London League

PLAYED for Battersea on board five (of eight) against Streatham & Brixton in division one at Hammersmith Mindsports centre last night.

Andrew M Stone (2168) - Spanton (1987)

English Symmetrical/QGD Tarrasch

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

This is not just a development move - it is aimed at preventing White smoothly setting up a Maróczy Bind, as could happen, for example, after Black's second-most popular move, 4...g6.

5.Nc3 e6

Can White set up a Bind despite Black's efforts?

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"Up to a point, Lord Copper." Magnus Carlsen is among those who have played 6.e4!? Traditionally this has been thought a little suspect thanks to the reply 6...Bb4, when White probably has nothing better than 7.Nxc6, after which 7...bxc6 strengthens Black's centre. Against Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand at the 2018 world rapid and blitz championships in St Petersburg, Carlsen's games continued 8.Bd3 e5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Qe2. Both games were drawn.

6.g3

This is the main move in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database.

6...d5!?

The mainline in Mega23 runs 6...Qb6 7.Nb3 Ne5!? 8.e4 Bb4 9.Qe2, when White has again succeeded in setting up a Maróczy Bind, although Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 reckon the position is equal.

7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0

The game has transposed to a line of the Tarrasch Defence to the Queen's Gambit.

8...0-0 9.cxd5 exd5 10.b3 Re8 11.Bb2 a6?!

This move does not seem to have much relevance to the position in that a white knight landing on b5 would be easily dealt with. The engines suggest 11...Bg4 or 11...Bc5!?, which are the two most popular moves in Mega23.

12.Rc1 Bg4!?

This is designed to provoke h3, so the bishop can go to e6 without White being able to play Nxe6 followed by a quick Bh3.

13.h3 Be6 14.e3!?

The engines like this move, which may be a novelty. Thomas A Crispin - Roger J Martin, Oregon Championship (Portland) 1987, went 14.Nxe6 fxe6, which the engines reckon is at least slightly better for White after several moves, including 15.e3, 15.Na4 and 15.Qd2. The game saw 15.Rc2!? Qb6?! 16.Na4 Qa7!? 17.Qa1!? with a nice game for White (1-0, 27 moves).

14...Rc8 15.Qd3 Ne5?!

The engines suggest exchanging on d4, albeit giving White a slight edge.

16.Qe2 Qa5?

Black seems to have nothing better than 16...Nc6, although that would mean White got in Qe2 for free.

White to play and win

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17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Nxd5

White is the equivalent of almost a minor piece ahead (Komodo13.02) or more than a rook ahead (Stockfish15).

18...Nxd5 19.Bxe5 Ba3?

Other moves more-or-less keep the game going, but White is a pawn up, has the bishop-pair and enjoys the better pawn-structure.

20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Qg4 1-0
Streatham & Brixton won the match 4.5-3.5.