Miniatures 7

IN this occasional series I am going through my decisive games of 20 moves or fewer.

Spanton (ungraded) - J Kaye (168)

North London Spring Congress 1989

Nimzowitsch Defence

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bg4

There are 3,152 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database

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5.Bc4 e6

Probably not 5...Nxe4?! 6.Nxe4 d5 7.Bb3 dxe4 8.Bxf7+!

6.Bb3 d5 7.exd5 exd5 8.Be3

Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon White is slightly better after 8.Bg5.

8...Bb4 9.0-0 Na5 10.Ba4+?!

The engines strongly dislike this, preferring 10.Bg5 or 10.h3.

10...c6 11.Bg5 0-0 12.Qd3 Nc4 13.Nd1 h6 14.Be3?!

It was probably better to maintain the pin with 14.Bh4.

14...Re8

Black has three minor pieces past the halfway line, supported by a rook

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15.Nd2?

Perhaps 15.c3 is best, but Black is well on top after 15...Bd6.

15...Rxe3?!

The simpler 15...Bxd2 16.Bxd2 Be3 is much stronger, but the text also wins.

16.Nxe3 Nxd2 17.Nxg4 Nxg4 18.c3?

Better is 18.h3 Nxf1 19.hxg4, but Black remains a knight up after 19...Qa5 or 19...Nd2.

18...Nxf1 19.cxb4 Qh4 0-1

LESSON: combinations are almost certainly in the offing when enemy pieces cross the middle of the board in strength.