Central London League

PLAYED on board three (of five) for Battersea 2 against Streatham & Brixton in Central London League Division Two last night.

Adam Fysh-Foskett (2278) - Spanton (1884)

Spanish Berlin

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3!?

This is the most popular continuation in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database.

5...d5!?

But this is a relatively modern reply - much less popular than 5...0-0, but much sharper.

How should White respond?

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6.Nxe5!?

The mainline in Mega24 runs 6.exd5 Qxd5 7.Bc4 Qd6, and either 8.b4 or 8.Nbd2, when Stockfish16 prefers White, but Komodo14.1 calls the position equal.

6...0-0 7.Bxc6!?

Tempting is 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bxc6, but then comes 8...Bxf2+ 9.Kxf2 Ng4+ 10.Kg1 Qf6 and 11...Qxc6, after which Black has lots of compensation for a pawn.

7...bxc6 8.d4 Qe7!?

Mega24's mainline goes 8...Bb6 9.0-0 Nxe4 10.Nxc6 Qd6 11.Nb4!?, when the engines reckon Black has enough for a pawn.

9.0-0 Nxe4?!

The engines strongly dislike this apparent novelty. Eltaj Safarli (2644) - Sergey Fedorchuk (2653), Turkish Team Championship 2015, saw 9...dxe4 10.Nxc6 Qe6 11.dxc5 Qxc6, with equal chances, according to the engines (½–½, 50 moves).

10.Nxc6 Qf6 11.f3?!

White would be at least slightly better, according to the engines, after 11.dxc5 Qxc6 12.b4.
11...Qxc6 12.fxe4 Be7 13.e5

How would you assess this position?

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White has, at least temporarily, closed the centre, and is a sound pawn up, but Black has the bishop-pair and an edge in development. Komodo14.1 calls the position equal, but Stockfish16 gives Black a slight edge.

13...Ba6 14.Re1!?

The engines marginally prefer this over 14.Rf2.

14...f6 15.exf6?

Black gets a strong attack after this. Perhaps best is 15.e6!?, although that probably means giving up the pawn, and, according to my opponent, getting a "grim" position.

15...Qxf6

Among other things, White has to beware mating tricks on the f1 square.

16.Be3 Bd6

Also strong is 16...Qg6, intending ...Bh4.

17.Nd2

Best, according to the engines, is 17.Kh1!? Qh4 18.Bg1, but both 18...Bg3 and 18...Rf2!? are strong.

17...Qh4

How should White defend?

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18.h3

If 18.Nf3, then 18...Rxf3! 19.Qxf3 Bxh2+ 20.Kh1 Bg3+ 21.Kg1 Qh2#, or 18.g3 Bxg3 20.hxg3 Qxg3+ 21.Kh1 Qh3+ 22.Kg1 Rf6 etc. Perhaps best is the engines' 18.Bf4!?, the idea being that after 18...Bxf4 White has 19.Nf3, but the engines agree Black's advantage is worth more than a rook.

18...Qg3 19.Nf3 Rxf3! 20.Qxf3 Qh2+ 21.Kf2 Rf8 22.Rh1?

Best is 22.Qxf8+, but after 22...Kxf8 Black is material up (queen and bishop for two rooks and a pawn) with a continuing attack.

22...Bg3#
Streatham & Brixton won the match 3-2.

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

14/12/23 Central London League  B      1882         2152                    0            2023

10/1/24   London League               B      1884         2130                    0           1964

11/1/24   Central London League   B      1884        2278                    1            2083