Book Knowledge

PLAYING in Gloucester at the 51st Cotswold congress - six rounds over the three-day bank-holiday weekend.
Spanton (171) - Alun Richards (140)
Veresov
1.Nc3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bg5 4.e3!?
More popular are 4.f3 and 4.Bxf6, but the text has also attracted the attention of strong players.
4...e6 5.Bd3 Be7?

Why does Black's last move deserve a question-mark?

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The problem with 5...Be7? is not that it allows White to give Black doubled pawns, but that it loses a pawn, viz:
6.Bxf5 exf5 7.Bxf6 gxf6 8.Qf3 c6 9.Qxf5
Black has minimal, if any, compensation for the pawn, but naturally there should be a long way to go before the game is over.
9...0-0 10.Nf3 Qb6
This is Black's best chance, in my opinion, because it forces White to make a critical decision.
11.0-0!?
The obvious move is 11.0-0-0, but I was reluctant to give Black counter-chances when he is a pawn down without compensation. A 2200 in 2003 played 11.Rb1!?, and, considering I play Rab1 next move anyway, that might be the best practical choice.
11...Na6?!
The whole point of playing …Qb6 is to follow up, if allowed, with ...Qxb2, so 11...Qxb2 was the consistent continuation. However, White would still be better.
12.Rab1 Nc7?
Blocking the queen's retreat makes matters worse.
13.Na4 Qb4 14.Nc5 Be7 15.c3 1-0
An early resignation, but I think AR was disgusted with his play (I know the feeling!). Afterwards he said 3.Bg5 was a new move to him.
I celebrated my early win by spending some of my projected prize money at the Constables' bookstall, buying The Later Years Of Paul Keres (£10) and Alekhine's My Best Games Of Chess 1924-1937 (£5).

Booking up

All I have to do now is win a prize ...