Bregenz Seniors Round Four

I WAS upfloated.

Josef Nussbaumer (1742) - Spanton (1911)

Sicilian Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Bc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.f3!?

More popular are 7.Be2 and especially 7.Bc4, but there are 8,532 examples of the text in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, and it has been played by many grandmasters.

How should Black respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

7...0-0

It is probably too early for the Accelerated's trademark move ...d5, as White can reply to 7...d5?! with 8.Bb5.

A typical response to an early f3 in these lines is ...Qb6, and there are 367 examples of 7...Qb6? in Mega26, but it fails to 8.Nf5 Qxb2 9.Nxg7+ Kf8 10.Na4!, eg 10...Qa3 11.c3 Kxg7 12.Bc5, or, if 10...Qe5, then 11.Bh6.

8.Qd2 d5

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

9.exd5

This is second in popularity in Mega26 to 9.Nxc6!?, which, despite its popularity, is probably not best, although it has been played at blitz by Fischer and Caruana (they both lost). Stockfish18 and Dragon1 like 9.0-0-0, claiming equal chances.

9...Nxd5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nxd5 cxd5 12.c3!?

The engines agree this is best.

12...e5 13.Bc5 Re8 14.Bb5 Bd7 15.Bxd7 Qxd7 16.a4?

It is too early to be pushing the queenside majority with this apparent-novelty. The known move is 16.0-0.

16...Qc6 17.Bf2!?

This may be the bishop's best square.

17...e4?!

Almost certainly stronger is the engines' 17...Qc4!?, preventing castling, and if 18.Qe2, then 18...e4!, eg 19.Qxc4 exf3+.

18.0-0 exf3 19.gxf3

How would you assess this middlegame?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Material is equal, and both sides have two isolated pawns. White has a farside pawn-majority, but the less-safe king. The engines give Black a slight edge (Stockfish18) or the upper hand (Dragon1).

19...Re7

Dragon1 suggests 19...d4!? 20.Bxd4 Rad8, with attacking chances, but Stockfish18 reckons 21.Kg2!? is a good answer, one line continuing 21...Re5 22.Rae1!? Red5 23.Re4 Qxa4 24.b4 with unclear play.

20.Bd4 Rae8

The engines prefer 20...Bxd4, and then 21...Rae8.

21.Bxg7 Qxg7 22.Qd4+?!

White is close to equalising with 22.Rae1!?, according to the engines.

22...f6?!

This weakens the second rank, so 22...Kg8 is probably better.

23.Rf2 Qc4!?

Black should probably keep queens on, since, despite 22...f6?!, Black has the safer king.

24.Qxc4 dxc4

How would you assess this rook-and-pawn ending?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Black has two pawns holding up three on the queenside, but White's kingside pawns are well-placed to make it difficult for Black to create a passer on the kingside. The engines reckon the position is equal.

25.Rd2 Rb8 26.Kf2 Reb7 27.Ra2!? f5 28.Ke3

The engines suggest 28.a5!? or 28.Kg3!?

28...Kf6 29.Rd6+

29.h4!? is preferred by the engines.

29...Ke5 30.Rd4!? Rxb2 31.Rxb2 Rxb2 32.Rxc4 Rxh2

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

33.Rc7?

Better than the text is 33.f4+, but best is the engines' 33.Rc5+!, and if 33...Kd6, then 34.Ra5, with what they reckon is complete equality.

33...h5?

Black is winning after 33...f4+ 34.Kd3 Rf2!, according to the engines.

34.f4+ Kd6!? 35.Rxa7 h4 36.Ra6+ Kc5 37.Rxg6 h3 38.Rg5

Black to play and draw

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

38...Kc4?

Black draws with 38...Rc2 39.Rxf5+ Kd6 40.Kd3 Rf2! (40...h2? 41.Rh5), eg 41.a5 Rf3+ 42.Kc4 h2 43.Rh5 Rxf4+ 44.Kb3 Rf2. The engines show that also drawing is 38..Kd6 39.Rxf5 Rc2, which is simply a transposition.

39.Rxf5 Rc2

Or 39...Kxc3 40.Rh5, when 40...Ra2 41.Rxh3 Rax4 is a standard winning rook-and-pawn-v-rook position with the defending king cut off from the pawn.

40.Rh5 Rxc3+ 41.Ke4

The only winning move, but not hard to find.

41...Rd3 42.f5 Ra3 43.f6 Rd3 44.a5 Rd4+

White to play and win

*****

*****

*****

*****

****8

45.Kf3!

Clearly 45.Kf5?? loses to 45...Rd5+ 46.Kg6 Rxh5 47.Rxh5 h2 etc, but the plausible 45.Ke3 only draws after 45...Rd6! as White cannot both defend the f pawn and prevent the h pawn from queening.

45...Rd1

Thanks to the white king being on f3, White can meet 45...Rd6 with 46.Rf5, without allow the h pawn to queen.

46.Kg4 Rf1 47.Kg5 Kd5!? 48.Rxh3 Ke6 49.Re3+ Kf7 50.Re7+ Kf8 51.a6 Rg1+ 52.Kf5 Rf1+ 53.Ke6 Re1+ 54.Kd6 Rf1 55.Ke6 Re1+ 56.Kd5 Rf1 57.Re6 Kf7 58.Rb6 Rd1+ 59.Kc6 Rc1+ 60.Kb5 Rb1+ 61.Kc6 Rd1 62.Kb7 Rd7+ 63.Kc8 Rd1 64.a7 Ke8 65.a8=Q 1-0

Chess Tip Of The Day 402

Frustratingly, Blogger have still not managed to fix their feeder widget.

One of my key recommendations for aspiring chessplayers is to get to know yourself really well and then build an opening repertoire and a playing style that fits you.

Lars Bo Hansen, How Chess Games Are Won And Lost

Bregenz Seniors Round Three

FACED a Swiss.

Spanton (1911) - Urs Scheidegger (1809)

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit

1.e4 d5 2.d4!? dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 Bf5!? 5.g4 Bg6 6.g5 Nd5 7.Nxe4 e6

So far, all as in round one

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

8.Ne2!?

This is second in popularity in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database to 8.c4, but is not liked by Stockfish18 or Dragon1.

8...f5?!

Apparently a novelty, and probably not a good one. The engines suggest 8...Nc6 or 8...h6!?

9.N4g3

White is slightly better after 9.gxf6, according to the engines, eg 9...Nxf6 10.Ng5!?, or 9...gxf6 10.c4!?, and if 10...Bb4+?!, then 11.Kf2!

9...Be7 10.f4 Bb4+?

There is no logic to this move.

11.c3 Bd6?!

The engines recommend eating humble pie with 11...Be7!?

12.Bg2 c6

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

13.c4!?

Strong (and would have been even stronger at move 12), but needs to be followed up correctly. Also good is 13.h4.

13...Bb4+?!

The d5 knight should probably retreat to c7 or e7.

14.Bd2??

White is winning after moving the king, eg 14.Kf2!? Ne7 15.Qb3 a5 16.a3 Bd6 17.Qxb7, or 15...Qb6 16.c5 Qb5 17.Qxe6.

14...Ne3 15.Qb3

Objectively best, or rather least worst, may be 15.Bxb4!? Bxd1 16.Rxd1.

15...Nxg2+ 16.Kd1 Bxd2 17.Qxb7 Nd7 18.Kxd2 Rb8 19.Qxc6 Nh4

Even stronger is the engines' 19...Rxb2+!, eg 20.Kc1 Qb8!, and if 21.Qxg2, then 21...Qb4! 22.Rd1 Qa3!

20.Qxe6+

What should Black play?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

20...Kf8!

Despite the white queen looking so menacing, it is White's king that is in greater danger, which is why 20...Qe7 21.Qxe7+ Kxe7 21.b3 would be a great relief.

21.Kc2 Rb6?!

Probably better are two suggestions of the engines, 21...Qc7 and 21...h6.

22.Qe3 Qb8 23.Qa3+ Kf7 24.Nc3?

The engines give 24.Rac1!?, preparing to bring the king to (relative) safety on b1, while at the same time developing a piece.

24...Nf3?

Stronger are 24...Qxf4 and 24...Ng2.

25.Nd5?

25.Rad1 equalises (Dragon1) or comes close to it (Stockfish18).

25...Nxd4+! 26.Kd3 Rd6 27.Kxd4 Rxd5+!

This exchange sacrifice leaves the white king helpless

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

28.cxd5 Qxf4+ 29.Kd3 Ne5+ 30.Kc2

Or 30.Ke2 Re8.

30...Qc4+

Much stronger is 30...Rc8+, but the text is plenty good enough, and Black's winning route is arguably a matter of taste.
31.Kd1?

There was more hope in 31.Qc3 f4+ 32.Kc1, eg 32...Qxc3+ 33.bxc3 fxg3 34.hxg3, when White has rook and two pawns for bishop and knight, but White's pawns are chronically weak, and the engines reckon Black's advantage is about equivalent to being up a piece.

31...Qxd5+ 32.Ke2 Qg2+ 33.Kd1

Or 33.Ke1 Nf3+.

33...Rd8+ 34.Kc1 Qd2+ 35.Kb1 f4+ 0-1

Latest Chess Pen ...

... and a badge

Bregenz Seniors Round Two

FACED a German.

Olaf Hilbig (2026) - Spanton (1911)

1.b3

1.b3 b6 2.Bb2 Bb7 3.e3 Nf6 4.f4 e6 5.Nf3 Be7 6.Be2 d5 7.0-0 0-0

With both sides having castled, how would you assess the position?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

The main difference is White has more space on the kingside, Black in the centre, which leads Stockfish18 and Dragon1 to award Black a slight edge.

8.d3 Bc5!?

Apparently a novelty. Known moves are 8...Nc6!?, 8...c5 and especially 8...Nbd7.

9.d4 Be7

This position occurs three times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, but with Black to move

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

10.Ne5 Ne4 11.Nd2 f6 12.Ng4 f5!? 13.Ne5 Nd7

Symmetry

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

14.Nxe4!? dxe4 15.Bc4

The engines claim White has an edge after 15.Nxd7!? Qxd7 16.g4!?

15...Bd5 16.Qe2

Here they like 16.Bxd5!? exd5 17.Qe2, again claiming a slight edge for White.

16...c6?!

After 16...Nxe5 17.dxe5 Bxc4 18.Qxc4 Qd5! Black is at least equal, according to the engines, one point being 19.Qxc7? runs into 19...Bc5!, when Black threatens to capture on e3 with check and to win the white queen.

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

17.a4

The engines give 17.Ba6!, threatening to trap Black's light-square bishop. After 17...Nxe5 18.dxe5 c5 19.g4!? they give White a slight edge.

17...Nxe5 18.dxe5 Bc5??

The game is completely equal after 18...Bxc4 19.Qxc4 Qd5, according to the engines.

19.Ba6!? b5

The engines reckon this is best, but Black is losing a piece.

20.c4 Qb6 21.axb5 Bxe3+ 22.Kh1 Rfd8 23.cxd5 Rxd5?

Better, but still losing, is 23...cxd5.

24.bxc6! Rd2

Otherwise Black is simply a bishop down.

25.Qc4 Rxb2 26.c7 Rxb3 27.c8=Q+ Rxc8 28.Bxc8 Bd4 29.Bxe6+ 1-0

Playing Conditions (Bregenz)

Tournament hall

Bregenz Seniors Round One

FACED a German.

Spanton (1911) - Kurt Vogel (1643)

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit

1.e4 d5 2.d4!?

This is strongly disliked by Stockfish18 and Dragon1, but they do not like 1...d5 either.

2...dxe4 3.Nc3 Bf5!?

This is third in popularity in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, behind 3...e5!? and especially 3...Nf6.

How should White respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

4.f3

This was Alexander Alekhine's choice in a 1923 simul, but the engines suggest 4.g4 Bg6 and, probably, 5.Nge2 (Emil Diemer played 5,Bg2 in a 1972 game), claiming White has equalised.

4...Nf6

Alekhine - Lynn* Blount, Simul (Providence, Rhode Island) 1923, went 4...exf3 5.Qxf3!? e6 6.Qxb7 Nd7 7.Bb5 Nf6 8.Bg5 Be7?! (the engines suggest 8...Rb8 or 8...Qc8!?) 9.Bxf6?! (White is better after 9.Bxd7+, eg 9...Nxd7 10.Bxe7 Kxe7 11.0-0-0) Bxf6 10.Bxd7+ Kxd7, with equal chances, according to the engines (but 1-0, 46 moves).

After 4...Nf6 the game has reached, via transpositions, a tabiya of the BDG that occurs 846 times in Mega26 

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

5.g4

More common is 5.fxe4!? Nxe4 6.Qf3 Nd6 7.Bf4 e6 8.0-0-0, when White has interesting compensation for a pawn, although Dragon1 (but not Stockfish18) reckons Black is still slightly better.

5...Bg6 6.g5 Nd5 7.Nxe4

Kurt Richter - Simon Rotenstein, Berlin Championship 1932, continued 7.fxe4?! Nxc3 8.bxc3 Bxe4 9.Nf3, with the upper hand for Black, according to the engines (but 1-0, 42 moves).

7...e6 8.Nh3!?

The engines prefer 8.h4, 8.c4 or 8.c3.

8...c6

This may be a novelty. Spanton (2018) - Peter Vorstermans (1934), Guernsey 2005, went 8...Be7 9.Bg2 h6 10.gxh6 Bh4+ 11.Ng3 gxh6 12.Bd2?! (White should probably castle, or play 12.Nf4) Nc6, with the upper hand for Black, according to the engines (0-1, 30 moves).

9.Bg2 Nd7 10.Qe2 N7b6 11.Bd2 Qd7 12.a4 a5 13.0-0 Be7 14.b3 0-0

Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White's kingside looks a mess, but White's pawns give White more space, and White is capable of attacking on the queenside, in the centre and/or on the kingside. The engines reckon White has the upper hand (Stockfish18) or is at least slightly better (Dragon1).

15.Rad1 Qc8?!

Not a great square for the queen, and meanwhile Black is falling behind in development.

16.c4 Nc7?!

This drops a pawn, but 16...Nb4 17.Ne4 is also very good for White, according to the engines.

17.Qe1!? Bxe4?!

This probably makes matter worse.

18.fxe4 Nd7 19.Bxa5  b6 20.Bc3 Ne8 21.Qg3 Rb8 22.e5 g6!?

This is the top choice of the engines, but if 22...g6!? is really the best move in the position, it only goes to show how badly Black stands.

23.Qf3 c5

The engines give 23...b5 24.axb5 axb5 25.c5!?, with what they regard as a positionally won game for White.

24.d5 exd5?!

Natural looking, but it loses a piece, so Black had to try something like 24...Ng7 25.d6 Bd8, but with a horrible position.

25.Qxd5! 1-0
*Given as T Blount in Mega26, but it was probably Lynn Blount, champion of Providence Chess Club.

Chess Tip Of The Day 399

A desire to create complications at an early stage in the game sometimes urges a player into unwarranted experiments.

Alexey Sokolsky, The Modern Openings In Theory And Practice

Impressions

ALTHOUGH I caught two trains to cover the 20 miles from Bregenz to Friedrichshafen, on the way back I used only one train, walking the remaining six or so miles.

It was hot in the sun, but there were a few moments worth stopping for to take photos, including one of a 16th-century church.

Better Late Than Never

I DISCOVERED today, more than three months after the event, there is a new version of the free engine Stockfish.

The creators reckon Stockfish18 is 46 elo better than Stockfish17, although, as far as I can see, they do not claim how much stronger it is than the improved Stockfish17.1.

Nevertheless, it would be churlish to look this gift horse in the mouth, and it can be downloaded free here.

However, be warned, I found I could only get it to work in ChessBase by deleting all previous versions of Stockfish from my computer. Until I had done that, no versions of the engine would work!

Stockfish icon - designed by web developer Klein Maetschke