Opening Focus 4

IN round four at Menorca I had black against a 1488.
The game can be seen at M4 but here I want to focus in detail on the opening, which as a general rule I take to last until one side has connected rooks.

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4

The New London, which involves playing Bf4 before Nf3, has soared in popularity over the last few years, especially at club level, although it is still a long way behind 2.Nf3 and especially 2.c4 in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database.

2...e6!?

This may look passive but the idea, at least the way I play it, is to get in a quick ...Bd6 to challenge White's active bishop.

3.e3

There is nothing wrong with 3.Nf3 but the text preserves the option of meeting ...Bd6 aggressively on the kingside.

3...Bd6 4.Qg4!?

4.Bg3 is the main line, while 4.Bxd6 and 4.Nf3!? are also quite popular.

How should Black proceed?

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4...g6!?

This looks weakening but the instinctive 4...Nf6 is problematic after 5.Qxg7 Rg8 6.Qh6 Rg6 7.Qh4 Rg4 8.Qh3 Bxf4 9.exf4 Rxf4 10.Ne2 Rg4, when Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1 continue 11.f3!? Rg8 12.Nbc3, claiming White is slightly better (Komodo12.1.1) or even on top (Stockfish14.1).

Probably bad is 4...Bxf4?! 5.Qxg7 Qf6 6.Qxf6 Nxf6 7.exf4, when Black has very little for a pawn.

After the text Black threatens to win a piece with ...e5.

5.Qf3

Most popular in Mega22. albeit from a small sample, is 5.Bxd6, when the engines give 5...cxd6 as being equal.

5...Nc6!?

5...Qf6 slightly favours White after 6.Ne2, according to the engines. The text, which may be a novelty, aims at a quick ...e5.

In the game White played the slow 6.a3?!, presumably defending against ....Nb4, after which 6...e5 7.dxe5 Nxe5 left Black at least equal, according to the engines.

Almost certainly better is 6.Nc3, meeting 6...Nb4 with 7.0-0-0, when White has the upper hand, according to the engines. Instead Stockfish14.1 gives 6...a6!?, preferring White after 7.h4 or 7.0-0-0. Komdodo12.1.1 gives 6...f5!? 7.0-0-0 a6, also preferring White.

The engines reckon Black should probably deviate earlier with 5...Nf6 or 5...Nd7, with roughly equal chances.

Opening Focus 3

IN round three at Menorca I had white against a 1678.
The game can be seen at M3 but here I want to focus in detail on the opening, which as a general rule I take to last until one side has connected rooks.

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3

This relatively quiet line was popularised by world champion Anatoly Karpov. Slightly more popular is the aggressive 4.f4, which scores 58% in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database, six percentage points more than the text.

After 4.f4 the most-frequent line in Mega22 runs 4...Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd3, when opinion is evenly split between 6...Na6 and 6...Nc6. My main analysis engines Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1 prefer the latter, but reckon White is better.

4...Bg7 5.Be2

A more-aggressive posting for the light-squared bishop is 5.Bc4, after which 5...0-0 6.0-0 allows 6...Nxe4!? 7.Nxe4 d5, when the engines reckon 8.Bd3 dxe4 9.Bxe4 slightly favours White. Black can also try the relatively unpopular 5...Nxe4!?, when 6.Bxf7+!? Kxf7 7.Nxe4 Rf8 seems to keep White's advantage to a minimum while 6.Nxe4 Bd3 7.dxe4 Bxe4 comes close to being equal, according to the engines.

5...0-0 6.0-0 c6

This is the main move but popular alternatives include 6...Bg4, 6...Nc6 and 6...Nbd7.

The text fights for control of d5 (the move ...d5 may come later), prepares queenside expansion with ...b5 and opens a diagonal for the black queen.

7.a4

This deals with the second point in the previous notes and prepares further expansion with a5.

7...a5

This, 7...Qc7 and 7...Nbd7 are roughly equally popular.

8.h3!?

Now the black light-square bishop will face difficulties finding an active square.

8...Qc7 9.Be3 Nbd7

Black has got in all three options mentioned at move seven, but the engines reckon White is on top

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10.Qd2

For a long time the engines prefer 10.Nd2!?, continuing 10...e5 11.dxe5 Nxe5!?, claiming an advantage for White after both 12.f4 and 12.Qe1!?

After the text White has connected rooks and has more space in the centre. Black will require at least two moves to connect rooks but is solid. Stockfish14.1 reckons White has the upper hand, while Komodo12.1.1 allows White a slight edge.

Opening Focus 2

IN round two at Menorca I had black against a 1536.
The game can be seen at M2 but here I want to focus in detail on the opening, which as a general rule I take to last until one side has connected rooks.

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7

Black is playing the white side of a Closed Sicilian, but with a tempo less, hoping that a single tempo will not make a huge difference. The chances are it will not, unless White finds a way to open the position effectively.

White, on the other hand, has a set-up seen on the black side of a Sicilian Dragon. That would suggest continuing 5.d3, which is indeed the main move in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database. Other popular continuations include 5.e4, leading to a Botvinnik formation if White follows up with Nge2 or a Nimzowitsch formation if White follows up with Nf3, and:

5.e3

Most popular now is 5...d6, probably on the basis that it will be necessary sooner or later, and White has ruled out a quick ...d5.

5...Nge7

As with most moves in chess, developing the king's knight to e7 has pluses and minuses. On the plus side the knight does not obstruct the f7 pawn or the black king's bishop, and is unlikely to be effectively pinned by the white dark-square bishop from g5. On the minus side the knight would be more active on f6, hitting squares on the white side of the board, and would leave e7 free for the black queen and/or the queen's knight.

6.Nge2

Similar considerations apply to developing the white king's knight, but 6.d3 is very unpopular, and probably deservedly so - White has hopes of playing d4.

How should Black proceed?

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6...Nf5!?

Played to stop 7.d4, but much more popular are 6...d6 and especially 6...0-0. After the latter the main line runs 7.0-0 d6 8.d3, reaching a position Stockfish14.1 reckons slightly favours White but Komodo12.1.1 calls equal.
The question arises as to why White does not play 8.d4 as nothing seems to be stopping it? Well, 8.d4 is popular, the main line in Mega22 continuing 8...exd4 9.exd4 Nf5 10.d5 Ne5 11.b3, again reaching a position Stockfish14.1 reckons slightly favours White but Komodo12.1.1 calls equal.

So 8.d3 is more popular but 8.d4 appears to be a viable alternative. Perhaps it is a matter of taste or fashion.

7.0-0

Despite 6...Nf5!?, the engines reckon 7.d4!? is playable, although it does not occur in Mega22. After, eg 7...exd4 8.exd4 Ncxd4 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 Black has won a pawn but the engines reckon White has enough compensation, eg 10.0-0 0-0 11.h4, when White's pieces have more freedom, but a pawn is a pawn.

7...d6 8.a3

There is no good way to evict the f5 knight. 8.e4?! Nfd4 seems fine for Black while 8.g4? Nh4 9.h3 h5 puts the white king on the endangered-species list.

8...a5

This does not prevent the thrust b4 in the long run, or even in the medium run. But if White plays Rb1 to support b4 then ...axb4 will give the black queen's rook play down the a file.

9.Rb1 Be6!?

More natural might seem to be 9...0-0, and that is slightly preferred by the engines.

10.Nd5

This seems a convenient way to indirectly defend c4 and at the same time keep open the possibilities of d4 and b4. Nevertheless the engines slightly prefer 10.d3!?

10...Qd7 11.Nec3

This effectively gives up on playing d4 but reinforces d5 and threatens an effective Nb5, doubly attacking c7, in some lines.

11...0-0

Black has connected rooks - how would you assess the middlegame prospects of both sides?

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White has more space on the queenside and can increase pressure there by playing b4. White might also at some point be able to expand in the centre, and possibly attack the black centre with f4.

Black is ahead on development - it will take White at least three moves to connect rooks. Black's natural play is on the kingside and particularly down the f file, but that will require spending a tempo withdrawing the king's knight.

Komodo12.1.1 gives White a slight edge while Stockfish14.1 reckons White has the upper hand.

In general it is probably fair to say that in this sort of position White should play for positional trumps on the queenside and possibly in the centre, while Black should aim for a kingside mating attack.

White's play is usually easier to organise, but Black's play is much the more dangerous if it succeeds.

Opening Focus

IN round one at Menorca I had white against a 1394.

The game can be seen at M1 but here I want to focus in detail on the opening, which as a general rule I take to last until one side has connected rooks.

1.Nc3

I find this a useful weapon against opponents who have very few or no games in databases, and who may be relatively inexperienced.

In my games the reply ...

1...d5

.... is more than four times as popular as any other move.

The difference is less profound in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database, but 1...d5 is still easily the commonest choice.

However the most successful move percentagewise among those appearing at least 100 times is 1...c5, which scores an excellent 54% compared with 49% for 1...d5 and 1...g6.

After the text White's most popular continuation by a huge margin is 2.e4!?, keeping the game in independent 1.Nc3 lines.

After 2...d4 3.Nce2 e5 White usually continues with the somewhat unexpected 4.Ng3!?, when the main line runs 4...Be6 5.Nf3 f6!? 6.Bb5+!? c6 7.Ba4.

Position after 7.Ba4 - Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1 reckon Black is slightly better

The second-most popular continuation for White is ...

2.d4

... which has been played by, among many others, Magnus Carlsen.

Black has many options here, including inviting a French Defence with 2...e6 and a Caro-Kann with 2...c6.

Fans of the Liberated Bishop can play 2...Bf5, especially now White's traditional response to early development of this bishop, ie a quick c4 and Qb3, has been ruled out.

But massively most popular is ...

2...Nf6

... reaching a position that is also commonly arrived at via the move-order 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5.

3.Bg5

For many decades this continuation, known as the Veresov or Richter Attack, was almost automatic, but in recent years 3.Bf4, known as the Jobava-Prié, has become very popular and is preferred by the engines.

The main line, in what is very much an evolving opening, runs 3...e6 4.e3 Bd6 (4...Bb4 is also popular) 5.Nf3!? 0-0 6.Bd3 c5 7.dxc5, when Stockfish14.1 reckons both 7...Bxc5 and 7...Bxf4!? give equality, but Komodo12.1.1 reckons the latter favours White.

After the text Black has three main ways to avoid doubled pawns (not that everyone agrees this is necessary):

A) 3...Nbd7 is the traditional continuation. It blocks the black light-square bishop, at least temporarily, and is less-active than organising ...Nc6. However Stockfish14.1, but not Komodo12.1.1, reckons it gives Black a tiny edge.

B) 3...Ne4!? has been played by grandmasters but seems to favour White after 4.Nxe4 dxe4, eg 5.e3 c6!? (threatening to win a piece!) 6.c3, when the engines agree White has at least a slight edge.

C) the game continuation:

3...e6

Dedicated Veresov players tend to keep the game in independent Veresov lines with 4.Nf3 or 4.e3, but most popular, and arguably most principled, is transposing to a French with:

4.e4

There are almost 45,000 games with this position in Mega22, with the commonest replies being 4...Bb4 (the McCutcheon), 4...dxe4 (the Burn) and the classical ...

4...Be7

... after which Adolf Anderssen's 5.Bxf6!? is still periodically seen, but normal is:

5.e5

Black can reply 5...Ne4!? but both 5.Bxe7 and 5.Nxe4 are believed to favour White, so normal is:

5...Nfd7

Here 6.Bxe7 is natural but Mega22 has almost 6,400 games with:

6.h4!?

Position after 6.h4!?

This gambit was first played in 1890 by Adolf Albin, a Romanian of German descent, but, perhaps unfairly, is commonly known today as the Alekhine-Chatard Attack in honour of Russian-born Alexander Alekhine and Frenchman Eugène Chatard.

The gambit is only accepted about one game in five, but acceptance clearly needs to be seriously considered by players on both sides of the variation.

After 6...Bxg5 7.hxg5 Qxg5, Albin continued in 1890 with 8.Nf3, but the gambit soared in popularity after Alekhine in 1914 played 8.Nh3!?

The main line continues 8...Qe7 9.Nf4 (9.Qg4!? is also popular) Nc6!? 10.Qg4!? g6!? 11.0-0-0 with an unclear position that the engines reckon is roughly balanced.

Both sides have important alternatives along the way.

Declining the gambit is much more popular, although the 'natural' French move 6...c5!? is frowned on by theory because of the continuation 7.Bxe7!? Qxe7 8.Nb5.

However this line is revived every so often with the idea of meeting 7.Bxe7!? with 7...Kxe7!?, when Nb5 is much less of a threat. Instead White usually reinforces the centre with 8.f4, when Stockfish14.1 gives White at least a slight edge but Komodo12.1.1 calls the position equal.

Black can also decline by 'castling into it' with 6...0-0, when both 7.Bd3 and 7.Qg4 favour White, according to Stockfish14.1, but not Komodo12.1.1, and 6...h6, when 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 8.f4 splits the engines as before.

The commonest method of declining is to take away the threat of Nb5 with the slow-looking:

6...a6!?

Then the aggressive ...

7.Qg4

... unites the engines in preferring White.

The 'consistent' follow-up to 6...a6!? of 7...c5?! looks decidedly dubious after 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Qxg7, while 7...0-0?? loses to 8.Bh6.

There are more than 200 examples of 7...Kf8!? in Mega22, but White must be better.

Possible is 7...f6, but 8.Qh5+! g6 9.exf6 favours White, according to the engines.

The second-most popular try is 7...f5!?, but it looks good for White after 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qh6.

By a process of elimination, almost, we arrive at the most-popular continuation:

7...Bxg5

After ....

8.hxg5

... Black can at last push the c pawn:

8...c5

Position after 8...c5 - how should White respond?

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Easily the most popular move in Mega22 is 9.g6!?, but it is not liked by the engines. Stockfish14.1 continues 9...f5 10.Qf4 cxd4!? (the engines much prefer this to the more popular 10...h6) 11.Rxh7, claiming a slight edge for White. Komodo12.1.1 agrees with 9...f5 but then gives 10.Qg3 h6 (not 10...cxd4? as 11.gxh7 is very unpleasant for Black)  11.Nce2!? cxd4 12.Nxd4 with equal chances.

The game continuation of 9.Bd3?! was met by the horrible 9...h6?, but 9...cxd4 would have caused me problems, eg 10.Qxd4?! Nc6 loses the e5 pawn. My opponent feared 10.g6, which the engines agree is best, but after 10...Ne5!? 11.gxf7+ Kf8 12.Qxd4 Nbc6 they reckon Black has a slight edge (Stockfish14.1) or at least is certainly not worse (Komodo12.1.1).

Best for White, according to the engines, is the semi-forcing 9.dxc5!? Nxe5 10.Qg3.
After 10...Nbc6 White scores 67% in Mega22 from 21 games by castling.
The continuation 11.0-0-0 Qa5 12.f4 Ng6 is the most popular in Mega22 and is also the choice of the engines.

Position after 12...Ng6

Going by the general rule I mentioned at the start of this post, we are still in the opening, but it is possible to draw a conclusion if the engines can be trusted, and that is that White is positionally winning (Stockfish14.1) or at least has the upper hand (Komodo12.1.1).

The engines agree 13.Bd3 is strong, but even stronger are 13.f5, according to Stockfish14.1, and 13.Kb1, according to Komodo12.1.1.

In conclusion I think it is fair to say the Alekhine-Chatard Attack is rather dangerous for Black, which may well be a major reason why at grandmaster-level 4...Be7 has fallen out of favour compared with the Burn, ie 4...dxe4.

Many Happy Returns

THE Menorca congress finished on Sunday but Joe Skielnik, Ray Kearsley and I are flying back to Gatwick today.

The hotel-venue, the Princesa Playa, proved to be fine, if a little eccentric at meal times, eg a decent choice of cheeses at breakfast but not at lunch or dinner; fresh fruit at lunch and dinner but virtually none at breakfast, etc.

We were lucky with the weather - there were two wet days but they coincided with the double-round days.

Cala en Bosch marina

Summing-Up Menorca

MY score of +4=1-2 saw me lose 15.2 Fide elo. I finished tied for 13th-19th (15th on tiebreak).

Joe Skielnik scored +4=2-1, losing 19.4 Fide elo. He finished tied for 5th-12th (7th on tiebreak), winning free entry to next year's tournament.

Ray Kearsley scored +3=3-1, losing 23 Fide elo. He finished tied for 13th-19th (18th on tiebreak).

Among the prizes in the U2000 were ones for the best players aged 50+ and 65+.

The latter prize (50 euros and a trophy) went to Ray, even though I finished above him on tiebreak.

When I pointed this out to the organisers, I was told the prize was for being "super" 65, ie older than 65.

I was told I did not qualify as my birthday is this year, but I would qualify next year, which I took to mean I had to be 66.

However, thinking about it last night I believe the problem is I entered the tournament before my 65th birthday in February, and so was placed in the 50+ group although my birthday should have seen me moved into the 65+ group.

Luckily I tend not to harbour grudges. 

Menorca Round Seven

Coastal view

FACED a junior in the final round.

Spanton (1915) - Núria Martí Torrent (1680)

U2000

Sicilian Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6

A Hyper-Accelerated move-order, but the game soon transposes into a regular Accelerated Dragon.

3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nxc6!?

The main move is 6.Be3.

6...bxc6 7.Bc4 d6

Black needs to be careful, eg 7...Nf6?! looks silly after 8.e5.

8.0-0 Nf6 9.e5!?

A pawn sac for the initiative.

9...dxe5 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.Re1

Not 11.Bxf7? as 11...e6 traps the bishop.

11...e6

This is the main move in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database, but 11...Bf5!? is slightly preferred by Stockfish14.1, although not by Komodo12.1.1.

12.Rxe5!?

This may seem naive but has a sting in the tail.

12...Nd5 13.Re1!?

The engines prefer 13.Re2, when they reckon 13...Nxc3 14.bxc3 Bxc3 15.Rb1 gives White good compensation for a pawn.

13...Nxc3 14.bxc3 Bxc3 15.Rd1+ Ke7!?

Stockfish14.1 prefers 15...Kc7 but Komodo12.1.1 values the two moves equally.

16.Ba3+ Kf6!?

This is almost certainly better than 16...Ke8.

17.Rab1 Be5(?)

This is a mistake, although a far-from-obvious one. The engines give best as 17...Kg7, but reckon White has decent compensation for a pawn.

How should White proceed?

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18.f4! Bc7

Probably worse is 18...Bxf4?! 19.Rf1, eg 19...Kg5 20.h4+ Kg4 21.Be2+ Kg3 22.Rb3+ Kxh4 23.Be7+ f6 24.Bxf6+ Bg5 25.Rh3#.

19.Bb2+ e5 20.fxe5+ Ke7 21.e6 Bb6+ 22.Kh1 Bxe6 23.Bxe6 Kxe6?!

Creating a passed pawn with 23...fxe6 is probably better.

24.Re1+ Kd5

Not 24...Kd7? 25.Rbd1+ Kc7 26.Re7+ and 27.Bxh8, winning a rook rather than just the exchange.

25.Bxh8 Rxh8 26.Re7 f5 27.g3 Kc4 28.Rd1 Kc3 29.Rd7?

White is still better after 29.Re2.

29...Kxc2 30.Rxh7?

Now White is lost. The engines reckon 30.Kg2 and 30.Re2+ keep the balance.

30...Rxh7!

Usually the player an exchange down wants to avoid allowing his remaining rook to be exchanged, but here the text wins.
31.Rxh7

How should Black proceed?

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31...Kb2?

Black wins easily after 31...c5, according to the engines, eg 32.a4 (the best answer to the text, as is shown in the next note) c4 33.a5 is met by 33...Bd4 - the bishop maintain defence of the a7 pawn makes all the difference.

32.Rg7?

As Ray Kearsley pointed out after the game, best is 32.a4, eg 32...Kb3 33.a5 Bxa5 34.Rxa7 Bb4 35.Rc7 c5 36.Kg2 c4 37.Kf3 c3 38.Ke3, which the engines reckon is dead-equal. Black could try 32...c5 but 33.a5 Bxa5 34.Rxa7 Bb4 35.Rc7 Kb3 is a transposition to the previous line.

32...c5 33.Rxg6 c4 34.Rc6 c3 35.Kg2 c2 36.Kf3 c1=Q 37.Rxc1 Kxc1 38.Kf4 Bd4?

Unnecessary. Black wins easily after 38...a5 or 38...Kb2.

39.Kxf5 Kb2 40.Ke4?

It was tempting but wrong to gain a tempo on the bishop. Instead, pushing the kingside pawns draws, eg 40.g4 Kxa2 41.h4 a5 42.g5 a4 43.g6 a3 44.h5 Kb2 (44...Bg7 45.Kg5) 45.h6 a2 47.g7 a1=Q 48.g8=Q is a tablebase draw.

40...Bc3 41.Kd3 Bf6?

41...a5 wins.

42.Kc4 Kxa2 43.h4 a5 44.Kb5 Bc3 45.Ka4

Not 45.g4?? Kb3 etc.

45...Be1 46.h5 Bxg3 ½–½

Menorca Round Six

Windmill in Ciutadella

MY round-six opponent was a junior with whom I drew in Calvià (Mallorca) in October when he was rated 1308. That game, in which I was white, can be seen at TTV.

Toni Tomás Viver (1440) - Spanton (1915)

U2000

Colle

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.e3 Bg4 4.c3!?

Whites have tried many different fourth moves, with 4.Be2, 4.c4, 4.Bb5, 4.Nbd2 and 4.h3 all popular with grandmasters.

4...e5!?

This involves giving up the bishop-pair but gains the lion's share of the centre.

5.h3 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 e4 7.Qd1 f5

Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1 prefer 7...Qg5!?

8.c4 Nf6 9.Nc3 Bb4 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3

How would you assess this position?

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Black has more space in the centre and on the kingside; White has, or will have, more space on the queenside. White also has the bishop-pair, albeit in a position yet to open up. Komodo12.1.1 gives White the upper hand; Stockfish14.1 reckons White has a positionally won game. I strongly suspect the former is closer to the truth.

11...0-0 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Bc4!?

The engines prefer gaining space with 13.c4.

13...Kh8 14.Bxd5?

A fairly reliable rule-of-thumb has it that a player with a bad bishop should not give up a good one. Here the dark-square bishop is badly boxed in by white pawns, so giving up the light-square bishop almost guarantees that the theme of the rest of the game will be a battle between a good knight and a bad bishop,

14...Qxd5 15.0-0 Na5 16.Rb1 Nc4 17.Qb3 b6 18.Qb5 c6 19.Qxd5?!

The engines are not especially unhappy with this move, but it means the knight will have an unassailable outpost at c4.

19...cxd5 20.f3?!

Another move the engines are not greatly fussed about, but now e3 is a permanent weakness.

20...a6 21.fxe4 fxe4 22.Rf2 Kg8 23.a4 Rf7 24.Rxf7 Kxf7 25.Kf2 Ke6 26.Ke2 Rf8 27.Bd2 Rf6 28.Be1 Rg6 29.Kf2 h5 30.Kg1 Kd7 31.Bf2 Rc6 32.Kh1?!

A strange move, but White is reduced to waiting to see if Black can come up with a winning plan.

32...g5 33.Kh2 Rf6 34.Kg1 Kc6 35.h4!?

This is Stockfish14.1's top choice, and Komodo12.1.1's too until it switches to 35.Rb3.

35...g4 36.Rb3 g3!?

The engines prefer more manoeuvring with, say, 36...Rg6 or 36...Rf8, but I can find nothing wrong with the text.

37.Bxg3 Nxe3 38.Bf2 Nc4 39.Rb1 Rg6

Even stronger, according to the engines, is the more-direct 39...e3 40.Be1 e2, eg 41.Bf2 a5 42.Re1 Re6 43.Rb1 Na3 44.Ra1 Nc2 followed by queening.

40.Be1 Ne3 41.Kf2?

A mistake, but White is lost anyway.

41...Nxg2 42.Bd2 Nxh4 43.Rh1 Nf3 0-1

Menorca Round Five

Ciutadella cathedral basilica

Spanton (1915) - Luke Gostelow (*)

U2000

Sicilian Closed

1.Nc3 c5 2.e4 a6 3.a4

The main line runs 3.g3 b5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.d3 e6 6.f4 d5, when Stockfish14.1 slightly favours White but Komodo12.1.1 reckons the position is equal.

3...Nc6 4.Nge2 Nf6 5.g3 d5

A fairly reliable rule-of-thumb in the Sicilian is that if Black can get this move in without suffering a disadvantage, Black is at least equal.

6.exd5

This is probably better than 6.Bg2!? d4 7.Nd5 Nd7!

6...Nxd5 7.Bg2 Ndb4!

This is an improvement, according to the engines, on 7...Nc7, which was played in Rustam Faiq Bunyatov (2330) - Jakub Půlpán (2321), EU U18 Championship (Prague) 2016. That game continued 8.0-0 g6 9.d3 Bg7 10.Be3 Ne6, when the engines reckon White was on top (but ½–½, 40 moves).

8.0-0 g6 9.d3 Bg7 10.Ne4

How should Black proceed?

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10...c4!?

10...b6? is a mistake that I intended answering with 11.c3, the point being 11...Nxd3 runs into 12.Nf6+ Bxf6 13.Bxc6+ Bd7 14.Bxa8 Nxc1 15.Bf3 Nxe2+ 16.Qxe2, when the engines reckon Black's bishop-pair and extra pawn do not compensate for having lost the exchange.

10...Qb6? 11.Be3 is also bad for Black.

But the engines reckon best is 10...Bg4!, when 11.Nxc5?! is met by 11...Nd4, and both 11.Be3 Nd4 12.Bxd4 cxd4 and 11.c3!? Nxd3 12.h3 Bf5 seem to give Black an edge.

11.dxc4?!

The engines reckon White has an edge after 11.d4!, the point being 11...Nxd4? 12.Nxd4 Qxd4 13.Qxd4 Bxd4 runs into 14.c3.

11...Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Nxc2 13.Rb1 0-0?!

Too routine, according to the engines, which reckon Black is better after 13...Bg4.

14.Bd2?!

White is at least equal after 14.h3, according to the engines.

14...Bf5!?

Again the engines like ...Bg4.

15.Bc3 e5!?

The engines prefer 15...Rac8 or 15...Rad8.

16.Rbc1 N2d4 17.Bxd4!? exd4 18.Nd6 Bg4 19.f3 Be6 20.Nf4 Rab8 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.f4 e5?

White is better after 22...Rfd8, according to the engines, but not as much as after the text.

23.Bd5+ Kh8

How should White proceed?

*****

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24.fxe5?

I chickened out of 24.Nf7+ Rxf7 25.Bxf7 because I feared the strength of Black's connected passers after 25...e4. However the engines reckon 26.Kf2 leaves White well on top.

24...Nxe5 25.Rf1 Bh6 26.Rce1 Be3+ 27.Kg2 Nd3 28.Rcd1?

The game is equal after 28.Rb1, according to the engines.

28...Nxb2 29.Rb1 Rxf1

I had expected 29...Nxa4??, when 30.Rxb7 is very good for White.

30.Rxf1?

Better is 30.Kxf1.

30...Nxa4?

White can resign with a clear conscience after 30...d3.

31.Nf7+?!

31.Rf7 is more combative.

31....Kg7 32.Ne5 Rf8 33.Rxf8 Kxf8 34.Bxb7 Nc5

I had missed this possibility.

35.Bf3 a5 36.Be2 a4 37.Nd3 Ne4 38.c5!?

White is completely lost but at least this gives counterplay.

38...a3 39.c6 Ke7 40.Nb4 Nc3 41.Bc4 Kd6 42.Kf3 Bh6 43.c7?!

This does not help, but White's position is so bad the engines barely flinch at this move.

The game finished:

43...Kxc7 44.Nd5+ Kc6 45.Nf6 a2 46.Bxa2 Nxa2 47.Ke4 Be3 48.Nxh7 Nc1 49.Nf8 g5 50.Ne6 Nb3 51.h4 Nc5+ 52.Nxc5 Kxc5 0-1

*No Fide but has an ECF of 1863.

Menorca Round Four

Ciutadella town hall

PLAYED this evening.

Juan A Sanchez Liso (1488) - Spanton (1915)

U2000

New London

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 e6 3.e3 Bd6 4.Qg4!?

This was tried by Efim Bogoljubow in 1923 but never really caught on.

4...g6!?

Not 4...Bxf4? 5.Qxg7 Qf6 6.Qxf6 Nxf6 7.exf4, when Black has very little for the pawn, but possible is 4...Nf6 5.Qxg7 (Bogoljubow played 5.Qf3?!) Rg8 6.Qh6 Rg6 7.Qh4 Rg4 etc, albeit Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1 prefer White. The text weakens the black kingside but threatens ...e5.

5.Qf3!?

This is Stockfish14.1's top choice; Komodo12.1.1 prefers 5.Qg3.

5...Nc6!?

This may be a novelty. The idea is to again threaten ...e5.

6.a3?!

Almost certainly too slow. I was more concerned about 6.Nc3, when 6...Nb4 can be met by 7.0-0-0.

6...e5 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Qe2

Not 8.Qxd5?? Bb4+ etc, but 8.Qg3 may be better.

8...Nc4!?

The engines prefer simple development with 8....Nf6, not worrying about the pin 9.Bg5.

9.Nc3!

This equalises, according to the engines, the point being 9...Nxb2?? loses to Qb5+ etc.

9...c6 10.Bxd6 Nxd6

10...Qxd6? 11.0-0-0 favours White.

11.Nf3 Nf6 12.Nd4?!

The engines are not all that unhappy with this, but prefer 12.Qd2, which prepares development of the light-square bishop

12...0-0 13.h4?

Premature.

13...Re8

Even stronger, according to the engines, is 13...c5!? 14.Ndb5 Nf5, when 15.g4 can be met by 15...Nxe3!? or 15...Nd4.

14.Nb3

The engines reckon this is a good time to castle long, albeit much preferring Black.

14...a5 15.0-0-0!?

White is in difficulties anyway, but the engines reckon best is 15.Qf3 Bg4 16.Qf4 Nf5, after which Black has a strong attack.

15...b5 16.h5 b4 17.Nb1 bxa3 18.Nxa3 a4 19.Nc5?!

Almost certainly better is 19.Nd4.

19...Qb6 20.hxg6!?

How should Black reply?

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20...fxg6!?

This is best, according to the engines, but 20...Qxc5 is playable, the engines continuing 21.Qf3, which can be met by 21...Re6 or 21...Bf5, although in both cases 22.gxf7+ gives White practical chances thanks to the weak black king. Also very strong, according to the engines, is 20...Bg4!?

21.Nd3 Rb8 22.c3 Bg4 23.Qc2?

Better is 23.f3 Rxe3 24.Qc2, but 24...Bf5 leaves Black with a big advantage.

23...Bxd1 24.Kxd1 Nc4?!

The engines' 24...Nfe4 is simpler.

25.Nxc4 dxc4 26.Nb4 Rbd8+ 27.Kc1 Qc5?!

It was almost certainly better to give up the c4 pawn gracefully, eg 27...c5 28.Bxc4+ Kg7, when the engines continue 29.Nd3 Re4! 30.Ba2 a3!, one idea being to meet 31.bxa3 with 31...Qa6.

28.Rh4

How should Black proceed?

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28...Nd5??

This throws away Black's considerable advantage. I tried to make 28...Rxe3!? work, missing that 29.Bxc4+ can be met by 29...Qxc4! White should therefore play 29.fxe3 Qxe3+ 30.Kb1 Qe1+ 31.Ka2, but 31...Rd1 is very strong. Also good is 28...Kg7, eg 29.Rxc4 Rxe3! 30.fxe3 Qxe3+ 31.Kb1 Qe1+ 32.Ka2 Rd1 33.Ka3 Rd2! etc, or 29.Bxc4 Rxe3 (29...g5!? also seems strong) 30.fxe3 Qxe3+ 31.Kb1 Qe1+ 32.Ka2 Qxh4. White can also try meeting 28...Kg7 with 29.Kb1 but the engines reckon 29...a3!? is very good for White, eg 30.axb3 Qb6 31.Ka2 c5 etc.

29.Bxc4 Kg7 30.Bxd5 cxd5

How should White proceed?

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31.Qxa4?

White has very good compensation for the exchange after 31.Nd3, according to the engines.

31...Rxe3! 32.fxe3?

Not 32.Na6?? Re1+ etc, but White is still in the game after 32.Nc2, albeit Black is the exchange up for a pawn and is winning (Stockfish14.1) or at least has the upper hand (Komodo12.1.1).

32...Qxe3+ 33.Kb1

Or 33.Kd1 Qg1+ followed by picking up the white rook.

33...Qe1+ 34.Ka2 Qxh4 35.Qa7+ Kg8 36.Qa6?!

Allowing the queens to come off reduces White's swindling chances.

36...Qc4+ (0-1, 78 moves).

Menorca Round Three

TODAY was the first of two double-round days at Menorca. Here is my game from this evening.

Spanton (1915) - Oliver Bach (1678)

U2000

Pirc

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 c6

This is easily the main continuation in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database, having more than 2,100 appearances ahead of second-placed 6...Bg4.

7.a4 a5 8.h3 Qc7 9.Be3 Nbd7 10.Qd2 e5

How should White proceed?

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11.Bh6!?

Grandmasters have preferred 11.dxe5 or 11.Rad1, which are also the top two choices of Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1.

11...exd4?!

The engines prefer 11...Bxh6 or 11...Re8.

How should White respond?

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12.Nxd4

Better, according to the engines, is 12.Bxg7!? Kxg7 13.Qxd4.

12...Re8 13.Bxg7

13.Nf5!? Bxh6 (not 13...gxf5?? 14.Qg5 etc, or 13...Bf8? 14.Bxf8 followed by capturing on d6) 14.Nxh6+ Kg7 15.Ng4 gives White a slight edge, according to Stockfish14.1 but Komodo12.1.1 calls the position equal.

13...Kxg7 14.Bd3?!

Probably better is 14.f3 or 14.Bf3.

14...Qb6 15.Nb3 Ne5

This threatens to win with 16...Bxh3!

16.Kh2?

The game is dead-equal after 16.Be2, according to the engines.

16...Be6 17.f4

The engines slightly prefer 17.Nc1!? but reckon Black is on top after 17...d5.

17...Nxd3 18.Qxd3 Bxb3 19.cxb3 Qxb3 20.f5?!

Stockfish14.1 suggests 20.Rae1 Rad8 21.Qg3, albeit much preferring Black, while Komodo12.1.1 gives 20.e5 dxe5 21.fxe5, when 21...Rxe5? loses to 22.Rxf6! but Black is on top after 21...Nd5.

How should Black proceed?

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20...g5?

On 20...Nxe4?! I intended 21.fxg6, when the engines reckon Black has to find 21...f5 to avoid immediate catastrophe, while 20...Rxe4?! also looks problematic after 21.fxg6. However the engines give 20...Qb4 as very good for Black.

21.Qg3 h6 22.h4 g4 23.Rae1?

Too slow. Stockfish14.1 gives 23.Qxd6, when 23...Rad8 24.Qg3 is equal, according to the engines, although 23...Qb4!? may be good for Black. Komodo12.1.1 suggests 23.Rad1 Rad8 24.Rxd6 Rxd6 25.Qxd6, when again ...Qb4 may give Black an edge.

23...Re5 24.Re3 Qb4 25.h5?

This makes a bad position worse.

25...Rg8 26.Rf4 Kh7 27.Qh4 Rg5 28.Kg1 Qxb2

Black has nabbed a second pawn, and has the safer king

The game finished:

29.Ne2 Qa1+ 30.Kf2 Qxa4 31.Nc3 Qc2+ 32.Ne2 a4 33.Kg1 a3 34.Qe1 a2 35.Rc3 Qxe2! 0-1

Blue Is The Colour

Parts of the sea around Menorca are remarkably blue, even under a cloudy sky

Javier Bonilla Rodriguez (1536) - Spanton (1915)

Menorca U2000 Round Two

English 1...e5

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.e3

As I have remarked before, a Botvinnik set-up with e4 and Nge2 is popular in English-speaking countries, thanks largely to Tony Kosten's Dynamic English book, but the text and 5.d3 remain the main moves.

5...Nge7 6.Nge2 Nf5!?

This discourages 7.d4 but arguably leaves Black with difficulties finding an active plan.

7.0-0

7.d4!? is not as ridiculous as it may seem. After 7...exd4 8.exd4 Ncxd4 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.0-0 0-0 11.h4!? my main analysis engines Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1 reckon White has good compensation for a pawn.

7...d6 8.a3 a5!?

This typical restraining move is not in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database.

9.Rb1 Be6 10.Nd5 Qd7

The engines prefer 10...Nb8!?, or 10...0-0 followed by ...Nb8, the idea being to evict the d5 knight with ...c6.

11.Nec3 0-0 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 Nfe7 14.d3 f5!?

The engines prefer 14...Nd8, but note ...c6 is hard to organise because of a fork-threat at b6.

15.Bd2 h6

The engines like 15...e4!? 16.dxe4 Ne5, albeit preferring White after 17.Rc1!

16.b5 Nd8 17.Qc2!?

The engines prefer this to the aggressive 17.b6 c6 18.Nc7 Rc8.

17...g5

How should White proceed?

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18.Ra1

Stockfish14.1 gives 18.Nxe7+ Qxe7 19.Nd5 Qf7 20.f4, claiming White is positionally winning. Komodo12.1.1 comes to like the move after it is played on the board, but is not so enthusiastic.

18...Rxa1 19.Rxa1 Nxd5

The engines reckon 19...Nc8 or 19...f4!? keeps White's advantage to more-manageable levels.

How should White recapture?

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20.Nxd5

The engines prefer 20.cxd5!? Bf7 and either 21.b6 (Stockfish14.1) or 21.Qb3 (Komodo12.1.1).

20...c6 21.bxc6 bxc6 22.Nb6 Qf7 23.Ra3

The engines give 23.Bb4, claiming an edge for White after 23...c5 24.Bc3 but reckoning 23...Qb7 equalises.

How should Black proceed?

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23...f4!?

White has to be very careful in meeting this thrust.

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24.exf4?!

The engines give 24.Be1!? Komodo12.1.1 at first reckons the move keeps the balance, but as soon as the move is inputted it agrees with Stockfish14.1's assessment of an edge for Black, albeit later reverting to more-or-less equality.

24...exf4 25.gxf4?

Black's pieces are much better placed than White's for action on the kingside with mutually exposed kings. The engines give 25.Bc3 Bxc3 26.Rxc3, although preferring Black after 26...Bf5.

25...gxf4 26.Bf3

Stockfish14.1 slightly prefers 26.d4!? despite the reply 26...Bxd4.

26...Qg6+ 27.Kh1

Even worse is 27.Kf1? Bh3+.

27...Bd4 28.Ba5 Rf5 29.Be4?

Tempting, but bad. However Black seems to be winning whatever White plays.

29...f3 30.Bxf3 Rxf3 31.Be1 Bh3 0-1

Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Cap d'Artrutz lighthouse

SPAIN scrapped most of its mask-wearing rules today - just in time for tonight's first round at Menorca.

Spanton (1915) - Diego Aguilo Pons (1394)

Menorca U2000 Round One

French Alekhine-Chatard

1.Nc3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bg5 e6 4.e4 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4!?

This scores 61% in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database, eclipsing the 59% of the more-popular 6.Bxe7.

6...a6!?

This is Black's commonest reply, but White's score rises to 63% in Mega22.

7.Qg4 Bxg5 8.hxg5 c5

How should White proceed in this mainline position?

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9.Bd3?!

Most popular in Mega22 is 9.g6!? f5 10.Qf4 h6, reaching a position Komodo12.1.1 reckons is equal but Stockfish14.1 reckons strongly favours White. The engines prefer 9.dxc5!?, agreeing White is much better but being unsure how Black should respond. The text may be a novelty and is probably a mistake.

9...Nf8?

I was concerned about 9...Nc6!?, but the engines reckon best is 9...cxd4, when 10.Qxd4 Nc6 11.Qf4 Ndxe5 is clearly bad for White, and 10.g6!? Nxe5!? 11.gxf7+ is unclear. The text is as horrible as it looks.

10.Nf3

Despite appearances, Black's last did not stop 10.g6!?, eg 10...fxg6 11.Bxg6+ Nxg6 12.Qxg6+ hxg6 13.Rxh8+ Ke7 14.Rxd8 Kxd8 15.dxc5, after which 15...Nd7 16.Nf3 Nxc5 17.Kd2 is very good for White, according to the engines.

10...cxd4 11.Qxd4 Nc6 12.Qf4 Qe7 13.0-0-0 Nb4 14.Na4?!

A mental aberration. I somehow thought if Black met the text with 14...Nxa2+ the knight would be lost to 15.Kb1 since I would have a pawn on a3 covering the b4 square.

14...Nxd3+!?

Black can certainly grab the a2 pawn, although Komodo12.1.1 prefers the text, at least for a while. After 14...Nxa2+ 15.Kb1 Nb4 16.Nb6 Rb8 Stockfish14.1 reckons 17.Qe3 leaves White at least slightly better, but Komodo12.1.1 gives Black more-or-less equality.

15.Rxd3 Nd7

The engines reckon 15...b5!? is better.

16.Qd4 b5 17.Nb6 Rb8 18.Nxd7

18.Nxc8 Rxc8 brings Black right back into the game.

18...Bxd7 19.Ra3 Bc8 20.Qd3 b4 21.Rb3 a5!?

There is no good reply, according to the engines, although they switch between recommending the text and 21...h5!?

22.Rxh7 Rxh7 23.Qxh7 Qf8 24.g6 a4 25.Rd3 b3

The engines prefer 25...f5, but agree Black is lost.

26.cxb3 a3?

This only makes matters worse.

27.gxf7+ Qxf7

27...Kxf7 is not an improvement, eg 28.Ng5+ Ke8 29.Qg6+ Kd8 30.Nxe6+ etc.

28.bxa3 Kd7 29.Qh4 Bb7 30.Rc3 Ra8 31.Qb4 Bc6? 32.Qd6+ 1-0

So Far, So Good

JOE Skielnik, Ray Kearsley and I successfully arrived at our venue-hotel in Menorca early this evening.

Joe and I had breezed through covid controls at the island's airport, thanks to having NHS covid passes.

Ray's pass had not arrived in time, but fortunately it turned out I had correctly filled out a Spanish health form for him, so he had no difficulties either.

I will reserve judgment on the hotel, the Princesa Playa - to be fair, this is apparently off-season for Menorca - but playing conditions look good.

The tournament hall

Menorca

AM flying to the Balearic island of Menorca today with Joe Skielnik and - hopefully - Ray Kearsley for a seven-round tournament that starts tomorrow.

I write "hopefully" in the case of Ray as his covid travel pass from the NHS has not arrived in time.

It seems there is a workaround involving filling out a Spanish health form - roughly the equivalent of the UK's former passenger locator form - but only time will tell whether that has been done correctly and with sufficient evidence to prove he has had his (four) covid jabs.

Details of the chess can be found at Mn, but I guess the main point is the schedule, which involves a 6pm game tomorrow, 10am and 5pm on Thursday, 5pm on Friday, 10am and 5pm on Saturday, and 9.30am on Sunday.

Doubly Perfect

SPOTTED the following serial number on a Central Line carriage: 91243.

As usual, each number should be used once, and once only, and must be added, subtracted, multiplied or divided to make a balanced equation.
There are at least two perfect solutions, ie ones that uses the numbers in the order they appear.
*****
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My solutions: 9 x 1 (- 2) = 4 + 3

                       9 x 1 = 2 + 4 + 3

Another Simple But Perfect Tube Puzzle

SPOTTED the following serial number on a Central Line carriage: 91265.

As usual, each number should be used once, and once only, and must be added, subtracted, multiplied or divided to make a balanced equation.
The simplest solution is also a perfect solution, ie one that uses the numbers in the order they appear.
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My solution: 9 x 1 (+ 2) = 6 + 5

Simple But Perfect Tube Puzzle

SPOTTED the following serial number on a Central Line carriage: 72173.

As usual, each number should be used once, and once only, and must be added, subtracted, multiplied or divided to make a balanced equation.
The simplest solution is also a perfect solution, ie one that uses the numbers in the order they appear.
*****
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My solution: 7 + 2 + 1 = 7 + 3

Not So Busy After All

FELT obliged last night to cancel my participation at Southend.

Organiser Ian Hunnable has kindly offered to refund my entry fee.

It is disappointing to miss such a popular Easter event, but not playing should help me feel better for Menorca, which starts on Wednesday,

Busy 10 Days

AM making final preparations for two more-hectic-than-normal tournaments.

From tomorrow to Monday I have seven rounds at Southend, which I will be commuting to daily by train.

On Tuesday I fly with Joe Skielnik and Ray Kearsley to Menorca for seven more rounds, running from Wednesday to the following Sunday.

That is 14 rounds in all in what is effectively an elongated week.

Civil War

PLAYED on board two (of five) last night for Battersea 2 against Battersea in division one of the Central London League.

Victor Durojaiye (1886) - Spanton (1979)

Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.c3 d5!?

An early ...d5 in the Giuoco Piano is controversial as Black's position cannot always stand the loosening. The main move here is 6...d6 but the text has been tried by players as diverse as Hikaru Nakamura and Vladimir Kramnik.

7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1

How should Black meet the threat to e5?

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8...f6??

Stockfish14.1 gives 8...Bg4!?, and if 9.h3 then 9...Bh5 on the basis that 10.g4 Bg6 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Rxe5 c6, which is somewhat reminiscent of the Marshall Gambit in the Spanish, is good for Black. Komodo12.1.1 suggests 8...Be6!?, and if 9.Ng5 then 9...h6!?, claiming 10.Nce6 fxe6 is only slightly better for White.

9.Nbd2?

White is winning after 9.d4 exd4 10.Qb3!, according to the engines. Grzegorz Więch (2300) - Krzysztof Kopczyński (-), Polish U26 Championship 1998, continued 10...Nce7 11.cxd4 Bb6 12.Rxe7! with a large advantage for White (1-0, 32 moves).

9...Kh8 10.Nb3 Bb6 11.d4 exd4 12.Nbxd4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd4!?

The engines prefer 13...c6, which was played in a 1991 game between two unrateds.

14.Qxd4 Nb6 15.Qh4?!

White may have an edge after this but the bishop-pair surely gives White a bigger advantage after 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Bb3.

15...Nxc4 16.Qxc4 Re8 17.Bf4 c6

The engines reckon better drawing chances are to be had by giving up the c7 pawn, eg 17...Bf5!? 18.Qxc7 Qxc7 19.Bxc7 Kg8.

18.Bc7?!

'Clever', but by no means best. After 18.Qf7 the engines reckon Black is more-or-less forced to play 18...Bf5, giving up the b7 pawn and leaving Black with two queenside isolanis.

18...Rxe1+ 19.Rxe1 Qg8 20.Qb4 Be6!?

Offering the b7 pawn anyway, for activity. The engines slightly prefer 20...b6.

21.Qxb7 Bd5?!

Probably better is the engines' 21...Re8!?, meeting 22.Qxa7 with 22...Bxa2!

22.b3 Re8 23.Rxe8!?

Komodo12.1.1 narrowly prefers the passive 23.Rf1!? Stockfish14.1 flits between the two moves, but mostly preferring the text.

23...Qxe8

How should White proceed?

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24.Kf1

The engines give 24.Qb8! as very good (winning, according to Stockfish14.1). At first glance this may seem absurd, thanks to the opposite-coloured bishops, but after 24...Qxb8 25.Bxb8 a6 26.f3 Black has major defensive problems. One plausible line runs 26..Kg8 27.Kf2 Kf7 28.Ke3 Ke7 (not 28...Ke6?? 29.c4) 29.Kd4 Kd7 30.Kc5 Kc8 31.Ng3 Kb7, when Black has saved the queenside, but then comes 32.Kd6, which the engines agree is winning.

24...h6?! 

Not 24...Bxg2+? 25.Kxg2 Qd5+ as the checks eventually run out, but, bearing in mind the previous note, better probably is 24...Qe4 (25.Qa8+ is met by 25...Bg8) with a perpetual.

25.Qxa7

Afterwards VD said he could not understand why he did not play 25.c4, which may indeed be a tad better than the text, but Black seems fine after 25...Be4. However 25.Qb8! gives good winning chances.

25...Qe4 26.Qe3?!

Acquiescing to a draw after 26.f3 is safer.

26...Qb1+ 27.Qe1?

White should play 27.Ke2 with good drawing chances.

27...Bxg2+ 28.Ke2 Qxa2+?

Black has serious winning chances after 28...Bf3+, eg 29.Kd2 Qxa2+ 30.Ke3 and 30...Bh5 or 30...Bd5.

29.Qd2 Qxb3 30.Qd8+ Kh7 31.Qd3+ Kg8 32.Qd8+ Kh7 33,Qd3+ ½–½

The match finished 2.5-2.5.

Back To Normal?

COLLECTED my repaired HP laptop from Currys yesterday.

It apparently needed a new hard drive, and had a corrupted operating system and an outdated Bios boot-up - quite a list for a computer bought in November.

I spent much of the rest of the day reinstalling ChessBase and loading associated databases.

This was not helped by the fact I find ChessBase 16 messy and user-unfriendly, so I stick to ChessBase 9.

Unfortunately the later no longer works - ChessBase long ago withdrew support - without also installing the former.

That led to some syncing problems, but they seem to have been solved, although I still have a few of my recent games to input.

Tegernsee R9 Game

PLAYED April 3.

Spanton (1912) - Martin Launert (1786)

Senioren Cup

English

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 d6!?

This somewhat passive-looking defence of e5 is quite a popular alternative to 3...Nc6.

4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bd7 6.g3 Nc6 7.Bg2 g6

How should White proceed?

*****

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8.Nxc6!? Bxc6 9.Bxc6 bxc6

White has smashed Black's queenside pawn-structure, which could be significant in an ending. But meanwhile Black has gained a half-open b file and now prevents white pieces using the d5 square. In addition White has exchanged a fourth-rank knight for a third-rank one and an active bishop for a passive one. Nevertheless 8.Nxc6!? is Komodo12.1.1's top choice, at least for a while, although Stockfish14 prefers development with 8.Bg5.

10.Bg5 h6?!

Aloyzas Kveinys (2517) - Artur Jakubiec (2524), Kraków (Poland) 2007, was agreed drawn after 10...Bg7 11.Qd2 Qe7 12.0-0 0-0 13.Rad1 Qe6.

What should White play?

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11.Be3?!

Black faces a tricky middlegame after 11.Bxf6!? Qxf6 12.Qa4.

11...Bg7 12.Qd2 Qe7 13.0-0 Ne4 14.Nxe4 Qxe4 15.Rac1 0-0!? 16.b3

Black is fine after 16.Bxh6 Bxh6 17.Qxh6 Qxe2, according to the engines.

16...Kh7 17.Rfd1 a6 18.f3 Qe6 19.Bf2 Rfe8 20.e4 f5!?

The engines prefer 20...c5.

21.Re1 fxe4 22.Rxe4 Qd7 23.Rh4 Re6 24.Be3 h5

How should White continue?

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25.g4?

White's pieces are dangerously uncoordinated after this. Better is 25.Qd3, but Black is fine, eg one reply given by the engines is 25...Qf7!?, the point being 26.Rxh5+? loses to 26...Kg8 followed by ...Qxf3.

25...Bf6

Even stronger may be 25...Rae8!?

26.g5?!

Almost certainly better is 26.Bg5.

26...Bg7 27.Qd3 Rae8! 28.Bd4?

Also bad is 28.Rxh5+? as the white bishop falls after 28...Kg8. The engines reckon White should play 28.Bd2 or 28.Re1, albeit giving White at least the upper hand.

28....Bxd4+

This is winning, but even stronger seems to be the engines' 28..Qe7!?

29.Qxd4 Qe7

There is no satisfactory answer to Black's twin threats of ...Qxg5+ and ...Re1+.

30.Qf4 Re5

Also strong is 30...Re1+, but there is no immediate knockout blow after 31.Kg2.

31.Rh3 Rxg5+?!

Here ...Re1+ is definitely stronger, eg 31...Re1+ 32.Kg2 Rxc1 33.Qxc1 Qe2+ 34.Kg1 Re3 35.Qf1 Qd2 with ...Re1 to come.

32.Rg3 Re5

Black is 'only' a pawn up but maintains a powerful attack.

33.Rf1 Rf8 34.Qd4 c5 35.Qd3 Rff5 36.Kh1 Re3 37.Qd1 Rfe5 38.Qc2 Rf5 39.Rfg1 Re2 40.Qd3 Re3

Strong is 40...Rxa2! as 41.Rxg6 can be met by 41...Rxh2+! 42.Kxh2 Qh4+ 43.Kg2 Kxg6.

41.Qc2 Qf7

Should White capture on g6?

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42.Qg2

The engines prefer 42.Rxg6!? Qxg6 43.Rxg6 Kxg6 44.f4, but I felt that would make it relatively easy for Black to coordinate the rooks.

42...g5!?

Perhaps better is 42...Rf6 or 42...Re6.

43.h4

The engines prefer 43.Rxg5?!, which may be objectively better but for practical purposes is hopeless as 43...Rxg5 44.Qxg5 Qxf3+ 45.Qg2 Qxg2+ forces either a winning pawn-ending after 46.Rxg2 Re1+ etc or a winning rook-and-pawn ending after 46.Kxg2 Re2+ etc.

43...Rexf3 44.Rxf3 Rxf3 45.hxg5 Kg6 46.Re1 Qf5 47.Re6+!?

A queen-and-pawn ending is surely White's best hope of salvaging a draw.

47...Qxe6

Even stronger seems to be 47...Kg7, but to play it Black must see a defence to 48.Rf6.

48.Qxf3

How would you assess this ending?

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Black is a pawn up, cannot be stopped from winning the g pawn and has the less-exposed king. The only flies in the ointment from Black's view are the weakness of a6 and the danger of falling into a perpetual. Stockfish14 reckons Black's advantage is worth more than 7.5 pawns; Komodo12.1.1 reckons just under 7.5.

48...Qe1+ 49.Kg2 Qd2+ 50.Kh3 Qd4 51.Qc6!?

The white king will have to look after itself.

51...Qg4+ 52.Kh2 Qh4+ 53.Kg2 Qxg5+ 54.Kf2 Qf4+ 55.Ke2 Qe5+ 56.Kd2 h4

56...Qb2+ 57.Ke3 Qxa2? wins the white a pawn and protects the black a pawn but the black king cannot escape checks after 58.Qe8+.

57.Qxa6

Now White has a passed pawn that can become a protected passed pawn, which would be a major asset in a pawn-ending.

57...Qd4+ 58.Ke2 Qe4+ 59.Kf2 h3 60.Qc8 Qg2+ 61.Ke3 Qg3+?!

This was a good time for ...Kg5, according to the engines. The text is Komodo12.1..1's second choice, but Stockfish14.1 reckons White now has a draw.

62.Ke2?!

Almost certainly better is 62.Ke4, when Komodo12.1.1's 62...Qe5+ 63.Kf3 Qf5+ would transpose to the game. Komodo12.1.1 reckons Black would be wining, but Stockfish14's verdict of equal is correct.

62...Qe5+?

62...Qg2+ 63.Ke3 allows 63...Kg5, which the engines agree is very strong.

63.Kf2?

The engines agree 63.Kf3 draws.

63...Qf5+?

63...Qf4+ allows transpositions into lines where ...Kg5 is powerful.

64.Qxf5 Kxf5

White to play and draw

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65.Kg3!

Komodo12.1.1 reckons 65.a4 is better. However that seems to lose to 65...d5!, eg 66.cxd5 Kd5 67.Kg3 Kxd5 68.Kxh3 c4 69.a5 cxb3 70.a6 Kc6 etc. A better shot for White may be 66.a5, eg 66...d4 67.a6 h2 68.Kg2 d3 69.a7 d2 70.a8=Q d1=Q 71.Kxh2 Qc2+ 72.Kg1, but the tablebase Syzygy shows 72...Qxb3 wins for Black. Nevertheless it is possible there is a draw for White somewhere in these lines.

65...c6 66.a4 h2 67.Kxh2 Ke6

Not 67...d5? 68.a5 d4 69.Kg2 etc.

68.Kg3 d5 69.Kf4 Kd6 70.Ke3 Kc7 71.Kd3 Kb6 72.Kc3 Ka5 73.Kd3 Kb4 74.cxd5 cxd5 75.Kc2 c4 76.bxc4 dxc4 77.a5 Kxa5 78.Kc3 Kb5 79.Kc2 Kb4 80.Kb2 c3+ 81.Kc2 Kc4 82.Kc1 Kd3 83.Kd1 c2+ 84.Kc1 Kc3 ½–½

ML said he played on to the end because he wanted to find out what the English is for the German word "patt."

Tegernsee R8 Game

PLAYED April 2.

Thomas Bertram (1709) - Spanton (1912)

Senioren Cup

Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5!?

More popular are 2...Nc6 and especially 2...Nf6, but after the latter White has a dangerous gambit in 3.d4!? exd4 4.Nf3!? Having said that, the main line in the gambit continues 4...Nc6 5.e5 d5 5.Bb5 Ne4 6.Nxd4 with what Stockfish14 and Komodo12.1.1 reckon is an equal position.

3.Nf3

Transposing to the Giuoco Piano in this way is easily White's commonest response.

3...Nc6 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3

Can you find an equalising combination for Black?

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No.

5...Nxe4??

This well-known idea fails spectacularly here.

6.Bxf7+?

This gives White a large advantage, but Bxf7+ in these positions is nearly always inferior to Nxe4, and this is no exception as 6.Nxe4 wins a piece thanks to 6...d5 7.Nxc5.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe4 Be7 8.d4!

Much better than the quiet 8.d3, after which 8...d5 equalises, according to the engines.

8...d5!

This is best, according to the engines. Black speeds development without worrying about the possibility of losing a pawn.

9.Neg5+ Bxg5?!

Better seems to be the engines' 9...Kg8!?, the point being 10.dxe5 can be met by 10...h6 11.Nh3 Bxh3, when White's shattered kingside gives a fair bit of compensation for a pawn.

10.Bxg5!?

Prioritising development. Komodo12.1.1, but not Stockfish14, prefers 10.Nxg5.

10...Qd6

Despite first appearances, this does not save a pawn, so the engines' 10...Qd7!? may be better.

11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Bf4

This wins a pawn but the engines slightly prefer 12.Nxe5+!? Qxe5 13.Qh5+ g6 14.Qf3 Qf5 15.Qg3 with good attacking chances.

12...Nxf3+ 13.Qxf3 Qf6 14.Qxd5+ Be6 15.Qh5+ g6 16.Qe5?!

Letting queens come off the board, when the black king is so exposed, greatly reduces White's winning chances.

16...Qxe5 17.Bxe5 Rhd8 18.a3?!

18.Bf4, covering the d2 entry square, is almost certainly better.

18...Rd2 19.Rac1 c6 20.Bf4 Re2 21.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 22.Rxe1 Bf5 23.Bg5 Re8 24.Rxe8 Kxe8

Komodo12.1.1 reckons White has a slight edge, but Stockfish14's verdict of equal is surely right.

25.c3 Kd7 26.Kf1 Kd6 27.Ke2 Kd5 28.h4

TB offfered a draw.

28...Kc4 29.Kd2 a5 30.Bd8 a4 ½–½