Spanton (1928) - Alan Palmer (1836)
Maróczy Bind
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bc5!?
This is third in popularity in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, behind 5...a6 and especially 5...Nf6, but it is the top choice of Stockfish17.1, and has been played by Fabiano Caruana. Dragon1 likes the even rarer 5...Qb6!?
 |
| How should White respond? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
6.Nb3
This sidelines the knight, but at least does not lose a tempo as Black's dark-square bishop is more-or-less obliged to move again. Magnus Carlsen has played 6.Nc2!?, but 6.Be3?!, which trails only the text in popularity, is probably a mistake, best exploited by 6...Qb6.
6...Bb4+ 7.Bd2 a5!?
The engines prefer this over the commoner 7...Bxd2+.
8.a3 Bxd2+!?
This seems to be new. Vladimir Epishin (2657) played 8...Be7 in a 1999 game, but could only draw against a 2227 (and was worse when the draw was agreed). The engines prefer the text.
9.Qxd2 Nge7
The engines suggest 9...Qb6!?, justifying it, after 10.Qg5, with a rook sacrifice: 10...Nf6!? 11.Qxg7 Ke7!? 12.Qxh8 Qxb3 13.Nd2 Qxb2 14.Rb1 Qxa3, claiming complete equality.
10.Nc3 0-0
Again the engines like ...Qb6.
11.Be2
White has the upper hand after 11.0-0-0!?, according to the engines.
11...b6
This looks a natural way to prepare the development of Black's light-square bishop, but again the engines prefer ...Qb6.
12.0-0
Castling long is the engines' choice.
 |
| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
White has more space in the centre, and Black may have problems down the d file, both with the d pawn and the d6 square. The engines give White a slight edge.
12...Ng6
The engines like 12...f5, 12...a4 or 12...Ba6.
13.Rad1 Qe7 14.Qe3 Rb8?!
The engines do not like this, suggesting 14...a4 or 14...Rd8. Actually, even if it were White to move after 14.Qe3, White could not capture the b6 pawn as 15.Qxb6?? would lose to 15...Rb8 and 16...Rxb3.
15.Na4 d5?
This loses a centre pawn. It is better to give up the b pawn,, according to the engines, playing something like 15...Ba6!? 16.Nxb6 d6, claiming White is only slightly better. I expected 15...Qd8. but the engines do not like the move, and after it Black's position does look rather passive.
16.exd5 exd5 17.Qxe7
16.exd5 exd5 17.Qxe7
Even stronger, according to the engines, is 17.cxd5 Qxe3 18.fxe3, when White's passer is not isolated.
17...Ncxe7 18.cxd5 Rd8 19.Nc3 Bb7 20.Bf3?!
Almost certainly better is 20.Rd2, with Rfd1 to come.
 |
| How should Black proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
20...Rd7?
Too slow, but also bad is 20...Nf4?, when White has time for 21.Rd2 (preparing Rfd1) as 21...Nfxd5?? loses to 22.Rfd1, when Black cannot successfully get out of the pin.
Correct is 20...Ne5 21.Be4 f5, eg 22.f4 fxe4 23.fxe5 Nxd5. A probable improvement for White is probably 22.Bc2, but 22...Nxd5 23.Bxf5 Nf4!? 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Re1 Nc4 leaves Black with full (Stockfish17.1) or nearly full (Dragon1) compensation for a pawn.
 |
| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
21.Rfe1!
The plausible 21.Rd2 allows Black counterplay with 21...Ne5 22.Be4 f5 23.Bb1 Nc4.
21...Rbd8 22.d6 Nc8
The engines prefer 22...Nc6, but they reckon 23.Na4!? Rxd6 24.Rxd6 Rxd6 25.Re8+ Nf8 26.g3 is nevertheless winning for White.
23.Bxb7 Rxb7 24.Nb5 Rbd7
The engines give 24...Na7!?, but agree 25.N3d4 Nxb5 26.Nxb5 maintains White's winning advantage.
25.Re4
This is Stockfish17.1's second choice, but 25.N3d4! is much stronger, eg 25...Nxd6 26.Nc6 Rc8 27.Ne5 Nxe5 28.Nxd6 Rc5 29.b4.
25...Nf8 26.Red4 Ne6 27.R4d2 g6 28.N3d4 Nc5?
Black had to play 28...Nxd4, but after 29.Rxd4 White's extra pawn is a permanent asset, and should decide matters.
29.Nc6 Re8 20.Nb8!? 1-0
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
6/1/26 CLL W 1929 2150 = 2066
7/1/26 LL W 1929 1971 = 2058
8/1/26 CLL B 1929 1800? = 2038
13/1/26 LL B 1929 2035 1 2067
27/1/26 LL B 1929 2089 0 2041
29/1/26 CLL B 1929 1882 = 2031
3/2/26 BCC W 1928 1836 1 2043
CLL: Central London League
LL: London League
BCC: Battersea club championship
I also have a win-by-default in the Central London League
No comments:
Post a Comment