Jan Bartoš (2124) - Spanton (1915)
Sicilian Accelerated Dragon
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nxc6!?
The main continuation is 7.Bc4, but the text has been played by many strong grandmasters, including Garry Kasparov.
7...bxc6 8.Bc4!?
Usual is 8.e5, but Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 are happy enough with developing the bishop.
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| How should Black respond? |
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8...Ne4?!
A well-known idea in such positions, but here White has a strong reply. Black should probably castle; 8...d6 is also good.
9.Nxe4
As usual, this is better than Bxf7+.
9...d5
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| White to play and gain a large advantage |
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10.Bd3
Interesting is 10.Bb3!? dxe4 11.Qxd8+ Kxd8 12.0-0-0+, but may not be enough for an edge (the engines give different evaluations). However 10.Bd4! 0-0 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.Qd4+ f6 13.0-0-0 is strong, eg 13...Qb6 14.Rhe1 Qxd4 15.Rxd4 e5! 16.Rd2 dxc4 17.Rd6, when White gets back the pawn with much the better position.
10...dxe4 11.Bxe4 Qa5+!?
This may be new. Known are 11...Qc7 and 11...Bb7, while Stockfish17.1 suggests sacrificing c6 with 11...0-0!? Both engines also like 11...Bxb2!?, eg 12.Bxc6+ Bd7 13.Bxa8 Qxa8 14.0-0!? (this is better than 14.Rb1 Qxg2 15.Rf1 Be5, according to the engines) Bxa1 15.Qxa1 f6 (15...0-0?? 16.Bh6) with what they reckon is complete equality.
12.Qd2
12.c3!? is a tad better, according to the engines.
12...Qxd2+ 13.Bxd2 0-0?
The engines give 13...Bxb2!?, eg 14.Bxc6+ Bd7 15.Bxa8 Bxa1, or 14.Rb1 Rb8 15.Bxc6+ Bd7 16.Bxd7+ Kxd7, in each case with equality.
14.0-0-0!
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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Black's queenside pawn weaknesses give White the upper hand, according to the engines.
14...Rb8!?
This is Stockfish17.1's top choice; Dragon1 prefers 14...Be6!?
15.b3 Bd7?!
Probably not a good way to defend c6. Almost certainly better is 15...Rb6, but the engines come to like best of all 15...a5!?, although both 16.Bxa5 Ra8 17.b4, and 16.Bxc6 Bf5 17.Rhe1! (17.c4? Rfc8), are strong for White.
16.Rhe1 Rb7!?
This seems best. Certainly not 16...Rfd8?? 17.Ba5.
17.Bg5
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| How should Black proceed? |
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17...Re8?
Best is 17...f6, but White has at least the upper hand, and is probably winning, after 18.Be3 or 18.Bd2, according to the engines.
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| How should White proceed? |
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18.Rxd7! Rxd7 19.Bxc6 Red8 20.Bxd7 Rxd7 21.Rxe7 Rxe7 22.Bxe7
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| White's advantage is worth more than a rook, according to the engines |
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22...Bd4 23.f3 f5 24.Kd2 Kf7 25.Bg5 Be5 26.h3 Ke6 27.Be3 a6 28.Kd3 Kd5 29.c4+ Kc6 30.b4 Bd6 31.c5 Be7 32.Kc4 1-0
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