Arnaud Malet (1823) - Spanton (1889)
Chigorin
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3
This is the commonest move in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, although Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 fluctuate between the text and the almost-as-popular 3.Nc3.
3...Bg4 4.e3
This is third in popularity, behind 4.Nc3 and especially 4.cxd5.
4...e5!?
Chigorin played this twice against Steintiz, losing both games, before switching permanently to 4...e6. This is the ninth time I have played the move, but no one yet has replied with Steinitz's strong rejoinder, which arguably reduces 4...e5!? to strictly a surprise weapon.
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| Can you work out Steinitz's reply, which the engines agree is the strongest move in the position? |
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5.cxd5
Steintiz played 5.Qb3!?, which scores a handsome 58% in Mega25, and is the only continuation without a negative record. Chigorin replied 5...Bxf3, which the engines agree is best, and, after 6.gxf3, chose 6...exd4 in game 10 of their 1889 world championship match and 6...Nge7 in game 14. The engines slightly prefer the little-played 6...dxc4!?, when they reckon best-play runs 7.Bxc4 Qd7 8.dxe5, and now either 8...Na5 or the apparent-novelty 8...0-0-0!?, in each case awarding White at least a slight edge.
5...Qxd5 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.a3?
This mistake occurs eight times in Mega25.
White can win the bishop-pair with 7.Bd2!?, eg 7...Bxc3 8.bxc3 e4 9.c4 and if, as in the game, 9...Qh5, best may be 10.Qb1!?, when Black is struggling for a good reply, eg 10...exf3 11.Qxb7 will see White regain the piece with interest. Malcolm Firth (2130) - David Cooper (2080), Four Nations Chess League (West Bromwich) 2006, went 10...0-0-0 11.Ng1!? [the engines prefer this over 11.Qxe4 Nf6 12.Qf4 Rhe8 13.Be2, which was seen in José Renato Silva de Freitas (1990) - Allysson Ribeiro (1858), Brazil U2000 Championship (São Paulo) 2017, with an unclear position, but Black immediately blundered with 13...g5?? (1-0, 18 moves)] Nf6 12.Ne2 Bxe2 13.Bxe2, when White was winning, according to the engines, although the game was eventually drawn.
However, perhaps best is the simple 7.Be2, when 7...exd4 8.0-0!? Bxc3 9.bxc3 d3!? 10.Qxd3 Bxf3 11.gxf3 0-0-0 12.Qxd5 Rxd5 was slightly better for White, according to the engines, in Justin Horton (2120) - Spanton (2021), Monarch Assurance (Port Erin, Isle of Man) 2003 (½–½, 42 moves).
7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 e4 9.c4
There is nothing better, as 9.h3 fails to 9...exf3 10.hxg4 fxg2.
9...Qh5 10.d5?!
Four moves have been tried in this position - Qa4, Be2, h3 and Qb3 - all of which seem better than the text, but in each case Black is winning, according to the engines.
10...exf3 11.dxc6 fxg2 12.cxb7 gxh1=Q 13.Qa4+
Presumably hoping for 13...c6??, after which 14.bxa8=Q+ wins for White.
13...Bd7 0-1
Lewisham won the match 3.5-1.5
My Battersea Season 2025-6
Date Event Colour Rating Opp's Rating Score Season's Perf
16/9/25 CLL W 1936 1952 0 1552
18/9/25 CLL W 1936 1797 = 1675
16/10/25 CLL W 1889 2047 0 1665
23/10/25 CLL B 1889 1823 1 1805
CLL: Central London League
This could have been tagged as Miniatures 19 as well!
ReplyDeleteNever fear - it will appear in that series in due course ...
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