League Chess

PLAYED on board one (of four) for Battersea against South Norwood last night in Croydon & District League's Dave Luckin division, where teams are allowed a rating total of 6600, ie a player-average of 1650.

Paul Dupré (1890) - Spanton (1928)

Evans Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bd6!?

The Stone-Ware Defence. It is fourth-most popular in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, but scores better percentage-wise than the three more popular moves: 5...Bc5, 5...Be7 and 5...Ba5; but 5...Bf8!? scores even better, and it is hard imagining that becoming commonplace.

6.d4 Nf6 7.0-0 0-0

With both sides castling early, how would you assess the position?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Black is a pawn up, but Black's setup looks clumsy. Meanwhile White enjoys a two-abreast classical pawn-centre, and, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1, has a slight edge.

8.dxe5

The engines prefer developing with 8.Re1 or 8.Nbd2.

8...Nxe5

The engines suggest giving up the bishop-pair with 8...Bxe5!?, the point being that after 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 White has to spend a tempo dealing with Black's attack on the light-square bishop, eg 10.Bb3, when 10...d6 leaves Black up a pawn and not behind on development, albeit 11.f4 gives White more central/kingside space and an initiative (as well as the bishops).

9.Nxe5 Bxe5

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

10.Ba3!

The engines agree this is best. The problem with 10.f4 Bd6 11.e5 is that Black has 11...Bc5+ 12.Kh1 and either ...Ne4 or ...d5.

10...Re8 11.f4 Bd6 12.e5

The e pawn is too vulnerable after 12.Bxd6?! cxd6.

12...Bxa3 13.Nxa3

Not 13.exf6?, when 13...Bb2 is bad enough for White, but even worse, according to the engines, is 13...Bc5+! 14.Kh1 Qxf6, when Black is two pawns up and has the bishop-pair.

13...d5!?

The only move, but quite a normal one in such positions following e5.

14.Bb3!

The engines reckon this apparent-novelty is an improvement on the known 14.Bb5, when Stephan Grochtmann (2010) - Jadranko Plenča (2435), Šolta (Croatia) 2022, continued 14...Nd7!? 15.Qh5?! c6 16.Bd3, after which 16...g6 would have left Black well on top, according to the engines (the game went 16...Nf8?! 17.Rae1 g6 18.Qh6 f5?? 19.exf6 1-0).

14...Ng4 15.Qf3 c6 16.Kh1?!

This is probably too slow. The point of the move is to make the pinning Rad1 possible, which presently is not on as 16.Rad1?? fails to 16...Qb6+ 17.Kh1 (17.Rd4 c5) Ne3. The engines suggest 16.h3 or 16.Nc2.

16...Qb6

Getting out of the pin before it arrives, but the engines do not like this prophylaxis, preferring 16...a5, 16...Qh4 or 16...Bf5.

17.Rae1 Bf5 18.Nc2

The engines suggest 18.h3 or 18.Bc2!?

What should Black play?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

18...Nh6!

This retreat is best, not least because it unties the bishop.

19.Nd4 Be4

How should White continue?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

20.Qh3

The exchange-sacrifice 20.Rxe4!? is Dragon1's top choice, but not Stockfish17.1's. After 20...dxe4 21.Qxe4 White has got back the sacrificed Evans pawn, but does not have enough for the exchange, according to both engines.

20...c5 21.Nf3 Rad8 22.Ng5 Bf5 23.Qf3

The engines prefer 23.Qh4 or 23.Qg3, but agree Black is on top.

23...c4!

This makes the d pawn backward, but of more importance is that White's bishop does not have a good move.

24.Ba4

24.Bd1 f6!? is very good for Black.

24...Re7

The rook is hanging, ie unprotected, but there seems no way for White to exploit this, and meanwhile the white bishop is also loose

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

25.h3 Bd3 26.Rg1

Forced, as 26.Rf2? can be met by 26...f6!?

26...Qa5 27.e6!?

Opting for complications in view of 27.Bd1 Qxc3.

27...f6

Possibly even stronger is 27...Qxa4!? 28.exf7+ Rxf7.

28.Nf7!? Nxf7 29.exf7+ Rxf7 30.Be8!? Rf8 31.Bh5 g6 32.f5 gxh5 33.Qg3+ Kh8

Also winning, but somewhat hairy-looking, is 33...Kf7!?

34.Re7 Rg8 35.Qh4 Rg5 36.Rge1 Be4

White's threats are over.

The game finished:

37.R1xe4 dxe4 38.Qxe4 Qb5 39.h4 Rg4 40.Rxh7+ Kxh7 41.Qe7+ Rg7 0-1

The match finished 2-2.

My Battersea Season 2025-6

Date       Event  Colour  Rating  Opp's Rating  Score  Season's Perf

16/9/25   CLL       W       1936         1952             0           1552

18/9/25   CLL       W       1936         1797             =           1675

16/10/25 CLL       W       1889         2047             0           1665

23/10/25 CLL       B        1889         1823             1           1805

18/11/25  LL         W       1891         1980             =           1840

20/11/25  CLL      W       1891         1866             1            1911

25/11/25  BCC     B        1891         1817             1            1955

9/12/25    LL         W       1904         1982             1            2008

16/12/25  LL         B        1904         2046             0            1968

18/12/25  CLL      B        1904         2066             1            2018

6/1/26      CLL      W       1929         2150             =            2066

7/1/26      LL         W       1929         1971             =            2058

8/1/26      CLL      B        1929         1800?           =            2038

13/1/26    LL         B        1929         2035             1            2067

27/1/26    LL         B        1929         2089             0            2041

29/1/26    CLL      B        1929         1882             =            2031

3/2/26      BCC     W       1928         1836             1            2043     

12/2/26    CDL      B        1928        1890              1            2057

CLL: Central London League

LL: London League

BCC: Battersea club championship

CDL: Croydon & District League

I also have a win-by-default in the Central London League

Miniatures 25

IN this occasional series I am going through my decisive games of 20 moves or fewer.

Spanton (151 BCF) - Paul Dargan (173 BCF)

British Major (Eastbourne) 1990

Morra Gambit (Delayed)

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4!? e6 5.0-0 Nf6 6.Qe2!?

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 are not keen on this, preferring 6.Re1 or 6.e5.

6...Qc7

Spanton (2015) - Kristian Schmidt (2272), Politiken Cup (Helsingør, Denmark) 2013, went 6...Nxe4!? 7.Qxe4 d5 8.Bxd5 Qxd5 9.Qxd5 exd5 10.Re1+ Be7, with Black enjoying the upper hand, according to the engines (0-1, 50 moves).

7.c3!? dxc3 8.Nxc3

How should Black proceed in this position, which occurs 484 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

8...Ng4

Springing the Siberian Trap.

How should White respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

9.Nb5

Avoiding 9.h3? Nd4!

9...Qb8 10.Be3?

Possibly best is 10.h3 h5!? 11.e5!? with complicated play, eg 11...Ngxe5 12.Bf4 d6, and here the engines suggest what seems to be a novelty in 13.Rad1, claiming White has full compensation for being two pawns down.

10...a6 11.Nbd4 Nxe3 12.fxe3?!

Probably better is 12.Qxe3.

12...b5!? 13.Nxc6 dxc6 14.Bb3

The engines suggest 14.Ng5!?, albeit much preferring Black after 14...Ra7.

14...Be7 15.Ng5??

Presumably I missed that after ...

15...Bxg5 16.Qh5

... Black has ...

16...Bf6

This would have been a good point for White to resign.

17.g4 Qe5 18.Rf5!? Qxb2 19.Rff1 Qe5 20.Qh3 0-1

LESSON: backward bishop moves can be hard to spot.

Miniatures 24

IN this occasional series I am going through my decisive games of 20 moves or fewer.

D James (189 BCF) - Spanton (151 BCF)

British Major (Eastbourne) 1990

Queen's Pawn Game

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 c6 4.Bg2 Nbd7 5.0-0 e6

This position is not as obscure as might be thought, occurring 1,090 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

6.b3 Bd6 7.Bb2 Qc7 8.Nbd2 0-0

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White's game has a slightly freer look to it, at least to me, and gives White a slight edge, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.
9.c4 Re8 10.Qc2 b6 11.e4 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qxe4 Bb7 14.Qc2 e5?!

This is probably too ambitious. The engines recommend 14...Be7!? or 14...h6.

15.Rad1 Re7??

The engines give 15...exd4 16.Nxd4 Bf8, but reckon White has the upper hand.

16.Ng5 Nf6 17.c5 1-0

LESSON: pieces need breathing room.

Miniatures 23

IN this occasional series I am going through my decisive games of 20 moves or fewer.

Spanton (151 BCF) - David Sands (191 BCF)

Highbury (London) Rapid 1990

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be3 Bd6 7.Nc3 Nge7 8.h3 Bh5 9.g4!? Bg6 10.h4!?

Not in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database. Known moves are 10.Bxg6, 10.Qd2, 10.a3 and 10.Ng5?!

How should Black proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

10...Qd7

This is best, according to Stockfish17, although Dragon1 prefers 10...Bxd3 11.Qxd3, and then 11...Qd7.

11.Rg1 0-0-0 12.h5 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 f5! 14.gxf5 Nb4

What should White play?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

15.Qd2?

White had to play 15.Qe2, covering f3 as well as c2. If Black replies, as in the game, 15...Qxf5, White has 16.0-0-0 with what the engines reckon is an equal game.

15...Qxf5 16.Nh4?

This makes it easy for Black, but if 16.Ke2, then 16...Rhf8, eg 17.Ne1 Qxh5+ 18.Kf1 Nf5 19.Nd1 Rde8 20.c3 Nc6, after which Black is 'only' a pawn up, but according to the engines has an advantage worth much more than a rook.

16...Nxc2+ 17.Kd1 Nxe3+ 18.Qxe3 Qxh5+ 19.Nf3 Rhf8 0-1

LESSON: the vulnerability of hangers, ie pieces that are unprotected, is often the basis of a combination.

Summing Up My 4NCL Weekend

MY score for Wessex B of +1=0-1 lost 8.2 Fide elo and 6.0 ECF elo.

Unfortunately the weekend was spoilt by tables being placed so close together that some chairs were almost touching back-to-back.

This was completely unnecessary as there was plenty of space in the playing room for the tables to have been set up properly.

4NCL Day Two

PLAYED on board one (of six) for Wessex B against Eternal Optimists 2 in weekend three of the Four Nations Chess League Division Four.

Paul Badger (1797 ECF/1883 Fide) - Spanton (1928 ECF/1939 Fide)

King's Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d5!?

There are 110 examples of this move in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database - 11 of the games are mine.

How should White respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

4.Nc3!?

More popular are 4.exd5 and 4.Nxe5. Both moves are also much more successful percentagewise, but the text is the top choice of Stockfish17.1.

4...d4!?

This more-or-less commits to sacrificing the dark-square bishop.

5.Nb1?!

This is probably a mistake. A key line runs 5.Na4 Bd6!? 6.fxe5 Bxe5! (otherwise White is massively better) 7.Nxe5 Qh4+ 8.g3 Qxe4+ 9.Qe2 Qxh1 10.Ng6+ Be6 11.Nxh8, with an unclear position that Stockfish17.1 reckons is completely equal, but that Dragon1 evaluates as giving White a slight edge. However, White may have an improvement in 7.Bc4!? Nc6 8.0-0, which seems to have been first played in David McTavish - Todd Southam, Canadian U18 Championship (Winnipeg) 1985. That game continued 8...Nf6 9.Nc5!? Qd6 10.Nd3 Bg4!? 11.Bxf7+!? Ke7! 12.Ndxe5 Nxe5 13.Bb3, with another unclear position (the engines disagree about which side is better), although White went on to win.

5...exf4!

The engines reckon this apparent-novelty is a major improvement on the known 5...Bg4.

6.d3 g5 7.h4

The engines suggest 7.c3 or 7.h3.

7...g4 8.Ne5 h5 9.c3!?

This seems best. The problem with 9.Bxf4?! is 9...Qf6, eg 10.g3 Bd6.

9...Qf6!?

Attacking the advanced knight and defending f4.

10.b4!?

The engines agree this is best.

10...Qxe5 11.bxc5 dxc3

The engines prefer 11...Nc6 or 11...f3!?

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

12.Qc2

This looks natural, but the engines slightly prefer 12.d4!? Qxe4+ 13.Qe2 Qxe2+ 14.Bxe2, when White is three pawns down, but Black has obvious weaknesses, a sample line running 14...Nc6 15.Nxc3 f3 16.gxf3 gxf3 17.Bxf3 Nxd4 18.Bg2!? Nc2+ 19.Kf2 Nxa1, after which White is a rook and two pawns down, but has dangerous play, eg 20.Nb5 Rb8 21.Nxc7+ Kd8 22.Bf4 Bd7 23.Na6!? Rc8 24.Bxb7 Nc2 25.Rd1!? Ke7!? 26.Rd2 Bf5!? 27.Bxc8 Bxc8 28.Re2+ Kf8 29.Nc7 Bf5 30.Re8+ Kg7 31.Nd5, when White is a knight down, but has full compensation, according to the engines. There are numerous alternatives along the way amid the chaos.

12...Nc6 13.Qxc3 f6 14.Bb2 Bd7?!

Much better, according to the engines, is 14...Nge7.

15.Nd2 Qxc3 16.Bxc3 0-0-0 17.d4 Nge7!?

Played with the coming piece sacrifice in mind.

18.d5 Ne5 19.c6 N7xc6!?

19...Be8?! 20.cxb7+ is good for White after both 20...Kxb7 and 20...Kb8, according to the engines.

20.dxc6 Bxc6

How would you assess this queenless middlegame?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Black has three pawns for a bishop, but White also has the bishop-pair. Two of Black's pawns are doubled, but two have reached the fifth rank, and White's pawns are weak. Black has the safer king and a slight lead in development. For quite some time, both engines call the position completely equal, but Dragon1 comes to slightly favour Black.

21.Be2?!

The engines much prefer 21.0-0-0 or 21.Rc1.

21...Nd3+!? 22.Bxd3 Rxd3 23.Bxf6 Re3+ 24.Kd1 Rf8 25.e5!? Bxg2 26.Re1 Rxe1+?!

The engines strongly dislike this, reckoning 26...Rh3!? is winning.

27.Kxe1 Bd5

How would you assess this ending?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Black has three pawns for a knight (rather than for a bishop), but king safety is no longer a serious issue (at least, certainly not for White). Black has a pair of connected passed pawns, but White also has a passer, and both of White's kingside pawns are solidly protected. The presence of opposite-colour bishops should favour whichever side can gain the initiative. Dragon1 reckons the position is completely equal; Stockfish17.1 gives White a tiny edge.

28.Rc1 g3 29.Rc3

The engines suggest 29.Nb3!?, 29.Kf1 or 29.Kf2.

29...Kd7

Black has at least a slight edge after 29...b5!?, according to the engines.

I was tempted by 29...Rg8 30.Bg5 Rxg5!? 31.hxg5 h4, but the position may just be equal (that, at least, is the engines' verdict).

30.Nf3 c6

The engines dislike this, suggesting 30...Rg8, and if 31.Bg5, then 31...Ke6!?, or 30...Bxa2!?, and if, after the latter, 31.Ra3?!, then 31...Bc4, as 32.Rxa7 runs into 32...Ba6. However, in both lines, 31.Rd3(+) may be an improvement.

31.a3

White has at least a slight edge after 31.Nd4, according to the engines, but their more-or-less main line runs 31...b5 32.Ne2 Rg8 33.Bg5 b4 34.Rd3 Re8 35.Nxf4 Rxe5+ 36.Kf1 Kd6, when they reckon chances are equal.

31...b5 32.Rd3

Nd4 may still be White's best.

32...Kc7 33.Ng5

Threatening 34.Rxd5! cxd5 35.Ne6+ etc.

33...Kb6 34.Nf3 a5 35.Nd4!?

Dragon1 for quite some time rates this as a serious mistake, but comes to agree with Stockfish17.1 that the position remains equal.

How should Black proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

35...b4!?

Getting a second queenside passer is desirable, if it can be done safely, and this also sets a trap.

36.axb4 axb4 37.Be7?

White had to play 37.Ne2!, when the engines reckon Black is at most slightly better.

37...Re8

Probably even stronger are 37...g2!? and 37...Ra8!?

38.Bd6

If 38.Bxb4, then 38...Rxe5+ 39.Kd2 (39.Kf1 Bc4) g2, or 38.Bf6 and either 38...Rg8 or 38...Ra8, with ...g2 to come.

38...Rg8 39.Rd1

There is nothing better, according to the engines.

39...f3 40.Kf1 c5 41.Nxf3!?

This keeps the game going, but after ...

41...Bxf3

... White is two pawns down, and opposite-colour bishops should not be enough to save the game.

42.Rc1 Rc8 43.e6 g2+ 44.Kf2 Bd5 45.e7 Bf7 46.Kxg2

White has reduced the deficit to one pawn, and has a passer on the seventh rank, but is still losing, according to the engines

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

46...b3 47.Rf1 Be8 48.Be5 Kb5?

This throws away most of Black's advantage, which could have been maintained by, for example 48...c4, when 49.Rf6+ Kb5 50.Rd6 is simply met by 50...Rc7!?, after which 51.Rd8 runs into 51...Rxe7, while 51.Rd5+ Rc5 52.Rxc5+ Kxc5 53.Bc3 is not enough for a draw as Black has 53...Kb5 (an only-move, but a fairly obvious one) 54.Kf3 Ka4 55.Ke4 (55.Bb2 Kb4) Ka3 56.Kd4 b2 57.Bxb2+ Kxb2 58.Kxc4 Kc2.

Analysis diagram - position after 58...Kc2

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

It might at first glance seem as if the white king is well-placed, but it cannot both win the bishop and protect the h4 pawn. And note that Black's bishop is the right colour for promoting the h5 pawn, so it would not matter if White's king could get in front of Black's pawn on the h file. A likely finish is 59.Kd5 Kd3 60.Ke5 Ke3 61.Kf6 Kf4 62.Kg7 Kg4 63.Kf8 Ba4 64.e8=Q Bxe8 65.Kxe8 Kxh4 etc.

Returning to the position after 48...c4, White could try 49.Rd1, with the same idea of playing Rd8, but 49...Rc5! wins (49...Bc6+!? may also be good enough), eg 50.Bd4 c3, as after 51.Bxc5+ Kxc5 the white rook cannot cope with connected passed pawns on the sixth rank.

Back to the game.

White to play and draw

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

49.Rf6+?

Drawing is 49.Rd1 as Black no longer has ...Rc5, and pushing the c pawn with 49...c4?? loses to 50.Rd8. Black has to play something like 49...Bc6+ 50.Kf2 Re8, but 51.Bf6 holds, eg 51...c4 52.Ke2 Kb4 53.Rd6 Bb5 54.Kd2 (an only-move, but not too difficult to find), after which the engines show neither side can make progress.

49...Bc6+

Now this is strong, but it is not the only winning move, according to the engines.

50.Kf2 Re8 51.Rf5

51.Bd6?! protects the e pawn, but loses to 51...b2, while 51.Rf7 also protects the e pawn, but 51...Kb4 will win.

51...Ka4?

Several moves win, including 51...Rxe7, when 53.Bd6 fails to 53...b2.

52.Bc3 Kb5

Not 52...c4?? 53.Ra5#, while 52...Rxe7 53.Rxc5 leaves no winning chances.

White to play and draw

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

53.Rxh5?

53.Bf6 protects the e pawn, and lets White win Black's h pawn, or Black can try 53...b2, but 54.Bxb2 Rxe7 55.Rxh5 is also a draw.

White could probably also play 53.Bd4?!, as long 53...Kc4 is met by 54.Bf6, when the engines reckon that after 54...Rxe7!? 55.Bxe7 b2 56.Rxc5+ Kd3 57.Rxc6 b1=Q Black has a fortress, although Black could play on in the hope of inducing a mistake. Black could also try 54...Rb8, but 55.Bb2 also draws, according to the engines, although again there is play in the position, which could see White go wrong.

53...Rxe7 54.Rg5 Kc4 55.Bb2 Kb4 56.Rg3 Bb5 57.Re3 Ra7

White has an easy draw after 57...Rxe3?? 58.Kxe3 as 58...c4 can be answered by 59.Kd4 or 59.Kd2.

58.Re4+ c4 59.Be5 Ra2+ 60.Kg3 Bc6 61.Re1 c3 62.Re3

Or 62.Bxc3+!? Kxc3 63.h5 b2 64.h6 Be4!? etc.

62...c2 63.Re1 b2 0-1

Eternal Optimists 2 won the match 3.5-2.5.

Brain Exercise

SAW this serial number on a Northern Line train: 52529.

As usual, each number should be used once, and once only, and must be added, subtracted, multiplied or divided to make a balanced equation.
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
My solution: 5 + 5 - (2÷ 2) = 9

4NCL

PLAYED on board one (of six) for Wessex B against a junior (born 2012) from Guildford Young Guns B in weekend three of the Four Nations Chess League Division Four.

Spanton (1928 ECF/1939 Fide) - Elijah De Lange (1840 ECF/1664 Fide)

Pirc

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 c5!?

A well-known idea in the Pirc. The point is that after ...

6.dxc5

... Black does not have to recapture immediately.

6...Qa5 7.Bd3 Qxc5 8.Qe2 Bg4 9.Be3 Qb4!?

This is a rarely played alternative to the normal 9...Qa5.

How should White respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

10.0-0

Stockfish17.1 also likes 10.a3!? Qxb2 11.Kd2!?

10...Nbd7!?

This apparent-novelty is Stockfish17.1's top choice, at least for a while. Known moves are 10...0-0, 10...Nc6 and 10...Qxb2? The capture is bad because of the reply 11.Nb5, when 11...Na6 loses the black queen to 12.Rfb1.

11.a3 Qa5

Not 11...Qxb2?? 12.Na4.

12.b4!?

This makes the c pawn backward, but takes away the c5 square from the black queen's knight.

12...Qd8 13.Rad1 0-0

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White has more space and a lead in development, but Black has a solid position - one that looks as if it could have come from the Dragon Variation of the Sicilian. Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 give White a slight edge.

14.Qf2

The engines suggest 14.h3 or 14.Qe1!?

14...Bxf3!?

This is a common idea in the Pirc/Modern complex. Black gives up the light-square bishop for the white king's knight, usually as preparation for playing ...e5. Ideally, from a black perspective, the capture is provoked by White spending a tempo on playing h3. White has not done that here, but it could be argued 14.Qf2 is a similar spend of a tempo, in that after the text White is obliged to recapture on f3 with the queen.

15.Qxf3 a6 16.Rfe1

The engines claim White has at least a slight edge after 16.Ne2!? or 16.Nb1!?

16...Rc8 17.Nb1!? Qc7?!

This is strongly disliked by the engines. They reckon both 17...b5 and 17...Nb6 equalise.

18.c4 a5 19.Rc1 axb4 20.axb4 b6 21.Nc3 Ra8 22.Nd5 Nxd5 23.cxd5 Qb7

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

24.Rc6

Active and aggressive, but Black has counterplay. The engines suggest 24.Bb5.

24...Ra3 25.Bb5?

Too late. White still has chances of a small edge after 25.Qe2.

25...Bc3!?

The 'Dragon' bishop strikes.

What should White play?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

26.Rb1?!

Stockfish17.1 gives 26.Rc1!? Bd2 27.Bxd2 Rxf3 28.gxf3, which is the same as the game, except the white king's rook is on the open c file instead of passively placed behind the b4 pawn. Dragon1 comes to view both moves as equally good.

26...Bd2 27.Bxd2

There is nothing better.

27...Rxf3 28.gxf3

How would you assess this imbalanced middlegame?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White has rook and two bishops for queen and knight. That is a material advantage for Black, but the bishop-pair and White's control of the c file give some compensation, although Black is still winning, according to the engines, which probably regard White's weakened king's position as significant.

28...Nb8!?

The engines prefer 28...Nf6.

29.Rc2

There is no good way to give up the exchange on c6.

29...Rc8 30.Ra2 Rc7 31.Rba1 Qc8 32.Ra8?

As with my 24th move, I play something that is active and aggressive, but fails to take into account my opponent's counterplay. Perhaps best is 32.Be1!?, Stockfish17.1's idea being to meet 32...Qh3 with 33.Bg3.

Black to play and win

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

32...Rc2!

Other reasonable-looking moves allow White to more-or-less equalise, according to the engines.
33.Bc6?

Perhaps best is the retreat 33.R8a2, but then White has lost the initiative, and has no compensation for being material down and with an exposed king.

33...Rxd2 0-1

Black wins easily after 34.Rxb8 Qxb8 35.Ra8 Qxa8 38.Bxa8 Rb2.

The match was drawn 3-3.

Correspondence Chess

I PLAY correspondence chess at the Fide-recognised International Correspondence Chess Federation.

Thanks to the strength of modern engines, most games are drawn, but occasionally a game escapes that fate, or is interesting for other reasons.

Spanton (2330) - Alex Tupper (1662)

British Correspondence Chess Championship Reserves

QGD Exchange

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 Nxd5!?

Bobby Fischer was fond of this move, claiming, if I recall rightly, it made a change from the tedium of normal lines of the Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined.

5.e4 Nxc3  6.bxc3 c5 7.Nf3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2

This is something of a tabiya for the variation, occurring 4,701 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

10...0-0 11.Bc4 Nd7!?

This is the main continuation. The knight will (eventually) land on f6, protecting the kingside.

12.0-0

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White has a large lead in development, more space and a central pawn-majority, but Black has no weaknesses, and enjoys a farside majority that could be useful in an ending. Dragon1 gives White a slight edge, but Stockfish17.1 calls the position equal.

12...b6 13.Rfe1 Bb7 14.Rad1 Rc8 15.Bb3 Re8 16.h3!? h6!?

Pushing the h pawn looks like the type of move played by relative beginners, afraid of being back-rank mated, but the continuation (for both sides) has been played by grandmasters.

17.Re3 Nf6 18.Qe2 Qc7 19.Ne5 b5!? 20.Ng4!? Nxg4 21.hxg4!? Qf4!? 22.d5!?

This may be a novelty - Stockfish17.1 reckons it is a small improvement on 22.Qxb5 (Dragon1's top choice) Bxe4 23.d5, which occurred in José Fernando Cuenca Jiménez (2480) - Pedro Antonio Ginés Esteo (2477), Spanish Team Championship 2024. That game continued 23...exd5 24.Bxd5 Re5 25.Qb7 Rce8, with complete equality, according to Stockfish17.1, although Dragon1 slightly favours White (½–½, 31 moves). Whites have also tried 22.Re1 and 22.g3.

22...exd5 23.exd5 Rxe3 24.fxe3 Qe5 25.e4

How should Black proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

25...a6?!

This natural-looking move is strongly disliked by the engines. They suggest 25...Rc7.

26.Qf2!

The threat to play d6 is hard to meet.

26...Rd8
Since 26...Qxe4? fails to 27.d6, and 26...Rc7? runs into 27.Qf5!, eg 27...Qxf5 28.gxf5 Kf8 29.e5 Rd7 30.d6 Ke8 31.e6 fxe6 32.fxe6 Rd8 33.Bc2, the engines reckon the text is best, especially as 26...Qd6 27.e5! Qxd6 28.d6 Qf6 also fails, eg 29.Rf1 Qxf2+ 30.Rxf2 Rf8 31.Rxf7! Rxf7 32.d7 etc.

27.Qf5 Qc7?

27...Qxf5?! runs into similar problems as in the previous note, but 27...Qg3 keeps the game going, eg if 28.Rf1, then 28...Qc7 is good, since d6 is not as effective as in the game, and 29.Qh5 (admittedly not the only try) Rd6 30.Qe5 Qb6+ 31.Kh2 Qd8 leaves White at least slightly better, but not winning, according to the engines.

28.d6 Qd7 29.e5 Bc8 30.Qf4 Qa7+ 31.Kh2 Rf8

The engines suggest 31...Be6, but 32.Bxe6 fxe6 33.Rc1 Qf7 34.Qxf7+ Kxf7 35.Rc7+ gives White a comfortably winning rook-and-pawn ending, while 33...Rd7 can be met by 34.Rc8+ Kh7 35.Qe4+ g6 36.Qc6 and Rc7.

32.Rf1 Qb7 33.e6 Bxe6!? 34.Bxe6 fxe6!? 35.Qxf8+ Kh7 36.Rf7 Qxf7!? 37.Qxf7 1-0

Lessons From Mariánské Lázně IX

IN round nine I had white against Pavel Vodička (1967), reaching the following position after 27 moves.

I have just played 27.Qf3-e4

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Black should probably accept that kingside play will not lead to an attack, and settle for equality with 27...Qg4 28.Qxg4 hxg4.

Instead, the self-pinning 27...Kh7?! was played.

I give the move a dubious sign (?!), rather than calling it outright bad (?), because the refutation is not obvious.

I have analysed the position, with Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1, in some depth here, but a key line runs 28.d6! Bxd6 29.Nf3 Be7 30.Rxd8 Rxd8 31.Nxe5 Qe6 32.f4 Rd5 33.Ra1! Bd6 34.Ra6, when Black has no good answer to the threatened f5.

In the game I played 28.Nf3?!, which is not even second-best, but was sufficient for equality, and the game was indeed drawn, without much drama.

LESSON: when an opponent plays a move that violates frequently given advice, in this case to avoid self-pinning, it often pays to search long and hard for a refutation.