Spanton (1913) - Henryk Samborski (2085)
Sicilian Bb5(+)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5 Nd7
This trails 3...Bd7 in popularity in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, but scores six percentage points better.
4.c3
Of moves occurring at least 1,000 times in Mega26, 4.d4 and especially 4.0-0 are more popular, while most successful percentagewise is 4.Ba4!?
4...Nf6 5.Qe2 e6 6.d4 Be7
Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer 7...a6 or 7...cxd4.
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| How should White proceed? |
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7.0-0
The engines suggest 7.e5 or 7.dxc5!? After the latter, which is not in Mega26, they reckon 7...dxc5 should be met with 8.a4!? a6 9.Bd3, claiming White has the upper hand.
7...Qc7 8.Rd1 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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White's classical centre gives a slight edge, according to the engines.
9.e5 Nd5 10.Qe4?!
The queen may look menacing on e4, but threats against the black kingside are illusory, and meanwhile the queen becomes a target. The engines like 10.c4.
10...cxd4 11.cxd4 g6?
Unnecessarily weakening. The engines give 11...dxe5 12.dxe5, followed by the cool 12...Rd8!?, claiming a slight edge for Black. They reckon 12...Nc5 also gives at least equality.
12.Bh6 Rd8 13.Na3
13.Nbd2 gives White the upper hand, according to the engines.
13...dxe5 14.dxe5 Nc5 15.Qe2 a6 16.Bc4 b5
The engines agree with HS's postgame suggestion that 16...Nb6 is better.
17.Bxd5 Rxd5
The engines prefer this over capturing with the pawn.
18.Rxd5 exd5 19.Rd1 Be6
The engines like 19...Bg4!?, and if 20.Rxd5, then 20...Be6, reckoning Black's bishop-pair and better coordination give full compensation for a pawn.
20.Nc2 Rd8
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| What should White play? |
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21.Bg5?!
Getting rid of Black's bishop-pair, but ceding all of White's advantage, according to the engines, which reckon 21.Nfd4 gives at least a slight edge.
21...Bg4!? 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.Ncd4 Qd7 24.h3 Bxf3 25.Qxf3 Ne6
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| After exchanges have left each side with identical material, how would you assess the position? |
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Black's isolated but passed pawn is firmly blockaded, but at the same time is not vulnerable. The engines reckon the game is completely equal.
26.Qe3 Rc8 27.f4!? Qa7 28.f5!? Nxd4 29.Qxd4 Qxd4+ 30.Rxd4
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| How would you assess this rook-and-pawn ending? |
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There are nearly always drawing chances in rook-and-pawn endings, and in this case the position is completely equal, according to the engines.
30...Rc1+ 31.Kh2 gxf5 32.Rxd5 Rc2 33.Rd6
Not the only drawing move.
33...a5 34.Ra6 a4 35.b3 Rxa2 36.bxa4 bxa4
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| Black has won a pawn, but the white king, unlike its back counterpart, can activate |
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37.Kg3 a3 38.Kf4 Rf2+ 39.Kg3 Ra2 40.Kf4 Ra1 41.Kxf5 a2 42.Kg5 Kg7 43.Ra7 Re1 ½–½
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