William Watson (239 BCF) - Spanton (147 BCF)
Highbury (London) Rapid 1991
Spanish Berlin
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Be7!?
This has been largely superseded by 5...Nd6, heading for a Berlin Wall.
6.dxe5
Most popular is 6.Qe2.
6...0-0 7.Qe2 d5 8.Rd1 Re8?
Probably a novelty, and not in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database. Known moves are 8...a6 and 8...Bg4.
 |
| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
9.c4
The logical follow-up to 8.Rd1.
9...Be6 10.cxd5
Even stronger. according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1, is 10.Be3.
10...Bxd5 11.Bd3?!
This seems to throw away White's advantage, whereas 11.Bf4 gives the upper hand, according to the engines.
 |
| What should Black play? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
11...Nc5!
11...Nc5!
An only-move (11...f5? 12.Bc4), but it gives complete equality, according to the engines.
 |
| How should White continue? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
12.Bc2??
Even grandmasters can blunder (Watson was awarded the title in 1990). The bishop could have been safely preserved by 12.Bb5 or 12.Bf5, but not the text.
12...Bxf3! 13.Qxf3 Nxe5??
Turning a win into a loss, whereas 13...Nd4 (13...Qc8!? is good enough for equality, according to the engines) leaves White without a good answer, eg 14.Qg4 Nxc2! 15.Rxd8 Raxd8, when Black gets more than enough for a queen. Another line given by the engines runs 14.Bxh7+!? Kxh7 15.Qh3+ Kg8 16.Nc3 Nce6, when White has nowhere near enough for a knight.
14.Qh3 Bd6?!
Other moves are a little better, but still losing.
15.Qxh7+ Kf8 16.Qh8+ Ke7 17.Qxg7 Kd7 18.Bg5 Qc8 19.Bf5+ Ne6 20.Qxe5 1-0
LESSON: a GM rarely gives a club player the chance to claim his scalp, but if the chance is not immediately taken, it is unlikely to be repeated.
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