Spanton (1921) - Ibrahim Abouchakra (1780)
Sicilian Accelerated Dragon
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nxc6!?
This is fourth in popularity in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database behind 6.Nde2, 6.Nb3 and especially 6.Be3.
6...bxc6 7.Bc4 d6 8.0-0 Nf6 9.e5!?
A pawn sacrifice that divides the engines. Dragon1 reckons it gives White the upper hand; Stockfish17.1 claims it is only enough for equality.
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| How should Black respond? |
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9...Ng4
IA said afterwards he rejected 9...dxe5 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8, which is the main line, because White can capture on f7, but he missed that after 11.Bxf7?? e6 the bishop is trapped.
10.e6?!
Almost certainly better is 10.exd6.
10...Ne5?
Black should play 10...f5.
11.exf7+ Nxf7 12.Bxf7+ Kxf7 13.Qf3+ Kg8?
Apparently a novelty. After 13...Bf6 14.Qxc6 Rb8 White is a pawn up and has the safer king, but Black has the bishop-pair and has the only pawns on the two central files, meaning White is only slightly better (Stockfish17.1) or at best has the upper hand (Dragon1). Indeed the engines reckon White should prefer 14.Ne4!? d5 15.Nxf6 exf6 16.Qc3.
14.Qxc6 Bf5 15.Nd5!?
The engines prefer 15.Re1.
15...Rc8 16.Qb7 Kf7 17.Bg5?!
The engines suggest 17.Qb3!?, 17.Re1 or 17.Qxa7.
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| How can Black cut White's advantage to a minimum? |
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17...Re8?
Better than the text is 17...Rb8, but best is the engines' 17...Qd7!, the point being that, after 18.Qxd7 Bxd7, the capture 19.Bxe7?? loses to 19...Bc6, while 19.Nxe7?! Rc5 20.h4 Bxb2 also favours Black.
18.Rfe1
The engines prefer 18.Qb3.
18...Bf8
Again 18...Qd7! works.
19.Qb3
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| Can you find a good reply for Black? |
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No ... or, to be on the safe side, if you have found a good reply, you have done better than the engines.
19...Bxc2?!
The engines' best is 19...Kg7, but 20.Qe3 leaves White well on top, eg 20...Kf7!? 21.Qf3 Kg8 22.c4!? h6 23.Bf6!? Qd7 24.Bxe7!? (Stockfish17.1), or 20...Qa5!? 21.Nxe7 Bxe7 22.Bxe7 Qb6 23.Qf4 Qxb2 24.Bxd6 (Dragon1).
20.Qf3+
Probably even stronger is 20.Qh3.
20...Kg7
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| How should White proceed? |
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21.Bxe7! Bxe7 22.Rxe7+ Rxe7 23.Qf6+ Kh6 24.Nxe7 Rb8
This, for a short time, is Stockfish17.1's top choice, but objectively best, or, rather, least worst, is probably 24...Ra8.
25.Qf4+ Kg7 26.Nc6 Qb6 27.Nxb8 Qxb8 28.Qd4+ 1-0
The bishop is also dropping.
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
12/2/26 CDL B 1928 1890 1 2057
25/2/26 LL B 1928 1863 = 2047
26/2/26 CLL B 1928 2015 0 2025
3/3/26 CDL B 1914 1976 1 2043
24/3/26 BCC W 1921 1780 1 2049
CLL: Central London League
LL: London League
BCC: Battersea club championship
CDL: Croydon & District League
I also have a win-by-default in the Central London League
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