Spanton (1954) - Dieter Seyb (2137)
Nimzowitsch Defence/Alekhine Defence
1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 Nf6!?
There are 1,463 examples of this move in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.
3.e5 Nd5 4.d4
The game began as a Nimzowitsch Defence, but has transposed to a sideline of Alekhine's Defence (333 games reach this position in Mega25), although it is not, as ChessBase calls it, a Four Pawns Attack.
4...d6
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| Now we have reached a popular main line of the Alekhine, with 1,980 examples in Mega25 |
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5.c4 Nb6 6.exd6 exd6 7.Nc3 Be7 8.Be3 Bg4
This is the commonest continuation in Mega25, but Stockfish17 and Dragon1 are not keen, preferring 8...0-0 or 8...Bf6!?
9.h3 Bh5 10. b3 Bf6!?
The engines strongly dislike this, preferring 10...0-0 or 10...a5.
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| How should White try to take advantage of Black's last move? |
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11.Be2
The engines give 11.g4!? Bg6 12.g5!? Be7 13.h4, claiming White has at least the upper hand (Dragon1) or a positionally won game (Stockfish17).
11...d5?!
Trying to grab a fair share of the centre, but the result is Black is left on the back foot.
12.c5 Nc8
Not 12...Nd7? 13.Nxd5.
13.0-0 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 and more space on the queenside, giving White the upper hand, according to the engines.
14.Rc1 h6 15.Re1 N8e7 16.g4!? Bg6 17.h4!?
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| How should Black respond to the threat to trap the f6 bishop? |
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17...Qd7!?
The engines reckon this is much better than 17...Nc8 18.g5 Be7 19.Bf4!?, when they give White a winning advantage.
18.g5 Qg4+ 19.Kh2 Bf5?
A better way to give up a piece, according to the engines, is 19...hxg5 20.hxg5 Qh5+ 21.Kg2 Qg4+ 22.Kh1 Qh3+ 23.Nh2 Bxd4, although they agree White is well on top.
20.gxf6 Qh3+ 21.Kg1 gxf6 22.Nh2
Best, according to the engines, is 22.Bf4 or 22.Bf1, but not 22.Bxh6? Kh8 23.Bxf8? (better is 23.Bf1 Rg8+ 24.Bg5, albeit Black has at least an edge after 24...Qg4+ 25.Bg2 fxg5) Rxf8, when Black has a winning attack.
22...Kh7 23.Kh1 Rg8 24.Bf3
This seems better than 24.Rg1 Rxg1+ 25.Qxg1 Rg8.
24...Qxh4
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| Now that Black has a second pawn for his missing dark-square bishop, how would you assess the position? |
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The position remains sharp, and the white king is somewhat less safe than its black counterpart, but White is winning, according to the engines.
25.Qd2
The engines also like 25.Nxd5!?, continuing 25...Nxd5 26.Bxd5 Rad8 27.Bxc6!? bxc6 28.f3!?, but it looks very risky.
25...Nb4 26.Rg1 Ng6!?
The engines do not like this.
27.Bg4 Bxg4 28.Rxg4 Qh5 29.Rcg1 Qf5 30.R1g3!?
This is Stockfish17's second choice, behind 30.Ne2. Dragon1 also likes 30.Ne2, and 30.Bxh6!?
30...h5 31.Rh3 Rge8 32.Rgg3 h4 33.Rf3 Qe6 34.a3 Nc6 35.Qd3 Kg7 36.Qf5 Nce7 37.Qxe6!? fxe6
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| Black's pawn-formation has been improved, but with queens off the board there is less likelihood of a fatal accident in the vicinity of the white king (or the black king for that matter) |
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38.Ng4 Nf5? 39.Ne2?
Missing the simple win of a pawn by 39.Nxd5.
39...b6 40.b4
The engines suggest keeping lines closed with 40.c6!?, and if 40...Nge7, then 41.Nf4 Kf7 (41...Nxc6 42.Nxe6+!) 42.Nh5.
40...bxc5 41.bxc5
Here they prefer 41.dxc5!?
41...Rab8 42.Nf4 Nxf4 43.Rxf4?!
Probably better is 43.Bxf4!?, and if 43...Nxd4?!, then 44.Bh6+ and 45.Rxf6(+).
43...Kg6 44.Bd2 Rb1+ 45.Kg2 Rd1 46.Bc3 Kg5
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| What should White play? |
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47.Rhf3?
The engines give 47.Rxf5+!? exf5 (47...Kxf5?? 48.Ne3+ and 49.Nxd1) 48.Ne3 Rd3 49.Nxd5 Rxh3 50.Kxh3, when they reckon White's bishop and knight are worth much more than Black's rook and (doubled) pawn. Also better than the text is 47.Ne3 Kxf4 (47...Rd3?? 48.Rg4+ Kh5 49.Nxf5 Kxg4 50.Nh6+ and 51.Rxd3) 48.Nxd1.
47...h3+! 48.Kh2
Forced, as 48.Kxh3?? loses to 48...Rh8+ 49.Kg2 Nh4+ etc.
48...Nh4 49.Nxf6 Nxf3+ 50.Rxf3
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| How should Black proceed? |
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50...Re7?
Even worse is 50...Rf8?? 51.Nh7+, but the engines give 50...Rb8, claiming complete equality.
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| How should White proceed? |
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51.Ng8
Best according to the engines, is 51.Ba5!? (they also like 51.c6!?), the idea being 51...Rf7, which they reckon is Black's best reply, can be met by 52.Ne4+!, and if 51...Rxd4, then 52.Bc3! followed by 54.Nxd5!
51...Rh7
Black loses the rook after 51...Rg7?? 52.Rg3+.
52.Rg3+
Possibly better is the engines' 52.Nf6! Rf7 53.Ne4+! Kg6 54.Nd2.
52...Kf5 53.Rf3+ Kg6 54.Rf6+??
Better is 54.c6, intending Bb4 to rescue the knight (Black cannot attack the knight with 54...Kg7?? as it simply escapes with 55.Nf6 or 55.Ne7.
54...Kg7 55.Rxe6 Kxg8
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| White has no compensation for the exchange, and in an ending with lots of open lines for the rooks, and weak pawns for the rooks to target |
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56.Rg6+ Kf7 57.Rg4 Rd3 58.Rg3?!
Hastening the finish.
58...Rxg3 59.fxg3 Kg6 60.Bd2 Kf5 61.Bf4 c6 62.a4 Kg4 63.a5 a6 64.Bd6 Rb7 0-1
This ended my seven-game unbeaten streak.
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