Ben Cullen (1942) - Spanton (1921)
Catalan
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Nc3!?
This is third in popularity in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, a long way behind 6.Qc2 and especially 6.Bg2.
6...c6 7.Bg2 dxc4!?
This is marginally the top choice of Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.
8.0-0 0-0
 |
| With both sides castling fairly early, how would you assess the position? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
Black's extra pawn is not irrelevant, in that White will not find it easy to restore the material balance. But White has a 2-1 majority on the two central files, which might help generate an attack. Equal chances, according to the engines.
9.Qc2 Nbd7 10.Rfd1 Qc7!?
This may be a novelty. The engines prefer the known move, 10...b5, and another possible novelty in 10...a5!? After 10...b5 the engines' main line runs 11.a4 b4 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 Bb7, with what they reckon are still equal chances. After 10...a5!? they are less sure how play should go, but one sharp line runs 11.Ne5!? Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nd5 13.Ne4 Qc7 14.Nd6!? b5 15.b3!? Bxd6 16.exd6 Qxd6 17.bxc4 bxc4 18.e4!? Nb4 19.Qxc4, when they agree White has sufficient compensation for a pawn.
 |
| After 10....Qc7!?, how should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
11.e4
The engines like 11.Bf4 Bd6 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.a4, or immediately 11.a4.
11...e5 12.dxe5
The engines suggest 12.h3!?, 12.b3!? or 12.Ne2!?
12...Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Qxe5 14.Ne2!?
This is Stockfish17.1's top choice; Dragon1 marginally prefers 14.h3!? But if 14.Bf4, then 14...Qh5 seems a good reply.
This is Stockfish17.1's top choice; Dragon1 marginally prefers 14.h3!? But if 14.Bf4, then 14...Qh5 seems a good reply.
14...Be6 15.Bc3 Qc7 16.Nd4 Bg4!? 17.f3 Bd7 18.Qe2
The engines prefer 18.f4.
18...b5 19.e5 Nd5
 |
| What should White play? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
20.Nxb5!?
The engines prefer 20.Kh1, 20.f4 or 20.e6. The text restores material equality, but after ...
20...cxb5 21.Rxd5 b4 22.Be1 Be6 23.Rdd1 Rfd8
... Black's queenside pawn-majority is mobile and advanced.
24.f4 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Rd8 26.Be4 g6 27.Kg2 h5 28.Qc2 Rxd1 29.Qxd1 Qc8!? 30.Bf2 Bc5
The engines give 30...Bh3+ 31.Kh1 c3 with a won game.
31.Bxc5 Qxc5
 |
| How should White continue? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
32.Qd8+
The engines reckon 32.Qd6! leaves White only slightly worse.
32...Kh7 33.Qd1
If 33.Qf6, then 33...Qc8! gives Black a positionally won game, according to the engines.
33...a5?
Missing a simple tactic.
34.Qxh5+! Kg7 35.Qg5 Qe3 36.Qf6+ Kg8 37.Qd8+ Kg7 38.Qf6+ Kg7 ½–½
Hackney won the match 3.5-1.5.
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
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
26/3/26 CLL B 1921 1942 = 2045
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
No comments:
Post a Comment