Spanton (1896) - Tarek Kaji Senas (1711)
Spanish Exchange
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bd6
This is fifth-most popular in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.
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| How should White respond? |
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8.Nc3
Capablanca played the aggressive 8.f4 in what seems to have been an exhibition game in 1911, but the move is not liked by Stockfish17.1 or Dragon1, and the game was drawn.
8...Ne7 9.Be3 0-0!?
Black often castles long in the Exchange Variation of the Spanish, but the text has a specific idea, namely to speedily fully open the centre for the benefit of Black's bishop-pair.
10.f3
10.f4 has been tried, intending to meet 10...f5 with 11.e5, but the engines reckon Black is slightly better after 10...f6 or 10...Re8.
10...f5 11.exf5
The engines suggest 11.0-0-0, 11.Bf2!? or 11.Bg5!?
11...Nxf5 12.Nxf5 Bxf5 13.0-0-0
11...Nxf5 12.Nxf5 Bxf5 13.0-0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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We have the usual battle in the Exchange Variation of the Spanish between White's superior pawn-structure and Black's bishop-pair. The engines reckon Black is slightly better, or at least has the better part of equality.
13...Rae8 14.Bd2 Rf7
The engines like 14...b5, eg 15.Rde1 Rxe1+ 16.Bxe1 Re8, with a slight edge for Black (Stockfish17.1) or even the upper hand (Dragon1).
15.Rde1 Rxe1+ 16.Bxe1 Re7 17.Bd2
The engines suggest 17.Bg3.
17...Bg6 18.h3
And here they prefer pushing the h pawn two squares.
18...Bg3 19.Rf1 b5 20.a3
The engines suggest 20.Kd1 or 20.b3!?
20...a5 21.Kd1 b4 22.axb4 axb4 23.Na4
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| How should Black proceed? |
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23...b3!?
A pawn sacrifice to give the light-square bishop more activity.
24.cxb3 Bd3 25.Rg1 Re2 26.Nc3
Probably not 26.Nc5?!, which works fine after 26...Bf2?? 27.Nxd3, but Black instead has 26...Bb5, when 27.b4 Bh2 28.Re1 Rxg2 wins back the sacrificed pawn, and leaves White with four isolanis, two of which are doubled (and Black still has the bishop-pair). Similarly 27.Ne4 Bh2 28.Rf1 Rxg2 29.Rf2 Rg1+ 30.Kc2 also leaves White in a mess.
26...Rf2
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| How should White proceed? |
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27.Ne4
Not 27.Be1?? Bc2+ 28.Kc1 Bf4+.
27...Bxe4 28.fxe4 Bh2 29.Re1 Rxg2
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| How would you assess this rook-and-bishop ending? |
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White has four isolanis - two more than Black - but has the only passer. Black has a 2-1 flank majority on the kingside, which could prove powerful in a pawn ending. The engines reckon the game is completely equal.
30.Re2
Passed pawns should be pushed? Not always, even here where the passer is supported by a rook. After 30.e5?! Kf7 31.e6+ Ke7 the pawn is firmly blockaded, and 32.Bb4+? only makes matters worse after 32...Bd6.
30...Rxe2 31.Kxe2 Be5
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| What should White play? |
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32.Kf3!?
The engines reckon 32.Bc1!? also draws, but I was afraid of getting into zugzwang. Definitely bad is 32.Bc3? as 32...Bxc3 33.bxc3 leaves Black with an easily won pawn ending - the white king would have to abandon the centre (and the queenside) to deal with Black's coming kingside passer.
32...Kf7
Or 32...Bxb2 33.Bf4 etc.
33.Kg4 Ke6 34.Bf4!?
The pawn ending is drawn as long as Black cannot exchange bishops and immediately occupy e5 with the king, as would be the case after 34.Bc3?
34...Bxf4 35.Kxf4 c5 36.h4 g6
All reasonable moves leave the position completely equal, according to the engines.
37.Kg5 Kxe5 38.Kh6 Kxe4 39.Kxh7 Kf5 40.Kg7 g5 41.hxg5
37.Kg5 Kxe5 38.Kh6 Kxe4 39.Kxh7 Kf5 40.Kg7 g5 41.hxg5
After 41.h5, White queens first, but Black queens with check, and the position remains drawn.
41...Kxg5 42.Kf7 Kf5 43.Ke7 Ke4 44.Kd7 Kd3 45.Kc6 Kc2 46.Kxc5 Kxb3 ½–½
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