John Bass (1951) - Spanton (1916)
QGD Semi-Tarrasch
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4!? 6.Qa4+!?
The main move in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database is 6.Qxd4, which scores 58%, compared with the text's 64%.
6...Bd7 7.Qxd4 exd5
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| How should White proceed? |
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8.Bg5
White can grab a pawn with 8.Nxd5!?, but 8...Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Nc6 gives promising compensation.
8...Nc6
Also possible is 8...Be7, as 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Qxd5 0-0 again gives decent compensation for a pawn.
9.Qd2
9.Bxf6 Nxd4 10.Bxd8 Nxf3+ (10...Nc2+?1 11.Kd2 Nxa1 12.Bg5 is almost certainly good for White) 11.exf3 Rxd8 12.Nxd5 Bc6 again sees Black getting good compensation.
9...Be6
Moving the same piece twice, but it is difficult to avoid this, although possible is 9...Bb4!?, the idea being to meet 10.a3 with 10...Ne4!?, creating a sharp position that Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon is equal, eg 11.Bxd8 Bxc3!? 12.Qxc3 Nxc3 13.Bh4 Ne4. However after the further 14.Rd1 Be6 Black has moved the light-square bishop twice anyway.
10.e3 Be7 11.Bb5 0-0 12.0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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This is a common IQP position with all the pieces still on the board and only two pairs of pawns having been exchanged. Unlike in the Tarrasch proper, where White's light-square bishop usually bears down on the isolani from g2, Black's setup is not under strong pressure. The engines reckon the chances are equal.
12...Ne4!? 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Bxe7!?
This may be a novelty. Both games in Mega24 to reach the position saw 14.Qxd8 Bxd8, with what the engines reckon is complete equality.
14...Nxe7
White gets a slight pull after 14...Qxe7 15.Bxc6.
15.Nd4 Nf5 16.Rfd1 Nxd4 17.Qxd4 Qg5!?
Threatening the white light-square bishop as well as putting pressure on the white kingside, but the engines prefer 17...Qxd4, the idea being to give up the e4 pawn, eg 18.Rxd4 Rac8 19.Rxe4 Rc2, although Komodo14.1 reckons Black does not have full compensation.
18.Be2 f5?!
This looks aggressive, but is probably weakening. One suggestion of the engines is 18...Rfe8!?
19.g3 Rfd8 20.Qa4 a6?!
Restricting White's bishop, but weakening b7. The engines suggest 20...Qf6 or 20...h6!?
21.Qb4 Rab8!?
This may be best, but when such a passive move is the best available, it is usually a bad sign. However 21...b5 - Stockfish16's top choice - is also very unpleasant for Black, after 22.a4.
22.a3
Even stronger, according to the engines, is 22.h4!? Qf6 23.Rxd8+ Qxd8 24.Rd1.
22...Qf6?!
The engines prefer 22...Kf7!?, but give White at least a slight edge.
23.Rxd8+ Qxd8 24.Rd1 Qc7 25.Rd6 a5 26.Qd4 Kf7
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| How should White continue? |
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27.Kg2
This is good for a large advantage, but the engines prefer sacrificing the exchange with 27.Rxe6!? After 27...Kxe6 28.Bc4 Ke7 29.Qxg7+ White picks up at least two pawns and has much the safer king.
27...b6
The exchange sacrifice still works after this, so the engines instead suggest 27...Rc8 or 27...Re8, but reckon White is positionally winning.
28.Qe5!?
Komodo14.1 reckons this is even stronger than capturing on e6.
28...Re8 29.Qd4
29.Bb5 is very strong, eg 29...Re7 30.Bd7!? Bxd7 31.Rf6+ gxf6 32.Qxc7, but not 29.Rxe6?? Qxe5 etc.
29...Rb8?
Black has drawing chances after 29...Qc5.
30.Qe5 Re8 31.Qd4? ½–½
Battersea 2 won the match 4-1.
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
7/2/24 London League B 1916 2298 0 2048
8/2/24 Central London League B 1916 1960 0 2004
15/2/24 Central London League B 1916 1951 = 1999
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