| Bo. | 46 | England - 5 | Rtg | - | 15 | Sweden - 1 | Rtg | 0 : 0 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.1 |
| 1897 | - | GM |
| 2316 | ||||||
| 11.2 | CM |
| 1861 | - | CM |
| 2165 | |||||
| 11.3 |
| 1908 | - | FM |
| 2099 | ||||||
| 11.4 |
| 1859 | - | CM |
| 2050 |
Spanton (1908) - Bengt Hammar (2099)
Sicilian Bb5(+)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7
This is second in popularity to 3...Bd7, but scores six percentage points more in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.
4.c3
White obviously has a wide choice after 3...Nd7, but I was surprised to find 22 different continuations in Mega26, although admittedly they include 4.Nd4?? in a rapid game.
4...Nf6 5.Qe2 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 Bb7 8.0-0 e5
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| This position, which is somewhat reminiscent of a Spanish, occurs 142 times in Mega26 |
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9.d4 Be7
This is the commonest continuation, but Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer capturing twice on d4.
10.d5!?
A very committal move, but it is the engines' top choice. More popular in Mega26 are 10.a4 and especially 10.Rd1.
10...c4!? 11.b3 cxb3 12.axb3 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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The engines award White the upper hand, presumably largely because of White's extra space in the centre, and, perhaps, the fact of having all pawns connected, whereas Black's are split into two islands.
13.Nbd2 Rc8 14.Bb2 Nb6 15.Rfc1 Nh5 16.g3 g6
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| How should White proceed? |
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17.c4!?
An important move as White's centre is about to come under pressure.
17...b4!?
The engines fluctuate between the text, 17...f5 and 17...Qd7.
18.Nf1
A typical Spanish move, but the engines prefer going after Black's queenside with 18.Ra2, or 18.Ne1!?, intending 19.Nd3.
18...Nd7 19.Ne3
The engines still like Ne1 and Ra2, but reckon 19.Ra4 allows immediate equality with 19...a5.
19...Nc5 20.Rf1 Rc7?!
Black is also equal after ...a5 here, according to the engines.
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| How can White exploit Black's last move? |
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21.Qd2
The b4 pawn cannot be successfully defended, although Black gets time to play on the kingside.
21...a5?!
This distracts a white rook from the back rank, but is probably not best. Black can keep material equality with 21...Nf6!? 22.Qxb4 N(either)xe4, but the engines reckon 23.Qe1!? gives White at least the upper hand. They recommend 21...Bc8 22.Qxb4 Bh3 23.Ng2 Qc8, but agree White has the upper hand after 24.Qe1!? or 24.Qc3.
22.Rxc5 Bc8 23.Kg2
The engines reckon 23.Qxb4!? is good, but then they would, wouldn't they?
23...f5 24.exf5 gxf5 25.h3?
Giving the white queen's knight a protected square (g4) in the event of ...f4, but the engines much prefer 25.Kh1!? or 25.Ra8.
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| How should Black proceed? |
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25...Rb7?
Protecting b4 and hitting a5, but White has a strong reply. The engines reckon Black equalises with both 25...e4!? 26.Nd4 f4, and the sharp 25...Bg5 26.Qe2 Bxe3 27.Nxe5! (27.fxe3? Rg7), when 27...dxe5 28.Qxe3 Ne4!? 29.Bxe4 Fxe4 30.Bxe5 Rcf7 leaves Black with a knight for three pawns in a position the engines evaluate as completely equal.
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| White to play and gain a winning advantage |
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26.Rxc5!
One of the easier exchange sacrifices to play. Also strong is 26.Ra8.
26...dxc5 27.Nxe5 f4?
The engines suggest 27...Bd6 or 27...Qd6, but agree White is winning.
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| White's winning combination is not hard to find |
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28.Bxh7+! Kxh7
Moving the king to a dark square loses at least the queen to 29.Nc6+.
29.Qd3+ Kg8 30.Qg6+ Ng7 31.Nc6
Hitting the queen anyway.
31...Rf7
31...Bxh3+ can be simply met by 32.Kh2, and the engines show 32.Kxh3!? also wins.
32.Nxd8 Bxd8 33.Bxg7 1-0
After 33...Rxg7 34.Qe8+ Kh7 35.Qxd8 Bxh3+ 36.Kxh3 fxe3 37.fxe3 White has queen and three pawns for rook.
Team Result
Freeman 0-1 Akesson
Stokes 0-1 Wengholm
Spanton 1-0 Hammar
Marshall 0-1 Soderberg
England 5 1-3 Sweden
Very good game! nice to watch
ReplyDeleteThanks v much. It was nice to play!
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