Spanton (1891) - Hassan Mugalu (1866)
Caro-Kann Tartakower
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.Be3!?
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| 6.Be3!? is fourth-most popular in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, behind 6.Bc4, 6.Nf3 and especially 6.c3 |
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6...Be7
This bishop normally goes to d6.
7.Bd3
One of the ideas of 6.Be3!? is to play 7.Bd3 without spending a tempo on c3.
7...Nd7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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White has a small edge in development, the only pawn on the fourth rank, and a queenside pawn-majority that could be significant in an ending. Black's kingside majority makes his king extra-safe, and gives middlegame attacking chances. Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 reckon White is slightly better.
9...Re8!?
The engines agree this apparent-novelty is an improvement on the known 9...Nb6.
10.Re1 Nf8 11.Nh4!? g6 12.Nf3
The engines are not keen on this knight manoeuvre, which has cost two tempi. Admittedly Black's 11...g6 creates a hole at h6, but is a useful move for supporting ...f5 and/or ...h5.
12...Ne6 13.c4
This is another point of 6.Be3!? - to get in c4 without spending a tempo on c3.
13...f5
The engines suggest 13...Ng7!? or 13...Bb4.
14.Qd2 a5
The engines point out that possible is 14...f4!? 15.Bxf4 Nxd4, although after 16.Nxd4 Qxd4 17.Be5 they prefer White, albeit not by much.
15.a3 a4 16.Rad1 Bf6 17.Bb1 Bd7 18.Ba2
The engines like the immediate 18.d5!?
18...Qa5 19.Qc2?
The engines suggest 19.Qxa5 Rxa5 20.g3.
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| How should Black proceed? |
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19...Rad8
Missing 19...Nxd4!, when 20.Nxd4 Bxd4 wins a pawn as capturing again on d4 is not possible, thanks to Black's pressure against e1. Slightly better may be 20.Bxd4!?, but 20...Bxd4 21.Rxe8+ Rxe8 22.Qd2 Qxd2 23.Rxd2 c5 pockets a pawn, and temporarily wins the bishop-pair. However, while Dragon1 reckons the resulting position is winning for Black, Stockfish17.1 awards Black only a slight edge.
20.Bd2 Qa7 21.Bc3?
The engines give 21.c5!?, claiming a slight edge for White.
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| How should Black proceed? |
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21...Ng5
Missing 21...Nxd4!, eg 22.Nxd4 Bxd4 23.Bxd4 Rxe1+ 24.Rxe1 Qxd4, when Black has a pawn and, according to the engines, the upper hand. This time, capturing first with the bishop makes no difference as 22.Bxd4 Rxe1+ 23.Rxe1 Bxd4 24.Nxd4 Qxd4 is merely a transposition.
22.Nxg5 Bxg5 23.d5 Rxe1+ 24.Rxe1 b5?
Lashing out in a difficult position rarely works, and this is no exception. Best, according to the engines, is 24...cxd5 25.cxd5 Qb6, but they give White at least a slight edge after 26.h3 or 26.h4! (26...Bxh4? 27.Qd2!).
25.Qe2 bxc4?
This make matters worse by helping improve the white queen.
26.Qxc4 cxd5 27.cxd5 Be6
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| White to play and win |
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28.Rxe6!?
Also winning is 28.Qe5.
28...fxe6
Not 28...Rxd5? 29.Re8#, but relatively best may be 28...Qc7, although White has several winning moves, including the picturesque 29.Re1!?
29.Qxe6+ Kf8 30.Qg8+ Qf7 31.Qf7+ 1-0
29.Qxe6+ Kf8 30.Qg8+ Qf7 31.Qf7+ 1-0
After the forced 31...Kd6 the black king blocks Black's threat of back-rank mate, making 32.Qxa7 possible.
Battersea defaulted on top board; the match was drawn 2.5-2.5
My Battersea Season 2025-6
Date Event Colour Rating Opp's Rating Score Season's Perf
16/9/25 CLL W 1936 1952 0 1552
18/9/25 CLL W 1936 1797 = 1675
16/10/25 CLL W 1889 2047 0 1665
23/10/25 CLL B 1889 1823 1 1805
18/11/25 LL W 1891 1980 = 1840
20/11/25 CLL W 1891 1866 1 1911
CLL: Central London League
LL: London League
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