1.e4
e6
2.d4
d5
3.Nc3
Nf6
4.exd5
Spielmann, one of the great attacking masters of his generation, transposes into the supposedly drawish Exchange Variation of the French Defense. What is going on? Wait and see ...
4...exd5
5.Bg5
A natural developing move.
5...Be7
This strikes me as overly cautious. It seems that Black might do better here to strike out with a pin of his own (...Bb4).
6.Bd3
Nc6
7.Nge2
Interesting. White chooses to tuck the Knight at e2 to defend the pawn rather than defending from f3. But in a minute we see that the Knight has other plans.
7...Nb4
8.Ng3
Nxd3+
[Should Black decide to retreat with 8...Nc6
attempting to take advantage of White's new Knight placement and re-attack the pawn, White responds with 9.Nf5!
which is awkward for Black to deal with.]
9.Qxd3
g6?
Black is attempting to keep a Knight out of f5 with this move, but the gaping dark square weaknesses created by it render the cure worse than the disease. Moreover, Black has no convenient means of supporting those squares because his Bishop has already gone to e7.
10.0-0
While Black's development has been less than ideal, White's pieces have all found natural squares, and now he prepares to occupy the open file.
10...c6
Why is Black taking away yet another move from his development to defend a pawn that's already adequately protected? Castling was clearly called for here in order to be able to get some control over the e-file with ...Re8.
11.Rae1
0-0?
Finally Black castles, but by waiting a move to do it, he gave White the opportunity to establish himself on the e-file first. Now this leads to difficulties. [11...Be6
12.f4
leaves White clearly better, but it would avert the coming catastrophe.]
12.Rxe7!
Qxe7
13.Qf3
Fritz declares White's edge to be decisive at this point. Now Black is reaping the full "benefits" of the weakening ...g6.
13...Kg7
14.Nce4!!
While most club players could probably find the preceding Rxe7 followed by Qf3 sequence, this move requires a deeper level of tactical mastery. Because Black's dark squares are bereft of defenders, the piece sacrifice is as nothing compared to what White will gain as soon as he crashes through on the kingside.
14...dxe4
15.Nxe4
Qe6
[15...Qxe4
fails to 16.Qxf6+
Kg8
17.Bh6
and Black must give up his Queen just to delay mate.]
16.Bxf6+
Kg8
17.Qf4
and Black hastily tipped his King over without waiting for the impending invasion at h6. 1-0