Qixuan Han (2004) - Spanton (1985)
Réti
1.Nf3 d5 2.e3!? Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 a6!? 5.b3 dxc4!?
This has been played by Hikaru Nakamura, but the main line in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database runs 5...c5 6.cxd5 (6.Bb2 is also popular) exd5 7.d4 Nc6, with what Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon is an equal position.
6.bxc4 c5 7.d4 cxd4 8.exd4
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| White has hanging pawns, which, as is fairly well-known, give space and cover a lot of important squares, but need piece-support |
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8...Bb4 9.Qb3!?
8...Bb4 9.Qb3!?
This appears to be a novelty, and is the top choice of the engines. Known moves are 9.Bd2 and 9.Qc2.
9...Qe7?
This removes pressure from the key feature of the position, the hanging pawns. Correct is 9...Nc6, when the engines continue 10.Be2!? Ne4 11.Bb2 Qa5 12.Rc1 e5!? 13.0-0 (13.dxe5 Nc5!?) Bxc3 14.Rxc3!? exd4!? 15.Rcc1 Nc5 16.Qc2 Ne6, with what they reckon is a position with equal chances.
10.Be2 Ne4 11.Bb2 Bxc3+ 12.Bxc3 Nxc3 13.Qxc3 0-0 14.0-0
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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, as well as more space, and the hanging pawns are not under any pressure. However exchanges have eased the cramp in Black's position. The engines give White at least a slight edge.
14...Rd8 15.Rfd1 Nd7 16.Rab1
The engines suggest 16.c5!? Nf6 17.Qb3 Nd5 18.Ne5, claiming the upper hand for White.
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| How should Black proceed? |
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16...Nf6?
The engines suggest a positional pawn sacrifice: 16...b5!? 17.cxb5 axb5 18.Bxb5 Bb7!? (18...Rxa2 19.Qc7) 19.a4 Rdc8, although they give White at least a slight edge.
17.Ne5 Qc7
Not 17...Rb8? 19.Nc6!
18.Bf3 Rb8 19.Qb4!
A clever move that takes advantage of the fact Black has nothing better than ...
19...Bd7
... which allows the white queen to enter Black's position.
20.Qe7 Rf8 21.Bh5?!
The engines much prefer 21.c5!? or 21.g4!?
21...Nxh5 22.Qxd7
Maybe a tad better is 22.Nxd7!? Kh8 (only move) 23.d5, with an initiative.
22...Rfc8 23.Qxc7 Rxc7 24.d5 exd5 25.cxd5 Nf6?
Equalising is 25...Rd8.
26.d6 Rc5
Also losing is 26...Rc8 27.Rd8 Nc6!
27.f4 b5 28.Rbc1 Ne4
Or 28...Rxc1 29.Rxc1 Rd8 30.d7! Nxd7 31.Nxd7, when the threat of back-rank mate prevents ...Rxd7.
29.d7 Rd8 30.Rxc5 Nxc5 31.Rc1 Nb7
Or 31...Nxd7 32.Nxd7, and again ...Rxd7 loses to back-rank mate.
32.Rc8 f6 33.Nc6 Rf8 34.Rc7 Nd8 35.Nxd8 1-0
Streatham & Brixton won the match 5-3.
MY BATTERSEA SEASON 2024-5
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*
31/10/24.Central London League...B.......1968..........1867................0...........2061*
19/11/24.London League...............W.......1957..........1991................1............2127*
21/11/24.Central London League...B.......1957..........2035................=............2112*
27/11/24.London League...............W.......1957..........1723................=............2056*
12/12/24.Central London League...B.......1965..........2153................0............2018*
7/1/25.....Club Championship.........B.......1958..........1785................1............2037*
9/1/25.....Central London League...B.......1958..........1851................0............1978
14/1/25....Eastman Cup.................B........1958..........2052................1............2021*
28/1/25....London League..............B........1958..........1766................1............2033*
4/2/25......London League..............B........1980..........1757................1............2043*
6/2/25......Central London League..W.......1980..........1932................0............2006*
11/2/25....Central London League..B........1986..........2178................=............2018*
13/2/25....Central London League.W........1986..........1998................1............2042*
27/2/25....Central London League..B........1986..........1996................0............2015*
13/3/25....Central London League..B........1984..........2286................0............2008*
17/3/25....London League..............W........1984..........1870................0............1980*
3/4/25......Central London League..W.......1985...........2127...............0............1967
8/4/25......London League..............W........1985..........1992................=............1968
9/4/25......London League...............B........1985..........2004................0............1952
*My season's performance is slightly better than this as my win against a 1578 was a 1978 performance, lowering my average despite me winning.
I also scored a default win in a Croydon & District League match.
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