Miniatures 9

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

Spanton (ungraded) - A Bradshaw (165)

North London Spring Congress 1989

French 3.Bd3

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3!?

This was tried by many of the old masters, including Lasker, Tarrasch, Winawer, Schlechter, Showalter, Marco, Mason and Tartakower.

How should Black respond?

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3...Nf6!?

Stockfish17 and Dragon1 strongly dislike this, preferring the more popular 3...c5 and 3...dxe4.

4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nf3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Be3!?

Normal is 7.0-0.

7...Qb6 8.Qc2?!

This allows an effective reply. The engines suggest 8.Qc1!? or 8.Qd2, claiming a slight edge for White.

8...cxd4 9.Bxd4

Or 9.cxd4 Nb4.

9...Nxd4?!

The engines much prefer 9...Qc7 or 9...Bc5.

10.cxd4 f6!? 11.Bxh7!?

This is Dragon1's top choice, but Stockfish17 prefers 11.Nc3.

11...Rxh7

Forced, as otherwise Black is much worse.

12.Qg6+ Kd8 13.Qxh7 Qxb2 14.0-0 fxe5?

Black had to take the plunge with 14...Qxa1, when play becomes very sharp, eg 15.Qc2 Bb4! 16.Rc1!? (not 16.Nbd2?? Qc3) fxe5!? 17.Ng5!? Nf8!? 18.Qc7+ Ke8, after which White probably has to take the draw by perpetual.

15.Nbd2 e4

Black has the bishop-pair and a pawn for the exchange, but White's lead in development and safer king give a large advantage

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16.Nxe4?

White may still have an advantage after this, but a better way to give up a knight is 16.Rab1!? Qxa2 17.Ra1 Qb2 18.Rfb1 Qc3 19.Qg8! exf3 20.Nxf3, when White only has a rook for two bishops and a pawn, but White's position is so dominating that the engines reckon Black's second-best continuation is 20...Qxf3? The point is that after their best move, 20...a5, there comes 21.Ng5!? Ra6 22.Nh7 etc.

16...dxe4 17.Qxe4

White has the upper hand, according to Dragon1, but Stockfish17 assesses the position as completely equal

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17...Nf6 18.Qe5 Qb6 19.Ng5 Bd6!? 20.Nxe6+??

Falling for the trap, whereas 20.Qe2!? maintains equality, according to the engines, and sets a trap in return: 20...Qxd4? 21.R(either)d1 Qc5 22.Rxd6+! Qxd6 23.Nf7+ and 24.Nxd6.

20...Bxe6 0-1

LESSON: when an opponent apparently puts something en prise (19...Bd6!? seems to interfere with Black's protection of e6), it is either a blunder or a trap - if you are going to take, make sure it is not the latter!