Game 9/10
The Maia tests the MCGP2024 with the Ruy Lopez. What will the result be this time?
[Event "Active,Classic Book"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Maia1900 6 ply"]
[Black "MCGP2024"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C72"]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.O-O Bg4 6.c3 Qf6 {Out of book} 7.d4 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Qxf3 9.gxf3 exd4 10.cxd4 b5 11.d5 Nd4 12.Bd1 Be7 13.Be3 Bf6 14.Nc3 Ne7 15.f4 c5 16.dxc6 Ndxc6 17.Bb3 Bxc3 18.bxc3 f5 19.Rad1 fxe4 20.Rxd6 Rd8 21.Rfd1 Rf8 22.Rxd8+ Nxd8 23.Rd4 Nb7 24.Rxe4 Nd6 25.Re6 Kd7 26.Bc5 Nec8 27.Be3 Ne7 28.Kg2 Ng6 29.Kg3 a5 30.Bc5 Nf5+ 31.Kg4 Nh6+ 32.Kg3 Nf5+ 33.Kg4 Nh6+ 34.Kg3 Nf5+ 1/2-1/2
It seems the MCGP2024 manages much better than the Maia playing as black against the Ruy Lopez. Instead of losing badly manages a draw.
In the following position Maia had just moved 11. d5 and the position is level:
Here, the MCGP2024 played 11…Nd4 better would have been 11…bxa4 12. dxc6 Ne7 and White would have been a pawn down. Also, White having two bishops may prove more useful. However, play continued with White having a small advantage but all was level again at move 30…Nf5+
After a few more moves the game ended with 3-fold repetition.
Current score 5 ½ – 3 ½ to the MCGP2024
Whatever the result of the next game Maia has lost the match!