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Exposing d3, a further trump for Black.

21.Red1 Kh7 22.Rac1 Qg6 23.Ng3 Rxa2 24.Rc2 Qe6 25.Nf5 Rxc2 26.Qxc2 Ra2, 0-1.

The game turned into a rout. We must press the fast forward button on White's d-pawn as well as the clock.

(2) M. Rytshagov (2485) – H. Gretarsson (2470) [C64]
Excelsior Cup, 1997
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 Qf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5

This is a bit more like it. White takes full advantage of the awkwardly placed Black pieces. Nevertheless, Black is able to survive.

6...Qg6

Not 6...Nxe5? 7.Qe2.

7.cxd4 Nxd4!?

There is a rather solid alternative available : 7...Bb4+ White will obtain the two Bishops, but in the face of light-squared counterplay, will not find it easy to make his small advantage count: 8.Nc3 d5 9.0–0 Nge7 10.Qb3 Bxc3 11.bxc3 0–0

The critical position. I analyze three White tries:

1) 12.Ba3 (The obvious attempt to make his Bishop work.) 12...Bh3! 13.Ne1 Rfb8!? when ...a6 and ...b5 is coming , possibly followed by occupation of c4.

2) 12.Be2 Re8 13.Qb1 Rb8 14.Qxg6 Nxg6 15.Be3 Bf5 16.a4 Na5, unclear.

3) 12.Re1 Bh3 13.Bf1 Rab8 14.a4 Rfe8 15.a5 a6 16.Bf4 Bg4 unclear.

8.Nxd4 Qb6

9.Be3

9.e6!? is supposed to refute 7...Nxd4 but helped by Deep Fritz 8, I have been able to find defenses for Black: 9...Bxd4 10.exd7+ Bxd7 11.Bxd7+ Kxd7 12.Be3 c5 13.Nd2 Nf6 (Two other unclear possibilities are: 13...Qxb2 14.Nb3 Rd8 15.Nxd4 Qb4+ 16.Kf1 cxd4 17.Bxd4 Qc4+ 18.Kg1 Ke8 19.Qe1+ Kf8 and 13...Ne7 14.0–0 Rhd8 15.Bxd4 cxd4 16.Qg4+ Ke8 17.Qxg7 Qg6 18.Qh8+ Qg8 19.Qe5 Rd5 20.Qe2 d3 21.Qf3 f5 22.Rfe1 Rc8) 14.0–0, unclear.

9...Bxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxb5 11.Nc3 Qc6

Deep Fritz = Deep Greed, so it's unsurprising that the machine suggested 11...Qxb2. This is unplayable: 12.Rc1 (12.Rb1 Qc2 13.Rc1 Qg6 14.Nd5) 12...c6 13.Qg4 g6 14.0–0.

12.Nd5 Ne7 13.Nxe7 Kxe7 14.0–0 Qg6 15.Rac1

White's compensation is obvious. Although a pawn down he has a massive lead in development and chances to put Black away on the dark squares at any stage. This reminds me of the Steinitz line of the Scotch: 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4 Qh4!? – there Black has to defend the same difficult positions, but if he does so, then he can easily emerge with a decisive material advantage.

15...c6 16.Qh4+ f6 17.Rc4

How big is the White advantage after 17.Rfe1 Kf7 18.Qc4+ d5 19.exd6+ Be6 20.Qb4 Rhb8 21.Bf4 Bd5 22.Re7+ Kg8 23.Bg3 b6 24.Rce1. This was the critical line.

17...d6 18.exd6+ Kf7 19.Rb4 Qf5 20.Rd1 Rd8 21.Qc4+ Kg6

Really pushing the boat out.

22.g4 Qf3 23.Qc2+ Kf7 24.Rf4 Qh3 25.Qb3+ Be6 26.Qxb7+ Kg8 27.Qxc6 g5 28.d7

White misses a win: 28.Re4 Qf3 29.Qa4 Bd7 30.Qc4+.

28...Bxg4 29.Qxf6 gxf4 30.Bd4 Rxd7 31.Qh8+ Kf7 32.Qg7+ Ke8 33.Re1+ Be6 34.Qh8+ Kf7, 1/2-1/2.

A very lucky escape for Gretarsson, but as I have pointed out, Black has improvements back on move seven. Even if he knows everything, White can expect no more than a nominal edge.

(3) J. Quispe Santacruz (2213) – G. Soppe (2474) [C64]
Homenaje a la Bandera, 2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 Qf6 5.0–0 Nge7 6.d4

Now we see White delaying d2-d4 for a move, waiting until he has castled. Alekhine analyzed this continuation a long time ago, considering that Black gets equality in the main line.  I consider this variation the most likely way for your opponents to go, should you venture 4...Qf6!?. 

6...exd4 7.Bg5 Qg6 8.Bxe7 Nxe7 9.cxd4 Bb6

Given as equal by Alekhine. Using all the latest innovations in astral transference, the ex-World Champion, dead since 1946, is able to explain why: “The Bishop on b6 is a bloody strong piece.”

10.Nc3

But White has the centre Alexander ?!

10...0–0 11.Bd3 d6 12.e5

Playing on the dark squares seems prospectless for White. He should keep the tension: 12.Qd2 or simply play 12.Na4 with equality.

12...Qh6 13.h3 dxe5 14.dxe5 Be6

Black is very comfortable indeed. The traditional Knight maneuver ...Ng6-f4, will give him prospects of attack.

15.Qe2

Especially if White puts pieces in the way of this Knight!

15...Ng6 16.Qe4 c6

17.Bc4 Rae8 18.Rae1 Nf4 19.Ne2?

He hates his position and so he makes a mistake. Understandable. But if White plays rationally with, say 19.Bxe6, he is still worse: 19...fxe6 20.Rd1 Qh5 21.Nd4 Bc7 22.Rfe1 Qg5.

19...Nxg2!

Cute tactics!

20.Kxg2 Qxh3+ 21.Kg1 Bxc4 22.Nf4 Qg4+ 23.Kh2 Bxf1 24.Rxf1 Re6 25.Kh1 Rh6+ 26.Nh2 Qh4, 0-1.

That is that. We have only been able to alert the reader to the possiblity of 4...Qf6!? in this brief article and it is certainly no refutation of the Spanish, but below 2300 level, I think this variation could give White a real headache.

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