Spanton (1946) - Ian Aird (1873)
Spanish Exchange
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Nc3 0-0-0 9.Be3 Ne7!?
This is a popular alternative to the main line in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, which runs 9...Bb4 10.Ne2 Ne7 11.0-0-0 Ng6, when Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon Black has the better part of equality.
10.f3!?
Much more common is 10.0-0-0, but the text has another idea in mind.
10...Ng6 11.Kf2!?
Emanuel Lasker was fond of moving the white king to f2 in the Exchange Variation of the Spanish.
11...h5 12.Rad1 h4!?
 |
| How should White respond to Black's kingside play? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
13.a3!?
The engines do not like this, instead suggesting 13.g4!?, eg 13...Ne5 14.b3 f6 15.h3, with what they reckon is an equal game.
13...c5
The engines give 13...Ne5 14.g4!? Nc4 15.Bc1, and either 15...Bc5 or 15...b5, in each case claiming a slight edge for Black.
14.Nde2 Bd6 15.Nd5
 |
| How should Black proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
15...b6?
The simplest solution is 15...Bc6, with an equal game, according to the engines.
16.Nxb6+! cxb6 17.Rxd6 Kc7 18.Rhd1 Bc6!?
This is Dragon1's top choice, at least for a while, while Stockfish17 suggests 18...Bc8!?, but both moves allow ...
19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Rxd8 Kxd8
... after which White has:
21.b4 1-0
I suspect most people would play on, especially with hopes of exchanging knights to leave opposite-coloured bishops, but, for what it is worth, the engines reckon White's advantage is the equivalent of at least a minor piece.
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