Bodensee Senioren Round Seven

FACED my second German.

Spanton (1937) - Bernhard Willin (1857)

Sicilian Sozin

1.Nc3 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.e4

Offering transposition into a mainline Sicilian.

3...d6

3...e5!? takes the game into independent lines.

4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Bc4

Via an unusual move-order the game has reached the starting point of the Sozin Attack against the Classical Variation of the Sicilian.

There are 24,371 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database

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6...Bd7

This is third-most popular, trailing 6...Qb6 and especially 6...e6.

Note that 6...Nxe4? is a mistake, despite occurring nine times in Mega25, the point being 7.Nxe4 d5 fails to 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bb3, after which 9...dxe4? loses the black queen to 10.Bxf7+!

7.0-0 a6 8.Bb3 e6 9.Be3 Be7 10.f4 Qc7 11.f5 Nd8?

Apparently a novelty, and a not a good one. Robert Fischer - Rodolfo Tan Cardoso, Match (New York) 1957, went 11...Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.a3 e5 14.Be3 Bc6 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Bxd5 Bxd5 17.Qxd5 Rc8 18.c3, with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish17 and Dragon1 (1-0, 46 moves).

12.Qf3 e5!?

This comes to be Stockfish17's top choice, and Dragon1's second choice, at least for a while (marginally behind 12...0-0), but the engines agree White has a winning attack.

13.Nde2 h5!?

The engines like this, along with 13...Nc6.

14.Qg3

The engines prefer 14.Nd5!? Nxd5 15.Bxd5, not worrying about 15...Qxc2?! 16.Rfc1 Qxb2 as 17.Rab1 Qa3 18.Rb3!? gives much more than enough for two pawns, eg 18...Qa5 (18...Qxa2?! 19.Nc3 Qa5 20.Bb6, and the black queen is trapped) 19.Nc3 Rc8 20.Bb6 Rxc3!? 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 22.Rcxc3!?, after which Black has two pawns for the exchange, but is roughly the equivalent of being down a minor piece and a pawn, according to the engines.

14...Rh7

The engines give 14...Bc6!, the point being 15.Qxg7?! lets Black force a draw by repetition, ie 15...Rg8 16.Qh6 Ng4 17.Qh7 (17.Qxh5?? Nxe3) Nf6 etc.

15.Bg5 Bc6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Rad1 b5

How should White proceed?

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18.Bd5

This becomes Dragon1's top choice, although Stockfish17 prefers 18.h3!? or 18.Kh1.

18...Nb7

The engines dislike this, preferring 18...h4!? or 18...Kf8!?

19.Qf3 h4 20.Kh1 Kf8!? 21.Bxc6 Qxc6 22.Nd5 Rc8

On 22...Qxc2 the engines give 23.b4, claiming White has much more than enough for a pawn.

23.Nec3!?

The engines fluctuate between this and 23.Nxf6.

23...Bd8 24.f6 g6

There does not appear to be a good continuation for Black.

25.Ne7!

Sacrificing a pawn to get at Black's king.

25...Bxe7 26.fxe7+ Kxe7

Even worse is 26...Kf8 27.Nd5 etc.

27.Nd5+ Kf8

Forced. Both 27...Ke8?! and 27...Kd7?! can be met by 28.Nf6+, while 27...Kd8? allows 28...Qf6+ and 29...Qe7#.

28.Qf6 Re8 29.Qxg6 Rg7 30.Qh6 Qxc2

White has mate in three

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31.Qh8+ Rg8 32.Rxf7+! Kxf7 33.Qf6#

Stretching My Legs

TAKING advantage of the first really decent day of weather, I headed round the lake (called Lake Constance in English, after the town of Konstanz, but Bodensee in German, after the town of Bodman), across the border into Bavaria, and on to Lindau island.

The island is in the distance, connected to the mainland by a causeway a bridge

It should have been just over six miles, but it was more like seven, or more, as I hugged the shore and twice found the path fenced off without warning. This necessitated retracting my steps, which added to  the distance, but not the enjoyment.

Looking back to Bregenz, with what I am fairly sure are the Swiss Alps in the background

Most of the time I was walking either on a paved footpath beside a cycle lane, or on a narrow dirt track that weaved through trees.

Unusual mural on what turned out to be an art gallery

There were several possible stops on the way for refreshment, but I did not use them (it was a different story walking back in the full heat of the afternoon).

Closer view of Lindau island

This is Ascension weekend in Austria, which means Thursday was a public holiday (even supermarkets closed), and many people take Friday off as well to create a long weekend.

Even so the island was not overly busy, apart from the most popular cafes and restaurants.

Naturally there are plenty of buildings with murals

Some more elaborate than others

The entrance to the harbour is flanked by Bavaria's only lighthouse and by a depiction of a lion from the Bavarian coat of arms

Close-up of the lighthouse

The lion viewed from the lighthouse

This 'fairytale castle' was built in the late-1300s for defence, but became the town prison

Bodensee Senioren Round Six

FACED my second Austrian.

Johann Sloboda (1807) - Spanton (1937)

Colle-Zukertort

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 c5 4.b3 Nc6 5.Bd3!?

Normal is 5.Bb2, but the text has also been played by grandmasters.

5...cxd4!?

Trying to take advantage of White's move-order by fixing a pawn on d4.

6.exd4 Nf6 7.Nbd2!? Nb4!? 8.Be2

The engines are happy with the text, but also suggest 8.Bb5+ Bd7 9.Be2!?, which is reminiscent of a popular manoeuvre by Black against the Catalan, ie 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7!?

8...Qc7 9.c4 dxc4!? 10.bxc4 b5?

A simple, but bad, oversight.

11.a3 bxc4?

After 11...Nc6 12.cxb5 White is winning, according to Stockfish17 and Dragon1, but a lot of moves will have to be played before the extra pawn proves decisive.

12.axb4

How big is White's advantage?

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White is not only up knight for pawn (Black cannot play 12...Bxb4?? as that loses the bishop to 13.Qa4+ and 14.Qxb4), but also leads in development. The engines reckon White's advantage is worth more than a minor piece.

12...c3 13.Nc4 Bd7 14.Nce5!? Bxb4 15.Qc2 0-0 16.Nxd7 Qxd7 17.Ba3 Rab8?

The c pawn is Black's only trump in the position. It is not much, but it is something - or, rather, was something - so 17...a5 should have been played.

18.Bxb4 Rxb4 19.Qxc3 Nd5 20.Qa3 Rfb8 21.0-0

Not 21.Qxa7?? Qxa7 22.Rxa7 Rb1+ 23.Bd1 Nc3 24.Kd2 Ne4+ 25.Ke3 Nc3 26.Kd2 Ne4+ etc.

21...Rb2 22.Rfe1 Nf4 23.Bf1 R8b7 24.Ra2 R2b3 25.Qa4 Qd8 26.Rc2 g5!?

Desperation, but there is nothing in 26...Rxf3!? 27.gxf3 Qg5+ 28.Kh1 h5, eg 29.Rc8+ Kh7 30.Qc2+ f5 31.d5!? Nxd5 32.Rxe6 h4 33.Rf8.

27.Rec1 Qd5?! 28.Qe8+ Kg7 29.Rc5

The engines flash red at this move as White has stronger continuations, but the text is plenty good enough.

29...Qe4 30.Rxg5+ Ng6

Not 30...Kf6? 31.Re7 Qh8#.

31.Qc6 Qf4 32.Rg3 R7b6 33.Qc5 Kh8!? 34.Kh8 Qd6 1-0

The Painting On The Wall

PART of the story of Bregenz is told in external murals, known in this part of the world, especially Austria and Bavaria, as Lüftlmalerei.

This depicts the Battle of Bregenz in January 1408 when an alliance led by Habsburg nobles defeated a besieging Swiss army that was probably not expecting to be attacked in winter

An image of George and the Dragon, apparently (first) painted almost 500 years ago, shortly after the town was bought by the Habsburgs

I am on less-sure ground here, but this series of  murals seems to be highlighting that the Han von Bleydegg and von Heerliberg families, prominent in Bregenz in the 1500s and 1600s, "praised Jesus Christ" while also taking up arms 

Another view

The figure on the far left is St Christopher with the Christ Child, and next to him may be St Gall, who lived in the area as a hermit after accompanying St Columbanus to Bregenz in 611 - presumably the kneeling figure represents the citizens of the town, some of whose coats of arms are depicted, praying for divine help

This mural on the Kinz wine bar in the lower town was painted in 1897 and depicts Apollo driving the chariot of the sun

I suspect this mural, promoting a repair workshop in the lower town, is also relatively modern

Bodensee Senioren Round Five

FACED my first Austrian.

Spanton (1937) - Josef Granabetter (1840)

Maróczy Bind

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Qc7 7.Be3

The commonest move in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database is 7.a3!?

7...d6 8.Be2 Nbd7 9.0-0 b6 10.Rc1 Bb7

Black has set up a Hedgehog that will be completed by ...Be7 and ...0-0

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According to Wikipedia: "Although Black's position is cramped, it has great latent energy, which may be released if Black is able to play ...b5 or ...d5 at some point. These pawn breaks are particularly effective because White usually places pawns on c4 and e4 (the Maróczy Bind)."

11.f3 Rc8 12.b3 Qb8 13.Qd2 Be7 14.Rfd1 0-0

Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position, which occurs 152 times in Mega25?

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White's extra space gives a slight edge, according to Stockfish17 and Dragon1.

Can you guess White's most popular continuation?

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15.Nc2!?

The main line in Mega25 runs 15.Bf1!? Bd8!? 16.Qf2 Bc7 17.g3!? Rfe8 18.Bg2, when Dragon1 gives White a slight edge, but Stockfish17 reckons Black has equalised. If you correctly guessed White's move, and especially if you expected Black's reply, you are either familiar with the theory or should seriously consider taking up the Hedgehog.

The text, which is second-most popular in Mega25, unveils pressure against d6 and b6.

15...Qa8!?

Normal is 15...Bd8!? (16.Qxd6?! Bc7) or 15...Rfe8.

16.Na4 d5?

Thematic, but the loss of a pawn is too much. The engines give 16...Qb8, the idea being to meet 17.Nxb6 with 17...Nxb6 18.Bxb6 Bxe4.

17.exd5

Even stronger, according to the engines, is 17.cxd5, eg 17...exd5 18.e5 Ne8 19.f4 b5 20.Bg4!?

17...exd5 18.Nxb6

Not 18.Bxb6?? Nxb6 19.Nxb6 Bc5+ etc.

18...Nxb6 19.Bxb6 dxc4 20.Bxc4 Bc5+ 21.Bxc5 Rxc5 22.Ne1 Rh5

Black has pressure against the weakened white kingside, but not enough for a pawn, according to the engines

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23.Qf4 Qa7+ 24.Kh1 Nd5 25.Bxd5 Rxd5 26.Rxd5 Qxd5 27.Nd3 a5

The engines suggest 27...h6 or 27...Rd8. albeit giving White the upper hand.
28.h3 h6 29.Qe5 Qa8 30.Nf4

How should Black proceed?

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30...Bc6??

Black has to go in for 30...Bxf3!? 31.gxf3 Qxf3+, when 32.Kh2 Qf2+ 33.Ng2 Qxa2 leaves White up a knight for two pawns, but with only a slight edge (Stockfish17) or at most the upper hand (Dragon1).
Also losing is 30...Bb7?? 31.Rc7 (31.Nh5 is also strong), eg 31...Re8 32.Qf5 Rf8 33.Ng6 etc.

31.Nh5 1-0

Exploring Upper Bregenz

THE quickest way to get to upper Bregenz, aka old Bregenz, from the lakeside modern town is up a paved steep path to the tower gateway.

It is also possible to skirt round to the rear, enjoying tantalising views on the way

Path through Bregenz vineyards

Closing in on a side entrance

Sections of medieval walls are soon glimpsed 

Old and new

St Martin's Tower, which began in about 1250 as a warehouse before becoming the upper town's main lookout point around 1600

Bodensee Senioren Round Four

FACED my second Swiss.

Beat Eppler (1781) - Spanton (1937)

Sicilian Closed

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6!? 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.d3 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.h3

Preventing 7...Ng4.

7...Nd4 8.Nge2 e5 9.Qd2 Be6

How should White proceed?

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10.0-0!?
Stockfish17 and Dragon1 like this, even though it loses a pawn, and 10.f4.

10...Bxh3!? 11.Nxd4!

The only good move. Especially bad is 11.Bxh3?? Nf3+ and 12...Nxd2.

11...Bxg2 12.Ne6?!

This seems to be a novelty, and is an improvement on the known 12.Nc6? But even better is 12.Nf5, when 12...gxf5 (12...Bxh1? 13.Nxg7+ is very good for White as 13...Kf8? runs into 14.Bh6) 13.Kxg2 gives White full compensation for a pawn, according to the engines.

12...fxe6 13.Kxg2 0-0

How would you assess the middlegame?

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Black is a (doubled) pawn up, but White has the better bishop and the more useful half-open file. The engines reckon Black is slightly better.

14.Bh6?!

White should probably not be offering an exchange of bishops.

14...Qd7!?

The engines prefer exchanging bishops, but the text is also fine as White, to avoid such an exchange, must spend another tempo moving the bishop.

15.Ne2 Rf7 16.f3 Raf8 17.Be3!? b6 18.c4 d5 19.b3 d4 20.Bh6

Much worse is 20.Bf2? or 20.Bg1?, when White's bishop is passive, and Black's bishop will get the h6-c1 diagonal.

20...Bxh6 21.Qxh6 Nh5 22.Rf2 Rf6?

22...Rf6? allows White to equalise

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23.Qg5 Qc7 24.Rh1 Kh8

White threatened 25.Rxh5!

25.g4 Nf4+

Retreating the knight leaves White slightly better (Dragon1) or at least equal (Stockfish17).

26.Nxf4 exf4 27.Rh6!?

Possibly better is 27.e5 R6f7 28.Qxg6, when 28...Qxe5 gives a completely equal position, according to the engines.

27...Kg7 28.Kf1

How should Black proceed?

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28...Rh8?

Both 28...Kg8 and 28...R6f7 maintain equality, according to the engines.

29.Rfh2

There seems to be no completely satisfactory answer to this.

29...Qd8??

Best may be 29...Rff8 30.Qh4 Qf7! 31.Rxh7+ Rxh7 32.Qxh7+ Kf6 33.Qh4+ Ke5 (33...Kg7?? 34.e5) 34.Qg5+ Kd6 35.e5+ Kd7 36.Rh6 Kg8, after which material is equal, but the engines reckon White is winning, although it is not clear how White makes progress.

30.Qe5 Kg8 31.g5 Rf7 32.Rxg6+! 1-0

Old Bregenz

BREGENZ was apparently first settled 3,500 years ago by the Celtic Brigantii.

They heavily fortified the town, but it fell to the Romans in 15 BC, becoming headquarters for the Roman fleet on the lake, called Raetiae Brigantinus by Pliny the Elder (now Lake Constance in English, Bodensee in German).

The Germanic Alemanni destroyed Brigantium, as it became known, in AD 260, but a new town, on higher ground, was founded around 1170.

The main gateway, added in about 1250

Close-up of the gate

The view after leaving the upper town

Bodensee Senioren Round Three

FACED a German.

Michaël Dittmar (1808) - Spanton (1937)

Scotch

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3

I can remember when this used to be the main continuation, but today it lags well-behind 5.Be3, and probably also 5.Nxc6. However, in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database it scores two percentage points better than the other two moves.

5...Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Qe2!?

This looks strange at first, but it scores 57% in Mega25, the idea being to quickly castle long and attack on the kingside.

How should Black respond?

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7...0-0!?

Castling into it? Maybe, but it is hard to believe Black has made a mistake in the preceding moves, so unless short castling is itself a mistake, this must be satisfactory.

8.Be3

Slightly more popular in Mega25 is 8.Bg5, when the main line runs 8...h6 9.Bh4 a5!? 10.a4 Nd4 11.Qd3 Nxb3 12.cxb3 c6 13.0-0-0, with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish17 and Dragon1.

8...Re8 9.f3 Qe7?!

This takes away support for the move ...d5, which is probably what Black should be prioritising. With that in mind, the engines suggest 9...Ne7!?, while most popular in Mega25 is the immediate 9...d5!?, when the main line runs 10.0-0-0 d4 11.Bg5 Be6, reaching a position the engines at first reckon favours White, but which they come to rate as equal.

10.0-0-0 d6

White has the upper hand, according to the engines

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11.Kb1!? Be6 12.h4?!

Apparently a novelty, and probably not a good one. Nenad Ferčec (2460) -Tamás Fodor Jr (2502), Pula (Croatia) 2012, went 12.g4 Ne5? (better is 12...Nd7, according to the engines) 13.Nd4 Bc4?! 14.Qg2 Bxf1 15.Qxf1 Bxd4 16.Bxd4 Ng6 17.h4, when the engines reckon White is winning (but ½–½, 39 moves).

12...d5!?

It has taken two tempi to get there, but if the move is sound, it should just about equalise. Dragon1 reckons it is the best move, but Stockfish17 fluctuates between the text and 12...Rad8.

How should White respond?

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13.Bxb6

There is nothing in 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Bxb6 axb6 16.Qxe7 as Black has 16...Nxe7 - but not 16...Rxe7? 17.Rxd5 Re1+ 18.Nc1 Nb4 as White has 19.Rd7 Nxa2 (19...Rxa2?? 20.Rd8+ Re8 21.Rxe8#)) 20.Bc4! Rxh1 21.Bxa2!

However the engines give 13.Bg5!? d4 14.Na4 h6!? 15.Qe1!? Qd6!? with an unclear position that may slightly favour White.

13...axb6 14.g4?

This is definitely bad, but playable is 14.e5!? Nh5 15.Qf2, when 15...Nxe5 wins a pawn, but White has decent-looking compensation and certainly practical chances. However, simplest is 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Bxd5, which reaches the same equal position as in the first note to White's 13th move.

14...dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4

Even stronger is 15...Bxg4!, one point being 16.Nxf6+ can be met by 16...Qxf6.

16.Qxe4 Bxb3 17.cxb3!?

The engines like this way of recapturing.

17...Qxe4+ 18.fxe4 Rxe4 19.Rg1?!

The engines strongly dislike this, preferring 19.g5.

19...Rae8 20.Bc4 Ne5?!

Probably best is 20...Kf8, unpinning the f pawn and negating back-rank mating threats.

21.Bd5 Rxg4 22.Rxg4 Nxg4 23.Bxb7

How would you assess this rook-and-minor-piece ending?

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Black has an extra pawn and the better pawn-structure. But White has the better minor piece for cooperating with a rook and for playing with rival pawn-majorities. The engines reckon Black has the upper hand (Dragon1) or at least a slight edge (Stockfish17).

23...Ne5

The engines suggest sorting out the back-rank problems with 23...Kf8, 23...g6 or 23...h6.

24.Bg2!?

White should probably immediately set about creating a passed pawn, starting with 24.a4.

24...f6 25.b4 Kf7 26.a4 Ke7 27.a5 bxa5?!

Probably better is 27...c6.

28.bxa5 c6

White is still a pawn down, but no longer has doubled pawns and has the much more advanced passer, leading the engines to call the position completely equal

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29.Ka2

Not 29.b4? Rb8 30.Rd4 c5 etc.

29...Rb8 30.b3?
But now 30.Rd4 was fine, as was 30.a6 (30...Ra8 31.Bf1).

30...Rb5 31.b4

Best, but White is losing a second pawn.

31...Rxb4 32.Ka3 Rb7

After 32...Rxa4? 33.a6 Black is struggling for a draw (but should get it, according to the engines), while 32...Rb5 33.Ka4 Nc4? (better is 33...Rb2, transposing to the same position as in the game's 33...Rb2) 34.Bxc6 Rxa5 35.Kb4 Rh5 36.Kxc4 Rxh4+ is also equal, according to the engines, but with plenty of play in the position with Black's rook and three pawns battling White's rook and bishop.

33.Ka4

Possibly slightly better is 33.Bf1.

33...Rb2!? 34.Bf1 Ra2+ 35.Kb4 c5+ 36.Kb5

Hopeless is 36.Kxc5 Rxa5, after which White has no compensation for being two pawns down. Indeed, with all remaining pawns on one side of the board, the knight is probably the better minor piece despite the presence of rooks.

36...c4 37.a6 c3 38.Rc1 Rb2+ 39.Ka4 Kc2

How should White proceed?

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40.Ka3?

White needed to move the bishop, while keeping it covering the a pawn, so both 40.Be2 and 40.Bb5 draw, according to the engines, but 40.Bg2?? loses to 40...Ra2+ 41.Kb5 Nd3 etc.

Black to play and win

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40...Rb1!

The only winning move, although at first glance it may seem as if Black cannot stop the a pawn. but that is not so.

41.Rxc2 Rxf1 42.a7 Ra1+ 43.Ra2 Nc4+

The move MD missed.

The game finished:

44.Kb3 Rxa2 45.Kxa2 Nb6 46.Kb3 Kd6 0-1

Comfortable Playing Conditions

Tournament hall at the Grand Hotel Bregenz

Bodensee Senioren Round Two

FACED an Italian.

Spanton (1937) - Carlo Luciani (2122)

Spanish Exchange

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Nc3 0-0-0 9.Be3 Re8!?

This is the top choice of Stockfish17 and Dragon1, along with 9...Ne7, and scores a fabulous 66% in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.

How should White respond?

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10.f3

The engines are happy with this and the much more popular 10.0-0-0.

10...Bb4 11.Nde2 f5 12.a3 Bd6 13.Kf2?

The king is not safe here. Instead 13.0-0-0 gives a position in which the engines reckon White is 'only' slightly worse (engines do not like White's chances in the Exchange Variation of the Spanish, especially in 5.d4 lines).

13...Nf6 14.exf5

Forced, but opening lines for Black's bishop-pair is not what White wants to do.

14...Bxf5 15.Nd4 Bg6 16.Rac1 Rhf8 17.h3

Forced - 17...Ng4+ was a major threat.

17...Nd5!?

The engines reckon this eases White's difficulties. They prefer increasing the pressure with 17...Ng5 or 17...Rf7.

18.Nxd5

Another forced move as 18.Nd1? allows Black to double on the e file with a large advantage.

18...cxd5

Black still has the bishop-pair, but White no longer has the superior pawn-structure

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19.c3 c5 20.Nb3 b6 21.Rce1

Not 21.Rcd1? Bc2 22.Rxd5 Bg3+! 23.Kxg3 Bxb3.

21...Kb7 22.Bg5 Kc6 23.Re2?

Black has a winning advantage anyway, according to the engines, but this allows an immediate finish.

23...Bg3+! 0-1

Resignation might seem premature, but Black's advantage is worth more than a rook, according to the engines.

Latest Chess Pen

Sparkasse is the name of a Bregenz-based savings bank

Bodensee Senioren Round One

FACED a Swiss.

Spanton (1937) - Lothar Eichenberger (1739)

Sicilian Bb5(+)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.Bxc6!?

This continuation is second in popularity in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, a long way behind 4.0-0.

4...bxc6 5.d3 Rb8!?

The main line in Mega25 runs 5...Ne7 6.Qe2 Ng6 7.h4!? h5 8.e5!? f6!? 9.Qe4 Kf7!?, when Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon White is slightly better.

6.b3 Nf6!?

The engines do not like this, preferring 6...Rb7!? (Stockfish17) or 6...d6 (Dragon1).

How should White proceed?

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7.Bb2

Stockfish17 suggests 7.e5 Nd5 8.c4!?, but Dragon1 varies with 8.0-0.

7...d5 8.Nbd2 Ba6 9.c4 Be7 10.0-0 0-0

Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position?

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Black has the bishop-pair, but neither bishop has much scope. White has the superior pawn-structure, and has achieved one of the main aims of the 4.Bxc6!? variation, namely to keep Black's light-square bishop locked away on the queenside, unable to give much, if any, help against a white kingside attack. The engines give White the upper hand.

11.Qc2

The engines prefer 11.Ne5, 11.Rel or 11`.Qe2!?

11...Bb7!?

This is Dragon1's top choice for a short while. It looks strange moving the bishop to a diagonal that is no more likely to open than the one it is already on, but from b7 the bishop gives extra support to the d5 pawn - support that might be needed if White manoeuvres to be in position to initiate central captures designed to pressure c5 and/or e7. 

12.Rac1 Rbc8 13.Rfe1 Nd7 14.Nf1 d4?!

This would be fine - good even - if Black could follow up with ...e5, but White can prevent that. The engines agree 14...f6 is best, but disagree as to how White should meet it. If 15.e5, then 15...f5 leaves the centre closed, but gains kingside space. Stockfish17 suggests 15.h4!?, and if 15...e5 then 16.h5 or 16.Ng3, intending 17.Nf5. An improvement might be 15.Qe2. Dragon1 suggests15.exd5 cxd5!? 16.Rxe6, but Black seems to have decent compensation for a pawn as the position is opening up for the bishops. All in all, a strategically tricky position.

15.e5 Qc7

If 15...f6 (or 15...f5) then 16.exf6 Rxf6 leaves White with a pleasant choice between 17.Re4 and 17.Ng3 (other moves are also probably good).

16.Ng3 Rce8 17.Nh5 Bc8 18.Nf4?

Best is probably 18.Qd2!?, eg 18...f6 19.Re4!? Nxe5 20.Nxe5 fxe5, when, for a pawn, White gets good kingside play.

How should Black proceed?

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18...g6?

This is simply weakening, whereas 18...g5!? 19.Nh5 g4 20.Qd2 Kh8 (forced) 21.Ng5 Nxe5 seems to safely win a pawn, albeit Black's king looks a little exposed.

19.Qe2 Kg7?!

This is arguably consistent, but almost certainly better is 19...Bd8!?, preparing ...f6.

20.Ra1

Clearing c1 for the bishop.

20...Rh8?!

Central counterplay, via ...Bd8 and ...f6, was urgent.

21.h4 Reg8 22.Bc1 Qd8 23.Qe4 Bb7

The engines suggest 23...h6!?, reckoning 24.Qxc6 Qb6 25.Qxb6 axb6 gives Black more than enough for a pawn. However White does not have to grab the doubled pawn, eg 24.g3 Kf8 25.Kf1 Bb7 26.Bd2, with further manoeuvring to come, looks pleasant for White.

24.Ng5

Threatening to double-capture on e6.

24...Nf8

Possibly better is 24...Bxg5 25.hxg5, as long as Black does not lose the queen to 25...Qxg5? 26.Nxe6+! etc.

25.Qf3 Bxg5?!

Better, but still losing, is 25...Qe8, although after 26.Ne4 Black's pieces on the kingside are numerous but curiously helpless.

26.hxg5

Even stronger is 26.Nh5+! gxh5 27.Bxg5.

26...h6

There is no good answer to the threat of 27...Qh3-h6+, or the even bigger threat of 27...Nh5+!? 28.gxh5 Qxh5.

27.Nh3 h5?

Better is 27...Nh7, but 28.gxh6+ leaves White the equivalent of almost a rook ahead, according to the engines.

28.Qf6+ Kh7

Or 28...Qxf6 29.gxf6 Kh7 30.Ng5+ Kh6 31.Nxf7+ Kh7 32.Ng5+ Kh6 33.f7 etc.

29.Qxd8 1-0