Mega Chess

THE 2024 edition of ChessBase's Mega database arrived yesterday.

It has more than 10.5million games, although strangely the DVD case claims only 10.4million.

My personal total is 1,114 games, the database noting I score "badly (45%)" with white and "below average (41%)" with black.

December Sunshine Chess

AM making final preparations for flying to Alicante tomorrow for the annual chess festival at the Gran Hotel Bali.

I have entered the U2000, which has 325 entries, including 10 from England and five from Scotland.

There are nine rounds over eight days, with six rounds starting at 14:30 and three at 10:00.

The time control is 90 minutes for all moves, with a 30-second increment throughout.

Beat The ... Spanish Classical

HERE is a post I wrote but did not publish during the covid crisis.

In this series I am looking at the statistically best way to play against popular opening lines.

The numbers are drawn from the 2021 edition of ChessBase's Mega database, ignoring, where possible, those results that include very few games and so are statistically insignificant.

A popular answer to the Ruy Lopez, at least at club level, is the Classical Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5.

It could be said Black is meeting the Spanish Opening by playing the black side of the Italian Game.

Of those responses appearing in Mega21 at least 500 times, the most-successful statistically is 4.c3, which scores 62%.

Position after 4.c3

Black has six replies that each appear more than 250 times in Mega21.

A) 4...Nf6 (1,721 games)

After 5.Qe2!? the line splits.

A1 5...0-0 6.0-0 (6.d3 scores equally well, and in practice the two moves often transpose, but castling is more popular and arguably more flexible as the white king is probably destined to end up on the kingside), after which the line splits again.

A1.1 6...Re8 7.d3, when A1.1a 7...h6 8.h3!? scores 86% for White, albeit from a small sample, and A1.1b 7...a6 8.Ba4 b5 9.Bc2 scores 60% for White, albeit from a small sample.

A1.2 6...d6 7.d3, when A1.2a 7...h6 8.Nbd2 scores 90% for White, albeit from a small sample, A1.2b 7...Bb6!? 8.Nbd2 Ne7!? 9.Nc4 scores 58% for White, albeit from a small sample, A1.2c 7...a6 8.Ba4 Ba7!? 9.Be3 scores 83% for White, albeit from a very small sample, and A1.2d 7...Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.Nbd2 scores 83% for White, albeit from a very small sample.

A2 5...Qe7 6.d3 0-0 7.Bg5 d6 8.Nbd2 scores 89% for White, albeit from a small sample.

B) 4...f5 (840 games)

After 5.d4 the line splits.

B1 5...fxe4 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Nfd2!? Bd6 8.dxe5 e3 (not 8...Bxe5?? 9.Qh5+ etc) 9.exd6 exd2+ 10.Nxd2 scores 71% for White, albeit from a small sample.

B2 5...exd4!? 6.e5!? dxc3 7.Nxc3 scores 80% for White, albeit from a small sample.

C) 4...Nge7 (598 games)

After 5.0-0 the line splits.

C1 5...Bb6!? 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Bg5!? scores 77% for White, albeit from a small sample.

C2 5...a6 6.Ba4, after which the line splits again.

C2.1 6...b5 7.Bc2!? (7.Bb3 scores equally well, but Bc2 is less well-known and is preferred by Stockfish13 and Komodo12.1.1), when C2.1a 7...d6 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 scores 86% for White, C2.1b 7...0-0 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 scores 75% for White, albeit from a small sample, and C2.1c 7...d5 8.d4!? scores 80% for White, albeit from a small sample.

C2.2 6...0-0 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4, when C2.2a 8...Ba7 9.d5 Nb8 9.d6!? scores 100% for White, albeit from a small sample, and C2.2b 8...Bb6 9.d5 Na7 10.d6!? scores 92% for White, albeit from a small sample.

C3 5...0-0 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 Bb6 8.d5, after which the line splits again.

C3.1 8...Nb8 9.d6!? scores 81% for White.

C3.2 8...a6 9.Ba4, when C3.2a 9...Na7 10.d6!? scores 92% for White, albeit from a small sample, and C3.2b 9...Nb8 10.d6!? scores 83% for White, albeit from a small sample.

D) 4...d6!? (481 games)

After 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Kf1!? Bd7 8.Qa4 the line splits.

D1 8...Nge7 9.d5 scores 100% for White, albeit from a small sample.

D2 8...a5 9.a3 scores 100% for White, albeit from a small sample.

D3 8...Qe7 reaches a position in Mega21 in which White scores 100% with both 9.d5 and 9.Bxc6, albeit from  very small samples.

E) 4...Qf6!? (335 games)

After 5.d4!? exd4 6.e5 Qg6 7.cxd4 the line splits.

E1 7...Bb4+ 8.Nc3, after which the line splits again.

E1.1 8...d5 9.0-0 Ne7 10.Qb3 Bxc3 10.bxc3 scores 90% for White, albeit from a small ample.

E1.2 8...Nge7 9.0-0 d5 is a transposition  to E1.1.

E2 7...Nxd4!? 8.Nxd4 Qb6 9.Be3 Bxd4 reaches a position in Mega21 in which White scores 63% with 10.Qxd4. albeit from a small sample, and 100% with 10.Bxd4, albeit from a very small sample.

F) 4...a6!? (265 games)

After 5.Bxc6!? the line splits.

F1 5...dxc6 6.Nxe5 scores 83% for White, albeit from a small sample.

F2 5...bxc6 6.Nxe5 scores 95% for White, albeit from a small sample.

Be Careful What You Wish For

AFTER six rounds at Cap Negret, and with two rounds to go, I was having a reasonable tournament.

I was in with a chance of a prize, and my hopes were raised by being drawn in round seven against an opponent rated 238 points lower.

Gradually I outplayed him in the middlegame and reached what Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon is a positionally won game.

However I misplayed it and had to acquiesce to a completely drawn rook-and-pawn ending.

But I was desperate to avoid a draw, eventually reaching the following position.

White has just played 43.Kh4

The white king is very restricted, and I have a protected passed pawn.

But none of this is of much consequence in the face of White's well-supported passer.

Black draws comfortably enough with and only-move, 43...Rc7, meeting 44.b6 with 44...Rb7.

But clearly that line gives Black no winning chances, so I played 43...Kf5??

After the forcing 44.b6 Rc8 45.b7 Rc8 46.Kg3 Black is completely lost.

I played 46...Ke6, vaguely threatening the b pawn, and was lucky to get a half-point after 47.Kh4 Kf5 48.Kg3.

Instead 47.Rb6+ wins easily as 47...Kf5 48.Kf3 leaves Black in zugzwang, while 47...Kd5 48.Kh4 Ke4 49.Kg5 Kf3 50.Rb4 is also hopeless for Black.

My wish to avoid a draw was nearly granted, but thankfully I had a lucky escape.

Sitting Duck

MAGNUS Carlsen, the former world champion and still the top-rated player, is famous for having a wide opening repertoire.

He is not alone, for long gone are the days when it was thought advisable at the elite level to study the opening deeply but narrowly.

With the growth of databases, what applies at the top is probably almost equally applicable much further down the pecking order.

This was brought home to me in round six at Cap Negret when I had the white pieces against a candidate master with a rating almost 300 points higher than mine.

Playing him was always going to be a daunting prospect, but it was made much less so by discovering that with black he more-or-less restricts himself to systems with an early ...c6.

Not only that, but it soon became clear he sticks to certain lines within his systems.

Our game began 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.cxd5 Bg7 7.Qb3 0-0 8.Be2 Nbd7 9.Bf3 Nb6 10.Nge2 Bg4 11.Bxg4 Nxg4

There are 424 games with this position in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database

I played the most popular continuation, 12.a4, and my opponent sank into thought.

I knew that 11 years previously he had played 12...a5, drawing with a player rated 139 elo lower.

Against me he preferred the somewhat strange-looking 12...Qc8!?, after which the engines reckon White has the upper hand.

I failed to make the most of my position, and the game was eventually drawn, but I do think it shows how a very limited opening repertoire can make a player something of a sitting duck.

Famous But Not Well-Known

ARGUABLY the most famous gambit in the French Defence is the Alekhine-Chatard Attack.

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

There are 6,724 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database

I write "arguably" because I suspect many people would regard the Milner-Barry Gambit as being more famous.

That arises after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bd7 8.0-0!?

There are 4,348 examples of this position in Mega23

I played the Alekhine-Chatard with white in round five at Cap Negret.

The gambit was apparently first played by Adolf Albin in 1890, and his name is sometimes appended to it, although Albin-Alekhine-Chatard is quite a mouthful.

The most popular reply in Mega23 is to decline the sacrifice with 6...a6!?

One of the points of ...a6 is that Black wants to play ...c5, but the immediate 6...c5?! runs into 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 8.Nb5.

However, Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 come close to calling 6...a6!? a mistake, reckoning White has the upper hand (Stockfish16) or is at least slightly better (Komodo14.1) after 7.Qg4.

Accepting the gambit with 6...Bxg5 leads to very sharp play, but my opponent preferred the second-most popular method of declining, namely 6...h6!?

After 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 I continued with what is easily the commonest move in Mega23, 8.Qg4.

This scores a resounding 62%, but the engines reckon Black gets at least equality with 8...0-0.

Instead they recommend 8.f4!?, claiming a slight edge for White.

What this snapshot look at an opening suggests is that while the Alekhine-Chatard Attack is famous, the state of theory is not well-known, meaning there is plenty of scope for independent research.

Key Square

AFTER taking a half-point bye in round three at Cap Negret, I had the black pieces against an English Opening in round four.

By meeting 1.c4 with 1...e5 I was aware the battle could revolve around control of the d5 square.

The following position was reached after seven moves.

White played 8.Bg5!?, meeting 8...Be7 with the apparent novelty 8.Bxf6!?

The game continued 8...Bxf6 9.Nd5, resulting in the following position.

White has given up the bishop-pair, but has d5 as an outpost for his minor pieces

A few moves later the following position was reached.

Here White played 14.Nf3!?

In many ways this is a normal move, but it allowed me to return the bishop-pair ,while obliging White to occupy the d5 outpost with a pawn, viz: 14...Bxd5 15.cxd5, after which it is Black, if anyone, who is a tiny bit better.

Several moves later the following position arose.

White has just played 22.b6!?

I replied with the instructive blunder 22...c5??, which according to Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 is the equivalent of giving up almost a rook!

Positionally the move is faulty because it allows the restricted bishop to be brought to life.

Tactically the move is faulty because it loses a pawn, as was shown by 23.dxc6 bxc6 24.b7 Rb8 25.Qa7 Qc7 25.Bxc6! (1-0, 46 moves).

So the game was effectively decided by the player who overall better understood the nuances of the key square d5.

Giving Up The Bishop-Pair

Having two bishops, when the opponent has bishop and knight or two knights, is reckoned, on average, to be worth half a pawn.

The bishop-pair is often worth even more in open positions, especially endings with rival pawn-majorities.

It can be worth a lot less in middlegames with plenty of pawns, especially if the opponent has an advantage in space in the centre.

The value of half a pawn on average was calculated by international master Larry Kaufman, using a computer database, and explained in The Evaluation Of Material Imbalances, which was, I believe, originally written for the US magazine Chess Life.

It is interesting however that in what is arguably the most famous opening of them all, the Spanish or Ruy Lopez, there are well-known examples where White happily concedes the bishop-pair.

Most famous is the Exchange Variation, popularised first by Emanuel Lasker and later by Bobby Fischer: 1.e4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6.

Black usually recaptures with 4...dxc6, giving the following position.

White's thematic plan is to at some point get in d4 to create a healthy 4-3 kingside majority, while Black will have a damaged 4-3 queenside majority

More recently, again in the Spanish, Vladimir Kramnik with black made good use of what became known as the Berlin Wall: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8, reaching the following position.

White has the healthier pawn-majority and has deprived Black of castling rights, but the king's pawn is less secure on e5 than on e4, and allows Black useful play on the light squares

In my round-two game at Altea I came up against another example in the Spanish of White giving up the bishop-pair, again in a line of the Berlin.

The game began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5, and here my opponent captured on c6 unprovoked.

Position after 5.Bxc6 dxc6

The move 5.Bxc6  first appears in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database in a game from 1870, but 112 years were to pass before it featured again, since when it has steadily grown in popularity, at least at high levels.

I find it hard to explain what White gets for giving up the bishop-pair.

Indeed, in The Berlin Defence by Igor Lysyj & Roman Ovetchkin (Chess Stars, 2012), the authors write: "White's last move seems to be completely harmless, since he presents voluntarily his opponent with the two-bishop advantage."

But they add: "The fact that numerous outstanding grandmasters have tried it indicates that Black faces problems, which are hardly so simple. There arises a middlegame with long positional manoeuvring and a very complicated fight."

In the book they look in some detail at 6.Nc3, 6.h3, 6.0-0 and 6.Be3.

My opponent preferred 6.Nbd2, which is easily the main move in Mega23.

I am still not sure what White achieves by the unprovoked capture, but its popularity among the elite proves it is playable, and confirms chess is a deep and apparently inexhaustible game.

Cup Chess

PLAYED for Battersea on board six (of eight) against Hammersmith in the Eastman Cup last night.

Spanton (1882) - James Stevenson (2118)

Caro-Kann Tartakower

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6

This is height of fashion in the Caro-Kann, at least in those lines with 3.Nc3.

6.Nf3 Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 Re8 9.Re1 Bg4 10.Rxe8+ Qxe8 11.Qe2 Nd7 12.Bd2 Nf8 13.Re1 Qb8!?

Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 do not like this, claiming 13...Qxe2 14.Bxe2 Ne6 is equal.

14.h3 Bh5 15.Qe4

The engines reckon White is slightly better after 15.Bf5!?

15...Qc7 16.c4

And here they recommend 16.Nh4!?

16...Bg6 17.Qe3 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 Rd8 19.Qe4 Ne6 20.b3 Qd7 21.Be3 Bb4 22.Rc1 a6 23.Rc2 Bd6 24.Rd2 Nc7 25.Qc2 Re8 26.Re2 Rd8 27.Re1 Bb4 28.Bd2 Bxd2 29.Qxd2 Qd6 30.g3 Ne6

Black's pressure against d4 compensates for having an inferior pawn-structure

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31.Rd1 Nc7 32.Re1 Ne6 33.Rd1 Nc7 34.Re1 Ne6 ½–½

Hammersmith won the match 7.5-0.5.

MY BATTERSEA SEASON 2023-4

DATE.....EVENT..........................COL..RATING..OPP'S RATING..SCORE..SEASON PERF

24/10/23 London League              B      1870         2102                   =            2102

26/10/23 Central London League W     1870         2118                    =            2110

21/11/23 Eastman Cup                 W     1882         2118                    =            2113

Is Opening Theory Really More Widespread Than Ever?

THE general consensus among players I speak to is that opening knowledge is much more prolific than it used to be.

Much of the credit for this is normally given to computers in general and to databases in particular.

It is also undoubtedly true that there are many more opening books published every year than was the case even as recently as the 1990s.

And while I agree opening knowledge has grown, I think it is also often the case that opponents are believed to know more than they do.

I cannot give any real hard-and-fast evidence for this, but my round-one game at Altea provides a little anecdotal support.

In that game I played the King's Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4.

This was the fourth time I have played the opening with white, and every time my opponent has replied 2...d6.

Now I realise ...d6 is playable, even if engines such as Stockfiah16 and Komodo14.1 do not much like it.

Indeed there are 4,171 examples of the move in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, although Black scores a poor 29%.

My opponent at Altea was rated 1148, and the other three King's-Gambit opponents were 1386, 1083 and 1849, so only one had what might be called a decent club-strength rating.

Nevertheless I think my experience of playing the King's Gambit with white does suggest basic opening knowledge is not as widespread as many of us sometimes think.

Summing Up Altea

MY score of +2=3-2 (I also took a half-point bye) gained exactly one Fide elo.

Cap Negret Round Eight

The coast is dotted with pillboxes built by Republicans in the Spanish Civil War after Germany and Italy imposed a naval blockade on the area

FACED a Dutchman.

Spanton (1808) - Ruud van Caspel (1967)

Modern Defence/Caro-Kann Panov-Botvinnik Attack

1.e4 c6 2.d4 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5!?

The mainline in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database runs 4...d6 5.Be3 Nf6 6.f3 with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1.

How should White respond to Black's provocative opening moves?

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5.cxd5 cxd5 6.exd5

Most popular, albeit from a sample of just 110 games, is 6.e5. The engines prefer 6.Nxd5 e6 7.Nc3 Bxd4, claiming 8.Bb5+ gives White the upper hand.

6...Nf6 7.Qb3

The game has transposed to a chief variation of the Panov-Botvinnik Attack. There are 3,018 games with this position in Mega23.

7...0-0 8.Be2 Re8!?

The main move is 8...Nbd7.

9.Bf4 Nbd7

This seems to be a novelty, at least in this exact position.

10.Nb5!?

The engines strongly dislike this.

How should Black reply?

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10...e5

Black is at least slightly better after 10...Nb6!?, according to the engines, the point being 11.Nc7 can be met by 11...Nbxd5, hitting the loose bishop.

11.dxe6 Rxe6 12.Nc7 Rb6 13.Qg3 Rb8 14.Nb5!? Rxb5!? 15.Bxb5?!

Almost certainly better is 15.Bxb8.

15...Nh5 16.Qf3?

White is still in the game after 16.Bc7 Nxg3 17.Bxd8 Nxh1 18.Nf3.

16...Qa5+ 17.Qc3 Qc3+ 18.bxc3 Nxf4 19.g3 Nd5

Black has emerged from the complications with two minor pieces for rook and pawn, and also has the bishop pair - all-in-all an advantage worth about three pawns, according to the engines

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20.Ne2 N7b6 21.0-0 Bf5 22.Rfd1 Rc8 23.Rac1 Bh6 24.f4 g5 25.Bd3 Bxd3 26.Rxd3 gxf4 27.Nxf4 Nxf4 28.gxf4 Bxf4 29.Rf1 Nd5 30.Rdf3 Rxc3! 31.Rxc3!?

Objectively better is 31.Rxf4 Nxf4 32.Rxf4, but Black's active rook and extra pawn should tell easily enough.

31...Nxc3 32.Rf3

Not 32.Rxf4?? Ne2+ etc.

32...Nd5 33.Rb3 Be3+ 34.Kg2 Bxd4 35.Rxb7 Bb6

The material difference in pieces is still rook versus bishop and knight, but now Black has the extra pawn

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36.Rd7 Nf4+ 37.Kf3 Ne6 38.Kg4 Kg7 39.h4 h6 40.h5 Ng5 41.Kf5 Ne6 42.Rd2 Nd4+ 43.Ke4 f5+ 44.Kd5 f4 45.Rg2+ Kf7 46.Rg4 f3 47.Rf4+ Ke7 48.a4 a5 49.Re4+ Kf6 50.Rf4+ Kg5 51.Rf7 Kxh5 52.Rb7 f2 53.Rf7 Ne2 54.Kc6 Kg4 55.Kxb6 Nf4 0-1

Cap Negret Round Seven

Alicante's tram system runs through Altea on its way to the mountains

FACED my third Spaniard on the trot.

Pascual Villa Caigüelas (1570) - Spanton (1808)

QGD 4...c5

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qxd4 Be7 7.e3!?

7.e4 is the main move, at least in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, but the text scores four percentage points better at 59%.

7...exd5 8.Nf3 0-0 9.Be2 Nc6 10.Qd2 h6!?

Provocative. It was played by Jonny Hector (2465) in a 1990 Spanish championship game, but normal is 10...Be6.

How should White respond?

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11.Bh4!?

After 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nxd5 (12.Qxd5?? Bxc3+ etc) Bxb2 13.Qxb2 Qxd5, the game is equal, according to Stockfish16, but Komodo14.1 gives White a tiny edge.
11...Be6 12.0-0 Ne4!?

This is a thematic move in IQP positions in which White has not fianchettoed the king's bishop.

13.Nxe4 Bxh4 14.Nc5 Be7 15.Nb3

Not 15.Nxb7?? as 15...Qb6 traps the knight.

15...Qb6 16.Nfd4!?

The engines like this somewhat counter-intuitive move.

16...Bb4 17.Qd1 a5 18.a3 Bd6 19.Nxc6?!

There is a general rule in IQP positions that the player fighting the isolani should be particularly happy at swopping off knights, but here 19.Nxe6 is probably better.

19...bxc6 20.Qc2 c5 21.a4!? Rfd8 22.Rfd1 Rac8 23.Bb5 g6 24.Qd2

Black to play and win (well, get a positionally winning advantage, according to the engines)

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24...Bc7?

Black has several better moves, but perhaps the most surprising, at least at first sight, is 24...d4!? The point is 25.Nxa5 runs into 25...dxe3, when 26.fxe3 loses to 26...Bxh2+ etc.

25.Rac1 Bd7?

Black still has a slight edge, according to the engines, after 25...Bd6!?

26.Rac5 Bxh2+ 27.Kxh2 Rxc5 28.Nxc5 Bxb5 29.axb5 Qxc5 30.Qxa5 Rb8 31.b4 Qxb5 32.Qxb5 Rxb5 33.Rd4 f5 34.Kg3 Kf7 35.Kf4 Ke6

This rook-and-pawn ending is completely equal, according to the engines

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36.g4!?

An interesting decision as Black now gets a protectable passed pawn, but the position remains completely equal, according to the engines.

36...fxg4 37.Kxg4 Rb7 38.f4 Rc7 39.e4 dxe4 40.Rxe4+ Kf6 41.b5 Rc3 42.Rb4 h5+ 43.Kh4 Kf5?

Black holds the draw with 43...Rc7.

44.b6 Rc8 45.b7 Rb8 46.Kg3 Ke6

White to play and win

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47.Kh4

This does not spoil anything, but the correct plan starts with 47.Rb6+, eg 47...Kf5 48.Kf3 leaves Black in zugzwang, but 47...Kd5 48.Kh4 Ke5 49.Kg5 Kf3 50.Rb4 Kg3 51.Rb3+ Kg2 52.Kh4  Kf2 53.f5! gxf5 54.Kxh5 f4 55.Kg4 also wins for White.

47...Kf5 48.Kg3 ½–½

Cap Negret Round Six

Looking from Altea Old Town towards Benidorm 

FACED a Spanish candidate master.

Spanton (1808) - Juan Bautista Sánchez (2094)

Caro-Kann Panov-Botvinnik

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6!?

This trails 5...Nc6 and especially 5...e6 in popularity, but scores an excellent 49% in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, compared with 47% for 5...Nc6 and 45% for 5...e6.

How should White proceed?

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6.cxd5

Queen development with 6.Qb3 is more popular in Mega23, but the two moves usually transpose.

6...Bg7

In Mega23, 6...Nxd5 scores five percentage-points better.

7.Qb3 0-0

There are 2938 games with this position in Mega23

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Alexander Alekhine was first to reach the diagrammed position as White, at least in Mega23, and he played 8.Bc4!? against Max Euwe. The game was drawn, but when Alekhine had the same position a year later in a simul in Indonesia, he played what is today very-much the main move:

8.Be2

The idea is that the bishop will slide to f3, making it more difficult for Black to capture the d5 pawn.

8...Nbd7 9.Bf3 Nb6 10.Nge2 Bg4 11.Bxg4 Nxg4 12.a4

What should Black play?

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12...Qc8!?

Most popular in Mega23 is 12...a5, although Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon White has a slight edge.

13.0-0 Qc4!? 14.Qxc4 Nxc4 15.Bg5 Nf6 16.b3 Nb6!? 17.d6!?

This is a typical idea in this type of position. White recognises that the d5 pawn cannot be held in the long run, and so decides to give it back at a time when Black is obliged to capture with the e pawn.

17...exd6 18.Rfe1 Nbd5 19.Rac1 Rfe8 20.Bxf6!?

Initiating a forcing simplifying-sequence.

20...Nxc3 21.Nxc3 Rxe1+ 22.Rxe1 Bxf6

How would you assess this ending?

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Black has the better minor-piece for cooperating with a rook, but White has more space and a small lead in development. The engines reckon the position is completely equal.

23.Ne4 Bxd4 24.Nxd6 b6

This looks natural, but Black has a slight edge, according to the engines, after 24...Rd8. The point is 25.Nxb7? loses to 25...Rd7 26.Na5 Bc3.

25.Kf1 Bc5 26.Nf5 Kb8 27.Rd1 Ke7 28.f3 a6 29.Nc7 Ra7 30.Nd5+ Ke6 31.Nf4+ Kf6 32.Nd5+ Kf6 33.Nf4+ ½–½

Cap Negret Round Five

One of a series of distinctive artworks on Altea promenade

FACED an opponent who beat grandmaster Mihai Șubă in round one.

Spanton (1808) - José Virgilio Moya García (1453)

French Classical Alekhine-Chatard Attack

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

There are 6,724 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database

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6...h6!?

Critical from a theoretical view is accepting the gambit with 6...Bxg5, but most popular in Mega23 is 6...a6!?

7.Bxe7

This is normal, and is Stockfish16's top choice, but Komodo14.1 for a long time prefers retreating with 7...Be3!? or 7...Bd2!?, before coming to fluctuate between the text and 7...Be3!?

7...Qxe7 8.Qg4

This is commonest, but the engines much prefer 8.f4!?

How should Black respond?

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8...f5?!

The calm 8...0-0 is normal. Without a dark-square bishop, it is not clear White is threatening very much.

9.Qg3

Most popular in Mega23 is 9.exf6 Nxf6 10.Qg6+ Qf7, after which the engines reckon 11.Qxf7+ Kxf7 12.Nf3 gives White at least a slight edge. However they reckon even better is 9.Qh5+ (or 9.Qg6+) Qf7 10.Qxf7+ Kxf7, claiming White has the upper hand after almost any reasonable continuation.

9...a6?!

Twelve out of 15 games in Mega23 saw this played, but the engines give castling as the only move to keep Black's disadvantage within acceptable bounds.

10.Be2?!

This may be a novelty, and probably not a good one. Strong is 10.Nge2, and if 10...0-0 then 11.Nf4 is winning, according to the engines.

10...Nc6?

Black is equal after 10...0-0, according to the engines.

11.Bh5+ Kd8 12.0-0-0 g5 13.Nh3 f4 14.Qf3

Probably even stronger is 14.Qg4.

14...b5

How should White meet Black's bid for counterplay?

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15.Nxd5!?

This initiates a forcing winning-sequence, according to the engines, but they prefer the simpler 15.hxg5 hxg5 16.Qg4.

15...exd5 16.Qxd5 Bb7 17.e6 Na5 18.Qxd7+ Qxd7 19.exd7

How should Black continue?

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19...Bc6?!

Possibly best is 19...Bxg2 20.Rh2 Bxh3 21.Rxh3 Kxd7 22.Bg4+ Kd6, but 23.Rdh1 gives Black a winning advantage, according to the engines.

20.hxg5 Bxd7?

This time capturing on g2 is definitely better.

21.g6 Nc6

21...Rf8 does not really change much, eg 22.Bf3 c6 23.g7 Rg8 24.Nxf4 with a large advantage for White.

22.Nxf4 Ne7 23.Rde1 Be8 24.Ne6+ Kd7 25.Nxc7

Black is busted

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The game finished:

25...Bxg6 26.Nxa8 Bxh5 27.Nb6+ Kc7 28.Rxh5 Kxb6 29.Rxe7 1-0

Cap Negret Round Four

View from El Portet bar

FACED an opponent from Tiverton, Devon.

Brian Hewson (2062) - Spanton (1808)

English

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Bg2 d6 4.Nc3 f5!?

Black is effectively playing a Grand Prix Attack with colours reversed, a tempo down and with the king's bishop inside the pawn-chain

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5.d3 Nf6 6.a3 a5 7.Rb1 Be6 8.Bg5!? Be7 9.Bxf6!?

This may be a novelty. The idea is for White to ensconce a piece, rather than a pawn, on d5.

9...Bxf6 10.Nd5 0-0 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 Qd7 13.b5 Nd8 14.Nf3!?

Black is slightly better, according to Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1, after 14.b6!? c6. However, rather than the text, they prefer 14.Nxf6+ Rxf6 15.Nf3.

14...Bxd5!? 15.cxd5

Now the d5 square becomes something of a dead point for White.

15...e4

The engines prefer 15...b6!?, claiming it is Black, if anyone, who is better.

16.dxe4 fxe4

White has the upper hand after 16...Bc3+ 17.Kf1, according to Stockfish16, although Komodo14.1 calls the position equal.

17.Nd4 e3!? 18.0-0?!

White is at least slightly better after 18.f4, according to the engines.

18...exf2+ 19.Rxf2 Bxd4 20.Qxd4 Rxf2 21.Qxf2 Nf7 22.b6!?

How should Black respond?

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22...c5??

This is the equivalent of giving up more than a piece, according to the engines, who reckon the game is completely equal after 22...Rf8 or 22...Re8. One of the big problems with the text is it allows White to activate the 'dead', or at least sickly, bishop.
23.dxc6 bxc6 24.b7 Rb8 25.Qa7 Qc7 26.Bxc6! Ne5 27.Bd5+ Kh8 28.Qxb8+!?

Not the only way to win, but the most spectacular.

28...Qxb8 29.Ra1 Nd7 30.Ra8 g6 31.Rxb8+ Nxb8

White is 'only' a pawn up, but the ending has all the signs of the player with the knight ending in zugzwang

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32.Kf2 Kg7 33.Ke3 Kf6 34.Kf4 h6 35.h4 Nd7 36.e4 Nb8 37.Bc4 Nc6 38.Bb5 Nb8 39.Bc4 Nc6 40.Bd5 Nb8 41.Ke3 Nd7

Hardly helping is 41...Ke5 as the king will have to go back through f6 to defend the queenside.

42.Kd4 Ke7 43.Bc6 Nb8 44.Kd5 Na6 45.Ba4

Not 45.e4?? Nb4+, although after 46.Ke4 Nxc6 47.exd6+ Kxd6 48.h5 White draws.

45...Nc7+

Or 45...Nb4+ 46.Kc4 Na6 47.Kb5 Nb8 48.Kb6 Kd8 49.Ka7 Kc7 50.Bb8 g5 51.hxg5 hxg5 52.g4, after which Black is in zugzwang.

46.Kc6 1-0

Cap Negret Round Three

View from Altea promenade

Another prom view

I TOOK a half-point bye in the first of today's two rounds as part of my taking-a-step-back campaign.

Cap Negret Round Two

Río Algar

FACED an opponent from Kenilworth, Warwickshire. 

Mark E Page (2052) - Spanton (1808)

Spanish Berlin

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6!?

This somewhat-surprising capture is fashionable at the highest levels, and is the top choice of Komodo14.1. However Stockfish16 prefers the, arguably even-more surprising, 5.Ba4!?

5...dxc6 6.Nbd2

There are 97 games in Chessbase's 2023 Mega database with the losing 6.Nxe5??, although only 51 blacks managed to find 6...Qd4.

6...Be6 7.Nb3 Bd6 8.h3 a5!?

This may be a novelty. It is liked by Komodo14.1 and Stockfish16, along with 8...Qe7, which would also likely be a novelty.

9.Ng5 Qe7

Withdrawing the light-square bishop to preserve the bishop-pair may well be better.

10.Nxe6 Qxe6 11.a4 0-0 12.0-0

Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position?

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White has the better bishop and better pawn-structure - factors the engines reckon add up to a slight edge.

12...b6

The engines show 12...Rad8? fails to 13.Nxa5 Bb4 14.Nxb7 Rb8 15.c3.

13.f4!?

The engines prefer developing the queen, to e2 or f3, or developing the bishop to e3.

13...exf4 14.Bxf4 Bxf4 15.Rxf4 Qe5 16.Rf5?!

The engines reckon the game is equal after 16.Qc1.

16...Qxb2 17.Qe2

The engines quite like 17.Qc1!? Qxc1+ 18.Rxc1, when White remains a pawn down but seems to have decent drawing chances. The text would appear to give better winning chances.

17...Rae8 18.Raf1 Re5 19.R5f2

Not 19.Rxf6? gxf6 20.Rxf6? Rxe4.

19...c5 20.Qe3 Qc3

I offered a draw.

Should White accept?

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Objectively, yes, according to the engines, but the position is complicated and it is easier for White to play.

21.Nd2 Qd4?!

Black has a large advantage after 21...Re6, according to the engines.

22.Qg3!?

White wins back the pawn with 22.Qxd4 cxd4 23.Nf3, and has the better side of equality, according to the engines.

22...Re6 23.Qxc7!?

The game is completely equal after 23.Nf3 Qd8 24.Ng5 Nh5, according to the engines.

23...Qxa4 24.Nc4

Not 24.e5? Qd7 25.Qxd7 Nxd7, after which the e pawn falls,

24...Qd7 25.Qg3 Qe7 26.Ne3 Nh5 27.Qg4 Nf6 28.Qg3 Nh5 29.Qg4 ½–½

Cap Negret Round One

Playing hall

FACED a Belgian.

Spanton (1808) - Monique Weck (1148)

King's Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.f4 d6!? 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 d5?

A simple mistake.

5.Bxd5 Bc5 6.c3 Nf6 7.Qb3 0-0

Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon better is 7...Nxd5, albeit giving White at least a slight edge after 8.Qxd5!?

8.fxe5 Nxd5?!
Probably better is 8...Na5.

How should the d5 knight be captured?

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9.exd5?

White has a huge advantage after 9.Qxd5.

Black to play and win

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9...Na5?

After 9...Nxe5! 10.Nxe5 Re8 11.Kd1 Rxe5, Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon Black has a winning advantage.

10.Qc2 g6 11.b4 Bf5 12.d3 Qxd5 13.bxc5 Bxd3 14.Qa4 c6?!

White is a knight up

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15.Qd4

Possible is 15.Qxa5!? Objectively it is stronger, according to the engines, but the consequences of missing one nuance could be very unpleasant.

The game finished:

15...Bf5 16.Bg5 b6 17.cxb6 Rab8 18.Nbd2 c5?? 19.Qxd5 axb6 20.Bf6 Be6 21.Qe4 Bf5 22.Qf4 b5 23.Qh6 Rfe8 24.Qg7#.

Not Great, But Better

Morning view from my balcony

The Cap Is Fitting

ARRIVED at the venue-hotel, Cap Negret, early this evening.

This is the last week before the hotel closes for the winter.

First impressions, which included a good evening meal (I am paying 656 euros for eight nights' full-board, inclusive of wine and water with the midday and evening meals), are certainly favourable.

But the night view from my balcony is not salubrious

If The Cap Fits

AM making final plans for flying to Alicante tomorrow for the first Cap Negret International, held in a four-star hotel at the Costa Blanca resort of Altea.

There are two tournaments - for players aged 50+ and 65+.

The time control is the common modern one of all moves in 90 minutes, with a 30-second increment throughout.

But the round format is unusual in that there are eight rounds over seven days, starting on Sunday.

The first six days have rounds at 16:30, with rounds at 10:00 on days three and seven.

Entries can be found here.

Beat The ... Dragon

HERE is a post I wrote but did not publish during Lockdown.

IN this series I am looking at the statistically best way to play against popular opening lines.

The numbers are drawn from the 2021 edition of ChessBase's Mega database, ignoring, where possible, those results that include very few games and so are statistically insignificant.

The Sicilian Dragon: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 is one of the commonest opening sequences in chess.

Of those continuations featuring more than 3,000 times in Mega21, the most-popular, 6.Be3, scores a respectable 56%, but this is eclipsed by the 58% of 6.f4!?

Position after 6.f4!?

Black has three popular replies.

A) 6...Nc6 (1,599 games)

After 7.Nf3!? Bg7 8.Bd3 0-0 9.0-0 the line splits.

A1 9...a6 10.Kh1 b5 11.Qe1 scores 60% for White, albeit from a small sample.

A2 9...Bg4 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 scores 70% for White, albeit from a small sample.

A3 9...b5!? 10.Nxb5!? Qb6+ 11.Kh1 Nxe4!? 12.Nxa7 scores 100% for White, albeit from a small sample.

A4 9...Bd7 10.Kh1!? scores 67% for White, albeit from a small sample.

B) 6...Bg7 (1,064 games)

After 7.e5!? the line splits.

B1 7...dxe5 8.fxe5, after which the line splits again.

B1.1 8...Ng4? 9.Bb5+, when B1.1a 9...Kf8 10.Ne6+! scores 100% for White (there are 135 examples of this trap in Mega21), B1.1b 9...Nc6 10.Nxc6 Qxd1+ 11.Nxd1 a6 12.Ba4 Bd7 13.h3 scores 81% for White, albeit from a small sample, and B1.1c 9... Bd7 10.Qxg4 scores 85% for White.

B1.2 8...Nd5? 9.Bb5+, when B1.2a 9...Kf8 10.0-0 Bxe5 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.Bh6+ Kg8 13.Nd5 Qc5+ (12...Qxc5? 13.Nxe7#) 14.Be3 Qc7 15.Nh6+ leads to mate in one,  and B1.2b 9...Bd7 10.Nxd5 scores 100% for White, albeit from a small sample.

B1.3 8...Nfd7 9.e6, when B1.3a 9...Ne5!? 10.Bb5+ Nbc6 11.exf7+ Kxf7 12.0-0 Bf6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 reaches a position where White scores 75% with both 14.Ba4 and 14.Qxd8, albeit from small samples, and B1.3b 9...fxe6 10.Nxe6 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Qa5 12.Qd4!? Nf6 13.Bb5+ scores 75% for White, albeit from a small sample.

B2 7...Nh5 8.Bb5+ Bd7 9.Qe2!? scores 67% for White, albeit from a small sample.

 

C) 6...Nbd7 (335 games)

After 7.Nf3!? the line splits.

C1 7...Bg7 8.Bc4!? scores 67% for White, albeit from a small sample.

C2 7...Qc7!? occurs just 17 times in Mega21. The analysis engines Stockfish13 and Komodo12.1.1 reckon White already has a large advantage after the simple 8.Qd4.