Magdeburg Round Four

Spanton (2039) - Hartmut Krien (1900)

Alekhine

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3

Wimping out? It's hard to argue with that, but my record with the text is better than with 2.e5.

2...d5 3.e5 Ne4!?

Magnus Carlsen has tried this, but he has also played the mainline 3...Nfd7.

How should White respond?

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4.Qe2!?

A rare continuation. The main line in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database runs 4.Nce2!? d4!? 5.c3!? Nc6 6.cxd4 Ng5!? (6...Nxd4?? loses to 7.Qa4+), with White enjoying at least a slight edge, according to Stockfish18 and Dragon1.

4...Nxc3 5.dxc3 c6

The engines fluctuate between several moves, including 5...a6!?, 5...c5, 5...e6 and 5...Nc6.

6.Be3 Bf5 7.Nf3

The engines like 7.g4!?, eg 7...Bg6 8.h4 h5 9.e6!? fxe6, and either 10.0-0-0 or 10.Bh3.

7...e6 8.g3

The engines prefer 8.0-0-0 or 8.c4.

8...Nd7

HK offered a draw.

9.Bg2 Bg4!

The vulnerability of e5 justifies this second move with the light-square bishop.

10.Bf4 g5!? 11.Bd2 Bg7

HK offered a draw in my time.

Objectively, should White take the draw?

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Yes! White is not getting enough for a pawn.

12.Qe3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nxe5 14.Bh5

How should Black proceed?

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14...Nc4?

This turns the upper hand for Black into a winning advantage for White. The engines reckon both 14...h6 and 14...g4 are strong.

15.Qf3?

Not 15.Qxg5? Qxg5 16.Bxg5 Nxb2, but winning is 15.Qxe6+! Qe7 16.Qxe7+ Kxe7 17.Bxg5+, when White emerges a pawn up and with the bishop-pair.

15...0-0 16.h4!?

Stockfish18, but not Dragon1, prefers 16.Bc1!?

16...Nxd2

That's the bishop-pair gone, but opposite-coloured bishops let White hope.

17.Kxd2 Qf6?!

The engines give 17...g4!? 18.Bxg4 f5 19.Bh3, reckoning Black has a winning advantage. Also probably better than the text is 17...d4.

18.Qxf6 Bxf6 19.hxg5 Bxg5+ 20.f4 Be7

Black still has at least a slight edge, according to the engines, but White's pressure down the h file, combined with opposite-colour bishops, gives counterplay

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21.Be2 Kg7 22.Rh5 h6 23.Rah1 Rh8 24.Bd3

Much better, according to the engines, is 24.c4 or 24.a4.

24....Rae8

The engines like 24...b5!?

25.Re1

Pushing either the c pawn or the a pawn two squares was apparently still the way to go.

25...Bd6 26.c4 f6 27.cxd5 exd5 28.Rhh1 Bb4+!?

This is Stockfish18's top choice, the idea being to meet ...

29.c3

... with:

29...Bc5

However, it is far from clear what Black has gained.

30.Rxe8 Rxe8 31.Re1 Rxe1

Avoiding exchanging off rooks with, say, 31...Rf8 is possible, but it is hard to see how Black can make progress with White having the open file.

32.Kxe1

How would you assess this ending?

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It is drawn, but, as always, at least a modicum of care is required.

32...Kf7 33.Bf5 Ke7 34.Ke2

There is nothing in 34.Bc8, as, after 34...b5 35.Bb7, Black has 35...Kd6.

34...b5 35.Bd3 a5 36.b3 Kd6 37.g4 Bg1 38.Kf3 Bc5

Worth a try is 38...Kc5, when 39.Kg2? loses to 39...Be3 40.Kf3 Bd2, but White seems fine after 39.Bf5 or 39.Bg6, eg 39.Bf5 b4 40.cxb4+ Kxb4 41.Bd7 c5 42.Bc6 d4 43.Ke4, and, if 43...Ka3, then 44.Bd5, when 44...Kxa2 can be met by 45.b4+, drawing.

39.Ke2 ½–½

Miniatures 22

IN this occasional series I am going through my decisive games of 20 moves or fewer.

Spanton (151 BCF) - Dan Mayers (178 BCF)

Barbican (London) Rapid 1990

Alekhine Defence

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3!?

International master John Cox stated in Starting Out: Alekhine's Defence that in his experience with the opening he faced 2.Nc3!? more than half of the time.

2...d5 3.exd5 Nxd5 4.Bc4!? Nxc3!?

More popular are 4...e6, 4...c6 and especially 4...Nb6, all of which score slightly better than the text in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.

5.Qf3!? e6 6.dxc3!?

Slightly more common is 6.Qxc3, with pressure against g7, but Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer text.

6...Nc6

How should White proceed?

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7.Ne2?!

Probably better is 7.Qe2, clearing the f3 square for the white king's knight, and preventing 7...Ne5.

7...Ne5 8.Bb5+!? c6 9.Qe4 Qd5 10.Qxd5 exd5 11.Bd3 Bd6 12.Be3 0-0 13.Kd2?! Ng4!? 14.f3 Nxe3 15.Kxe3 c5!? 16.Rae1??

Completely missing one of the points - arguably the only point - of Black's last move. Necessary is 16.b3, albeit Black is better.

16...c4 0-1

LESSON: when the opponent makes a move that does not seem at first glance to have much going for it, there are two possibilities - either the move really does not have much going for it, or you have missed the idea entirely.

Bischofsgrün Round Three

FACED a Fide Master.

Spanton (1954) - Dieter Seyb (2137)

Nimzowitsch Defence/Alekhine Defence

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 Nf6!?

There are 1,463 examples of this move in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.

3.e5 Nd5 4.d4

The game began as a Nimzowitsch Defence, but has transposed to a sideline of Alekhine's Defence (333 games reach this position in Mega25), although it is not, as ChessBase calls it, a Four Pawns Attack.

4...d6

Now we have reached a popular main line of the Alekhine, with 1,980 examples in Mega25

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5.c4 Nb6 6.exd6 exd6 7.Nc3 Be7 8.Be3 Bg4

This is the commonest continuation in Mega25, but Stockfish17 and Dragon1 are not keen, preferring 8...0-0 or 8...Bf6!?

9.h3 Bh5 10. b3 Bf6!?

The engines strongly dislike this, preferring 10...0-0 or 10...a5.

How should White try to take advantage of Black's last move?

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11.Be2

The engines give 11.g4!? Bg6 12.g5!? Be7 13.h4, claiming White has at least the upper hand (Dragon1)  or a positionally won game (Stockfish17).

11...d5?!

Trying to grab a fair share of the centre, but the result is Black is left on the back foot.

12.c5 Nc8

Not 12...Nd7? 13.Nxd5.

13.0-0 0-0

Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position?

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White has a lead in development and more space on the queenside, giving White the upper hand, according to the engines.

14.Rc1 h6 15.Re1 N8e7 16.g4!? Bg6 17.h4!?

How should Black respond to the threat to trap the f6 bishop?

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17...Qd7!?

The engines reckon this is much better than 17...Nc8 18.g5 Be7 19.Bf4!?, when they give White a winning advantage.

18.g5 Qg4+ 19.Kh2 Bf5?

A better way to give up a piece, according to the engines, is 19...hxg5 20.hxg5 Qh5+ 21.Kg2 Qg4+ 22.Kh1 Qh3+ 23.Nh2 Bxd4, although they agree White is well on top.

20.gxf6 Qh3+ 21.Kg1 gxf6 22.Nh2

Best, according to the engines, is 22.Bf4 or 22.Bf1, but not 22.Bxh6? Kh8 23.Bxf8? (better is 23.Bf1 Rg8+ 24.Bg5, albeit Black has at least an edge after 24...Qg4+ 25.Bg2 fxg5) Rxf8, when Black has a winning attack.

22...Kh7 23.Kh1 Rg8 24.Bf3

This seems better than 24.Rg1 Rxg1+ 25.Qxg1 Rg8.

24...Qxh4

Now that Black has a second pawn for his missing dark-square bishop, how would you assess the position?

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The position remains sharp, and the white king is somewhat less safe than its black counterpart, but White is winning, according to the engines.

25.Qd2

The engines also like 25.Nxd5!?, continuing 25...Nxd5 26.Bxd5 Rad8 27.Bxc6!? bxc6 28.f3!?, but it looks very risky.

25...Nb4 26.Rg1 Ng6!?

The engines do not like this.

27.Bg4 Bxg4 28.Rxg4 Qh5 29.Rcg1 Qf5 30.R1g3!?

This is Stockfish17's second choice, behind 30.Ne2. Dragon1 also likes 30.Ne2, and 30.Bxh6!?

30...h5 31.Rh3 Rge8 32.Rgg3 h4 33.Rf3 Qe6 34.a3 Nc6 35.Qd3 Kg7 36.Qf5 Nce7 37.Qxe6!? fxe6

Black's pawn-formation has been improved, but with queens off the board there is less likelihood of a fatal accident in the vicinity of the white king (or the black king for that matter)

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38.Ng4 Nf5? 39.Ne2?

Missing the simple win of a pawn by 39.Nxd5.

39...b6 40.b4

The engines suggest keeping lines closed with 40.c6!?, and if 40...Nge7, then 41.Nf4 Kf7 (41...Nxc6 42.Nxe6+!) 42.Nh5.

40...bxc5 41.bxc5

Here they prefer 41.dxc5!?

41...Rab8 42.Nf4 Nxf4 43.Rxf4?!

Probably better is 43.Bxf4!?, and if 43...Nxd4?!, then 44.Bh6+ and 45.Rxf6(+).

43...Kg6 44.Bd2 Rb1+ 45.Kg2 Rd1 46.Bc3 Kg5

What should White play?

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47.Rhf3?

The engines give 47.Rxf5+!? exf5 (47...Kxf5?? 48.Ne3+ and 49.Nxd1) 48.Ne3 Rd3 49.Nxd5 Rxh3 50.Kxh3, when they reckon White's bishop and knight are worth much more than Black's rook and (doubled) pawn. Also better than the text is 47.Ne3 Kxf4 (47...Rd3?? 48.Rg4+ Kh5 49.Nxf5 Kxg4 50.Nh6+ and 51.Rxd3) 48.Nxd1.

47...h3+! 48.Kh2

Forced, as 48.Kxh3?? loses to 48...Rh8+ 49.Kg2 Nh4+ etc.

48...Nh4 49.Nxf6 Nxf3+ 50.Rxf3

How should Black proceed?

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50...Re7?

Even worse is 50...Rf8?? 51.Nh7+, but the engines give 50...Rb8, claiming complete equality.

How should White proceed?

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51.Ng8

Best according to the engines, is 51.Ba5!? (they also like 51.c6!?), the idea being 51...Rf7, which they reckon is Black's best reply, can be met by 52.Ne4+!, and if 51...Rxd4, then 52.Bc3! followed by 54.Nxd5!

51...Rh7

Black loses the rook after 51...Rg7?? 52.Rg3+.

52.Rg3+

Possibly better is the engines' 52.Nf6! Rf7 53.Ne4+! Kg6 54.Nd2.

52...Kf5 53.Rf3+ Kg6 54.Rf6+??

Better is 54.c6, intending Bb4 to rescue the knight (Black cannot attack the knight with 54...Kg7?? as it simply escapes with 55.Nf6 or 55.Ne7.

54...Kg7 55.Rxe6 Kxg8

White has no compensation for the exchange, and in an ending with lots of open lines for the rooks, and weak pawns for the rooks to target

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56.Rg6+ Kf7 57.Rg4 Rd3 58.Rg3?!

Hastening the finish.

58...Rxg3 59.fxg3 Kg6 60.Bd2 Kf5 61.Bf4 c6 62.a4 Kg4 63.a5 a6 64.Bd6 Rb7 0-1

This ended my seven-game unbeaten streak.

Kraków Seniors Round Four

Spanton (1743) - Marek Michalik (1623)

Alekhine

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 exd6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Be3 Bf6 9.Nge2

It might seem we have come a long way from the opening, but there are 322 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database

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9...Bg4 10.f3!?

Alexander Alekhine played 10.a3?! in a 1932 simul. After 10...Nxd4 11.f3 Nxe2 12.Qxe2 Be6 Black was clearly better, the game being drawn in 41 moves.

10...Bh5 11.0-0 Bg6!?

This is the commonest move in Mega24.

12.Re1 Qd7!?

Probably a novelty.

It seems risky leaving the black king uncastled for so long, but is there a refutation?

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Apparently not. The game continued:

13.Ne4 Be7 14.Qd2 d5!?

This more-or-less equalises, if followed up correctly.

How should White proceed?

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15.Nc5?!

Probably better is 15.cxd5, when Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 give 15...Nb4!?, one line running 16.d6!? Nxd3 17.Qxd3 cxd6!?, after which the engines marginally prefer White.

15...Bxc5 16.dxc5 dxc4??

This loses a piece, albeit for two pawns. Better are 16....Bxd3 17.cxb6 dxc4, with approximate equality, and 16...Nxc4 17.Bxc4 dxc4 18.Qxd7+ Kxd7 19.Rad1+ Kc8, after which the engines reckon Black may have an edge, but the position looks much easier for White to play.

17.Bxg6 hxg6

There is nothing better.

18.cxb6 axb6 19.Qxd7+ Kxd7 20.Nc3 Ra5!? 21.Rad1+ Kc8 22.Rd5 Nb4 23.Rxa5 bxa5

Black's queenside pawn-structure has been straightened out, to an extent, but from White's viewpoint fewer pieces make an accident less likely 

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24.Rd1 c6 25.a3 Nd3 26.b3 Re8 27.Bb6 Re1+!?

The engines are happy with this, but Black's practical chances are reduced almost to zero.

28.Rxe1 Nxe1 29.bxc4 Nc2 30.a4 Na3 31.c5 (1-0, 45 moves)

Northumbria Round Eight

Spanton (1858 Fide/1919 ECF) - Nicholas Fallowfield (1875 Fide/1930 ECF)

Alekhine

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Rc1 0-0 9.b3

Some of White's moves will probably have looked odd to those unfamiliar with Alekhine's Defence, but there are 2,660 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database

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One of the points of White's play is Black at some point may want to grab a bigger share of the centre by playing ...d5. If that happens it is often desirable to reply c5, and White wants to do this without allowing Black in turn to reply ...Nc4. Whether White's somewhat artificial-looking manoeuvres are worth it is another matter, but Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon the diagrammed position is slightly better for White.

9...Bf5!?

More popular are 9...e5 and especially 9...Nc6, but the text is easily the most successful percentagewise, scoring 53% in Mega23 against 9...e5's 41% and 9...Nc6's  34%.

10.Bd3!?

This is something of a sideline, the most popular moves being 10.Be2 and 10.Nf3.

10...Bxd3 11.Qxd3 d5!?

As advertised, although after ...

12.c5 Nc8

... White is ahead on development and has more queenside space. On the other hand Black has the better bishop and perhaps has hopes of forcing through the lever ...e5. The engines slightly prefer White.

13.Nf3 Nc6 14.Bf4!?

This may be a novelty. The known move is 14.0-0, when Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2608) - Javokhir Sindarov (2513), Central Asia U20 Championship (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) 2019, continued 14...e6 15.a3 N8e7 16.b4 a6 17.Na4, after which Komodo14.1 at first gives White the upper hand, while Stockfish16 gives White a slight edge. However, the more time the engines are given to look at the position, the more they  like Black's chances, albeit preferring White, who went on to win in 49 moves. Note that meeting 14.0-0 with 14...e5?! runs into 15.dxe5, uncovering the weakness of d5.

How should Black respond to the apparent novelty?

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14...Nxd4!?

The engines suggest 14...e6.

15.Nxd4 e5 16.0-0!?

Best, according to the engines, is 16.Bxe5 Bxe5 17.0-0, after which Black's IQP is passed but well-blockaded, and meanwhile White has a fairly mobile queenside pawn-majority.

16...exf4 17.Rfd1 Re8

Black equalises with 17...Ne7, according to the engines.

How should White proceed?

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18.c6!?

This leads to interesting play, but the engines prefer 18.Qf3.

18...Bxd4?

Better are 18...Rb8 and 18...Ne7.

19.cxb7 Bxf2+ 20.Kf1?!

This is good enough for an advantage, but there was no need to be so cute. After 20.Kxf2 Qb6+ 21.Qd4 Qxb7 White has 22.Nxd5, threatening two deadly forks (at f6 and c7), and Black cannot prevent both.

20...Rb8 21.bxc8=Q Rxc8 22.Kxf2

White is up a knight for two pawns, but Black has practical chances based on the passed d pawn, the weakness of the white king, and the outpost at e3

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22...Re3 23.Qd2!

This is best as 23.Qxd5? loses to  23...Qh4+ 24.Kg1 Rcxc3, the point being 25.Rxc3?? fails to 25...Re1+ 26.Rxe1 Qxe1#. If White tries 24.Kf1!?, hoping for 24...Qxh2 25.Ne2, after which White is at least equal, Black wins with 24...Rce8.

23...d4! 24.Nb5?

Also incorrect is 24.Qxd4? as 24...Qxd4 25.Rxd4 R(either)xc3 26.Rxc3 Rxc3 draws. But note that 24...Qh4+ can be met by 25.Kf1!, when 25...Rce8? fails to 26.Nd5, while 25...Qxh2 26.Ne2 is at least slightly better for White.

24...Qh4+?

The engines reckon 24...d3 25.Rxc8 Qxc8 26.Kf1 Qc5 27.Nc3 f3 is completely equal, and also 24...Rxc1 25.Rxc1 d3, albeit both lines involve sharp play.

25.Kg1 Rxc1 26.Rxc1

Not 26.Qxc1? Re2 27.Rf1 f3!

26...d3 27.Nd4 Qd8 28.Qc3 Qd5 29.Qb4 Kg7 30.Rd1?

Both 30.Rc8 and 30.Nf3 are winning.

30...Qe4 31.Qc3 Kh6?

The engines reckon Black is worse, but not losing, after 31...f6.

32.Nf3?

Strong is 32...Rf1.

Black to play and win

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32...Rxf3!

The rook cannot be taken, eg 33.gxf3? Qe3+ results in a very easily won queen-and pawn-ending.

I struggled on with 33.Qd2 Qd4+ 34.Kh1 Rf2 35.Qe1 Qe3. 36.Qb4, but eventually lost on time as I was about to be mated (0-1, 51 moves).

Prague Open Round Three

PLAYED a Slovak this afternoon.

Spanton (1824) - Stanislav Slacky (2100)

Alekhine

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 exd6

This is slightly less popular and scores marginally worse than 5...cxd6 in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database.

6.Nc3 Nc6

The mainline runs 6...Be7 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Nge2 Bg4 and either 9.Be3 or 9.f3, with White enjoying an advantage in either case, according to Stockfish15.1 and Komodo14.1.

7.d5!?

Gaining space, but this move is only fourth-most popular in Mega23, behind 7.Nf3, 7.h3 and especially 7.Be3.

7...Qe7+!?

The engines prefer the more-common 7...Ne5.

8.Be3

The engines prefer 8.Be2 Ne5 9.f4 (Stockfish15.1 also likes 9.a4) Ng4 10.Qd4 c5!? 11.Qe4 Qxe4 12.Nxe4 with what they reckon is at least a slight edge.

8...Ne5 9.Be2 Bd7

Not 9...Nexc4?? 10.Bxc4 Nxc4 11.Qa4+ and Qxc4.

10.b3 g6

How should White proceed?

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11.a4

The e5 knight has no squares it can go to, but there seems no way to exploit this, eg 11.f4?! leaves the white dark-square bishop unprotected, so Black can reply 11...Ng4 or 11...Nf3+.

If 11,Bd4?! then 11...Bg7 is fine as 12.f4 can be met by 12...c5 13.dxc6 Bxc6, when g2 is vulnerable.

If 11.Qd4?! then again 11...Bg7 as 12.f4?? loses to 12...Nf3+ etc.

Vladimir Akopian (2675) - Parham Maghsoodloo (2576), Sharjah Masters (United Arab Emirates) 2017, saw 11.Nf3 Bg7 12.Nxe5 Bxe5 13.Qd2 0-0 14.0-0 with White having the upper hand, according to the engines (but ½–½, 56 moves).

11...Bg7 12.Rc1 a5 13.Nf3

Not 13.Bxb6?! cxb6 14.Qd4?? Nf3+ etc.

13...Nxf3+ 14.Bxf3 0-0 15.0-0 f5?!

This does Black's light-square bishop no favours, and weakens e6.

16.Qd2 Be8?!

Probably better is 16...Rfe8, although that is not consistent with Black's previous move.

17.Rfe1 Qd8 18.Ne2

The knight heads for e6.

18...Nd7 19.Nd4 f4!?

This is the engines' top choice.

20.Bxf4 Bxd4 21.Qxd4 Nc5

The engines suggest 21...Qf6 22.Qxf6 Rxf6 but reckon White is winning.

22.Rc3 Bd7 23.Qd2 Qf6 24.Bg5 Qf7?

The engines reckon 24...Qh8!? or 24...Qg7!? is better, but losing.

25.Re7 Qf5 26.Qd4?

White is still on top after this, but as SS pointed out after the game, 26.g4 wins the black queen.

26...Rf7 27.Rxf7 Kxf7 28.Qf4?!

Acquiescing in an exchange of queens makes little sense when Black has much the weaker king. The engines give 28.Qh4 Kg8 29.h3.

28...Re8 29.Kf1 Qxf4 30.Bxf4 Bf5 31.Be3 b6 32.Bxc5?!

Probably better is the engines' 32.g4!?

32...bxc5 33.Bd1 Re5 34.Rf3 Kg7 35.Re3?!

As SS remarked afterwards, I swopped off the wrong pieces.

35...Rxe3 36.fxe3 Kf6 37.Kf2 g5

SS offered a draw.

38.Ke1 Be4 39.g3 Ke5 40.Kd2 h6

SS offered a draw.

41.Be2 Bf5 42.g4 Bd7 43.Bf3 Be8 44.Be2 Bd7 ½–½

4NCL Daventry Game Five

Spanton (1959 ECF/1824 Fide) - Jyothika Ullukaranparambil Reghu (1820 ECF/1451 Fide)

Alekhine

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Nf3

The mainline in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database runs 8.Rc1 0-0 9.b3!? Nc6 10.d5!? Ne5 11.Be2 f5!? 12.f4 Ng4 13.Bxg4!? fxg4 14.Nge2 with the upper hand for White, according to Stockfish15.1 and Komodo14.1.

8...0-0 9.Be2 Bg4 10.h3 Bf5

Vlastimil Hort - William Hartston, Olympiad (Nice, France) 1974 went 10...Bxf3!? 11.Bxf3 Nc6 12.b3 with a slight edge for White, according to the engines (1-0, 25 moves). The text reaches a position where it is normally Black to move.

11.0-0 Nc6 12.Rc1 d5 13.c5 Nc4

How should White proceed?

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14.b3?

Apparently a novelty, and not a good one. Probably best is 14.Bxc4!? dxc4 15.Qa4, when 15...Bd3 16.Rfd1 looks good for White, but also enough for an edge is 14.Nxd5!? Nxe3 15.Nxe3 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Qxd4 17.Nxf5.

14...Nxe3 15.fxe3 Bh6 16.Qd2 e5!?

What should White play?

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17.Nxe5!?

Capturing, either with the knight or pawn, is more-or-less forced, although it involves offering the exchange.
17...Nxe5 18.dxe5 d4?!

Going after the exchange, but probably better is 18...Qg5!?, eg 19.Nxd5!? Bxh3 20.Bf3 Be6 21.Nf6+ Kg7, when the engines reckon Black has full compensation for a pawn.

19.Qxd4 Qxd4 20.exd4 Be3+ 21.Kh1 Bxc1?!

The engines prefer 21...Bxd4, when 22.Nd5 Kg7 seems fine for Black, but they reckon 22.Bf3 may give White a pull.

22.Rxc1

How would you assess this imbalanced late-middlegame?

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Materially there is not much in it as White has two pawns for the exchange, but Black is yet to develop her rooks and the white central pawn-mass is very menacing. The engines reckon White is winning.

22...a6?!

Presumably aimed against Nb5-d6, but White has other good options for the knight. The engines suggest 22...Kg7!?, or developing either rook to d8.

23.Bf3 Rab8 24.g4 Bd7 25.Nd5 Kg7 26.Nf6 Rfd8 27.d5 h6

Black does not have a useful piece move.

28.c6

This is good enough, but bearing in mind Black's helplessness it might have been better to centralise the king before launching the breakthrough.

28...bxc6 29.dxc6 Bxc6

There is nothing better.

30.Rxc6 Rd2?!

The engines' 30...Rb5 is probably better.

31.Rxa6 Rf2?

This time ...Rb5 is definitely better.

32.Bd5 Rc8 33.Kg1 Re2 34.Rc6 Rd8?!

Black should probably exchange rooks and hope for the best as after ...

35.Rc7

... the queen's rook is forced into passivity.

35...Rf8 36.Ne4 Kh8

Or 36...Rxa2 37.e6 etc.

37.a4 Kg8 38.a5 Ra2 39.b4 Ra1+ 40.Kg2 Rd1 41.b5 Kg7

Not 41...Rxd5? 42.Nf6+ and 43.Nxd5.

The game finished:

42.Bc4 h5 43.g5 h4 44.Nd6 Rd2+ 45.Kf3 Rc2 46.e6 Rc3+ 47.Kf4 Rxh3 48.e7 1-0

Mariánské Lázně Game Two

Spanton (1895) - Miloslav Macho (1692)

Alekhine's Defence

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 5.exd6

This is the main move in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, and also the most successful percentagewise.

5...cxd6!?

Larry Kaufman in The Chess Advantage In Black And White (Random House 2004) wrote: "Some commentators now give this a ?!" However it remains the most popular move in Mega23 and was used by Magnus Carlsen in a 2020 rapidplay win over Levon Aronian. As far as I can discover Carlsen, had previously just tried 5...exd6.

6.Nc3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Be2

Aronian played 8.h3!? against Carlsen, and their game continued 8...0-0 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.d5!? Na5 11.Bd4 Bxd4 12.Qxd4 e5!? 13.dxe6 Bxe6 14.Ne4?! (14.Be2!? Nbxc4 15.Bxc4 Nxc4 16.0-0 gives good compensation for a pawn, according to Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02) Nc6 15.Nf6+ Kh8 16.Qf4 Bf5 with an unclear position that the engines reckon favours Black (0-1, 37 moves).

The mainline in Mega23 runs 8.Rc1 0-0 9.b3 Nc6 10.d5 Ne5 11.Be2 f5!? (the engines strongly dislike this, while reckoning White has the upper hand anyway) 12.f4 Ng4 13.Bxg4 fxg4 14.Nge2, scoring a whopping 73% for White.

8...Nc6 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.b3 0-0 11.0-0

Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the coming middlegame?

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White has more space in the centre but Black's minor pieces are more active than the white ones. The engines reckon the position is equal, but after various continuations are inputted, Stockfish15 comes to give White a slight edge.

11...e5

The engines follow the most popular line in suggesting 11...d5 12.c5 Nc8, after which Stockfish15 gives White a slight edge but Komodo13.02 calls the game equal.

12.d5!?

Played with the coming exchange sacrifice in mind. Sergei Tiviakov (2520) - Arnaud Hauchard (2420),  Torcy (France) 1991, went 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.c5!? Nc8 14.h3 Bf5 15.Ng5 Nd4 16.Bc4 with a slight edge for White, according to the engines (1-0, 39 moves).

12...e4?!

Komodo13.02 reckons 12...Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nd4 is completely equal, but Stockfish15 gives White a slight edge.

13.Nxe4!

White is probably also better after 13.dxc6, but the engines agree the text is clearer.

13...Bxa1

Otherwise Black is a pawn down without compensation.

14.Qxa1

Who is better, and, more importantly, by how much?

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White has a pawn and the bishop-pair for the exchange, which is often reckoned to be sufficient compensation. But here the added weakness of the black king's position means White is the rough equivalent of a rook ahead, according to the engines.

14...Ne5

The engines suggest 14...f5!?, but White has several very good continuations, including the sharp 15.Bh6 Qe7 16.Nxd6 Bxf3 17.gxf3!? Ne5 (17...Qxe2?? 18.Qg7#) 18.f4 Ned7 19.Bf3 Rab8 20.Nxb7! Rf7 21.d6, after which White has three pawns and the bishop-pair for the exchange.

15.Nxe5 Bxe2 16.Re1

Even stronger, according to the engines, are 16.Ng4!? and 16.Nc6!?

16...dxe5 17.Rxe2

This is almost certainly better than trying to get fancy with 17.Qxe5?!, when 17...Nd7 muddies the waters, eg 18.Qc3 Bh5 19.Bh6 f6 20.Bxf8 (20.h3!?) Qxf8, after which White has the better coordinated pieces but is down a bishop for two pawns.

17...Nd7

Protecting the f6 square, while not giving up the e6 square, which would be the case after 17...f6.

18.Bh6 Re8 19.c5 f5

Possibly better is the engines' 19...Qh4!?, eg 20.Bg5 Qh5 21.Qd1 f5, but 22.c6 is very strong as moving the black knight is answered by the forking Nf6+.

20.Nd6 Qh4

How should White continue?

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21.Qc1!?

This is enough to maintain White's winning advantage, but best-play, according to the engines, runs 21.Nxe8 Rxe8 22.c6 bxc6 23.dxc6 Nb6 24.Qc1.

21...f4

Material is level after 21...Nxc5 22.Nxe8 Rxe8 23.Qxc5 Qxh6, but 24.d6 wins, according to the engines.

22.Nxe8 Qxh6

Or 22...Rxe8 23.Bxf4.

23.Nc7

Other moves also win.

23...Rc8 24.d6 Qh5 25.f3 e4?!

This does not help, but 25...g5, which the engines reckon is best, loses to, for example, 26.Qc4+ Qf7 27.Qe4 (threatens the simple 28.Qxb7) Rb8 (27...Nxc5 28.Qxe5 Nd7 29.Qxg5+) 28.b4, after which Black is 'only' a pawn down, but seems helpless.

26.Rxe4 Nxc5?

Better is 26...Qxc5, but 27.Qxc5 Nxc5 leaves White with several winning continuations, eg 28.Re5 Nd7 29.Re7 Rd8 30.Ne6.

27.Qc4+ Kh8 28.Qd4+ Kg8 29.Re7

Checkmate cannot be sensibly stopped.

The game finished:

29...Ne6 30.Rxe6 Qf5 31.Re4 Qa5 32.d7 Qxc7 33.Re8+ 1-0

Four Knights

PLAYED in Division One West of the London League last night.

Spanton (2040 ECF) - Baptiste Alloui-Cros (*)

Battersea - King's College London, Board One (of eight)

Spanish Four Knights

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Nd4

This move is often attributed to Akiba Rubinstein, but was known long before his playing career, the oldest game in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database being from 1881.

5.Bc4

The commonest reply is 5.Ba4. Grabbing the e5 pawn with 5.Nxe5 is usually met by 5...Qe7, when the main line runs 6.f4 Nxb5 7.Nxb5 d6 8.Nf3 Qxe4+ 9.Kf2!? Ng4+, reaching a somewhat murky position that may slightly favour Black.

5...Bc5 6.0-0

Normal is 6.d3, although White does much better percentagewise in Mega22 with 6.Nxe5!? However, after the latter the most-popular continuation 6...Qe7 7.Nf3 d5!? 8.Bxd5 Bg4 9.d3 0-0-0 10.Be3 Nxd5 22.Nxd5 Rxd5!? 23.exd5 Re8 is not clear despite White being the exchange and two pawns up.

6...0-0!?

More popular is defending the e5 pawn with 6...d6.

7.Nxe5!?

In turn more popular is the solid 7.d3, but the text may be better. 

7...d6 8.Nf3

Not 8.Nd3?? Bg4 9.f3 Nxf3+ 10.Kh1 Nd4 11.Qe1 Nxc2, when Black had a winning advantage in Benoit Pigeat (1873) - Alloui-Cros (2139), French Online Blitz Championship Qualifier 2020 (but 1-0, 26 moves).

8...Bg4 9.Be2 Nxe2+ 10.Qxe2 Nh5!?

The analysis engines Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1 give 10...Re8 11.d3 with what they reckon is a slight edge for White.

11.d3 f5

How should White proceed?

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12.h3??

The engines reckon White is much better after several moves, including 12.e5 and 12.exf5.

12...Ng3 13.Qe1?

Better, but still very good for Black, is 13.Qd1.

13...Bxf3 14.gxf3 Nxf1 15.Qxf1 fxe4 16.Nxe4 Qh4!?

Even stronger is 16...Rxf3, when 17.Qg2 can be met by, among other moves, 17...Qf8 since 18.Bh6 is not much of a threat in view of Bxg7?? being meetable by ...Qxg7, pinning the white queen.

17.Qg2 Qh5 18.Nxc5 Qxc5 19.Bh6 Qe5 20.c3 Qf6 21.Be3 Qxf3

Black has regained his pawn and is a pure exchange ahead (0-1, 48 moves).
Battersea defaulted on board eight. King's College London won 4.5-3.5.

*Has a Fide rating of 2076 and an ECF "F" rating, based on six games, of 1995.

Positional Pawn Sacrifice

MY round-eight game at Alicante, the full moves of which can bee seen at https://beauchess.blogspot.com/2021/12/alicante-round-eight.html, featured an interesting transposition from Alekhine's Defence to a French.

This came about via 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e5 Nfd7 4.d4 c5 5.Nf3 e6.

However here I want to look at what happens if White sacrifices a pawn at move four by playing 4.e6!?, which dates back to at least 1930.

Black is more-or-less obliged to reply 4...fxe6, after which the black position is clearly compromised, but is that enough compensation?

Position after 4...fxe6

It can be dangerous relying on analysis engines early in the opening, but for what it is worth Stockfish14.1 gives White a slight edge while Komodo12.1.1 gives a slight edge to Black.

What makes these evaluations particularly interesting is that often it is Komodo12.1.1 which gives more value to positional matters while Stockfish14.1 is often more coldly materialistic.

In this case, giving the engines more time sees the evaluations converging somewhat, although still with Stockfish14.1 favouring White and Komodo12.1.1 favouring Black.

The first thing to note is that the continuation 5.Qh5+? is not only easily met by 5...g6 but actually helps Black prepare a development square for the black king's bishop.

Similarly 5.Bd3?!, hoping for something like 5...c5?? 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxg6+ hxg6 8.Bxg6#, is wildly optimistic.

So it is hardly surprising that 354 out of 366 games in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database see 5.d4.

Black already has to be a little careful, eg the plausible 5...e5? 6.dxe5 Nxe5? 7.Qxd5 was played in Rauno Järvinen (2119) - Vitālijs Samoļins (2426), Tartu (Estonia) Rapid Under-26 2010, after which 7...Nf7 8.Be3 e6 9.Qxd8+ Nxd8 10.Nf3 left White well on top (1-0, 41 moves).

Three moves in reply to 5.d4 have been tried by grandmasters and appear frequently enough in Mega22 to deserve serious consideration.

A) 5...Nf6 (54 games) returns the king's knight to its normal development square and covers h5.

After 6.Nf3 it is clear Black is likely to have to fianchetto the black king's bishop at some point, which is why Black's commonest response is the sensible-looking 6...g6, when Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (2515) - Csaba Horváth (2540), Balatonberény (Hungary) 1996, continued 7.h4!? Bg7 8.Bd3 c5 9.dxc5 Nc6 10.h5!? gxh5 11.Bf4 Qa5 12.Qd2 Bd7 13.0-0-0 0-0 with an unclear position that, according to the engines, quickly saw several mistakes before a draw was somewhat prematurely agreed at move 17.

B) 5...g6 (70 games) is another way to quickly develop the king's bishop while protecting the h5 square.

After 6.h4!? the most-popular reply in Mega22  is 6...Nf6?!, but this is probably a mistake as White has 7.h5!, when Juan Manuel Bellón López (2324) - Vlatko Kovačević (2454), Karlovac (Yugoslavia) 1979, continued 7...Nxh5 8.Rxh5 gxh5 9.Qxh5+ Kd7, when 10.Nxd5! would have given White a large advantage, eg 10...exd5 11.Qxd5+ Ke8 12.Qh5+ Kd7 13.Nf3, after which White is down rook for pawn but is crushingly winning, according to the engines, best-play apparently running 13...c6 14.Bf4 Bg7!? 15.Qg4+ Ke8 16.Qxg7 Rf8 17.Bg5 with obvious compensation.

The engines prefer capturing on h5 with the pawn, ie 7...gxh5, but reckon 8.Be2 Bg7 9.Bxh5+, as in Maximiliano Preuss (2114) - Aldo Emilio Seidler (2330), Benko Memorial (Buenos Aries) 2010, is good for White.

That game continued 9...Kf8 10.Nf3 Nxh5!? (the engines prefer 10...c5) 11.Rxh5 Nd7 12.Bh6 with a strong attack (1-0, 23 moves).

C) 5...c5 (212 games) is easily most-popular and probably best.

The reply 6.Bd3?! looks overly optimistic in view of 6...g6, when 7.h4? cxd4 must be good for Black, so White should probably choose between 6.dxc5 and 6.Nf3.

C1) After 6.dxc5 Nc6 7.Nf3 g6 the engines like the slightly unusual 8.Nd4!?, when the commonest reply, 8...Nf6, can be met by 9.Bb5, with the engines continuing 9...Qc7 10.0-0 Bg7 11.Re1!? (this would seem to be a potential novelty), claiming a sizeable advantage for White.

The engines reckon a better try for Black is 8...Nde5!?, when 9.f4 Nf7 10.Bb5 Bd7 (better than 10...Qc7, according to the engines) 11.Be3 Bg7 12.Qd2 0-0 13.0-0-0 is given as equal, but looks very unclear to me and may well be easier for White to play.

C2) 6.Nf3 is the main move in Mega22, after which Black usually replies 6...Nc6, when 7.dxc5 transposes to C1.

However the engines very slightly prefer 6...g6, when 7.h4 Bg7 8.h5 can be calmly met by 8...Nc6.

The engines suggest what would be an apparent novelty in 7.dxc5!?. If then 7...Bg7, which they reckon is best, they come to like 8.h4, after which the line splits.

C2a) 8...Nf6 9.h5!? Nxh5 is unclear, with 10.Rxh5, 10.Bd3 and 10.Ng5 all seeming promising for White. Also unclear is 9...gxh5, eg 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Qe2 a6 12.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 13.Be3, when White has more than enough compensation for a pawn, according to the engines.

C2b) 8...Nc6 is preferred by the engines, when they reckon it is worth spending a tempo on protecting the c5 pawn with 9.Be3!? rather than immediately pushing on with the h pawn. Again the position is unclear, but may slightly favour Black after Komodo12.1.1's 9...Qa5!?

In the light of this White may be well-advised to try the less-popular 6.dxc5, ie C1. Several black moves in the main continuations are hard to find and it is easy for the second player to go wrong, eg 6...Nxc5?! is plausible, when all five games in Mega22 continue 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.Bb5, with Stockfish14 claiming White has at least the upper hand and is possibly positionally winning. Komodo12.1.1 is less enthusiastic about White's chances, but the Black kingside does look vulnerable.

CONCLUSION: The pawn-sac 4.e6!? gives White a promising game and could come as a nasty surprise for opponents, especially as in several lines Black has to be careful to avoid intuitive moves that give White the upper hand.

Alicante Round Eight

PLAYED a Swede this morning.

Spanton (1829) - Matts Unander (2018)

II Open Internacional de Ajedrez Dama Negra

French Steinitz

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5

This is Black's commonest response to White using 2.Nc3 to avoid mainline Alekhine Defence positions.

3.e5 Nfd7 4.d4

4.Nxd5 Nxe5 5.Ne3 is equal, according to Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1, although Nimzowitsch used the line to beat Réti at Baden-Baden 1925. The most-popular alternatives to the text are 4.f4 and 4.e6!? fxe6 5.d4.

4...c5 5.Nf3

The main move in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database is 5.f4, while a popular alternative is 5.dxc5!? Also played are 5.Nxd5?! (but 5...cxd4 seems a strong reply) and 5.e6!?

5...e6

By an unusual move-order the game has reached the starting position of a line Tarrasch recommended in the Steinitz Variation of the French Defence. An independent continuation is 5...cxd4, which is usually followed by 6.Qxd4 e6, whereupon Stockfish14.1 recommends 7.Qf4!?, a move not in Mega22.

After 5...e6 the game has transposed from an Alekhine to a French Steinitz

6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Bf4 Qb6!?

There are 469 examples of this tempting move in Mega22, but the main continuations are 8...f6 and 8...a6.

9.0-0

Not 9.Na4?? Qb4+ 10.c3 Qxf4.

9...Qxb2?!

There are 240 examples of this capture in Mega22, but it is almost certainly a mistake.

10.Nb5 Rb8!?

This is the engines' choice. Most popular in Mega22 is 10...0-0, but that fails to 11.Bxh7+! Kxh7 12.Ng5+ Kg6 13.Qd3+.

11.Bd2

If a draw is all that is needed, it is there for the asking with 11.Rb1 Qxa2 12.Ra1 Qb2 13.Rb1 etc.

11...d4

Not 11...Bb4? 12.Rb1 Qxa2 13.Bxb4 Nxb4 14.Rxb4.

12.Qe2 a6 13.Rfb1 Qxa1

Marginally better, but still losing, is 13...Qxb1+.

14.Nc7+ Kd8 15.Nxe6+ fxe6 16.Rxa1

Position after 16.Rxa1, when Black has rook and knight for queen but is also behind in development and has the less-safe king

16...Nb6

Black could save the h pawn by playing 16...h6, but that is not an improvement on the text, according to the engines.

17.Ng5 Kc7 18.Nxh7 Bd7 19.Ng5 Rbf8 20.Rb1 Nd5 21.Nf3 Be8 22.Ng5 Bd7 23.h3

Protecting the sensitive h2 square before planning to proceed with Ne4 and, possibly, Nd6, but the engines reckon Ne4 can be played immediately.

23...Ncb4 24.Ne4 Be7 25.Nd6

Cutting off one of the supporters of the b4 knight.

25...Nc6

Even worse is 25...Nxd3 26.Rxb7+, when 26...Kd8 allows a mate-in-two starting with 27.Ba5+, while 26...Kc6 only delays mate a few moves after 27.Qxd3.

26.Rxb7+ Kd8 27.Bxa6 Bxd6 28.cxd6 Nc3 29.Bg5+

Simple and strong is 29.Bxc3 dxc3 30.Bb5, but the text is fine too.

The game finished:

29...Ke8 30.Qd3 Rf5 31.f4 Rhf8 32.g4 Rxg5 33.fxg5 Kd8 34.Bb5 1-0

Beat The ... Alekhine

IN this series I am looking at the statistically best way to play against popular opening lines.

The numbers are drawn from the 2021 edition of ChessBase's Mega database, ignoring, where possible, those results that include very few games and so are statistically insignificant.

Alekhine's Defence: 1.e4 Nf6 is out of favour among the elite but still has dedicated followers at club level.

After 2.e5 (other moves, including 2.Nc3, 2.d3 and 2.Bc4?!, score much less well) Nd5 3.d4 d6, White's most-popular move, 4.Nf3, scores 57%, comfortably beating the 54% of 4.c4.

Position after 4.Nf3

Black has five popular replies.

A) 4...Bg4 (11,085 games)

After 5.Be2 the line splits.

A1 5...e6 6.h3, after which the line splits again.

A1.1 6...Bh5 7.c4 Nb6 8.exd6 cxd6 (not 8...Bxd6?? 9.c5) 9.Nc3 Be7 10.Be3 scores 79% for White, albeit from a small sample.

A1.2 6...Bxf3 7.Bxf3, when A1.2a 7...dxe5 8.c4 Nb6 9.Bxb7 scores 69% for White, albeit from a small sample, A1.2b 7...Nc6 8.c4 Nb6 9.exd6 cxd6 reaches a position in which White has scored 42% with the defensive 10.b3 but 63% with 10.d5, 75% with 10.0-0 and 100% with 10.Nc3, but the four moves between them involve just 13 games, and A1.2c 7...c6 8.exd6 scores 83% for White, albeit from a small sample.

A2 5...c6 6.c4 Nb6 7.Ng5!?, after which the line splits again.

A2.1 7...Bxe2 8.Qxe2, when A2.1a 8...dxe5 9.dxe5 scores 80% for White and A2.1b 8...h6 9.Nf3 dxe5 10.dxe5 e6 11.0-0 Nbd7 12.Nc3 scores 62% for White.

A2.2 7...Bf5 8.g4!? scores 80% for White, albeit from a small sample.

A3 5...Nc6 6.e6!?, after which the line splits again.

A3.1 6...fxe6 7.Ng5 Bxe2 8.Qxe2 Nxd4 9.Qd1 scores 80% for White, albeit from a small sample.

A3.2 6...Bxe6? 7.c4 scores 83% for White, albeit from a very small sample.

A4 5...g6 6.Ng5!?, after which the line splits again.

A4.1 6...Bxe2 7.Qxe2, when A4.1a 7...e6 8.c4 Nb6 9.Qf3 scores 100% for White, albeit from a small sample, and A4.1b 7...dxe5? 8.Qf3 scores 100% for White, albeit from a very small sample.

A4.2 6...Bf5 7.e6!? Bxe6 8.Nxe6 fxe6 9.Bg4 scores 100% for White, albeit from a very small sample.

B) 4...g6 (5,754 games)

After 5.Bc4!?, which scores 60%, easily beating the 46% of 5.c4, the line splits.

B1 5...Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7 7.Qe2!?, after which the line splits again.

B1.1 7...0-0 8.h3 Nc6 9.0-0, when B1.1a 9...Na5 10.Nc3 Nxb3 11.axb3 scores 67% for White and B1.1b 9...dxe5 10.dxe5 Nd4 11.Nxd4 Qxd4 12.Re1 scores 81% for White.

B1.2 7...Nc6 8.0-0, when B1.2a 8...0-0 9.h3 is a transposition to B1.1, and B1.2b 8...dxe5 9.dxe5 Nd4 10.Nxd4 Qxd4, when both 11.Re1 and 11.e6!? score 64% - both from the same number of games - but the rook move is preferred by the analysis engines Stockfish13 and Komodo12.1.1.

B2 5...c6 6.Nc3!? Nxc3 7.bxc3, after which the line splits again.

B2.1 7...d5 8.Bd3!?, when B2.1a 8...Bg7 9.0-0 scores 83% for White, albeit from a small sample, and B2.1b 8...Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 scores 75% for White, albeit from a small sample.

B2.2 7...Bg7 8.Ng5 0-0 9.Qf3 d5 10.Bd3 scores 67% for White, albeit from a very small sample.

C) 4...dxe5 (4,972 games)

After 5.Nxe5 the line splits.

C1 5...c6 6.Be2!?, after which the line splits again.

C1.1 6...Bf5 7.g4!? Be6 8.c4 scores 68% for White, albeit from a small sample.

C1.2 6...Nd7 7.Nf3!?, when C1.2a 7...g6 8.c4 Nc7 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Bg5!? scores 79% for White, albeit from a small sample, and C1.2b 7...N7f6 8.0-0 Bg4 9.Ne5 Bxe2 10.Qxe2 scores 89% for White, albeit from a small sample.

C1.3 6...g6 7.0-0 Bg7 8.c4 Nc7 9.f4 0-0 10.Nc3 scores 81% for White, albeit from a small sample.

C2 5...g6 6.c4, after which the line splits again.

C2.1 6...Nb6 7.c5!? Nd5 8.Bc4 scores 75% for White, albeit from a small sample.

C2.2 6...Nf6 7.Be2!? Bg7 8.Nc3 0-0 9.Bf4 scores 100% for White, albeit from a very small sample.

C3 5...Nd7!? 6.Nf3!? (this scores 69% - the engines much prefer 6.Nxf7!?, but that scores 55%), after which the line splits again.

C3.1 6...e6 7.g3!?, when C3.1a 7...c5 8.Bg2 scores 78% for White, albeit from a small sample, and C3.1b 7...Be7 8.Bg2 also scores 78% for White, albeit from a small sample.

C3.2 6...g6 7.Bc4, when C3.2a 7...c6 8.0-0 Bg7 9.Re1 0-0 10.Bg5 scores 79% for White, albeit from a small sample, C3.2b 7...N7f6 8.0-0 Bg7 9.Bg5 scores 100% for White, albeit from a very small sample, and C3.2c 7...N7b6 8.Bb3 Bg7 scores 100% for White with both 9.0-0 and 9.h3, albeit from very small samples.

D) 4...Nc6 (1,401 games)

After 5.c4 Nb6 6.e6!? fxe6 7.Nc3 the line splits.

D1 7...g6 8.h4!? Bg7 9.Be3!?, after which the line splits again.

D1.1 9...e5 10.d5 Nd4 11.Nxd4 exd4 12.Bxd4 Bxd4 13.Qxd4 scores 62% for White.

D1.2 9...0-0 10.h5 e5 11.hxg6 scores 80% for White, albeit from a small sample.

D2 7...e5 8.d5 Nd4 9.Nxd4 exd4 10.Qxd4 e5 11.dxe6 Bxe6 12.Be3 scores 83% for White.

E) 4...Nb6!? (1,248 games)

After 5.a4 a5 6.Nc3 the line splits.

E1 6...g6 7.h4!? scores 80% for White, albeit from a small sample.

E2 6...Bg4 7.Be2 scores 100% for White, albeit from a very small sample.

E3 6...dxe5 7.Nxe5 scores 68% for White.

'Secret' Gambit Repertoire For White (part seven)

AGAINST Alekhine's Defence (1.e4 Nf6) there are several gambits that can be suggested.

One runs 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4, which becomes the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit after 3...dxe4 4.f3. and the Hübsch Gambit after the less-popular, but probably more-critical, continuation 3...Nxe4!? 4.Nxe4 dxe4.

Another runs 2.Nc3 e5 3.f4, although in practice this is nearly always declined with 3...d5.

White can also try 2.Nc3 e5 3.Bc4!?, when after 3...Nxe4!? White can go for complications with 4.Qh5 (4.Nxe4?! d5 is at least equal for Black) Nd6 5.Bb3!?, or for a more-manoeuvring type of game with 5.Qxe5+ Qe7 (only move) 6.Qxe7+.

Finally, I am suggesting 2.Bc4!?, which may look ridiculous but has been played by Arthur Bisguier, Jonathan Speelman and Božidar Ivanović.

Clearly the critical response to 2.Bc4!? is 2...Nxe4, but it is only played 41.9% of the time in games in ChessBase's 2020 Mega database. I guess many blacks are caught by surprise and try to avoid the white player's preparation.

The main line continues 3.Bxf7+ Kxf7 4.Qh5+

Position after 4.Qh5+

4...g6 5.Qd5+ e6 6.Qxe4 Bg7, when White has regained the pawn and deprived Black of castling rights, but Black has the bishop-pair.

The most-popular continuation is 7.Nf3, but much more successful is 7.d4!? Rf8 8.Nf3, when the analysis engines Stockfish12 and Komodo11.01 reckon 8...d5 9.Qe2 Nc6 10.Be3 is best-met by 10...Kg8 11.Nc3 e5!? 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Bxe5 14.0-0-0 with an equal but unclear opposite-side castling position - White's lead in development should give good practical chances.

Black's main method of declining the gambit is 2...d5!?, but this is questionable as after 3.exd5 Nxd5 White gets the better game, according to the engines, with 4.Nf3 or the less-common, but seemingly strong, 4.d4.

Here is an old example of how quickly even very strong players can find themselves in trouble.

Johann Löwenthal - Howard Staunton

British Chess Association International Masters (Birmingham) 1858

1.e4 Nf6 2.Bc4 d5?! 3.exd5 Nxd5 4.d4

The players reached this position via the move-order 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxd5 4.d4.

4...e6 5.Nf3 Bd6 6.0-0 0-0 7.Bd3!?

The engines prefer Bg5, here and on the previous move.

7...Bf4!?

Staunton is understandably worried about an attack on his kingside, but the engines reckon White's advantage is smaller after 7...c5 (Stockfish12) or 7...b6 (Komodo11.01).

8.Nbd2 Nc6 9.a3

An obvious alternative is 9.c3 but Löwenthal probably wanted to save the c pawn for evicting Black's knight with c4. Staunton anticipates this with ...

9...Nf6

The game continued:

10.Ne4 Bxc1 11.Rxc1 Qe7

Not 11...Nxd4?? 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.Nxd4 Qxf6? 14.Bxh7+ etc.

12.Re1 b6?

This natural-looking move is a mistake, although the engines much prefer White after, say, 12...Rd8 13.c3 Bd7 14.Qe2.

13.Nxf6+ gxf6

Or 13...Qxf6 14.Be4 Bb7 15.Ne5.

14.d5 Ne5 15.Nxe5 fxe5 16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.Qh5+ Kh7 18.Re3

White has a winning attack.

18...Rg8 19.Rg3+ Kf8 20.Qh6+ Ke8 21.Rxg8+ Kd7 22.dxe6+ Qxe6 23.Rd1+ Kc6 24.Qxe6+ fxe6 25.Rdd8 1-0

Tough Tussle

TURNED out for Battersea 2 last night on board six against Wanstead & Woodford in division two of the London League.
Spanton (168) - Steven Rix (175)
Spanish Four Knights
1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3
International Master John Cox reckons (Starting Out: Alekhine's Defence, Everyman 2004) he faces 2.Nc3 "in over 50% of my games with the Alekhine." Cox was 'only' an FM when he wrote that, but if 2.Nc3 is popular at his level, you can understand why it does not come as a surprise to anyone at club level.
2...e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bb5 d6
This is more popular, at least in ChessBase's 2019 Mega database, than Rubinstein's famous 4...Nd4.
5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 Bd7
This position could also arise from the Steinitz Defence, and is classified as such by ChessBase.
7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1 Nxd4
This common freeing manoeuvre brings the white queen to a central square, but is considered worth it because Black's position has more pieces than his pawn-structure can comfortably cope with.
9.Qxd4 0-0 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4
11.Bxf6!? would be a novelty, or at least is not in Mega19. The idea is to follow-up with 11..Bxf6 12.e5, but the retreat 12...Be7 seems fine for Black.
11...a6?!
Hoping for 12.Ba4?? b5 13.Bb3 c5 and 14...c4 - a version of Noah's Ark trap. More solid was 11...Bxb5, an exchange that is often played as part of Black's freeing manoeuvre begun with 8...Nxd4.
12.Bxd7 Nxd7
Better than 12...Qxd7? 13.e5.
13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Nd5 Qd8
And this is better than 14...Qe5 15.Qxe5 dxe5 16.Rad1, according to Stockfish10 and Komodo10. In this line, 15...Nxe5 16.Re2 gives White the upper hand, according to Stockfish10, although it does not seem so clear to me or Komodo10.
15.Rad1 Ne5 16.Re3 Nc6 17.Qc3 Kh8 18.Rg3 f6
I expected the less-committal 18...Rg8, but the engines prefer the text.
19.Nf4 Rg8 20.Ng6+ Kh7 21.f4
Taking the e5 square from Black's knight. During the game I thought my position was overwhelming, but it is not.
21...Qe8!?
The engines' choice - at least at first. I planned to meet 21...Ne7, which Stockfish10 comes to narrowly prefer, with 22.Nh4, when White has a small edge, but, it seems, nothing more.
22.Re1
Not 22.e5? dxe5 23.Qd3? e4.
22...Rad8 23.a3
Taking the b4 square from the black knight. I rejected 23.Qd3, trying for an improved version of the previous note, because of 23...Nb4?!, missing the strength of 24.Qb3. However, Black is holding on with 23...Ne7.
23...Qf7 24.Qd3 Rge8 25.Nh4 Kh8 26.Nf5 Rg8 27.Rh3 Ne7

How should White proceed?

*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
28.Nd4?!
Aiming for the e6 square in the mistaken belief my position was, if not overwhelming, at least strong. But this is probably not so, and maybe I should have settled for approximate equality with 28.Nxe7. The engines give the sharp line 28.Qb3 d5!? 29.Qxb7 Nxf5 30.exf5 Rde8 31.Rxe8 Qxe8 32.Qxa6 Qe1+ 33.Qf1 Qd2, when they reckon Black has full compensation for his two-pawn deficit. The line is not forced, and there are interesting alternatives along the way, eg 31.Rhe3, but generally Black seems to be very close to equality.
28...c5!
Thwarting White's plan in the realisation that the backward d pawn Black gets is not as weak as it looks.
29.Nf3 Nc6?!
Better is 29...Ng6 or 29...Rge8, pressurising White's centre.
30.c4?
Fixing the d pawn, but better was 30.Qd5 as 30...Qxd5? (Black should avoid this capture) 31.exd5 leaves White with a substantial advantage thanks to controlling the open file.
30...Rd7!?
I missed the point of this move, which becomes clear with Black's next. However, the engines prefer 30...Rge8 with what they reckon is a completely equal position.
31.Kh1!?
Planning g4 followed by g5 etc, and if …Qg6, then Rg1. The engines hate the idea at first but come to quite like it if given enough time.
31...Rb8
Showing the point of 30...Rd7!?, but the engines still prefer ...Re8.
32.a4
This is OK, but I should not have been spooked out of the consistent 32.g4.
32...Na7?
Determined to get in ...b5, but this decentralising move is a mistake. The engines still recommend ...Re8, with equality, but ...b5 was possible immediately, eg 32...b5!? 33.axb5 axb5 34.cxb5 c4 and ...Rxb5.
33.Nd2?
"Passive" flashed through my head, and I should have paid attention and found something more active. Both 33.g4 and 33.Nh4 give White an edge.
33...b5 34.axb5 axb5 35.b3 bxc4 36.Nxc4 Nb5 37.Rb1?
More passivity. The engines give 37.Rhe3 d5 38.exd5 Rxd5 39.Qb1 with a slight edge for Black.
37...d5 38.Na5 dxe4 39.Qxe4 Qd5?
Letting White off the hook. White's pieces are discoordinated, and his weaknesses (b3 and the back rank) are best exploited by keeping queens on. Black is winning, according to the engines, after 39...Re7, eg 40.Qc4 Qe8 41.Qf1 (41.Rf3? Na3) Ra8 42.Nc4 Nd4 43.Rd3 Ra2 44.Rd2 Rxd2 45.Nxd2 Re2.
40.Qxd5 Rxd5 41.Re3 Nd4 42.Kg1 Rb5 43.Nc4 Rb4 44.Kf2!?
Best, according to the engines, even though it loses a pawn.
44...Nxb3 45.Rbxb3 Rxc4 46.Re7??
Hoping to double rooks on the seventh rank. But Black is never going to allow this, and anyway the f4 pawn is en prise. Correct is 46.Kf3, with drawing chances.
46...Rxf4+ 47.Kg3 Rb4 48.Rc3 Rg5+ 49.Kf3 Rf5+ 50.Ke3 Rb2 51.g4 Re5+??
Almost any other move with this rook wins.
52.Rxe5 fxe5 53.Rxc5 Rxh2 54.Rxe5 Kh7 ½–½
My updated Battersea statistics for 2019-20
Event*..Colour...Grade...Opponent's Grade...Result
CLL..…...B....…..168...………169...……….....W
CLL...…..B...…...168...………196...…………..D
CLL...…..W...…..168...………176...…………..L
LL....……W...…..168...…....…175...………….D
Overall this season for Battersea I have scored +1=2-1 for a grading performance of 179.
In season 2018-19 I scored +12=12-13 for a grading performance of 169.
In season 2017-18 I scored +10=8-9 for a grading performance of 175.
*CLL: Central London League; LL: London League

Can Anyone Work Out What Is Going On Here?

ALEKHINE'S Defence (1.e4 Nf6) seems to be making something of a comeback in club chess, assuming it ever went away.
At least that has been my recent experience: I have faced Alekhine's Defence three times in the past year, which is as many times as in the previous ten years put together.
It has made me think I may need to come up with something more forcing than my usual reply of 2.Nc3.
The obvious place to start is ChessBase's 2019 Mega database. It features more than 61,000 games with 2.e5, with White scoring 54%. There are more than 22,000 games with 2.Nc3, when White's success rate drops to 48%.
Lots of other second moves have been given an outing, but only one has given White a plus score: 2.c4!?
White scores 55% - one percentage point more than with 2.e5 - from 30 games. That is a small sample size, but it is not as if 2.c4!? has only been played by rabbits. Among those with White have been Ildar Ibragimov (2637), Gennadi Kuzmin (2546), Peter Lukacs (2460) and Ta Lin (2410).
Now comes the really bizarre bit - only two games featured the reply 2...Nxe4, and both those were games between unrateds.
Why do players refuse the gift? What is it they fear?
Taking the four top players to have tried 2.c4!? in chronological order, we get the following:

Peter Lukacs (2460) - Nelson Pinal (2405)
Capablanca Memorial Group B 1983
1.e4 Nf6 2.c4!? g6!? 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.d4 d6
The game has transposed to a mainline King's Indian, which White won in 22 moves.

Ta Lin (2410) - Ian Rogers (2515)
Kuala Lumpur Zonal 1990
1.e4 Nf6 2.c4!? e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3!? d5
The game has transposed to a one-off position from the Flohr-Mikenas System in the English. It was apparently drawn in 17 moves, although the whole score in Mega19 looks suspicious (the final position is winning for White, according to Stockfish10 and Komodo9).

Gennadi Kuzmin (2546) - Andrei Kovalev (2459)
Ukraine October GM 1999
1.e4 Nf6 2.c4!? g6!? 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.d4 0-0 5.Be2 d6
The game has transposed to a mainline King's Indian. It is recorded as a win for Black in 22 moves, but in the final position White has a mate-in-eight and is anyway massively ahead on material.

Ildar Ibragimov (2637) - Elliott Liu (2162)
Las Vegas National 2006
1.e4 Nf6 2.c4!? g6!? 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.d4 d6
Once again the game has transposed to a mainline King's Indian. White won in 73 moves.

So what can be concluded? Sadly, I have not stumbled across a challenge to the Alekhine, let alone a refutation.
The fact is, despite the evidence from Mega19, c4 on move two against the Alekhine should be annotated 2.c4?! or, more probably, 2.c4?
Secondly, and more worryingly, there is some very dodgy data in Mega19, which can seriously skew statistics when sample sizes are small.