Ewa Balcerczak (1537) - Spanton (1915)
Giuoco Piano
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.a4!?
This rather unusual continuation dates back to only 1988 in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, but has been tried by the likes of Carlsen, Anand and Nepomniachtchi.
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| How should Black respond? |
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5...0-0
More popular in Mega26 are 5...a6, 5...a5 and especially 5...d6.
6.0-0
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| With both sides castling early, how would you assess the position? |
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Nothing dramatic has happened, which is hardly surprising after so few moves, and the game is equal, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.
6...d6 7.c3 a6
Several players, including a 2500, have failed to appreciate that White's last move threatens to trap Black's dark-square bishop, eg Juan Antonio Urbina Pérez (2284) - Christopher Woojin Yoo (2500), Chess.com Blitz 2022, saw 7...h6?? 8.b4 Nxb4 9.cxb4 Bxb4 10.Ba3, when Black had nowhere near enough for a knight (but ½–½, 49 moves).
8.b4 Bb6 9.a5 Ba7 10.b5?!
8.b4 Bb6 9.a5 Ba7 10.b5?!
This leaves a5 weak. The engines suggest moves such as 10.Be3, 10.h3, 10.Re1 and 10.Nbd2.
10...axb5 11.Bxb5 Bd7
Both games to reach the position in Mega26 saw the almost certainly better 11...Ne7!?
12.Kh1?
White is fine after 12.Nbd2, as 12...Bb6!? can be met by 13.Nc4, eg 13...Nxa5 14.Nxb6 cxb6 15.Bxd7 Qxd7 16.c4!?, with full compensation for a pawn, according to the engines.
12...Re8?!
Black wins the a pawn with 12...Bb6, eg 13.a6 Nb8! 14.Bxd7 Nbxd7 and ...Ra6.
13.Bg5 h6
It is still possible to go after the a pawn, eg 13...Bb6!? 14.Nbd2 Rxa5 15.Rxa5 Bxa5, but the engines reckon 16.Nc4!? Bxc3 17.Ne3 is the sound sacrifice of a second pawn, when play might continue 17...Ne7!? 18.Bxd7 Qxd7 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Nh4, with what they reckon is a completely equal position.
14.Bd2?!
This lets Black take the initiative. The engines reckon 14.Bxf6!? Qxf6 15.Nbd2 is equal, while 14.Bh4 probably gives White no more than a slight edge.
14...d5!?
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| Black is first to get in a d-pawn break - usually White's prerogative in the Giuoco Piano |
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15.exd5 Nxd5 16.c4!?
This is the engines' second choice, only narrowly behind 16.Na3.
16...Nf6 17.Bc3 e4 18.dxe4 Nxe4 19.Be1!?
The engines reckon this is more or less forced as both 19.Kg1?! and 19.Ra2?! can be met by 19...Qe7, followed by ...Rad8, in each with what they assess as a winning advantage.
19...Qf6 20.Ra3?!
Probably better is 20.Nc3!? Nxc3 21.Bxc3 Qxc3 22.Qxd7, although 22...Re7 gives Black a slight edge, according to the engines.
20...Rad8 21.Nc3 Qe7
The worst of White's troubles are over after 21...Nxc3?! 22.Bxc3.
22.Qb3?!
The engines suggest 22.Qc1 (Stockfish17.1) or 22.Ra1 (Dragon1), but much prefer Black.
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| How should Black proceed? |
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22...Nc5!
The engines agree this is best, whereas the tempting 22...Nxf2+ 23.Bxf2 Bxf2 can be met by 24.Nd5 (but not 24.Rxf2?? Qe1+ etc), although Black is still better after 24...Qd6 as 25.Rxf2 Nd4!? leaves the white queen overworked, eg 26.Qb4 Nxb5 27.Qxd6 Nxd6 28.Nxc7 Nxc4, when Black emerges a pawn up.
23.Nd5?
Best may be 23.Qd1!? Nb4!? 24.Bxd7 Rxd7, and now 25.Nd5, although the engines reckon 25...Nxd5 26.cxd5 c6 gives Black a winning advantage.
23...Qe2!
This is even stronger than 23...Qxe1!? 24.Nxe1!? Nxb3 25.Rxb3 Nxa5.
The game finished:
24.Nxf6+!? gxf6 25.Qc3 Qxf1+ 26.Ng1 Re1 0-1
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