David Spearman (2066) - Spanton (1904)
Queen's Pawn Game
1.d4 d5 2.c3!?
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| There are 3,588 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database |
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2...e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.Bg5!?
The main move is 4.Bf4, transposing into a London System, but the text is also popular.
4...Be7 5.Bxe7 Qxe7 6.e3
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| White is left with the better bishop, but the exchanging manoeuvre has cost time |
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6...Nf6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.Ne5!? Nc6 9.f4 Ne4 10.Bxe4!? dxe4 11.0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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Black's bishop is bad, but the pawn-structure is not fixed, so that could change. The e4 pawn is doubled and potentially weak, but gives Black space. Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 reckon the game is completely equal.
11...f6!?
The engines do not like this, preferring either 11...cxd4 12.cxd4 Nb4, intending ...Nd5, or 11...Na5!?, intending ...b6.
12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Qa4 Rb8!? 14.b3
On 14.Qa3 the engines suggest 14...Kf7!?, and if 15.dxc5, then 15...Rd8, with decent compensation for a pawn.
14...cxd4
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| How should White recapture? |
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15.cxd4
This is the engines' top choice, but they are also happy with 15.Qxd4. However, after 15.exd4!? they reckon 15...c5!? gives Black a good game, eg 16.Qa3 Qd7!? 17.Qxc5 Ba6 18.Re1 Bd3.
15...c5!? 16.dxc5!?
If 16.Qa3, then 16...Rb4, but the engines prefer that over the text.
16...Qxc5 17.Qxe4?!
Probably too greedy. However, the engines' 17.Re1!? does not inspire.
17...Rb4?!
The engines reckon Black is positionally winning after 17...Rd8, their main line running 18.Kh1!? Rb4 19.Qf3 Rb6!? 20.Re1 (20.Qe4? Bb7) Rbd6 with an initiative.
18.Qd3 Bb7
The engines suggest 18...Qb6!?, the idea being to follow with ...Rd8.
19.Nd2 Qc6 20.Rf2 Ba6 21.Qb1!?
The engines prefer this over giving back the pawn immediately with 21.Nc4 Bxc4 etc.
21...Qc3!? 22.Qe1 Rc8 23.a3 Rbb8 24.b4 Qd3!? 25.Nf3 Rc3 26.Rd2 Qxe3+ 27.Qxe3 Rxe3
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| Now Black has won back the pawn, how would you assess the position? |
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White has a farside pawn-majority, but Black has what is usually the better minor piece for cooperating with rooks, especially when there are rival pawn-majorities. The engines reckon the game is equal.
28.Rd7 Rb7
This is probably better than 28...Bb7?! 29.Nd4.
29.Rd8+ Kf7 30.Rd4
The engines prefer putting the knight on d4.
30...Rc7 31.a4?!
Advancing the queenside majority may look natural, but the white pawns are a long way from queening. The engines prefer moving the king's knight again, to d1, d2 or even back to d8.
31...Bb7 32.Kf2 Rb3 33.Nd2?!
This allows a dangerous pin, but after, say 33.Re1 Bxf3 34.gxf3 Rc2+. Black is on top. Perhaps best is 33.b5!?, but after 33...Rc2+ Black is again doing well.
33...Rb2 34.g3?
The engines' main line runs 34.Re1 Ke7 35.b5 Rcc2 36.Re2 h6, when they reckon Black is winning, but clearly the game is far from over.
34...e5 35.fxe5 fxe5 36.Rd3 Be4!
This is even stronger than 36...Rxb4.
37.Raa3
Both 37.Rd6 and 37.Rd8 are met by 37...Ke7.
37...Bxd3 38.Rxd3 Rxb4 39.Rd5 Ke6 40.Ra5 Rb2 0-1
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
25/11/25 BCC B 1891 1817 1 1955
9/12/25 LL W 1904 1982 1 2008
16/12/25 LL B 1904 2046 0 1968
18/12/25 CLL B 1904 2066 1 2018
CLL: Central London League
LL: London League
BCC: Battersea club championship
I also have a win-by-default in the Central London League
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