The vast majority end in draws, a natural consequence of modern engines, but occasionally a game escapes such a fate, or is interesting for other reasons.
The following is from a non-team event.
Malcolm Jones (1382) - Spanton (2325)
PJB (Phillip J Beckett) Celebration
Bird's Opening
1.f4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4!?
By no means a common continuation - just 35 games reach this position in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.
 |
| How should Black respond? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
3...d4!?
3...c6 and especially 3...e6 are more popular in Mega25.
4.d3 Nc6!?
Perhaps a novelty. The engines prefer it over the previously played 4...c5.
5.e3
But now the game has transposed into a known position.
5...e5!? 6.fxe5 Ng4 7.exd4!?
The engines agree this improves on the known 7.e4?, when 7...Bb4+ 8.Bd2 Ne3 gave Black a large advantage in Marc Snuverink (1804) - Stefan Tabak (2168), Hoogeveen (Netherlands) 2021 (0-1, 18 moves).
7...Nxd4 8.h3?
Better are 8.Nc3 and 8.Bb4, although the engines agree Black has more than enough for a pawn.
 |
| What should Black play? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
8...Nxe5!
Sharpest and best, whereas 8...Nxf3+?! 9.Qxf3 means White is over the worst.
9.Nxe5?!
Courting disaster, but 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 is also winning for Black, according to the engines.
9...Qh4+ 10.Kd2 Qf4+ 11.Kc3 Qxe5+ 12.Kd2 g6!? 13.Qe1!?
There seems nothing better.
13...Bh6+ 14.Kd1 Qxe1+ 15.Kxe1 Bxc1 (0-1, 30 moves)
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