Spanton (2009) - Raymond Wynarczyk (1843)
Philidor
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5!?
This is the top choice of Stockfish17 and Dragon1.
4.Nf3!?
As is fairly well-known, White gets little from 4.dxe5 dxe5 5.Qxd8+. The text is more popular in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database, and is preferred by the engines.
4...Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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The engines reckon White's extra space in the centre and freer development give a slight edge.
7.h3 c6 8.Re1!?
7.h3 c6 8.Re1!?
Overwhelmingly more popular is 8.a4.
8...b5 9.Bb3 a5 10.a4 b4 11.Nb1 c5!?
This may be a novelty. Known moves are 11...h6!? and 11...Qc7.
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| How should White respond? |
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12.dxe5!
This is the only move to give White any sort of advantage, according to the engines.
12...Nxe5 13.Bf4?!
Probably the wrong follow-up. The engines reckon White should fix the centre with 13.Nxe5, eg 13...dxe5 14.Nd2 Qc7 15.Qe2, when the c4 square makes a fine outpost for a white minor piece.
13...Bb7
The engines like 13...c4!?, when 14.Ba2?! loses the exchange to 14...b3! 15.cxb3 Nd3 etc, while 14.Bxe5 cxb3 15.Bd4 bxc2 gives Black at least a pull, according to the engines, despite Black having an isolated d6 pawn on a half-open file.
14.Nbd2 Qc7 15.Bxe5!? dxe5
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| Black has the bishop-pair, but the dark-square bishop is bad and White has the c4 outpost |
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16.Qe2 Ba6?!
This is easily countered. The engines prefer 16...g6!?, while Stockfish17's top choice is the positional pawn sacrifice 16...c4!? 17.Bxc4 Bc5, after which the dark-square bishop is active, and White's extra pawn on c2 is somewhat vulnerable.
17.Bc4 Bb7 18.Rac1!? Rac8 19.b3 Nd7?!
RW offered a draw.
20.Ba6
Even stronger seems to be 20.Bd5.
20...Bf6?
Better is 20...Bxa6 21.Qxa6 Nb8 and ...Nc6, but even so the engines give White at least a slight edge.
21.Bxb7 Qxb7 22.Nc4 Qc7 23.Rcd1 Nb6 24.Nxb6 Qxb6 25.Rd5 Rfe8 26.Qc4
Even stronger, according to the engines, is 26.Nd2, intending Nc4.
26...Re6 27.Red1 g6 28.g4!? h6 29.h4 Be7!?
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| How should White proceed? |
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30.Rxe5?!
Missing the point of Black's play. White already has a winning position, according to the engines, and should ratchet up the pressure, eg 30.Kg2 Qb8 31.Rd7 Rd8 32.R1d5 Rxd7 33.Rxd7, although there is no immediate breakthrough.
30...Rxe5 31.Nxe5 Qf6 32.Rd5!
The only move to maintain an advantage - other moves leave Black with at least a slight edge, according to the engines.
32...Rd8
The engines give 32...Qf4!? 33.Qe2 Bd6!? 34.Rxd6 Qxe5 35.Rd5, although White remains a sound pawn up.
33.Rxd8+?
Other moves are better, including 33.Kf1, according to the engines, one point being 33...Qxh4?? loses to 34 Rxd8+ Bxd8 35.Qxf7+ Kh8 36.Nxg6#.
33...Bxd8 34.Qxc5
Better may be 34.Nd3 Qxh4 35.e5, but at best White has only a slight edge, according to the engines.
34...Bb6 35.Qc8+
Not 35.Nd7?? Qa1+ etc.
35...Kg7 36.Nd3 Qxh4
RW offered a draw.
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| Should the draw offer be accepted? |
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The position is completely equal, according to the engines, as long as White plays 37.Kg2!? or 37.e5.
37.Qd7?!
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| How should Black proceed? |
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37...h5
The engines reckon 37...Qh3!? gives at least a slight edge.
38.gxh5 gxh5?
38.gxh5 gxh5?
Both 38...Qxh5 and 38...Qg5+ 39.Kf1 Qxh5 give complete equality, according to the engines.
39.Qf5 f6?!
The engines' 39...Bd4 is probably better.
40.Kg2?!
Almost certainly better is 40.Kf1.
40...Qg5+?!
The engines much prefer 40...Kh6!?
41.Qxg5+?!
It seems only 41.Kh3!? gives winning chances, eg 41...Qxf5+ 42.exf5 Kh6 43.f4, although this too may be drawn.
41...fxg5
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| Black is a pawn down, but the ending is completely equal, according to the engines |
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42.Ne5 Bc7 43.Nc4 g4 44.Ne3 Be5 45.f3 gxf3+ 46.Kxf3 Kf6 47.Nc4 Bc7 48.Nb2!? Ke5 49.Nd3+ Kd4 50.Nf4?!
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| What should Black play? |
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50...Bd6
Not 50...Kc3?? 51.Nd5+ etc, but Black has at least a slight edge, according to the engines, after 50...Bxf4!? 51.Bxf4 h4 52.e5 h3 53.e6 h2 54.e7 h1=Q 55.e8=Q Qh4+, eg 56.Kf3! (an only-move, as 56.Kf5?! Kc3 wins for Black, according to the engines, one line running 57.Qc6+ Kb2 58.Ke5 Qh2+ etc) Qh3+ 57.Kf4 Qh2+ 58.Kg4 Qxc2, when Black has the advantage, but it is probably not a winning one, although the position looks difficult for White to defend.
51.Ne2+ Ke5 52.Ke3!? h4!? 53.Nf4 Bc5+ 54.Kf3 h3!? 55.Nxh3 Kd4 56.Nf4 Kc3 57.Nd3 Be7 58.Ne5 Bd6 59.Nc4 Bc7 60.Nd3 Kd2 61.e5
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| Black to play and draw |
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61...Bxe5!
The only move, but clear enough.
The game finished:
62.Nc4+ Kc2 63.Nxa5 Bc7 64.Nc6 Kxb3 65.a5 Bxa5 66.Nxb4 ½–½
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