25.Rb1 and 25.Re1 all give complete equality.
25...Bc8
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| White has two isolated pawns, but the knight is strong, and the black king is probably no safer than the white one |
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26.a4 Qb6 27.Qg3!? Qd6 28.Rae1 Bd7 29.Qh4 Qf6 30.Qg3 Qf4 31.Qxf4 Rxf4 32.Rd5 Rff8 33.Re7!? Bxa4 34.Rg5 Rd7 35.Rgxg7 Rxe7 36.Rxe7
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| How would you assess this rook-and-minor-piece ending? |
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Black has a protected passed pawn that is on the farside from the kings, and has what is usually the better minor piece for cooperating with a rook. But White's rook is much more active, and the knight is well-placed. The engines reckon the position is equal.
36...Rc8 37.Rxb7 Rxc3 38.Ne6 h3
Possible is 38...Rxh3+!? as 39.gxh3 loses to 39...Bc6, but White has 39.Kg1!, eg 39...Rg3 40.Rb8+ Rg8 41.Rb6 Bb5 42.Nc7 etc.
39.Ra7 Bb5 40.Nc7 Rc6 41.Kh2!?
A draw is all but inevitable after 41.Nxb5.
41...Bc4 42.g4 a5!? 43.Ne8?!
Other moves are probably better, including activating the king with 43.Kg3.
43...Ra6 44.Rc7
The minor-piece ending after 44.Rxa6? is almost certainly winning for Black.
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| How should Black proceed? |
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44...Bb5
Best, according to the engines, is 44...Bg8!?, after which they reckon Black is at least slightly better.
45.Rc8 Bxe8
Not 45...Kh7 46.Rc7+ Kg6?? 47.Rg7#.
46.Rxe8+ Kg7 47.Re3 a4 48.Ra3 Kf6 49.Kg3 Ke5 50.Kh4 Kd4 51.Kh5 Kc4 52.h4 Kb4 53.Ra1 Kb3 54.g5 hxg5
Not 54...Kb2?? 55.Rxa4 Rax4 56.g6, which wins for White.
55.hxg5 Kb2 56.Rax4 Rxa4 57.g6 Kc3 58.g7 Ra8 ½–½
Good defending in your last two games,hopefully a price!
ReplyDeleteI have ridden my luck a bit, but am pleased to be undefeated. It is extremely rare that I don't lose at least one game in a tournament, and in this tournament there is only one round to go ...
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