Spanton (2013) - Huub van Helvoort (1830)
Amateur Chess Organization 50+ World Championship Group C1.Nc3
1.Nc3 d5 2.e4!?
This keeps the game in independent 1.Nc3 lines, but is disliked by Stockfish17 and Dragon1, which reckon that after ...
2...d4
... Black has a slight edge.
3.Nce2 e5 4.Ng3!? Be6 5.d3
Dick van Geet, after whom the opening is sometimes named, liked 5.c3.
5...Bd6!?
This prevents 6.f4 but unguards g7, which White can immediately try to exploit with a move not in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database.
6.Nh5!?
However the engines reckon Black remains better after 6...Bf8 or ...
6...Kf8!?
... with Dragon1 awarding Black the upper hand, although Stockfish17, given enough time, comes to view the position as equal.
7.f4 exf4?!
But the engines do not like this, preferring 7...g6, when White must avoid 8.fxe5?? as Black can reply 8...Bb4+, winning a piece. Instead 8.f5 gxf5 9.exf5 Bxf5 10.Be2 gives White full compensation for a pawn, according to the engines.
After typing the above I backtracked to the position brought about by 6...Kf8!?, finding Dragon1's evaluation had changed to 'only' a slight edge for Black.
8.Nxf4 Qf6 9.Nxe6+ Qxe6 10.Nf3 c5!?
The engines reckon 10...Nc6?! leaves Black positionally lost, a sample line continuing 11.Be2 Nf6 12.0-0 Re8 13.c3, which gives White the centre.
11.Be2 h6!? 12.0-0
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| How would you assess the position? |
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White's lead in development and attacking chances against the uncastled black king give the upper hand, according to the engines.
12...Nf6 13.Nh4!?
The engines reckon White should concentrate on undermining Black's centre, starting with 13.c3, or 13.Bd2 followed by c3.
13...Nbd7
The engines prefer 13...g6 to prevent Nf5, or a more-active positing of the queen's knight at c6.
14.Nf5 Bc7 15.Qe1 Rc8 16.Qh4 Rh7!?
This awkward-looking move is the top choice of Dragon1, and the second choice (behind 16...h5!?) of Stockfish17.
17.Rf2 Ne5!?
This is strongly disliked by the engines, which suggest 17...h5!? or 17...Be5.
18.Bd2 Bd8!? 19.Qg3 Ng8?
A mistake, but the engines reckon only 19...h5!? keeps Black's disadvantage to a minimum, the point being to stick a knight on g4, eg 20.c3 Nfg4 21.Rff1 g6 22.Bxg4 Nxg4 23.Nh4, when White's attack is no more.
20.Raf1 Bf6?
Better is 20...g6.
21.c3!?
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| White threatens to open a second front against Black's king |
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21...Nc6 22.Nxd4
Seemingly stronger is 22.Nd6, and even 22.cxd4 Nxd4 23.Nxd4!? Bxd4 24.Bg4 Qc6 25.Bxc8 Qxc8 (25...Bxf2+ 26.Qxf2) 26.Be3.
22...cxd4 23.Bg4 Qe8 24.Bxc8 Qxc8 25.Qd6+
Definitely stronger is 25.e5! Nxe5 26.cxd4 Ng6 27.Rc1.
25...Ke8
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| How should White proceed? |
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26.c4?
Black has the upper hand after this, according to the engines, which give 26.e5!, one point being 26...Bxe5 runs into 27.Re2, and if 27...f6 then 28.cxd4 etc.
26...Qd7 27.Qg3?
Any White disadvantage is kept to a minimum by 27.Qa3!?
27...h5?
Strong is 27...Be5, eg 28.Bf4 Qe6 29.Bxe5 Nxe5 30.Rf5 f6, when Black is ready to untangle.
28.Rxf6!
An equalising combination, although Dragon1 at first reckons it loses.
28...Nxf6 29.Rxf6! gxf6?
Correct is 29...h4! 30.Qg5 gxf6 31.Qg8+ Ke7 32.Qxh7 Qg4 33.Be1, and Black has a draw, eg 33...Qd1 34.Qxh4 Qxd3 with complete equality, according to the engines.
30.Qg8+ Ke7
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| White to play and gain what is probably a winning advantage |
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31.Qxh7??
Correct is 31.h3!, preventing 31...Qg4 and giving the white king luft, while Black, thanks to not playing 29...h4!, cannot save the rook.
31...Qg4 32.Qh6
There is no defence.
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| Black to play and win |
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32...Ne5?
Winning is 32...Qd1+ (32...Qe2 is also probably good enough) 33.Kf2 Ne5.
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| White to play and draw |
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33.Qf4??
Both 33.h3 and 33.Bb4+ Ke6 34.h3 draw.
33...Qd1+ 0-1
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