Andreas Iliopoulos (175) - Spanton (168)
New London
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 e6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nd2 Bd6 5.Bg3 0-0 6.Bd3 c5 7.c3 Nc6 8.Ngf3 b6 9.Ne5 Bb7 10.f4 Ne7 11.Qf3
With a few minor transpositions, the game has followed the main line of the London, albeit starting with a New London move-order, ie 2.Bf4 rather than 2.Nf3.
11...Rb8?!
A novelty designed to make ...c4 possible without the d5 pawn being pinned. I rejected the most-popular move, 11...Nf5, because of 12.Bf2 with g4 to follow. I missed that Black has 12...Be7! when 13.g4 Nd6 14.g5 Nfe4 slightly favours Black, according to Stockfish10 and Komodo10, but the position seems unclear.
12.Bf2 c4!?
Gaining space but taking pressure off the centre - always a double-edged decision. It comes to be Komodo10's top choice.
13.Bc2 b5 14.a3 a5 15.g4
The engines prefer 15.0-0 or 15.Bh4.
15...Nd7 16.Qh3
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| How should Black meet the threat of mate on h7? |
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16...f5?
The engines prefer returning the knight, as 16...Nf6 17.g5 Ne4 seems fine for Black.
Stockfish10 gives 17.a4 b4 18.Bh4 Ne4 19.0-0 f6!? 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.Nexc4 Ba6 22.Nxd6!? Bxf1 23.Rxf1 Qxd6 24.Nxe4, when White has two pawns for the exchange, but his kingside attack no longer looks menacing, and Black has strong queenside pressure. However, this line is by no means forced. Komodo10 suggests repetition with 17.Qf3 ...
17.Ndf3 Bxe5??
A blunder, but White is also much better after 17...Nf6 18.gxf5 Nxf5 19.Ng5 Bc8 20.Nc6.
18.fxe5?
Stronger is 18.Ng5 h6 19.Nxe6 Qc8 20.Nxf8.
18...Ng6!?
A pawn-sac that the engines are not keen on, but which I felt would much-diminish White's attack, while leaving Black with drawing chances.
19.gxf5 exf5 20.Bxf5
Natural, but the engines prefer 20.Rg1 Qe8 21.Ng5 h6, reckoning White has a winning advantage after 22.Nf3 or 22.e6.
20...Bc8 21.Bxg6 hxg6 22.Qg3 Rb6 23.Rg1 Re8
Stockfish10 gives 23...Nf6! 24.exf6 Rbxf6 25.Ng5 Rxf2 26.Qh4 R8f6 with equality.
24.h4 Nf8 25.h5 Qe7 26.Qh2 gxh5 27.Qxh5 Qf7 28.Qxf7+ Kxf7
Getting queens off seemed to me to be Black's best chance, especially considering the opposite-coloured bishops.
29.Ng5+
The engines prefer 29.e4, eg 29...Bb7 30.Nh4! g6 31.Kd2 with a large advantage for White.
29...Kg8 30.e4 Bb7 31.exd5 Bxd5 32.Kd2 Ne6 33.Nh3?!
Retreating the knight gives Black time to organise counterplay. Stockfish10 gives 33.Nxe6 Rexe6 34.Be3 with a slight edge for White. Komodo10 gives 33.Be3 Nc7 34.Nh3 b4 35.axb4 axb4 36.Ke2, again with a slight edge for White.
33...Rf8 34.Be3 Rb7?!
Probably better is 34...b4 with serious counterplay.
35.Rg6 Rbf7?
Definitely better was 35...b4.
36.Rag1 Kh7??
This allows a knockout blow. The engines suggest 36...Rb7 37.Ng5 Nxg5 38.Bxg5 b4 39.axb4 axb4 40.cxb4 Rf2+ 41.Ke3 with a position that favours White, but is tricky to play.
37.Rxe6! (1-0, 46 moves).
The result of the match has not been published at the site of the London League, which administers the Eastman Cup, but I will be surprised if Athenaeum have not won.
My updated Battersea statistics for 2019-20
Event*..Colour...Grade...Opponent's Grade...Result
CLL..…...B....…..168...………169...……….....W
CLL...…..B...…...168...………196...…………..D
CLL...…..W...…..168...………176...…………..L
LL....……W...…..168...…....…175...………….D
CLL...…..B...…...168...………192...…………..D
CLL...…..W...…..168...………181...…………..L
LL...…….W...…..168...………168...…………..L
EC...…….B...…..168...………175...……….….L
Overall this season for Battersea I have scored +1=3-4 for a grading performance of 160.
In season 2018-19 I scored +12=12-13 for a grading performance of 169.
In season 2017-18 I scored +10=8-9 for a grading performance of 175.
*CLL: Central London League; LL: London League; EC: Eastman Cup.
Addendum 17/12/19: Athenaeum won the match 8.5-1.5.
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