Spanish Four Knights
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.d3 0-0!?
The main move is 5...d6.
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| How should White proceed? |
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6.0-0
This is Stockfish17.1's top choice. Dragon1 prefers 6.Bxc6 bxc6 7.Nxe5, although it reckons 7...d5 8.0-0 Qe8 gives equality.
6...d6 7.Bg5 Bxc3
This is overwhelmingly the commonest move, but the engines marginally prefer 7...Ne7!? Keeping symmetry with 7...Bg4?! has been tried, but 8.Bxf6!? gxf6 9.Bxc6!? bxc6 gives White at least a slight edge, according to the engines.
8.bxc3 Qe7 9.Re1 h6 10.Be3!?
This may be a novelty. Known moves are 10.Bxf6, 10.Bd2, 10.Bc1!? and especially 10.Bh4.
10...Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qd2?
White's pieces are not well-placed to protect a shattered kingside.
12...Bxf3 13.gxf3 Kh7 14.Kh2 Nh5 15.f4?
The engines much prefer 15.d4.
15...exf4 16.Bxf4 Ne5 17.Qe3?!
The engines reckon White should offer the exchange with 17.Kh1!?, or protect the f3 square with 17.Kg2.
17...f5
Even stronger is 17...Qf6.
18.d4
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| Black to play and win |
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18...Nxf4?
Winning is 18...Ng4! 19.hxg4 Qh4+, eg 20.Qh3 Qxf2+ 21.Qg2 Qh4+!? 22.Qh3 Qxh3+ 23.Kxh3 fxg4+ 24.Kxg4 Rxf4+ 25.Kh3 (Kxh5?? g6#) Rf3+ 26.Kh2 (26.Kg4?? Raf8 etc) Rxc3, netting two pawns, or 20.Kg1 Qxg4+ 21.Kf1 Nxf4, when Black is a pawn up, with a continuing attack. The engines reckon 18...a6!? is also better than the text.
19.Qxf4 Ng6
Not 19...fxe4?? 20.Qxe4+ and 21.dxe5.
20.Qg3?
The game is equal after 20.exf5 Nxf4 21.Rxe7, according to the engines.
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| Black to play and win |
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20...f4?
Winning is 20...fxe4, eg 21.Bd3 d5 22.c4 Qf6!? with a large advantage.
21.Qg4 Nh4!? 22.e5 d5?
It was time to go for king safety with 22...Qg5, although 23.Bd3+ Kh8 24.Qxg5 Nf3+! 25.Kh1 hxg5 leaves White with at least a slight edge, according to the engines.
23.Bd3+ Kh8 24.Rg1 Rae8?
Too slow, but the engines' 24...c5 25.Qh5 c4 26.Bg6 is also very good for White.
25.Qh5 f3
Black's game is past saving, eg 25...Rf7 26.e6, or 25...Qd8 26.Rxg7! Nf3+ 27.Kh1!
26.Rg4 Ng2 27.Qg6 Kg8 28.Qh7+ Kf7 29.Rxg7+ 1-0
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