I WAS upfloated.
Spanish Steinitz
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6
The Steinitz Defence is generally out of fashion, but is still the third-most popular continuation in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, behind 3...Nf6 and especially 3...a6.
4.d4 exd4
Steinitz almost always played 4...Bd7, but the text is preferred by Stockfish18 and Dragon1.
5.Nxd4 Bd7 6.0-0
More common is 6.Nc3, maintaining the option of castling long.
6...Nf6 7.Nc3 Be7 8.b3!?
The engines do not like this. They suggest 8.Nxc6, when Black usually replies 8...bxc6, after which they reckon 9.Bd3 0-0 10.f4 gives White the upper hand.
8...a6!?
They also dislike this, because of the possibility of White replying 9.Nxc6.
9.Be2!? Ne5!?
Black should probably castle.
10.f4!?
Apparently a novelty, and an improvement, according to the engines, over the known 10...a4.
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| After 10.f4!?, how should Black respond? |
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10...Ng6
This is probably best, as 10...Nc6!? represents the loss of two tempi, while 10...Neg4? 11.h3 Nh6 is very good for White, eg 12.e5!? (this seems even better than 12.g4, when the engines' 12...d5!? just about keeps Black in the game) c5!? 13.Nf3 dxe5 14.fxe5 Nh5 15.Qe1, with an advantage worth about a minor piece, according to the engines.
11.Bb2 c5?!
The engines suggest castling or 11...b5.
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| After 11...c5?!, how should White proceed? |
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12.Nf5!
White would have enough for a pawn, but no more, after 12.Nf3 Nxf4 13.e5 dxe5 14.Nxe5 Nxe2+ 15.Qxe2 Be6, according to the engines.
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| How should Black continue? |
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12...0-0!?
The engines reckon this is best, as 12...Bxf5 13.exf5 Nh4 can be well-met by 14.Qd3 or 14.g4, but probably not 14.Bd3?!, when Black has 14...d5!, eg 15.g3 c4! but almost certainly not 14...Qd7?!, as then 15.Qe1! Nxf5 16.g4 Nd4 17.g5! is strong, one line running 17...Qg4+ 18.Kh1 Ng8 19.Nd5, with a large advantage for White.
13.Nxd6 Qc7!?
Possibly better is 13...Bc6, although 14.e5 is good for White, and 14.Nf5!? may be even better, eg 14...Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Nxg7.
14.e5 Ne8?
Definitely better is 14...Bxd6 15.exd6 Qb6, but White would be a pawn up, and with the better position.
15.Nd5 Qb8
This is Dragon1's top choice; Stockfish18 marginally prefers 15...Qd8.
16.Nb6
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| It is unusual, to say the least, for a player to get two knights to the sixth rank this early in a game |
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16...Bc6!?
The engines agree this is best, but there is no way for Black to avoid serious material loss.
17.Nxe8 Rxe8 18.Nxa8 Qxa8 19.f5!? Nh4
Retreating the knight seems even worse.
20.f6 gxf6 21.exf6 b5!?
Muddying the waters. Objectively best, according to the engines, is 21...Bd6!?, although they reckon 22.Qxd6 Rxe2 23.Rf2 Rxf2 24.Kxf2 leaves White with an advantage worth more than a rook.
22.fxe7 Nxg2
Perhaps a better try is 22...Bxg2, or 22...Rxe7, but both can be successfully met by, among other moves, 23.Bh5.
The game finished:
23.Bh5 Rxe7 24.Qg4+ Kf8 25.Qg7+ Ke8 26.Bxf7+ Kd7 27.Rad1+ Kc7 28.Qg3+ Kb6 29.Rd6 Ne3 30.Rff6 Nf5 31.Rxc6+ Qxc6 32.Rxc6+ Kxc6 33.Qf3+ 1-0
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