Spanton (1916) - George Zhao (2072)
French Exchange
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.c4 c6 6.Nc3 Qe7+!?
The mainline in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database runs 6...Ne7 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 0-0 9.0-0 Nd7!?, with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1.
7.Be2 Nf6 8.0-0 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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The slightly awkward placing of the black queen may be the key factor as the engines give White the upper hand.
9.Re1 dxc4!?
The engines dislike this, preferring 9...h6, 9...Qc7 or 9...Be6.
10.Bxc4 Qc7 11.Bg5 Nbd7
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| White suddenly has quite a lead in development |
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12.Rc1!?
But this lets Black exchange a pair of bishops and, in the main variation, bring his queen to an active square. The engines suggest 12.Bb3!? or 12.Qd3.
12...Bf4 13.Bxf4
Stockfish16 gives 13.Bb3!?, claiming 13...Bxc1 14.Qxc1 leaves White with at least a slight edge; Komodo14.1 disagrees.
13...Qxf4 14.h3!?
Prophylaxis against the black light-square bishop coming to g4.
14...Nb6 15.Bb3 Bf5 16.Re7 Rab8
The engines suggest 16...Qd6!?, the idea being 17.Rxb7?! runs into 17...Bc8.
17.Ne5 Bg6 18.Nxg6 hxg6 19.Rc2 Nc8 20.Re3 Rfd8 21.Rd2 Nd6 22.Rf3 Qg5
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| How should White proceed? |
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23.d5?!
23.d5?!
Hoping to liquidate the centre and exploit White's better development, but Black will not be so obliging. The engines prefer 23.Re2 or 23.Re3, with what they reckon is an equal position.
23...Nf5?!
Probably better is 23...c5, after which the white light-square bishop is restricted, the passed pawn is blockaded and Black has a useful queenside pawn-majority.
24.d6
Not 24.dxc6?? Rxd2.
24...Rd7 25.Bc2 Rbd8 26.Bxf5 gxf5 27.Rfd3 Ne8 28.Ne2?!
Almost certainly better is 28.Na4 b6 29.Nc3, and if 29...Qf6 then 30.Qf3 with counterplay.
28...Qf6 29.Ng3 g6 30.Qf3?!
Probably better is 30.Qa4 a6 31.Qf4, but Black is on top.
30...Qe6 31.Re2 Qxa2
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| What should White play? |
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32.Nxf5!?
This is Komodo14.1's top choice. Stockfish16 marginally prefers 32.Rd4.
32...gxf5 33.Qxf5 Qb1+ 34.Kh2 Ng7 35.Qe4?
Better is 35.Qf3, but Black is winning (Stockfish16) or at least has the upper hand (Komodo14.1).
35...Qc1
Probably even stronger is 35...Re8.
36.Qe5?
Moving the queen off the e file keeps the game going, albeit with a large advantage for Black.
36...Re8 37.Qxe8+ Nxe8 38.Rxe8+ Kh7
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| White is busted |
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39.Rd4 Rxd6! 40.Rg4 Rg6 41.Rh4+ Kg7 42.Reh8 Qf1 43.Rhf7+ Kf8 0-1
The match finished 2.5-2.5.
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
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
25/1/24 Central London League W 1884 2205 = 2100
30/1/24 Club Championship B 1884 1809 1 2114
1/2/24 Central London League W 1916 2072 0 2065
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