Thursday, 1 May 2025

Summer Club

AM playing in the summer daytime tournament organised by Surrey's Coulsdon Chess Fellowship.
It takes place on 10 Wednesday afternoons, the time control being 90 minutes with a 30-second increment.
I will not be able to play every Wednesday - indeed I might only be able to play seven games, but since the entry fee is £22, that is still good value.
Here is yesterday's game.

Frank Gillespie (1530 ECF/1682 Fide) - Spanton (1985 ECF/1922 Fide)
French Winawer
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.dxc5!?
A known move, but not popular.
How should Black respond?
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
7...Qc7
By no means the only decent continuation.
8.Nf3 Nbc6
This may be a novelty. Known moves are 8...Nd7 and 8...Qxc5.
9.Bb5 0-0 10.Bxc6!? Nxc6 11.Bf4 f6 12.Qe2 fxe5 13.Bxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5
Stockfish17 and Dragon1 prefer 14.Qxe5, reckoning 14...Qxc5 15.Qd4 is equal.
14...Qxc5 15.Qd2!?
In view of Black's reply, White should probably prefer 15.0-0, although the engines reckon Black is slightly better after 15...Qxc3.
How should Black proceed?
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
15...Rxf2!
This is the only way for Black to keep an advantage, according to the engines.
16.Qxf2 Qxc3+ 17.Ke2 Qxc2+??
Correct is 17...Qxe5+, with at least a slight edge for Black, according to the engines.
18.Kf3??
White has rook for three pawns after 18.Kf1.
18...Qe4+ 19.Kg3 Qxe5+ 20.Qf4 Qc3+
Not 20...Qxf4+?, after which the white king is safe and well-placed for an ending.
21.Kh4
If 21.Qf3, then 21...Qc7+.
21...e5 22.Rac1!?
The engines reckon this is best, but losing.
22...Qb2
Not 22...Qxa3? 23.Qxe5, after which Black's king is probably as vulnerable as White's.
23.Qg3?
Better is 23.Qe3, but 23...Bd7 leaves Black well on top.
23...Qd4+ 24.Kg5?!
Black also mates after 24.Kh5, but not as quickly.
24...Qd2+ 0-1

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