Spanton (1954) - Andrew Gilfillan (2080)
Sicilian Bb5(+)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Qe2!?
The commonest moves in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database are 4.e5, 4.Bxc6 and especially 4.Nc3.
4...g6 5.c3 Bg7 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 0-0 8.Nc3 d6 9.0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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White has more space in the centre, and that is enough for a slight edge, according to Dragon1, although Stockfish18 is less sure.
9...Bg4 10.Be3 Nd7!?
The engines like this.
11.Rfd1
11.Rad1!? is marginally preferred by the engines.
11...e5!?
Grandmasters have played 11...a6 or 11...Rc8, but the text is the engines' choice.
12.Bxc6!? bxc6 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 f5!
This looks bad at first glance, but after ...
15.exf5
... Black has a zwischenzug that grabs space in the centre.
15...d5 16.dxe5 Rxf5 17.Qe2 Nxe5
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| How should White proceed? |
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18.f4?
The position is equal after 18.Qa6!? or 18.Rac1, according to the engines.
18...Nc4 19.Bd4
Perhaps the engines' 19.Bc5!? is best, but 19...Qe8!? seems a strong reply, eg 20.Qf2 can be met by 20...g5 or 20...Qb8.
19...Bxd4+ 20.Rxd4 Qb6 21.Qf2 Qxb2 22.Qxb2 Nxb2
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| How would you assess this queenless late-middlegame? |
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Black has more pawn islands, but Black's extra pawn and connected passers add up to a winning advantage, according to the engines.
23.Re1 Nc4 24.Re6 Rc8 25.g4!? Rf7
The engines reckon 25...Rff8 is better.
26.Kg2 Rb7?!
The engines like 26...Kf8, intending ...Re7.
27.f5 Rb2+ 28.Kg3 Rc2 29.Ne2!?
Perhaps 29.Rd3 is better.
29...Kf7?!
The engines reckon Black has at least a slight edge after 29...Nd2!?
30.Rf4?
30.Rd3!? equalises, according to the engines, eg 30...Rxa2 31.Nd4 gxf5 32.gxf5 Re8!? 39.Rxe8 Kxe8 40.Nxc6 Ra6 41.Nb4 Ra3 42.Rxa3 Nxa3 43.Nxd5.
30...g5!? 31.Rf3 Nd2
Even stronger may be 31...c5!?
32.Ra3 Ne4+ 33.Kf3 Rc7 34.Ra6??
Black is only slightly better after 34.Nd4 or 34.Ke3, according to the engines.
34...Nc5
White is lost. The game finished:
35.Raxc6 Nxe6 36.fxe6+ Ke7 0-1
Kings Head won the match 6.5-1.5.
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
31/3/26 CDL B 1921 2091 0 2030
7/4/26 BCC B 1938 1505* 1 2030
9/4/26 CLL W 1938 2012 = 2029
30/4/26 CLL W 1938 2285 0 2023
7/5/26 CLL W 1939 2007 1 2037
9/6/26 LL B 1954 2059 0 2024
23/6/26 LL W 1954 2080 0 2012
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
*A win against a 1505 counts as a 1905 performance, so I have excluded this game from calculating my season's performance as it would lower my average despite me winning.
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