Said Zinoun (1623) - Spanton (1941)
Catalan
1.d4 e6!? 2.c4 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Nc3!?
This trails 5.Nbd2 and especially 5.Bd2 in popularity, but has been played by many grandmasters.
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| How should Black respond? |
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5...Ne4!?
Much more popular are 5...dxc4 and especially 5...0-0, and these are the top choices of Stockfish17 and Dragon1.
6.Bd2!?
Offering the bishop-pair. The engines suggest 6.Qc2.
6...Nxd2 7.Nxd2!?
The engines slightly prefer this over capturing with the queen, when Black has 7...dxc4.
7...0-0 8.Bg2 c6 9.0-0
7...0-0 8.Bg2 c6 9.0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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Black has the bishop-pair, but gaining it has meant falling behind in development. Stockfish17 reckons the chances are equal, but Dragon1 gives White at least the better part of equality.
9...f5!?
The engines are not keen on this, suggesting 9...Nd7 or 9...a5!?
10.e3!?
This may be a novelty. The engines reckon it as good as the known 10.a3, and a tad better than the other known move, 10.Qb3.
10...Nd7 11.Ne2!? Nf6
Winning a pawn with 11...Bxd2!? 12.Qxd2 dxc4 did not seem worthwhile.
12.Qc2 Ne4 13.Nf3 Bd7 14.c5!?
The engines are fine with this, one of the points being 14...b6?? loses the dark-square bishop to 15.a3 etc.
14...Ba5 15.a3 Bc7 16.Rfd1!?
Denuding the kingside of a major piece looks a little risky, but SZ apparently had a particular follow-up in mind.
16...Qf6 17.Bf1?!
Putting all his eggs, as it were, in the queenside basket. The problem is that Black's kingside play is likely to come first.
17...g5 18.b4?!
Best may be 18.Bg2!?
18...f4 19.exf4 gxf4 20.Ne5?
Better is 20.Nxf4, but 20...Bxf4 21.gxf4 Qxf4 is good for Black.
20...fxg3! 21.Nxg3
Not 21.Nxd7?? Qxf2+ 22.Kh1 Qxh2#.
21...Rad8?
Not 21...Bxe5 22.dxe5 Qxe5? as Black cannot recapture after 23.Nxe4. However Black can instead continue 22...Qg7, when White cannot defend f2.
22.Ng4??
Correct is 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Qxe4!, when 23...Qxf2+ 24.Kh1 gives equal chances, according to the engines.
22...Qg6 23.Bh3?!
Perhaps better, but still losing, is 23.Be2.
23...h5 24.Ne3
There is no satisfactory defence.
24...h4
Even stronger is 24...Rxf2.
25.f3 hxg3 26.fxe4 Rf2 27.Rd2
The engines agree this is best, but inadequate.
27...Rdf8 28.e5!?
White is lost anyway, so this might be the best practical try.
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| How should Black proceed? |
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28...Qxc2?
Black has several winning continuations, including a mate in four: 28...gxh2+ 29.Kh1 Rf1+! 30.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 31.B(orN)xf1 Qg1#.
29.Rxc2 Rxc2?
Black may be still winning, and is certainly better, after 29...gxh2+ 30.Kh1 Rxc2 31.Nxc2 Rf2 32.Ne1 Bd8.
30.Nxc2 Rf2 31.Ne3 Rxh2
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| How would you assess this rook-and-double-minor-piece ending? |
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Black is a pawn up and still has the bishop-pair, but it will take time to activate the bishops, and meanwhile Black's extra pawn is vulnerable. The engines give Black a slight edge.
32.Bg2
Possibly better is 32.Bg4, the idea being 32...Rd2 can be met by 33.Rd1.
32...Bd8 33.Ng4 Rh4 34.Bf3 Bg5 35.Kg2 Bf4!?
Setting a trap, but the engines reckon Black should give up the g pawn, eg 35...Bg8 36.Kxg3 Kg7, claiming Black still has a slight edge.
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| What should White play? |
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36.Nf6+?
White equalises with both 36.Rf1 and 36.Be2, according to the engines.
36...Kh8
The engines reckon 36...Kf8 is even more convincing.
37.Nxd7 Rh2+ 38.Kf1
Even worse is 38.Kg1 Be3+ 39.Kf1 Rf2+ etc, according to the engines.
38...Rf2+ 39.Ke1 Rxf3 40.Ke2
Or 40.Ra2 Be3, when threats include the simple ...Bxd4.
40...Rf2+ 41.Kd3 g3 42.Rg1 Bh2
The game finished:
43.Rxg2 Rxg2 44,a4 Ra2 45.a5 Kg7 46.Nf6 Kf7 47.Ng2 Rg2 48.Ne3 Rg3 49.Ke2 Rxe3+ 50.Kxe3 Kg6 51.Kd3 a6 0-1
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