Dresden Round Five

DREW on board three in 42 moves with white for England 3 against Ireland's Eddie O'Connor (1956).

Match score:
European Team Seniors 65+
England 3 v Ireland
Stephen M Williams (1844) 0-1 Mark Orr (IM 2088)
Colin Costello (1854) 0-1 Tim Harding (1955)
Tim Spanton (1764) = Eddie O'Connor (1956)
Robert Kane (1738) = Kevin James (1790)

....................................1-3.....................................

Castle Street

MUCH of Dresden old town, especially the most prominent buildings, was built in the mid-18th century.

Entrance to the old town along Schloßstraße

As the capital of Saxony, the city became famous for technological innovation, a reputation it holds today, hence its modern nickname of Silicon Saxony.

Dresden Game Four

Steen Juul Mortensen (1901) - Spanton (1764)

QGD Semi-Tarrasch

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4!? 6.Qa4+!?

The mainline in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database runs 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.e4!? Nc6 8.Bb5 dxe4 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Ng5, reaching a position Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 reckon favours White.

6...Bd7 7.Qxd4 exd5

How should White proceed?

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8.Bg5

This is the commonest move in Mega22, but grabbing a pawn with 8.Nxd5!? is also possible, although 8...Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Nc6 gives Black decent compensation.

8...Nc6

Black can play 8...Be7!?, when 9.Bxf6!? Bxf6 10.Qxd5 0-0 again gives Black reasonable compensation for a pawn.

9.Qd2 Be6 10.e3 Be7 11.Be2 Ne4!?

This may be a novelty. Normal is 11...0-0.

12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Nd4 0-0-0?

Better is 14...Nxd4 or 14...Bd7, eg 14...Nxd4 15.Qxd4 0-0!? (15...f5 16.Bh5+ Kf8 probably slightly favours White) 16.Qxe4 Qf6 17.Qxb7!? Rab8!? 18.Qxa7 Rxb2 19.Qd4 (only move, according to the engines) Qxd4 20.exd4 Bxa2, when Black has recovered two of the three sacrificed pawns and seems to have enough compensation for the third.

15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Ba6+ Kb8 17.Qc3 Qc7

The engines' 17...Bc8!? may be better.

18.0-0

Not 18.Qxg7?? Qa5+ etc.

18...f6!? 19.Rfc1

Probably even stronger is 19.Qb4+!?, eg 19...Qb6 20.Qxe4 Bd5 21.Qa4, when White is a pawn up and with much the safer king.

19...Bd5 20.b4 Qb6 21.Be2 Ka8 22.a4 Rb8 23.Rab1

Even better may be 23.b5!? cxb5 24.axb5, when the engines reckon Black has to oppose on the c file, but 24...Rhc8 25.Qxc8!? Rxc8 26.Rxc8+ Kb7 27.Rcc1 is comfortably winning for White, according to the engines.

23...Rhc8 24.a5 Qb7 25.Qd4 a6 26.Rc5 Qa7 27.Qc3

I was worried about 27.Bc4, eg 27...Bxc4 28.Qxc4 leaves Black unable to defend both the c and e pawns. Stockfish15 suggests 27...Bf7!?, when 28.Qe4?? fails to 28...Bg6, but instead White can play 28.h3 to solve back-rank mate problems and remain with a winning position.

27...Qb7 28.Qd4 ½–½

Dresden Round Four

DREW on board three in 28 moves with black for England 3 against SK 2012, Danmark's Steen Juul Mortensen (1901).

Match score:
European Team Seniors 65+
SK 2012, Danmark v England 3
Mogens Thuesen (2204) 1-0 Stephen M Williams (1844)
Per Holst (2075) = Colin Costello (1854)
Steen Juul Mortensen (1901) = Tim Spanton (1764)
Finn Andersson (1712) 0-1 Robert Kane (1738)

....................................2-2.....................................

Secret Cathedral

DRESDEN Cathedral is called Kathedrale Sanctissimae Trinitatis, which roughly translates as Cathedral of the Feast of the Holy Trinity.

It was built amid great secrecy from 1739 to 1755 by Friedrich August II, the Roman Catholic Elector* of largely Protestant Saxony.

Dresden Cathedral, with the royal palace in the background

He wanted a court church for private worship, partly to bolster his position as King of Poland, a title earlier held by his father, who converted to Catholicism in order to get it.

The fact that the building was to be a Catholic church was kept secret for as long as possible for fear of opposition from the city.

It was largely destroyed by bombing in WW2, but was rebuilt and given cathedral status in 1964.

*An Elector was one of a small number of secular princes and archbishops who elected the Holy Roman Emperor.

Dresden Game Three

Spanton (1764) - Christian Depp (1938)

Sicilian Bb5(+)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e5!?

An unusual continuation but one that has been played by Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana.

4.0-0

4.Bxc6+ dxc6 (4...bxc6 is also possible) 5.Nxe5?! Qd4 6.Nf3 Qxe4+ gives Black a slight edge, according to Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02.

4...d6 5.c3 a6 6.Ba4

The engines much prefer 6.Bxc6+ bxc6 7.d4.

6...Nf6 7.d4!? b5

The e4 pawn cannot be safely captured.

8.Bc2 Bg4

The engines prefer 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 Bg4.

9.dxc5 dxc5 10.Qe2 Be7 11.Rd1 Qc7 12.Nbd2 0-0 13.Nf1 h6!?

Played so White's next can be met by ...Be6 without the bishop being harassed by a knight going to g5.

14.Ne3 Be6 15.Nd5

The white knight on d5, and the c3 pawn stopping a black knight landing on d4, mean White is better 

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15...Qb7 16.a4 c4 17.b3 Rfe8?

This loses a pawn. The engines give 17...cxb3 18.Bxb3 Rfd8, albeit preferring White.

18.axb5

Even stronger, according to the engines, is 18.bxc4.

18...axb5 19.Rxa8 Rxa8

Not 19...Qxa8?? 20.Nc7 etc.

20.bxc4 bxc4 21.Qxc4 Bd8!?

The engines prefer 21...Bf8.

22.h3 Na5 23.Qd3??

23.Qe2 leaves White well on top.

23...Bxd5 24.exd5 e4 25.Qe3 exf3 26.Qxf3

White has two pawns and the bishop-pair, but that is poor compensation for being a piece down

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26...Nc4 27.Bf4 Nb6 28.Be4 Ra4 29.Bc2 Ra5 30.Bb3 Ra3 31.Bc2 Qa8 32.Bc1 Ra5 33.Be4 Nxe4 34.Qxe4 Rxd5 35.Qe8+ Kh7 36.Re1

If 36.Qe4+ then 36...f5.

36...Bf6?!

The engines are OK with this move - they do not flash red - but there is no need to give up a pawn, even if only temporarily, when Black has available 36...Rd7.

37.Qxf7 Rd7

Not 37...Bxc3? 38.Re6.

38.Qe6!?

Defending the c pawn with 38.Qb3 is possibly better.

38...Qd8?!

Not 38...Re7? 39.Qf5+ Kh8 40.Rxe7 Bxe7 41.Bxh6!, but probably better is 38...Bxc3.

39.Be3 Rd6?!

The engines strongly dislike this, preferring 39...Nd5 or 39...Re7.

40.Qe4+ Kh8 41.c4

Stockfish15 much prefers 41.Bc5!?, but Komodo13.02 is unsure.

41...Rd1

Here the engines like 41...Na4 or 41...Qc8.

42.Rxd1 Qxd1 43.Kh2 Qd6+ 44.Bf4?!

Almost certainly better is 44.g3, which comes to be played later anyway.

44...Qe7 45.Qc6 Nd7 46.Qa8+ Kh7 47.Be3 Be5+ 48.g3 Bd6 49.Qd5 Nf6 50.Qf5+ g6 51.Qf3 Ne4 52.Bd4 Bc5 53.Bxc5 Nxc5 54.Kg2

How should Black proceed?

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54...Qe4?

The queens-off ending is almost certainly drawn, so Black should keep the game going with, for example, 54...Kg7, when Stockfish15 reckons Black is winning but Komodo13.02 gives Black 'only' the upper hand.

55.Qxe4 Nxe4 56.f3 Nc5 57.Kf2 Kg7 58.Ke3 Kf6 59.Kd4 Ne6+

White to play and draw

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60.Kd5!

The king has to boldly support the c pawn. If 60.Ke3 then not 60...Ng5?! as 61.f4 gives drawing chances, but 60...Kf5 wins, according to the engines.

60...Ke7

If 60...Ng5 then 61.c5 draws.

61.f4 h5 62.Ke5 Nc5

CD offered a draw.

63.f5 Nd7+ 64.Kf4 Kf6 65.fxg6 Kxg6 66.g4 hxg4 67.hxg4 Kf6 68.g5+ Kg6 ½–½

Dresden Round Three

DREW on board three in 68 moves with white for England 3 against SV Dresden-Striesen's Christian Depp (1938).

Match score:
European Team Seniors 65+
England 3 v SV Dresden-Striesen
Stephen M Williams (1844) 0-1 Rainer Siegmund (2065)
Colin Costello (1854) = Wolfgang Lerhmann (1986)
Tim Spanton (1764) = Christian Depp (1938)
Robert Kane (1738) = Gerhard Groschup (1957)
.................................1.5-2.5.............................

Frauenkirche

ONE of Dresden's most famous sights is the Frauenkirche, a Lutheran church destroyed by bombing in February 1945.

The rebuilt Frauenkirche

It was reconstructed, partly with the help of donations from Coventry, whose experiences in November 1940 coined the word coventrate - koventrieren in German - to describe heavy aerial bombing of a city.

Dresden Game Two

Geza Gal (1765*) - Spanton (1764)

King's Fianchetto Opening

1.g3 e5 2.Bg2 d5 3.d3 Nf6 4.Nd2 Be7 5.c4

5.e4 would take the game into King's Indian Attack territory. Instead, after ...

5...c6 6.Nf3

... it is more of a Réti.

6...Nbd7

6...e4!? seems strong, eg 7.dxe4?! dxe4 8.Ng5?! runs into 8...e3! 9.fxe3 Ng4. Less catastrophic is 7.Ne5!?, but Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 reckon Black has at least a slight edge.

7.0-0 0-0 8.Rb1 a5 9.a3?!

The engines give 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.e4 with what they reckon is an equal game.

9...a4 10.Ne1 d4

Grabbing more space and leaving the white king's knight with nothing better to do than return to f3.

11.Ne4?! Nxe4 12.Bxe4 Nc5 13.Bg2 f5

At first sight this may look impressive but it is hard for Black to advance the central pawn-mass. The engines prefer 13...Bf5.

14.Bd2 Be6 15.Bb4 Qc7 16.Nc2 Rad8 17.Na1!?

This is the engines' top choice.

17...Ra8 18.Rc1

If 18.Nc2 I would almost certainly have varied rather than acquiesce to a draw by repetition.

18...Bd6 19.e3?!

The engines strongly dislike this, preferring 19.b3.

How should Black proceed?

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19...Qd7

The engines reckon 19...dxe3!? 20.fxe3 Rad8!? is winning.

20.exd4 exd4 21.Nc2?!

Probably better is the engines' 21.f4!? or 21.Bxc5.

21...Nb3 22.Rb1 c5 23.Be1!? f4 24.Na1 fxg3

The engines prefer 24...Bh3!? or 24...Nxa1 25.Rxa1 Bh3.

25.hxg3 Bg4 26.Qc2?

Better is 26.f3, although Black keeps an advantage.

26...Nxa1 27.Rxa1 Bf3 28.b4!?

This is Stockfish15's top choice, at least for a while, which only shows how bad White's position is.

28...axb3 29.Qxb3 Be2?!

This wins the exchange, but White gets a pawn and the bishop-pair, which is often sufficient compensation. The engines give 29...Bxg2 30.Kxg2 Bxg3!, the point being 31.Kxg3? succumbs to mate after 31...Ra6.

30.Qxb7 Qxb7 31.Bxb7 Ra7 32.Bd5+ Kh8 33.a4?

Not 33.Bd2? as 33...Bxf1 wins the exchange and a pawn, eg 34.Kxf1 Bxg3. Best, according to the engines, is 33.f4, but 33..Bxf1 34.Kxf1 g5 leaves Black on top.
33...Bxd3 34.a5 Bxf1 35.Kxf1 Bxg3 36.Ra3 Bc7 37.a6 h6 38.Bb7 Rb8 39.Be4 Rb6 40.Rf3 Rf6 41.Rb2?! Rfxa6 (0-1, 54 moves).

*German rating - does not have a Fide rating.

Dresden Round Two

WON on board three in 54 moves with black for England 3 against USV TU Dresden's Geza Gal (no Fide - 1765 German rating).

Match score:
European Team Seniors 65+
USV TU Dresden v England 3
Walter Nauber (1992) 0-1 Stephen M Williams (1844)
Martin Keeve (1931) = Colin Costello (1854)

Geza Gal ('1765') 0-1 Tim Spanton (1764)
Hartwig Dötzel (1863) 0-1 Robert Kane (1738)
.................................0.5-3.5.............................

Dresden Venue

THE venue for the European Chess Union's seniors championships is the Maritim hotel, a converted municipal warehouse originally used for storing tobacco, spices and fabrics.

Rear-view of the Maritim from beside the Elbe

The hotel, which opened six years ago, is close to the old town, with many rooms overseeing the river.

Looking from my third-floor bedroom

Dresden Game One

Spanton (1764) - Walter Pregl (1960)

Spanish Exchange

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 c5 8.Ne2 Bd6?!

This has been played by grandmasters, and is the second-most popular move in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database, but lets White force off the black bishop-pair. The stem game, Emanuel Lasker - Wilhelm Steinitz, World Championship Match Game 13 1894 (Montreal), saw 8...Bd7, which is still the main move today, one point being 9.Bf4 can be met by 9...0-0-0.

9.Bf4 Bxf4

Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 marginally prefer contracting a backward d pawn with 9...Be6 10.Bxd6 cxd6.

10.Nxf4 Ne7 11.Nbc3 Bd7 12.Ncd5!?

Forcing off another pair of pieces and so getting closer to a favourable ending.

12...Nxd5 13.Nxd5 0-0-0 14.0-0-0 Rhe8 15.Rhe1 b5 16.Nc3!?

The engines prefer 16.Nf4 or 16.f3.

16...Bc6!? 17.Rxd8+ Rxd8 18.f3 b4 19.Ne2 Rd6 20.Nf4

This threatens 21.Nd3.

20...Bb5 21.Rd1 a5 22.Rd5

This forces the last pair of rooks off, getting down to a minor-piece ending.

22...Rxd5 23.Nxd5

How would you assess this ending?

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Black has the longer-range piece, which is particularly handy when there are rival pawn-majorities. But there are lots of pawns on the board, which hampers the bishop more than the knight, and Black's pawn-majority cannot make a passer with normal play.

White has five pawns on light squares. The queenside ones are easily moved to dark squares, but the kingside ones could prove vulnerable, although they also restrict the bishop's freedom to move.

Stockfish15 gives White the upper hand; Komodo13.02 reckons White only has a slight edge.

23...Kd7 24.Ne3 c6?!

As a general rule Black should avoid putting pawns on the same coloured squares as the bishop as they obstruct the bishop's range.

25.a3

The engines like 25.b3!?

25...g6!? 26.Kd2 Kd6 27.f4 f6 28.Ng4 Ke6 29.Ke3 h5!?

Preventing a quick e5.

30.Nf2 Kd6 31.c3 Ba6 32.Nd3 Bc8!?

Both engines approve of giving up a pawn in this way, although they reckon White is winning. After, say, 32...bxa3 33.bxa3 Black will have huge problems defending the queenside.

33.axb4 axb4 34.cxb4

The engines reckon 34.c4!? is even stronger.

34...cxb4 35.Nxb4 Be6 36.Nd3 c5 37.e5+ fxe5 38.Nxe5?!

The engines much prefer 38.fxe5+.

38...Bf5 39.h3 Bb1 40.g4 hxg4 41.hxg4 Kd5 42.Nf3 Bc2 43.Nd2

Now either the black king withdraws or the bishop has to leave the b1-h7 diagonal.

43...Ke6

Play can quickly become complicated and unclear after 43...Bd1!?, eg 44.Ne4 Kc4!? (44...Bxg4?? 45.Nf6+) 45.f5 gxf5 46.gxf5 is completely equal, according to Stockfish15, but winning for White, according to Komodo13.02 (the former verdict is probably correct).

44.Nc4 Ba5?!

If 44...Bb1?! then 45.Na3 forces the bishop off the b1-h7 diagonal. But probably better is 44...Bd1 or 44...Kd5, eg 44...Bd1 45.g5 Bg4, after which White remains better but it is hard to see how progress can be made.

45.Kd2?!

The engines much prefer 45.Kf3 or 45.Kf2!?

45...Bc6 46.Ne5 Be4

The passive 46...Be8!? is marginally better, according to the engines.

47.Nd3 Kd6 48.Kd3 Bc6?!

Almost certainly better is the engines' 48...Bd5, one point being if, as in the game, 49.Ne5, Black can play 49...g5!?

49.Ne5 Be8

Not 49...g5? as both 50.Nxc6 and 50.Nf7+ win.

50.Ke4 Ke6

Black keeps the game going with 50...Ba4, but 51.Nc4+ (51.Nxg6?? Bc2+ etc) Ke6 52.f5+ seems winning.

51.Nxg6! Bc6+ 52.Ke3 1-0

Dresden Round One

WON on board three in 52 moves with white for England 3 against Austria's Walter Pregl (1960).

Match score:

European Team Seniors 65+

England 3 v Austria

Stephen M Williams (1844) 0-1 Siegfried Zörnpfenning (2109)

Colin Costello (1854) 0-1 Paul Mayer (2045)

Tim Spanton (1764) 1-0 Walter Pregl (1960)

Robert Kane (1738) 0-1 Karl Lang (1949)

.................................1-3.............................

River River

DRESDEN is the second-largest city - Hamburg is the largest - on the River Elbe, which flows for 680 miles from Czechia's Giant Mountains to the North Sea at Cuxhaven.

Early-morning view of the Elbe as it passes Dresden old town

The name Elbe comes from old German and Norse words meaning river, and is believed to have been first recorded in Latin as Albis.

It has a long history as a border and as a major trade route, being particularly important to the prosperity of the Hanseatic League.

Dresden is relatively modern as far as cities go, only really developing after it became the capital of the margravate of Meissen in 1270.

Today more than 550,000 people live in the city and over 1.3million in the greater metropolitan area.

Dresden seems to have a thriving chess scene with four teams entered in the 65+ section of the European team seniors and two in the 50+ section.

The tournaments, which are run by the European Chess Union, start today at 3pm.

Germany Calling

AM flying to Berlin today to catch a train to Dresden for the European Chess Union's team seniors championship, which starts tomorrow.

I am part of England 3 in the 65+ tournament, which has 44 teams.

Our line-up of Stephen M Williams (1844), Colin Costello (1854), myself (1764) and captain Robert Kane (1738) sees us seeded 43rd.

There are nine rounds over nine days, with a relatively slow time limit of 40 moves in 90 minutes followed by 30 minutes to finish, with a 30-second increment throughout.

Matches are played over four boards, but each team can have five players, meaning someone misses out each round.

The full list of teams is at D.

New Venue

PLAYED last night at Railsport's new venue, Enterprise House in Westbourne Terrace, W2, which has a playing room with plenty of space for a five-board match. I was on board two for Battersea 2 in division two of the Central London League.

Spanton (1955) - John Bass (1953)

French Alekhine-Chatard

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4!? Bxg5!?

Stockfish15 approves of accepting the gambit, although Komodo13.02 fluctuates between the text and declining with 6...h6 or 6...0-0. The mainline in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database runs 6...a6 7.Qg4 Bxg5 8.hxg5 c5 9.g6!? f5 10.Qf4 h6, which Komodo13.02 reckons equalises but Stockfish15 claims gives White has the upper hand.

7.hxg5 Qxg5 8.Nh3 Qe7 9.Qg4!?

Marginally more popular in Mega22 is 9.Nf4, but the engines prefer the text.

9...g6 10.Bd3?!

This bishop is not doing much here. The engines prefer 10.0-0-0 or 10.Ng5.

10...Nc6 11.Nb5!?

This forces Black to do something about the attack on c7. The main move is 11.0-0-0.

11...Nb6

This deflects the knight from the kingside, but it is hard to believe 11...Qd8?! or 11...Kd8?! is an improvement. However Black can flick in 11...h5 before moving the knight, possibly to f8.

12.Ng5 a6!?

Stockfish15 is keen on this apparent novelty, while Komodo13.02 likes it equally with the known 12...h5.

How should White proceed?

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13.Nxh7?

The engines point out 13.Nxf7!, eg 13...Qxf7 14.Bxg6 Qxg6 15.Qxg6 hxg6 16.Rxh8+ Kd7, with what they reckon is a completely equal position, or 13...Kxf7 14.Bxg6+ Kg8 15.Bh5+ Qg7 16.Nxc7, when Stockfish15 gives White at least a slight edge, but Komodo13.02 again calls the position completely equal.

How should Black respond?

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13...Kd8?

Correct is 13...axb5 14.Nf6+ Qxf6 15.exf6 Rxh1+ 16.Bf1, when Black has rook and two knights for a queen.

14.Nd6??

Somehow I thought Black could only capture once on d6. White is winning (Stockfish15) or at least has the upper hand (Komodo13.02) after 14.Nc3.

14...cxd6 15.exd6 Qxd6 16.0-0-0 Kc7 17.Nf6 Bd7

Black has a large advantage - Stockfish15 reckons +7.24 while Komodo13.02 gives +4.15.

The game finished:

18.Kb1 Rad8 19.c3 e5 20.Nxd7 Nxd7 21.dxe5 Ndxe5 22.Qg3 Rxh1 23.Rxh1 Nxd3 24.Qxd3 Qf4 0-1

The match finished 2.5-2.5.

Calvià Game Nine

Spanton (1764) - Gianluca Melino (1559)

Modern Defence

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 a6 5.a4

Investing a tempo in stopping, or at least delaying, ...b5. The mainline in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database runs 5.Nf3 b5 6.Bd3 Nd7 7.e5!? with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02.

5...b6 6.Nf3 Bb7 7.Bd3

The engines like 7.Bc4!?, with Stockfish15 claiming, at least for a while, White has a positionally won game.

7...Nd7 8.0-0 c5 9.Be3!?

The engines much prefer 9.d5.

9...Nf6

The engines reckon Black should take the chance to play 9...cxd4.

10.h3

Again the engines like d5.

10...Qc7 11.e5!?

The engines again prefer d5.

11...Nd5?!

There is a tactical problem with this move. The engines give 11...Nh5!?

12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.c4?!

Almost certainly better is winning a pawn by 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Bxg6.

13...Bb7

The engines prefer 13...Bxf3 14.Qxf3 0-0.

How should White proceed?

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14.e6!?

A standard pawn sacrifice in this type of position, although Stockfish15 prefers 14.d5, as does Komodo13.02 if given plenty of time to consider the position.

14...fxe6 15.Ng5 Nf8

Stockfish15, but not Komodo13.02 unless again given quite a bit of time, prefers 15...cxd4!?, eg 16.Nxe6 Qc6 17.Nxg7+ Kf7 18.Qg4 Qxg2+!? 19.Qxg2 Bxg2 20.Bxd4 Bxf1.

16.d5!? exd5 17.cxd5 Bc8?

Not 17...Bxd5? 18.Bxg6+, but better is 17...Bxb2, eg 18.Rb1 Bf6!?, when Komodo13.01 reckons the position is equal but Stockfish15 gives White the upper hand.

18.f5 h6 19.Ne6 Nxe6

Also horrible is 19...Bxe6 20.fxe6.

20.fxe6 Bb7

Not 20...g5 21.Qh5+ Kd8 22.Qf7 Bf6 (22...Bxb2? 23.Qf8+ Rxf8 24.Rxf8#) 23.Rxf6.

21.Bxg6+ Kd8 22.Qf3 Kc8 23.Qf7?

The simple 23.Rab1 is better.

23...Bxb2 24.Rad1 Kb8 25.Bxh6!? Ka7

Not 25...Rxh6 26.Qf8+ and 26.Qxg6.

26.Bg5

What should Black play?

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26...Rae8?

Black equalises with 26...Rag8, according to the engines, although there is plenty of play left in the position.

27.Qf2 Bd4 28.Rxd4 cxd4 29.Bxe8 Rxe8 30.Rc1 Qd8 31.Qxd4

White has won a pawn and is much more active.

31...Rf8 32.Be3 Rf5 33.a5 Kb8 34.axb6 Rxd5 35.Qa4?!

Almost certainly stronger is 35.Qg7 with Rc7 to come.

35...Qg8 36.g4 Rb5

Stockfish15 gives 36...Qxe6 37.Qe8+ Bc8 38.Kf1 Rd1+!? 39.Rxd1 Qxe3 40.Qc6! (the only move to stop a perpetual) Qxh3+ 41.Kf2 Qh2+ 42.Ke3 Qe5+ 43.Kd3, after which Black has run out of useful checks. Komodo13.02 gives 36...Re5 37.Rc2 Qh8 38.Qc4 Rb5 39.Rc1 Rb2 40.Qf4, claiming White 'only' has the upper hand (Stockfish15 reckons White is winning).

37.Qc4 Qf8?

Better is the engines' 37...Re5, but they agree 38.Qc7+ Ka8 39.Rc3 Rxe6 40.Ra3 Qb8 41.g5 wins for White.

38.Rf1

Even stronger is 38.Qc7+ Ka8 39.Rf1, eg 39...Qe8 40.Qd7.

38...Rb1??

38...Qd8 keeps the game going, but 39.Bd4 is comfortably winning.

39.Rxb1 Qf3 40.Qc7+ 1-0

Calvià Game Eight

Guillermo Simo Bordoy (1849) - Spanton (1764)

Spanish Berlin

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Nbd2!?

The most popular moves are 5.Bxc6!?, 5.0-0 and especially 5.c3. Magus Carlsen has played all three, as well as the text, and also 5.Nc3, 5.Bg5 and 5.Ba4.

5...Nd4!?

The main line in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database runs 5...d6 6.c3 (6.0-0 is also popular) 0-0 7.0-0 a6 8.Ba4 Ba7!? 9.h3 with what Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 call an equal position.

6.Nxd4 Bxd4 7.Nf3 c6

The engines slightly prefer 7...Bb6!?, the point being 8.Nxe5? loses a piece to 8...Qe7 followed by ...Qb4+.

8.Bc4 0-0 9.c3 Bb6 10.0-0

Not 10.Nxe5? Qe7 11.d4 (11.Nf3 d5) d6 12.Nf3 d5 and ...dxe4.

10...d5 11.exd5 cxd5 12.Bb3

How should Black proceed?

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12...e4!?

The engines give 12...Bg4, eg 13.Bg5 Qd6, and if 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Qd2 then 15...Kh8, claiming a slight edge for Black.

13.dxe4 dxe4 14.Qxd8 Bxd8!? 15.Nd4 Bb6 16.h3 Rd8?!

Black equalises, according to the engines, with 16...Bxd4 17cxd4 and either 17...Rd8 or 17...Be6.

17.Be3 Nd5 18.Bg5 f6 19.Bd2 Kh8 20.Rfe1 f5 21.Rad1 h6 22.Bc1 Nc7 23.h4?!

The engines much prefer 23.Be3 or 23.Bf4.

23...Bxd4 24.Rxd4 Rxd4 25.cxd4 Be6 26.Bf4 Bxb3 27.Bxc7 Bxa2 28.Be5 Rc8 29.Ra1 Bd5 30.Rxa7

How would you assess this ending?

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Material is level. White has an extra pawn-island, but also the only passed pawn. The presence of opposite-coloured bishops is by no means as drawish as they would be if rooks were not also on the board - in particular White has pressure against g7, but nevertheless the position is equal, according to the engines.

30...Rc2?!

Going after the weak b2 pawn, but here, as is so often the case, allowing the enemy to invade the back rank is double-edged at best.

31.Ra8+ Kh7 32.Rd8 e3!? 33.fxe3

Nor 33.Rxd5?? e2 etc.

33...Rxg2+ 34.Kf1 Be4

The engines slightly prefer 34...Bf3.

35.Rd7

White has at least a slight edge after 35.d5!? Rd2 36.d6, according to the engines.

35...Kg8?

Black has to play 35...Bc6, according to the engines, eg 36.Rc7 Rg4 37.h5 Kg8 38.b3 Kf8, when it appears neither side can make progress, or 36.Rd8 Rxb2 37.d5 Bb5+ 38.Kg1 Rd2, which the engines reckon is completely equal.

36.d5 Kf8 37.d6 Bc6 38.Rc7 Rd2!?

The engines prefer 38...Rg6, but agree Black is losing.

39.Bxg7+ Ke8 40.Be5 Bb5+ 41.Kg1 Bc6 42.Rh7 Rg2+ 43.Kf1 Rg6 44.Ke2 Rg2+ 45.Kd3 Be4+ 46.Kc3 Rc2+ 47.Kb3

Immediate checks have run out. The game finished:

47...Rd2 48.Bf4 Rd3+ 49.Kc4 Rd2 50.b4 Rc2+ 51.Kb3 b5? 52.Re7+ Kd8 53.Rxe4 1-0

Calvià Game Seven

Spanton (1764) - Wolfgang Cleve-Prinz (1903)

English

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 Bc5!?

An early ...Bc5 is often criticised in the English when White has the opportunity to hit the bishop with e3 followed by d4, but the text has been played by Carlsen, Nakamura and other grandmasters.

4.Bg2 a6 5.e3 d6 6.Nge2 Ba7 7.d4 Nf6

How should White proceed?

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8.Bxc6+!?

A very committal move. Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 prefer 8.0-0 or 8.b3.

8...bxc6 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8

How would you assess the position?

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Black has the bishop-pair, but has lost castling rights and has three isolated queenside pawns, two of which are doubled. The absence of queens means the black weaknesses are not easy for White to get at, and also mean mating attacks are unlikely, at least in the medium term. Stockfish15 gives White a slight edge; Komodo13.02 gives Black a slight edge.

11.0-0 Rb8

11...Bh3!? may be better, allowing 12.Rd1+ to be met by 12...Kc8.

12.Rd1+ Ke8!?

Komodo13.02 prefers 12...Ke7, but Stockfish15 disagrees.

13.Kg2 h5 14.h3 Bf5 15.b3 Bc5 16.Bb2 Nd7 17.Rd2 Rh6 18.e4 Bh7 19.Rad1 Rd6 20.f3 Ke7 21.Na4 Rxd2

The engines prefer 21...Bb4 22.Bc3 a5!?

22.Rxd2 Bb4 23.Bc3 Bxc3

23...a5!?

24.Nexc3

24.Naxc3 allows 24...Nc5.

24...f5 25.Re2 g6?

Better, according to the engines, is 25...fxe4 26.Nxe4 Bxe4 27.Rxe4 Kf6, although White's superior pawn-structure must leave Black worse.

How should White proceed?

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26.h4

White has the upper hand after this, according to the engines, but probably better is 26.f4!?, eg 26...Kf6 27.Rd2 Ke7 28.exf5 gxf5 29.fxe5, after which Black has five isolated pawns, or 26...Rf8 27.exf5 gxf5 28.fxe5 f4!? 29.Rf2 Nxe5 30.Rxf4, when again White has the far superior pawn-structure.

26...Bg8 27.Kf2 Be6 28.Ke3 Rf8 29.exf5 gxf5 30.f4?!

This seems to let Black off the hook. The engines reckon 30.Kf2!? leaves White with the upper hand.

30...Rg8 31.Kf3 exf4 32.Kxf4

All of Black's remaining pawns are isolated, but the black pieces are active

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32...Rg4+ 33.Kf3 Kf6 34.Kf2 Rd4 35.Re3 Ne5

The threat of a fork on g4 allows Black to play this without fearing the consequences of the reply Nc5.

36.Ke2 f4

What should White play?

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37.Re4?

Correct, according to the engines, is 37.gxf4, giving what they reckon is a completely equal position.

37...Bg4+ 38.Kf1!?

This is best, according to the engines, but they reckon Black is winning.

38...Bh3+ 39.Kg1 fxg3 40.Re3 Rxh4

40...Rg4?! allows strong counterplay with 41.Nc5, but even stronger may be 40...Kf5!? 41.Rxg3 Bg4!?, eg 42.Nc5 Kf4 43.Ne6+ Kxg3 44.Nxd4 Kxh4, when Black is a (passed) pawn up.

41.Rxg3 Rg4 42.Kh2 Rxg3 43.Kxg3 Bc8

How would you assess this minor-piece ending?

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Black is a pawn up and has the only long-range piece, but all the black pawns are isolated and White is a little more active than in the position arising in the previous note. Stockfish15 reckons Black is winning, but Komodo13.02 give Black 'only' the upper hand.

44.Nc5 Ng6 45.Ne2 Ke5 46.Kf3 h4 47.Nd3+ Kf6 48.Nd4?

The engines much prefer 48.Nc5.

Black to play and win

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48...c5?

Correct is 48...Ne5+, forcing off a pair of knights, and if 49.Nxe5 Kxe5 50.Nxc6 then 50...Kd6 wins, eg 51.Na5 Kc5 52.a3 Kd4 etc.

The game finished:

49.Nxc5 Ke5 50.Ne2 Kf5 51.Nd4+ Ke5 52.Ne2 Ne7 53.Nd3+ Kd6 54.Nef4 Bf5 55.a3 Ng6 56.c5+ Ke7 57.Nxg6+ Bxg6 58.Nb4 h3 59.Nxa6 Kd7 60.Nb4 Bf7 61.Kg3 Be6 62.a4 Bxb3 63.Kxh3 Bxa4 64.Nd5 Kc6 65.Nxc7 ½–½

Calvià Game Six

Vjačeslavs Verņuks (1664) - Spanton (1764)

Catalan

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Nc3!?

The mainline in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database runs 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Qc2 b6 9.Bf4 Bb7 10.Rd1 Nbd7 11.Nc3 dxc4 12.Nd2, reaching a position occurring 249 times in Mega22. Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 reckon chances are equal.

6...0-0 7.Bg2 dxc4!?

A Closed Catalan with 7...c6 is more popular, but the engines marginally prefer the text.

8.0-0 c5!?

This seems to be a novelty. The engines like 8...Nc6 or 8...a6.

9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Ne5 Nbd7 11.Nxc4 Nb6 12.Nxb6 Bxb6 13.Qc2 Qe7

The engines prefer 13...h6, but reckon White has at least a slight edge.

14.Rac1 Rd8 15.Na4 Nd5?

The engines give 15...Bd7!?, when 16.Bxb7?? loses to 16...Bxa4 17.Qxa4 Qxb7. However they reckon 16...Nxb6 17.axb6 Rfd1 is slightly better for White.

16.a3?!

White still has an advantage after this but the engines reckon better is 16.Nxb6.

16...Bd4 17.e3 Bb6 18.Rfd1 Bd7 19.Rb1?

The simple 19.Nc3 is best, according to the engines.

How can Black exploit White's last move?

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19...Rac8 20.Qb3??

Black is slightly better after 20.Nc3 Nxc3 21.Bxc3 Bxc3 22.bxc3 b6, according to the engines, but the text is much worse for White.

20...Qe8!? 21.Nc3 Bxc3

Not 21...Nxc3? 22.Bxc3 Ba4? (22...Bxc3 is better) as White has 23.Rxd8.

22.bxc3 Ba4 23.Qb2 Bxd1 24.Rxd1 Nxc3 25.Re1 Na4

Black has won the exchange and a pawn.

26.Qa2 Qd7 27.Bb4 b6 28.Ra1

Black threatened 28...a5.

The game finished:

28...Qd3 29.Bf3 Rc2 30.Qb1 Nc3 31.Qe1 a5 32.Be7 Rd7 33.Bh4 f6 34.g4 Qd2 35.Qf1 e5 36.Qc4+ Kf8 37.g5!? fxg5 38.Bg3 e4 39.Qc8+ Ke7 0-1

Calvià Game Five

Spanton (1764) - Jair Alfonso Cuesta Cifuentes (1962)

Bb5(+) Sicilian

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7 Qxd7 5.0-0 Nc6 6.Qe2

The mainline in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database runs 6.c3 Nf6 7.Re1 e6 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 Ne4 11.Nbd2 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 with a completely equal position, according to Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02.

6...Nf6 7.Rd1 g5!?

This extravagant-looking move is the top choice of the engines.

8.c3

Not 8.Nxg5? as 8...Nd4 is very strong, eg 9.Qd3 Qg4 10.Nf3 Rg8 11.Ne1 Qxd1.

8...g4 9.Nh4 0-0-0!?

The mainline in Mega22, albeit from just 54 games, runs 9...Qe6 10.d3 d5 with an equal position, according to the engines.

10.d4 d5!?

How should White proceed?

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11.exd5?!

All seven games in Mega22 saw 11.e5 Ne4, and now the engines like 12.Nd2!?, which was played in Rauf Mamedov (2662) - Leinier Domínguez Pérez (2723), Russian Team Championship (Loo, Sochi) 2013, which continued 12...Nxd2 13.Bxd2 cxd4 14.b4!? d3 15.Qxd3 Bg7 16.Bf4 Nxe5 17.Qe3 Nc4 18.Qxa7 e5 19.Bg5 f6 20.Be3 with an unbalanced position but one which the engines reckon is completely equal (½–½, 27 moves).

11...Nxd5 12.g3?!

Slow. Probably better is 12.Na3 cxd4 13.cxd4 but the engines agree Black has a large advantage after 13...e5!? Also possible is 12.c4, eg 12...Ndb4 13.d5, but the engines much prefer Black after 13...Nd4.

12...cxd4 13.cxd4 h5?!

This does not really achieve anything and so wastes time. The engines like 13...e5!?, and if 14.dxe5 then 14...Nf4 with a big attack.

14.Nc3 e6 15.Nxd5 Qxd5 16.Be3 Bg7 17.Rac1 Kb8 18.Rc5?!

A dubious pawn sacrifice. The engines give 18.Rc4, preferring Black after, for example, 18...Ka8!?

18...Qxa2 19.Qb5?!

The engines do not like this, but their 19.d5!? Rxd5 20.Rcxd5 exd5 21.Nf5 Be5 leaves White with not much for two pawns.

19...Nxd4 20.Qf1!?

This is best, according to the engines, but hardly what White wants to play when behind on material.

20...Qa6!?

Black gives up some of his advantage to get queens off the board and reduce the chances of a white combinational attack.

21.Qxa6 bxa6 22.Rd2 Bf6 23.Bf4+ Ka8 24.Be5 Bxe5 25.Rxe5 f6 26.Ra5 Kb7

The position has stabilised and Black remains two pawns up, albeit with doubled a pawns

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27.Kf1 e5 28.Rd1 Nb3 29.Rxd8 Rxd8 30.Ra4 a5 31.Ra3 Rd3 32.Ke1 Kb6 33.Nf5 Nc5 34.Ng7 Rxa3 35.bxa3 Kb5 36.Nxh5 Nd7

White is now only one pawn down, and Black's extra pawn is doubled, but a3 cannot be saved and so the game is lost

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37.f3!?

Desperation.

37...gxf3 38.h4 Ka4 39.Ng7 Nf8 40.h5 Kxa3 41.h6 a4 42.g4 Kb2 43.Ne6 Nh7 0-1

New Season

PLAYED on top board last night for Battersea 2 in our opening fixture of the 2022-3 London League Division Two season. Our opponents at the Mindsports Centre, Hammersmith, were Wanstead & Woodford.

Spanton (1955) - Steven Rix (2035)

Veresov

1.Nc3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bg5 Nbd7

This is easily the most popular continuation in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database.

4.e3

The mainline runs 4.Nf3 g6 5.e3 Bg7 6.Bd3 0-0 7.0-0 c5 with what Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 reckon is an equal position. Arguably the most thematic continuation is 4.f3, when play commonly proceeds 4...c6 5.e4 dxe4 6.fxe4 e5!? 7.dxe5 Qa5 with a slight edge to Black, according to the engines. All three moves - 4.e3, 4.Nf3 and 4.f3 - score under 50% in Mega22.

4...e6 5.Bd3 Be7 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 c5

How should White meet this pawn thrust?

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8.dxc5?!

The main move in Mega22 is 8.Re1, and if 8...c4 then 9.Bf1. The engines suggest 8.Ne5!? Nxe5 9.dxe5 Nd7 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.f4, but reckon White is at best equal. The text helps Black develop and gives Black a central pawn-majority.

8...Nxc5 9.Qe2 Bd7!?

This may be a novelty. Arjun Erigaisi (2559) - Haik Martirosayan (2662), Lichess Blitz 2020, went 9...b6 10.Rfd1 Bb7, when Black was probably better even without White playing 11.e4? (0-1, 40 moves).

10.Ne5 Bc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Rac1!?

Preparing pressure down the c file in the event of ...Nxd3.

12...Nfd7 13.Bxe7

Trying to preserve the bishop-pair, at least temporarily, with 13.Bf4?? fails to 13...e5 14.Bg3 e4, when 15.Ba6 can be met by 15...Qb6.

13...Qxe7 14.Qh5?!

Probably better is 14.Rfd1 (Stockfish15) or 14.e4!? (Komodo13.02).

14...Nxd3?!

Black has at least a slight edge after 14...f5!?, according to the engines. They also like 14...g6. The text justifies White's 12th move.

15.cxd3 Rab8 16.Rc2 c5 17.e4!?

How should Black meet this pawn thrust?

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17....d4!?

This gains space but makes the c pawn backward. Komodo13.02 quite likes the move but both engines settle on 17...dxe4!? as their top choice, continuing 18.Nxe4!? f5!? 19.Ng5 h6 20.Nf3, evaluating the position as completely equal.

18.Nb1!?

The engines prefer 18.Na4.

Can Black take advantage of White's knight retreat?

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18...e5

The engines give the remarkable 18...c4!, with two main lines: A) 19.Rxc4 Rxb2 20.Rxd4 Nb6!? 21.a3 Rc8, when they claim Black's piece-activity at least compensates for being a pawn down; B) 19.dxc4 e5!? 20.Nd2 Nc5 21.Rb1 a5, when they reckon Black's piece-activity and protected passer give Black a slight edge, despite being a pawn down.

19.Nd2 f6 20.Rfc1 Rfc8 21.Nb3 Rc7 22.Qe2 Rbc8 23.Na5 Qe6 24.Nc4 Rb8 25.h3 Rc6 26.Nd2?!

I was oblivious to the fact that I was unprotecting a2.

26...Rbc8?!

SR explained afterwards he rejected 26...Qxa2 because of 27.b4?!, but Black simply replies 27...Qe6 and White cannot hold the pawn after 27.bxc5. Better, therefore, is 27.b3 or 27.Nc4, when the engines reckon Black has at best a slight edge.

27.Nf3?

Still oblivious. White is better after 27.b3, according to the engines.

27...Qxa2 28.Nh4?!

Hoping to drum up something on the kingside to justify my 'sacrifice', but this makes a bad situation worse.

28...Qe6 29.Nf5?!

Preparing to defend on the queenside with 29.Nf3 is probably better.

29...g6 30.Ng3 Nb6 31.Qd2 c4

This forces winning liquidation.

32.Nf1 cxd3 33.Qxd3 Rxc2 34.Rxc2 Rxc2 35.Qxc2 Qc4 36.Qxc4+?!

Keeping queens on is better, according to the engines, but still horrible.

36...Nxc4 37.b3 Nd6 38.Nd2

How would you assess this knight-and-pawn ending?

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Black's extra pawn is a protected passer, and he has more space. Stockfish15 reckons Black is the equivalent of more than a rook ahead; Komodo13.02 is more conservative at +2.7.

38...Kf7 39.Kf1 Ke6 40.Ke2 Kd7 41.Kd3 Kc6 42.f4

What should Black play?

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42...Kc5?!

The engines much prefer 42...exf4!? 43.Kxd4 Nb5+. The problem with the text is that after ...

43.fxe5 fxe5 44.Nf3 Nf7

... the black knight is passive, albeit the engines reckon Black is still winning.

45.Kc2 Kb4 46.Kb2 Nd6!? 47.Nxe5 Nxe4 48.Nc6+ Kc5 49.Nxa7

Black to play and win

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49...Nd6?

This traps the white knight but almost certainly throws away the win. Simplest is 49...d3, eg 50.Nc8 Kd4 51.Nb6 Ke3 52.Nc4+ Ke2 etc, or 50.Kc1 Kb4 51.Nc6+ Kc3 and again the d pawn decides the game.

50.Kc2 Kb6

Consistent, and it gives practical chances as White can easily go wrong, but objectively slightly better, according to the engines, is 50...Kd5!?, although the white b pawn could become dangerous.

51.Kd3 Kxa7 52.Kxd4 Nf5+ 53.Ke5

I actually first played 53.g4, only for SR to point out I was in check.

53...Nh4 54.g3

Not 54.g4? as 54...g5 wins, eg 55.Kf6 Nf3 56.Kg7 Nb6 57.Kxh7 Ng1 58.Kg6 Nxh3 59.Kf5 Kb5 60.Ke4 Kb4 61.Ke3 Kxb3 62.Kf3 Kc3 63.Kg3 Nf4 64.Kf3 Kd4 etc.

54...Nf5 55.g4?

The simplest way to a draw is 55.Kf6, eg 55...Nxg3 56.Kg7 h5 57.Kxg6 Kb6 58.Kg5 with Kh4 to come.

55...Nh4 56.Kf6 Kb6?

Both 56...Nf3 and 56...h6!? win, according to the engines, eg 56...Nf3 57.g5 (57.Kg7 g5) Kb6 58.Kg7 Kb5 (58...Nxg5? 59.h4 draws) 59.Kxh7 Nh4, or 56...h6!? 57.Kg7 g5 58.Nxh6 Nf3.

57.Kg5 Nf3+ 58.Kf4

58.Kh6? g5.

58...Ng1 59.h4 Kb5 60.h5 Kb4 61.hxg6 hxg6 62.Kg5

I offered a draw.

62...Kxb3 63.Kxg6 Nh3 64.g5 Nxg5 ½–½

The match result has yet to be published at the London League website but I think Wanstead & Woodford won 5.5-2.5.

Addendum 22/10/22: match result confirmed.

Calvià Game Four

Johan Granholm (1509) - Spanton (1764)

Evans' Gambit

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

This is the Stone-Ware Defence, which goes back to at least 1834.

6.d4 Nf6 7.Ng5!?

The mainline runs 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 h6 9.Nbd2 Re8, after which Stockfish15 reckons White has at least a slight edge, although Komodo13.02 reckons White only has enough compensation for a pawn. The aggressive text was played by Adolf Anderssen and Henry Bird, but is not liked by the engines.

7...0-0

How should White proceed?

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8.Qd3?!

Anderssen - Lionel Kieseritzky, Match Game Eight (London) 1851, went 8.f4 exf4?! (8...exd4!?) 9.e5 Bxe5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Bb3 h6 12.Nh3, when 12...d5 would have been strong, according to the engines (1-0, 37 moves). Bird - Harry Pillsbury, Hastings 1895, saw 8.Nxf7!? Rxf7 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.f4 exd4 11.e5 Be7 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.0-0 d5, when Black had more than enough for the exchange, according to the engines (0-1, 39 moves). The position is messy, but the text, apparently a novelty, seems dubious.

8...h6 9.Nf3 exd4 10.0-0 Re8 11.Re1 dxc3 12.Nxc3 Ne5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.Bd2 d6

Even stronger, according to the engines, is 14...b5!? 15.Bxb5 c6, eg 16.Ba4 Ng4 17.g3 Qf6 with an initiative as well as an extra pawn.

15.f4 Bxc3 16.Bxc3

White has the bishop-pair - not enough for two pawns, but enough to give practical chances

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16....Be6 17.Bb5 c6 18.Ba4 b5 19.Bc2 Bc4 20.Qg3

How should Black defend?

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20...g6?

Weakening. The engines like 20...a5, but cannot agree on how to meet 21.a3.

21.Qh4?!

Probably better is 21.Rad1!?, when grabbing a third pawn by 21...Bxa2!? may be playable but the engines prefer 21...b4 22.Bb2 (22.Bxb4?? Qb6 etc) Nh5 23.Qf2 Qb6 24.Bd4 c5 25.Ba1, after which Stockfish15 gives White the upper hand but Komodo13.02 reckons, if anyone is better it is Black.

21...Nh5 22.Qg4?

Necessary is 22.Qf2, although the engines much prefer Black after 22...Qb6 23.Bd4 c5.

22...Kh7?

22...Qb6+ 23.Kh1 Qf2 wins more material.

23.e5?

Better is 23.Rad1, allowing 23...Qb6+ to be met by 24.Bd4.

23...dxe5??

Again the engines reckon ...Qb6+, Kh1 Qf2 is winning.

24.Qxh5 Bd3?!

Probably better is 24...Qb6+ 25.Kh1 Qf2 26.Be4 exf4 (Stockfish15) or 24...exf4 25.Rxe8 Qb6+!? 26.Kh1 Rxe8 (Komodo13.02).

25.Bxd3?

The engines strongly favour keeping queens on the board with 25.Qd1.

25...Qxd3 26.Qf3

JG offered a draw in my time.

26...Qxf3 27.gxf3 exf4

How would you assess this position?

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Black has four pawns for a bishop, but the f pawns are doubled and none of the pawns is close to promoting. Meanwhile the absence of queens means mating attacks are unlikely. Stockfish15 reckons the position is completely equal, but Komodo13.02 gives White a slight edge.

28.Kf2 Rad8 29.Rac2 g5

This makes another pawn a potential target for the bishop, but is necessary to develop the king and at least makes f4 less vulnerable.

30.Rxe8 Rxe8 31.Bd4 Rd8!? 32.Bxa7 Ra8 33.Bb6 Rxa2+ 34.Kg2 Re2!? 35.Rxc6!?

This lets Black force rooks off and undouble the f pawns. White is equal after 35.h4!?, according to Stockfish15, or 35.Ba5, according to Komodo13.02. However it is not clear the text is a mistake as after ...

35...Re6 36.Rxe6 fxe6

... Komodo13.02 reckons the position is equal, while Stockfish15 gives Black only a slight edge.

37.Kf2 Kg6 38.Ke2 Kf5 39.Bc5 h5 40.h3 e5 41.Be7 g4 42.fxg4+ hxg4 43.hxg4+

Not 43.h4?? as White cannot cope with the black pawn-phalanx, eg 43...g3 44.h5 e4 45.h6 f3+ 46.Ke3 g2 47.Kf2 e3+ 48.Kg1 Kg6 49.Bf8 e2 etc.

43...Kxg4

With all the white pawns off the board, only Black can realistically hope to win, but the position is drawn.

44.Bd6 e4 45.Bc5 Kg3 46.Bf2+??

Pinning the f pawn with 46.Bd6 draws.

46...Kg3 47.Bc5 f3+ 48.Ke1 b4 0-1