Spanton (1944) - Oleg Verbytski (2291)
Sicilian Bb5(+)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e5 4.Nc3
More popular are 4.c3, 4.Bxc6 and especially 4.0-0.
4...Bd6!?
This has been played by grandmasters, but the main move in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database is 4...d6.
5.0-0 a6 6.Be2 Nf6 7.d3 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
Black's dark-square bishop looks odd (not that the white king's bishop is particularly active), and there is a hole at d5, albeit covered by the black king's knight. However, Black has a grip on d4, and more space on the queenside. The game is equal, according to Stockfish18 and Dragon1.
8.Bg5
The engines suggest an apparent-novelty in 8.Nh4!?, one point being Black cannot reply 8...Nxe4?? as the dark-square bishop is hanging after 9.Nxe4.
8...Be7 9.Qd2
8...Be7 9.Qd2
The engines prefer 9.a4 or 9.Nd2!?
9...d6 10.h3 Be6 11.a3 h6 12.Bxf6!?
The engines prefer this over the known moves 12.Bh4 and 12.Be3.
12...Bxf6 13.Nd5 Bxd5!?
The engines agree with this decision to give up Black's better bishop.
14.exd5 Ne7 15.c4 Ng6 16.Kh2 b5 17.Rb1 bxc4!?
Another interesting decision, approved by the engines - Black straightens out White's pawn-structure, but frees the e pawn to advance.
18.dxc4
The engines prefer 18.g3!? or 18.Qc2!?, but agree Black has the upper hand.
18...e4 19.Ne1 Be5+ 20.g3 f5 21.f4 exf3 22.Nxf3 f4 23.g4 Nh4
The engines like 23...Bd4!?, one point being 24.Nxd4 cxd4 25.Qxd4?! Qg5 seems very good for Black, thanks to White's weakness on the kingside dark squares, eg 26.Bf3 Rae8 27.Rbe1 Qh4 28.Qg1 Rxe1 29.Rxe1 Ne5 30.Rf1 Nxc4. White should probably prefer 25.Bd3, but 25...Ne5 gives Black the upper hand, according to the engines.
24.b4?!
Probably better is 24.Nxe5 dxe5 25.Bd3, when White is equal (Stockfish18) or has just a slight disadvantage (Dragon1).
24...Nxf3+ 25.Bxf3?!
The engines prefer 25.Rxf3!?
25...Bd4 26.bxc5 Bxc5 27.Rb7?!
Attempting to gain counterplay, but it never appears, so probably better is 27.Be4 or 27.Qd3.
27...Qf6
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| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
28.Re1?
The engines suggest 28.Rb3 or 28.Be4, but agree Black is positionally winning.
28...Qh4 29.Bg2
There is no defence.
29...Qg3+ 30.Kh1 f3 31.Rxg7+!? Kxg7 32.Re7+ Kg8 33.Qc3 0-1
Charlton won the match 5-3.
My Battersea Season 2026-7
DATE......EVENT...........................COL..RATING..OPP'S RATING..SCORE..SEASON PERF
29/9/26 Club Championship W 1953 1411 1 *
1/10/26 Central London League W 1942 2094 = 2094
5/10/26 London League B 1942 2042 = 2068
6/10/26 Club Championship B 1942 1541 1 +
8/10/26 Central London League B 1942 2240 = 2125
20/10/26 Club Championship B 1942 1765 1 2135
21/10/26 London League W 1944 2291 0 2086
*I am ignoring my win against a 1411 as it counts as an 1811 performance, which, unless I have a very bad season, would lower my season's rating performance, despite me winning.
+I am also ignoring my win against a 1541 as it counts as a 1941 performance, which, at least for now, would lower my season's rating performance, despite me winning.
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