Spanton (1965 ECF/2012 Fide) - Albert Eldrige (1851 ECF)
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit/Caro-Kann
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Bc4!?
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| 4.Bc4!? scores 52% in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, the same as 4.Nxe4 but two percentage points higher than 4.f3!? |
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Then again 4.Nge2 scores 67%, which presumably is largely down to its surprise value.
4...Nf6 5.f3!?
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| How should Black respond? |
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5...c5!?
Probably a novelty. The mainline in Mega25 runs 5...exf3 6.Nxf3 Bf5 (6...e6!? is also very popular) 7.0-0 e6, with at least a slight edge for Black, according to Stockfish17 and Dragon1.
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| How should White proceed? |
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6.d5!?
The engines agree this is best, although it, at least temporarily, blocks the light-square bishop. Stockfish17's second choice is 6.dxc5!?, continuing 6...Qxd1+ 7.Nxd1!? e6!?, awarding Black a slight edge. Dragon1's second choice, for a while, before switching to Stockfish17's preference, is 6.Bf4!?, when 6...cxd4 7.Nb5 Na6 8.fxe4!? Qa5+!? 9.Bd2 Qb6 10.e5 Bd7!? 11.a4 gives a sharp position that may be dynamically equal, but there are many plausible alternatives along the way.
6...Bf5?!
The bishop is vulnerable here. Stockfish17 suggests 6...Nbd7 or 6...a6!?, while Dragon1 advises acceptance with 6...exf3.
7.g4!? Bd7!?
After 7...Bg6 8.g5 Nfd7 9.fxe4 White is also doing well.
8.g5 Ng8?!
Probably better is 8...Nh5, meeting 9.fxe4 with 9...g6.
9.fxe4 a6 10.a4 h6?!
The engines suggest trying to block the centre with 10...e5, their point being 11.dxe6 Bxe6 12.Qxd8+ Kxd8 13.Bxe6 fxe6 leaves White on top - positionally winning, according to the engines - but with the black king in little danger of being mated. However they reckon White does better getting on with development, eg 11.Qf3.
11.Qf3 e6?
With the white queen off the d file, moving the e pawn is simply a mistake. The engines suggest the consistent 11...hxg5.
12.dxe6 Bxe6 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.Qh5+ Kd7 15.Bf4 Kc8 16.Rd1 Qe7
Hardly much of an improvement, if at all, is 16...Nd7 17.Nf3 with Ne5 to come.
17.Bd6 Qxd6 18.Rxd6 Bxd6 19.Qe8+ Kc7 20.Qxe6
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| White has won queen and pawn for rook and bishop, giving a huge advantage, according to the engines (about +8.00), but with practical difficulties arising from the white king's lack of a safe haven |
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20...Nd7 21.Nd5+ Kc6 22.g6?!
Much better, according to the engines, is going after the black king with 22.b4 or developing with 22.Nf3.
22...Ngf6 23.Nxf6 Nxf6 24.e5 Rad8 25.Nf3 Rhe8 26.Qf5!?
The engines prefer 26.Qc4 or 26.Qb3.
26...Nd7 27.e6 Nf8 28.0-0 Rxe6
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| White's extra pawn has gone, but White is still winning, according to the engines |
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29.Nh4 Be7 30.Qf3+ Kb6?!
Probably better is 30...Kc7 as the text allows White a simplifying continuation that removes danger from the white king.
31.Qb3+ Ka7 32.Rxf8! Re1+!?
This is best, according to the engines.
33.Rf1
Not 33.Kf2?? Bxh4+.
33...Rxf1+ 34.Kxf1 Bxh4
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| How would you assess this ending? |
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White can win a pawn, which I assume means the ending is winning, although in queen-versus-rook-and-bishop endgames there is always the possibility of the weaker side setting up a fortress.
35.Qc3 Bf6 36.Qxc5+ Kb8 37.b3 Rc8 38.Qd6+ Ka8 39.c4 Rd8 40.Qe6 Rf8 41.Kg2 Rd8 42.c5 Kb8
One line illustrative of White's chances runs 42...Rd2+ 43.Kf3 Rxh2 44.Qxf6!? gxf6 45.g7 Rh3+ 46.Kg2 etc.
43.c6 Kc7 44.cxb7 Kxb7 45.a5 Ra8
43.c6 Kc7 44.cxb7 Kxb7 45.a5 Ra8
The only way to defend the a6 pawn.
The game finished:
46.Qb6+ Kc8 47.Kf3 Bd8 48.Qc5+ Kb7 49.Qd5+ Ka7 50.Qd7+ 1-0
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