David Hardingham (1895) - Spanton (2330)
British Correspondence Chess Championship Reserves
Ponziani
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3
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| The Ponziani scores a respectable 55% in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database |
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3...Nf6
This is the commonest continuation, but 3...d5 scores seven percentage points more.
4.d4 Nxe4
Even more popular, but less successful percentagewise, is 4...exd4.
5.d5
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| How should Black proceed? |
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5...Bc5!?
More popular are 5...Nb8 and especially 5...Ne7, the latter being Dragon1's choice; Stockfish17.1 likes the text.
6.dxc6
Accepting the sacrifice is more-or-less obligatory as 6.Be3?! Bxe3 7.fxe3 Ne7 8.Nxe5 0-0 is good for Black.
6...Bxf2+
Probably not 6...Nxf2?! Qd5.
7.Ke2 Bb6!
The engines agree this is best, although Dragon1 is less certain than Stockfish17.1
8.Qd5!
Capturing on b7 or d7 speeds Black's coming attack.
8...Nf2
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| What should White play? |
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9.Rg1
The alternative is 9.cxb7 Bxb7 10.Qxb7 Nxh1, with an unclear position, but one which the engines reckon probably slightly favours Black.
9...0-0
Dragon1 suggests an apparent-novelty, 9...dxc6!?
10.cxb7
Dragon1 reckons this is winning, but after ...
10...Bxb7 11.Qxb7
... downgrades White's advantage to having the upper hand. Meanwhile, Stockfish17.1 has been giving Black a steady slight edge.
11...Qf6 12.Qa6?!
Peruvian 2500+ international master Renato Terry has won Titled Tuesday blitz games with 12.Nbd2 and 12.Qd5.
12...e4!
An improvement on the known 12...Qf5.
13.Nd4 c5 14.Nc2
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| Black is down two pieces for two pawns, but has at least the upper hand, according to Stockfish17.1 |
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14...d5
Dragon1's evaluation has undergone a massive transformation - it now likes Black's position even more than Stockfish17.1 does.
15.Be3 Ng4 16.Nd2?
The engines suggest 16.Kd1 or 16.Bxc5.
16...d4
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| Black is recovering a major amount of material |
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17.Nxe4
Or 17.cxd4 cxd4 18.Bxd4 Qf5 19.Kd1 Bxd4 20.Nxd4 Qf2 21.Qe2 (21.Rh1? Ne3+ 22.Kc1 Qe1#) Ne3+ 22.Kc1 Qxg1, with a continuing attack for Black.
17...Qg6 18.Re1 dxe3 19.Kd1 Rad8+ 20.Kc1 Qxe4
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| White's king has reached (relative) safety, but Black has emerged a pawn up, and the extra pawn is already on the sixth rank |
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21.Qc4 Qg6 22.h3 Ne5 23.Qb5 a6!? 24.Qa4
Probably not 24.Qxa6?! Rd2 25.Na3/e3 c4.
24...c4!? 25.Bxc4 Nxc4 26.Qxc4 Rd2 27.Nd4 Qe4
27...Bxd4 is met by 28.cxd4, although this is also good for Black.
28.Qc6 Rxd4! 29.Qxe4 Rxe4 30.Re2 Rf4 31.Rge1 Rf2 32.b4 f5 33.c4 Bd4 34.Rxe3!? Bxe3 35.Rxe3 f4 36.Rf3 Rxa2 37.c5 Rxg2 38.h4 Rg3 39.Rf2 f3 40.Kd2 Rg2 0-1
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