Spanton (1968) - Bathuman Madavan (1578)
1.Nc3
1.Nc3 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Bg5 Bb4!?
This and 5...Bc5!? are the top choices of Stockfish17 and Dragon1, whereas the also-popular 5...Be7 leaves Black embarrassed after 6.Nf5!
6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Qd4 Be7!?
This retreat is the commonest continuation in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database - John Nunn is among those who have played it - but perhaps 7...Qe7 is a tad better.
8.e4 0-0 9.Bd3!?
The white queen later finds itself awkwardly placed after this. The engines like 9.e5 Nd5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.0-0-0, claiming at least a slight edge for White.
9...Ng4?!
The engines reckon 9...d5, or 9...h6 followed by ....d5, gives equality.
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| How should White respond? |
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10.Bd2?!
I spent more than 20 minutes on this move, thus supporting grandmaster Nunn's rule that when a player takes such a long time it nearly always results in a very sub-optimal continuation. The engines give 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.Be2, preferring White.
10...Bf6 11.Qa4 Ne5!?
There was no rush to withdraw the knight, even if the move does threaten to win the bishop-pair.
12.Be2 Bb7?!
The engines reckon this is a mistake, preferring 12...d5 or 12...d6.
13.0-0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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White has a lead in development (albeit the white bishops are not posted actively), fewer pawn-islands and more space in the centre. The engines reckon White has the upper hand.
13...d6 14.f4 Nd7
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| How should White proceed? |
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15.e5!
This positional pawn sacrifice gives White a strong initiative.
15...dxe5 16.Ne4 Re8?!
The engines prefer 16..Be7, but award White the upper hand.
17.f5
Possibly even stronger is the engines' 17.Bc3!?
17...Be7 18.Bc3!?
The engines much prefer 18.Be3 or 18.Qb3.
18...Bg5+?
The engines give 18...Bd6!?, and if 19.Nxd6 cxd6 20.Rxd6 they continue 20...Qg5+, eg 21.Kb1 Nb6 22.Qa5 Qxg2!? with a messy position that they find difficult to evaluate.
19.Kb1 Be3 20.Rd3?!
This dissipates much of White's advantage, whereas 20.Bh5 (Stockfish17) and 20.Bc4 (Dragon1) give what the engines reckon is a winning position.
20...Nb6 21.Qb3 Bd4 22.Bh5 Qd5!?
The only move to save Black's game, but according to the engines it gives equality.
23.Ng5?!
Aggressive, but the position no longer justifies it. Instead the engines recommend consolidating with 23.Bf3, or playing the tricky 23.Rg3!?, but in each case Black can exchange queens, eg 23.Rg3!? Qxb3 24.axb3 Red8, although the engines reckon White has enough compensation for a pawn.
23...Qxb3?!
Black gets the upper hand, according to the engines, after 23...g6 24.fxg6 hxg6 25.Bf3 Qxb3 26.axb3, reaching a position that also arises in the game, but one that, thanks to Black's move-order, White could have avoided.
24.axb3 g6 25.fxg6 hxg6 26.Bf3?!
Probably better is 26.Bxd4 exd4 27.Bf3. After the text the game has reached the position given in the last note.
26...Bxc3 27.Rxc3 Nd5?
Black is a pawn up and winning (Stockfish17) or at least has the upper hand (Dragon1) after 27...f6 28.Ne4 Nd5.
28.Bxd5 cxd5 29.Rxc7
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| White has regained the sacrificed pawn and has invaded the seventh rank |
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29...f6?
Black should save the bishop.
30.Rxb7?
Much stronger is 30.Nh7.
30...fxg5
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| How would you assess this double rook-and-pawn ending? |
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Material is level, but White is more-active and has the better pawn-structure, although Black has the only passed pawn. The engines give White the upper hand.
31.Re1 a6?!
Presumably played to untie the queen's rook, but the engines reckon Black should utilise the one trump in Black's position, namely the passer, by playing 31...e4.
32.c3?!
Restraining the d pawn, but it was probably better to attack it with 32.Rd7.
32...Re6?!
Again ...e4 is almost certainly better.
33.Rd7 Rf8 34.Re2 Rf1+ 35.Kc2 e4 36.Rxd5 e3 37.Rd1 Rf2 38.Re1
Not 38.Rxf2? exf2 39.Rf1 Re2+ 40.Kd3 (40.Kd1? Rxb2 wins for Black) Rxb2=.
38...a5 39.Kd3 Rd6+
There is nothing better.
40.Kxe3 Rxe2+ 41.Rxe2 Rb6 42.Kd3 Rxb3 43.Kc4 Rb7 44.b3 Kf7 45.Re5 (1-0, 62 moves)
MY BATTERSEA SEASON 2024-5
DATE.....EVENT...........................COL..RATING..OPP'S RATING..SCORE..SEASON PERF
12/9/24 Central London League W 1933 1886 1 2286
26/9/24 Central London League B 1933 2112 1 2399
15/10/24 Club Championship W 1968 1578 1 2259
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