Most games, thanks to modern engines, are drawn, but occasionally one escapes that fate, or is interesting for other reasons.
Spanton (2330) - David Picken (1684)
British Correspondence Chess Championship Reserves Section D
French Exchange
1.d4 e6 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.c4
This scores 50% in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, which is not great, but is the highest percentage of White's five most-popular continuations.
4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7
This is the commonest move, but Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer 6...Bb4 or 6...Nc6.
6.Nf3 0-0 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bd3 c6 9.0-0
 |
| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
It looks like a classic IQP position, but with Black having occupied the blockading square with the king's knight, leaving f6 free to be occupied by the queen's knight. Complete equality, is the engines' verdict.
9...Bg4
9...Bg4
The engines suggest 9...Be6 or 9...Na6!?
10.Re1 Nd7
The engines again prefer ,,,Na6!? They dislike the text because it gives White the chance to inflict an IQP on Black.
11.Nxd5!? cxd5
 |
| The engines reckon White has a slight edge |
*****
*****
*****
*****
12.Bf4 Nf6
Jonathan Speelman (2610) - Valery Salov (2645), Linares 1991, went 12...Rc8 13.h3 Bh5 14.Bf5!? Bg6 15.Bxg6, with the upper hand for White, according to the engines, although the game was eventually drawn.
13.h3 Bh5 14.Re3 Bg6 15.Qb3
 |
| How should Black proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
15...b6?
The engines reckon Black should precede ...b6 with 15...Bxd3, or play for activity with 15...Bd6!?, eg 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Bxg6 hxg6 18.Qxb7 Rfb8.
16.Ne5
This seems best, but 16.Ba6!? also appears strong.
16...Bxd3?
16...Bxd3?
The engines prefer 16...Be4 or 16...Bd6.
17.Nc6!?
An easy move to miss, at least over the board.
17...Bc4 18.Qa4 b5 19.Qc2 Qb6 20.Nxe7+ Kh8 21.b3!? Qxd4 22.Be5 Qc5 23.Bxf6 gxf6 24.Qf5
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| Black must lose a piece for inadequate compensation, but also has to worry about mating threats |
*****
*****
*****
*****
24...Qd6 25.bxc4 dxc4 26.Rae1 Rab8
Presumably hoping to push Black's extra pawns.
27.Re4 Qd3?!
Black is getting mated anyway, but this speeds the process.
28.Qxf6#
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