Spanton (1881/168) - Boris Stoyanov (1592/146)
Northumbira Challengers Round 7
Tiviakov Scandinavian
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 g6
Most popular are 5...a6 and 5...c6, but the text has been played by Kramnik and Caruana, and is a favourite of Tiviakov's.
6.Bc4
The mainline in ChessBase's 2019 Mega database runs 6.Nb5 (this is why Black usually plays 5...a6 or 5...c6) Qb6 7.c4 c6 8.Nc3 Bg7, when my main analysis engines, Stockfish10 and Komodo10, much prefer White. Nevertheless, Kramnik and Tiviakov are among strong players who have tried this line as Black.
6...a6 7.Ne5!?
This may be new at this point, although we have transposed to a known position.
7...e6
I expected 7...Be6, when I was leaning towards 8.Bxe6 Qxe6 9.0-0, with Re1 to come, but 8.Qf3!? also looks good.
8.Bg5
I rejected 8.Bf4 because of 8...Nh5, missing that 9.Ne4 is strong. However, the text is also good.
8...Bg7?!
This natural-looking move is almost certainly a mistake, which suggests Black's whole set-up is dodgy. Better was 8...Nbd7, and if, as in the game, 9.Qf3, Black can grab a pawn with 9...Qxd4, although White has plenty of compensation. After 8...Nbd7, the engines prefer 9.0-0, with a clear edge for White.
9.Qf3 Nbd7 10.Ne4 Qb4+?
Better was 10...Qxd4, but the forced line 11.Bxf6 Nxe5 12.Qf4 leaves White a pawn up and with a continuing attack.
11.c3 Nxe5
Or 11...Qxb2 12.0-0 with a huge attack.
12.Nxf6+ Kf8 13.dxe5 Qxc4
Black played 13...Bxf6 and resigned without waiting for White's reply in Davide di Trapiani (2090) - Sergio Garofalo (1826), Modena Championship 2012.
14.0-0-0 Ke7
Or 14...Qxa2 15.Rd8+ Ke7 16.Nd5#
15.Ng8+ 1-0
Showing posts with label Caruana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caruana. Show all posts
Monday, 26 August 2019
Thursday, 4 April 2019
Siesta Miniature
ONE of the most famous Siesta games, Réti - Capablanca, Berlin 1928, is also given by Tartakower and du Mont in 500 Master Games Of Chess.
Tartakower's comments are in italics.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3 f5
The 'Siesta Gambit' at work.
6.d4
Trying an upheaval of the centre.
Caruana used this move last year to beat Baskaran Adhiban (2655) in a rapidplay game.
6...fxe4
After 6...exd4 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.Nxd4 White would have the best of it.
This note is rather puzzling as Black seems fine with 8...fxe4. However the analysis engines Stcokfish10 and Komodo9 give 7.Nxd4 as being very strong for White.
7.Ng5
The crucial moment. An automatic draw would be brought about (as shown in the first instance by Maróczy) by 7.Nxe5 dxe5 8.Qh5+ Ke7 9.Bg5+ Nf6 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.dxe5 Qd5 (ingeniously maintaining his gain, for if now 12.exf6+ gxf6, White's bishop is pinned) 12.Bh4 Ke6 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Qe8+ Kf5 15.Qh5+ Ke6 16.Qe8+ with perpetual check. This draw by sacrifice is reminiscent of the 'Möller Attack' in the 'Giuoco Piano'.
This forced draw featured as recently as last year in a game between players rated 2072 (White) and 1659.
7...exd4
An interesting idea, due to the Russian master Zonosko-Borovsky, is 7...d5 8.dxe5 Bc5.
8.Nxe4
Simplification by 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.Qxd4 is essential here.
The engines reckon Black would have a winning advantage with the simple 9...d5. They much prefer Réti's choice.
8...Nf6 9.Bg5
Caruana preferred 9.Nxf6+.
9...Be7
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
10.Qxd4??
Heedless. But even after 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.Qxd4 0-0, Black has an advantage in territory, thanks to his open f file. The best, therefore, would be 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Qh5+ g6 (or else 11...Kf8) 12.Qd5, and the chances are approximately even.
10...b5 11.Nxf6 gxf6
Now there are three white pieces 'en prise'.
12.Qd5 bxa4
Black, with two opposing bishops liable to capture, makes a wise selection, for if 12...fxg5, 13.Bb3 saves the piece.
This is incorrect as Black wins with 13...Qd7, saving the c6 knight as well as avoiding mate. However, the engines, and an anonymous annotator in ChessBase's 2019 Mega database, give 13.Bd1!, as now 13...Qd7 is met by 14.Bg4! Qxg4 15.Qxc6+ Kd8 16.Qxa8 Qe6+ with an unclear position.
13.Bh6
Trying to force a way into the enemy camp, as after 13.Qxc6+ Bd7 Black wins.
13...Qd7
The 'coup juste', which defends the threatened knight and vacates a square for the king, parrying the threat of a perpetual check. A terrible blunder would be 13...Bd7 14.Qh5#.
14.0-0
14.Bg7 is not much of an improvement as Black gets the queens off, 14...Qe6+ 15.Qxe6 Bxe6, and then traps White's bishop by 16.Bxh8 Kf7. After 17.Bxf6 Bxf6, Black has two bishops and a lead in development for rook and pawn. The engines reckon Black is clearly winning.
14...Bb7 15.Bg7 0-0-0
After this reply, events crowd fast on one another.
16.Bxh8 Ne5
Putting down his trumps.
17.Qd1
Or, for instance, 17.Qd4 Nf3+ 18.gxf3 Rg8+ 19.Kh1 Bxf3#.
17...Bf3
A break-up sacrifice.
18.gxf3
Or 18.Qd4 Rg8 19.g3 Qh3 etc.
Now White hopes to survive after the continuation 18...Rg8+ 19.Kh1 Qh3 20.Rg1 Rxg1+ 21.Qxg1 Qxf3+ 22.Qg2 etc.
18...Qh3 0-1
Black's last four moves were hammer blows.
Tartakower's comments are in italics.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3 f5
The 'Siesta Gambit' at work.
6.d4
Trying an upheaval of the centre.
Caruana used this move last year to beat Baskaran Adhiban (2655) in a rapidplay game.
6...fxe4
After 6...exd4 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.Nxd4 White would have the best of it.
This note is rather puzzling as Black seems fine with 8...fxe4. However the analysis engines Stcokfish10 and Komodo9 give 7.Nxd4 as being very strong for White.
7.Ng5
The crucial moment. An automatic draw would be brought about (as shown in the first instance by Maróczy) by 7.Nxe5 dxe5 8.Qh5+ Ke7 9.Bg5+ Nf6 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.dxe5 Qd5 (ingeniously maintaining his gain, for if now 12.exf6+ gxf6, White's bishop is pinned) 12.Bh4 Ke6 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Qe8+ Kf5 15.Qh5+ Ke6 16.Qe8+ with perpetual check. This draw by sacrifice is reminiscent of the 'Möller Attack' in the 'Giuoco Piano'.
This forced draw featured as recently as last year in a game between players rated 2072 (White) and 1659.
7...exd4
An interesting idea, due to the Russian master Zonosko-Borovsky, is 7...d5 8.dxe5 Bc5.
8.Nxe4
Simplification by 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.Qxd4 is essential here.
The engines reckon Black would have a winning advantage with the simple 9...d5. They much prefer Réti's choice.
8...Nf6 9.Bg5
Caruana preferred 9.Nxf6+.
9...Be7
 |
| Réti's next move is a blunder |
*****
*****
*****
*****
10.Qxd4??
Heedless. But even after 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.Qxd4 0-0, Black has an advantage in territory, thanks to his open f file. The best, therefore, would be 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Qh5+ g6 (or else 11...Kf8) 12.Qd5, and the chances are approximately even.
10...b5 11.Nxf6 gxf6
Now there are three white pieces 'en prise'.
12.Qd5 bxa4
Black, with two opposing bishops liable to capture, makes a wise selection, for if 12...fxg5, 13.Bb3 saves the piece.
This is incorrect as Black wins with 13...Qd7, saving the c6 knight as well as avoiding mate. However, the engines, and an anonymous annotator in ChessBase's 2019 Mega database, give 13.Bd1!, as now 13...Qd7 is met by 14.Bg4! Qxg4 15.Qxc6+ Kd8 16.Qxa8 Qe6+ with an unclear position.
13.Bh6
Trying to force a way into the enemy camp, as after 13.Qxc6+ Bd7 Black wins.
13...Qd7
The 'coup juste', which defends the threatened knight and vacates a square for the king, parrying the threat of a perpetual check. A terrible blunder would be 13...Bd7 14.Qh5#.
14.0-0
14.Bg7 is not much of an improvement as Black gets the queens off, 14...Qe6+ 15.Qxe6 Bxe6, and then traps White's bishop by 16.Bxh8 Kf7. After 17.Bxf6 Bxf6, Black has two bishops and a lead in development for rook and pawn. The engines reckon Black is clearly winning.
14...Bb7 15.Bg7 0-0-0
After this reply, events crowd fast on one another.
16.Bxh8 Ne5
Putting down his trumps.
17.Qd1
Or, for instance, 17.Qd4 Nf3+ 18.gxf3 Rg8+ 19.Kh1 Bxf3#.
17...Bf3
A break-up sacrifice.
18.gxf3
Or 18.Qd4 Rg8 19.g3 Qh3 etc.
Now White hopes to survive after the continuation 18...Rg8+ 19.Kh1 Qh3 20.Rg1 Rxg1+ 21.Qxg1 Qxf3+ 22.Qg2 etc.
18...Qh3 0-1
Black's last four moves were hammer blows.
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