Miniatures 20

IN this occasional series I am going through my decisive games of 20 moves or fewer.

Spanton (151 BCF) - N Rutherford (105 BCF)

Barbican (London) Rapid 1990

St George Defence

1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5

This is how Tony Miles with black beat Anatoly Karpov in a 1980 game.

3.c4!?

Karpov preferred the more conventional 3.Nf3.

3...Bb7!? 4.cxb5 axb5 5.Bxb5 Bxe4 6.Nf3 Bxb1!? 7.Rxb1 Rxa2?!

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 dislike this.

How should White proceed?

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8.0-0

This is not bad, but strongest is 8.Qb3, according to the engines.

8...Ra8!?

The engines fluctuate between this and 8...Nf6, coming to prefer the latter.

9.Ne5

9.d5!? is suggested by the engines.

9...Nf6 10.g4?!

Again the engines like d5.

10...c6!?

This is the engines' top choice.

11.Qf3 d6??

Black is fine after 11...Qb6!?, according to the engines.

12.Nxc6 1-0

LESSON: when behind in development, and especially if uncastled, one slip can be fatal.