Spanton (1951) - Stef van Kesteren (1861)
Philidor
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be6 6.Be2 0-0 7.Be3 Nc6
Stockfish18 and Dragon1 suggest 7...Re8 or 7...c5!?
8.0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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White's space advantage gives a slight edge, according to the engines.
8...Bd7 9.f4 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Bc6 11.Bf3 a6 12.Qd2 Nd7!? 13.Rae1 Bf6 14.e5?
Dropping a pawn. White has a slight edge after any reasonable move, according to the engines.
14...dxe5 15.fxe5?!
The engines reckon this makes matters worse.
15...Nxe5 16.Bxc6
Not 16.Bxe5?? Qxd2.
16...Nxc6 17.Be3 Qxd2 18.Bxd2
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| Black is 'only' a pawn up, but Black's advantage is worth nearer a minor piece, according to the engines |
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18...Nb4?!
But this throws away much of the advantage. Instead, the black rooks should be brought into play, starting with 18...Rad8 or 18...Rfd8.
19.Ne4
Best seems to be the engines' 19.Re4!?, one point being 19...Nxc2 can be met by 20.Rxf6! gxf6 21.Nd5, when the engines reckon Black no longer has an advantage. However, calmer moves, such as 19...c5, 19...Nc6 and 19...Bxc3, give Black the upper hand, according to the engines.
19...Bd4+ 20.Kh1 Nxc2 21.Rc1 Ne3
The engines suggest 21...f5 or 21...Rae8.
22.Bxe3 Bxe3 23.Rxc7
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| White's pieces are more active, but Black remains a pawn up, and has the generally-better minor piece for working with rooks |
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Black is winning, according to the engines.
23...b5 24.Nd6 Bd4!?
The engines agree this is best.
25.b3 Be5 26.Rc6 Bxd6?
This greatly reduces Black's winning chances, which would remain after, for example, 26...f6.
27.Rxd6 Rfd8 28.Rfd1 Rxd6 29.Rxd6
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| Dragon1 gives Black a slight edge, but Stockfish18's verdict of equal is probably nearer the mark |
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29...Kf8 30.Kg1 Ke7 31.Rb6 Ra7 32.a4 bxa4 33.bxa4 a5 34.Kf2 Rc7 35.Rb5 Rc2+ 36.Kf3 Rc3+ 37.Kf2 Rc2+ ½–½
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