English Seniors 65+ Round Six

FACED a Fide master in round six.

Oliver Jackson (2206 ECF/2104 Fide) - Spanton (1972 ECF/1860 Fide)

King's Gambit

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

This counterthrust considerably sharpens this variation of the King's Gambit - not that the King's Gambit in general needs much sharpening.

How should White respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****
4.Nxe5

More popular, at least in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database, is 4.exd5!? e4 5.Ne5, although Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1 at first reckon Black is slightly better. However, given time, the engines come to view the position as offering equal chances.

4...dxe4

This is Stockfish14.1's choice, but Komodo12.1.1 prefers 4...Nc6!?, which does not appear in Mega22. After 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.d4 Komodo12.1.1 claims equality but Stockfish14.1 gives White the upper hand.

5.Bc4 Nh6 6.Nc3!?

This is not in Mega22. The main line, if such a thing exists in what is already an obscure position, runs 6.Qh5 0-0 7.Nxf7 Bf2+!?, when Anthony Milnes (2019) - Spanton (1969), Guernsey 2016, continued 8.Kxf2 Qd4+ 9.Ke1 Nxf7, after which White is slightly better, according to Stockfish14.1, but Komodo12.1.1 reckons Black has full compensation for a pawn (½–½, 34 moves).

6...0-0

White can meet 6...Bf5?! with 7.Qh5 or 7.Nxe4!? Bxe4 8.Qe2, in both cases with advantage, according to the engines.

7.Nxe4 Bd4

Speedy development is vital in such sharp positions, which is why the engines like 7...Nc6!, the point being 8.Nxc5?! Nxe5 favours Black, eg 9.fxe5 Qh4+ etc or 9.Be2 Neg4. After the latter Black is a pawn down but the white king is stuck in the centre for the foreseeable future.

8.d3 Bxe5?

Consistent, but bad. The engines reckon ...Nc6 was again best.

9.fxe5 Bg4 10.Qd2 Nc6 11.Qf2!?

Freeing the dark-square bishop seems best, but thanks to Black's ninth move White can also safely castle.

11...Nxe5 12.Bg5!

This is much better than 12.Bxh6 Nxc4.

12...Qe8 13.Bb3 Be6 14.Bxh6 Ng4

Not 14...gxh6?? 15.Nf6+.

15.Qg3 f5 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.0-0-0 fxe4 18.h3 Qg6?!

Probably better, but still very good for White, is the engines' 18...e3.

19.hxg4 Qg5+ 20.Kb1 Bxb3 21.axb3 e3?! 22.Qxc7+ 1-0