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
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| How should White proceed? |
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8.Bxc6+!?
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
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| 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.
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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.
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| 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
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