BEAU CHESS - the post-work workings-out of a chess amateur

I begin this blog after getting back into league chess following many years' absence due to work. My post-job status also means I am able to play more tournament chess. My new club in London is Battersea and my first game for them is on Thursday September 14, 2017. I start with a Fide rating of 1858, an ECF grade of 169 (=1968 elo) and an ICCF correspondence rating of 2267. My current Fide is 2035, my ECF is 1942 and my ICCF is 2374.

Showing posts with label Bishops-of-the-same-colour ending. Show all posts

Thursday, 10 September 2026

Bad Bertrich 50+ Game Four

Green lake

Spanton (1997) - Joachim Hiller (1879)

Spanish Exchange

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nc3!?

This trails 5.d4 and especially 5.0-0 in popularity in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.

5...f6 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4!?

7.Qxd4 would likely transpose to 5.d4 lines.

7...c5 8.Nde2 Qxd1+ 9.Nxd1 Bd7 10.Bf4 0-0-0

Stockfish18 and Dragon1 much dislike 10...Bd6!?, claiming 11.Bxd6 cxd6 leaves White with the upper hand.

11.Ne3 Ne7 12.0-0-0

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

*****

Black's bishop-pair and White's superior pawn-structure balance each other out, leaving the game completely equal, according to the engines.

12...g5!?

This is narrowly more popular than 12...Re8!? and 12...Ng6 in Mega26.

13.Bg3 h5 14.h4 Bh6?

New and active, but bad. Known moves are 14...g4 and 14...Bg7.

15.hxg5 Bxg5

Or 15...fxg5 16.Rxh5.

16.f4 Bh6 17.Rxh5 b6 18.Rdh1 Bg7 19.Rxh8 Rxh8 20.Rxh8+ Bxh8

How large is White's advantage in this minor-piece ending?

*****

White is 'only' a pawn up, but Black's 4-3 queenside majority cannot create a passer by itself, while White's 3-1 kingside majority should have little trouble doing exactly that. Black still has the bishop-pair, but the engines reckon White's advantage is the equivalent of being more than a piece up.

21.Kd2

The engines suggest 21.f5!?

21...f5!?

This is also the engines' top choice, but after ...

22.e5

... the position is hardly opening for the bishops.

22...Be6 23.a3 Kd7 24.Bh4 Nd5 25.Bg5 b5 26.Ng3 Nxe3 27.Kxe3 Ke8 28.Nf1 Bg7 29.Kf2 c4 30.c3

The engines prefer 30.g4!?

30...c5?

This is a serious positional error. On c5 the pawn hampers the future scope of Black's dark-square bishop, and becomes a target for the white pieces.

31.Ne3 Kf7 32.g4!? Kg6!?

32...fxg4 33.f5 Bc8 keeps alive Black's faint hope of bringing about an ending of opposite-colour bishops.

However, after ...

33.gxf5+ Bxf5 34.Nxf5 Kxf5

... Black can still hope for a draw by exchanging off as many pawns as possible, and then somehow sacrificing the black bishop to leave White with rook's pawn and wrong-colour bishop.

35.Kf3 Bf8

White to play and win

*****

36.e6!

Sacrificing White's extra pawn seems the only way to make progress.

36...Kxe6 37.Ke4

Thanks to Black's stifled 4-3 majority, White is effectively still a pawn to the good. The only fly in the ointment, from a White perspective, is that all the white queenside pawns are on the same-colour squares as Black's bishop, and therefore potentially vulnerable.

37...b4 38.f5+ Kf7

Or 38...Kd6 39.Bf4+ etc.

39.Kd5 Bg7!?

This is Stockfish18's top choice, but the position is hopeless for Black. Dragon1 prefers 39...a5.

The game finished:

40.Kxc4 bxa3 41.bxa3 a5 42.a4 Be5 43.Kd3 Bg3 44.Bd8 Be5 45.Bxa5 Kf6 46.Ke4 c4 47.Bd8+ 1-0

Saturday, 14 March 2026

Bad Wörishofen Senioren Round Two

FACED an Austrian.

Robert Hafner (2031) - Spanton (1919)

Colle-Zukertort

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 Nf6 4.b3 Bd6

Throwing in the moves 4...Bb4+ 5.c3, and then 5...Bd6, probably does not make much difference as White will likely want to play c4 at some point anyway.

5.Bb2 0-0 6.Be2 b6 7.Nbd2 Bb7 8.0-0

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

*****

The pawn-structure is symmetrical, and the piece-setup is not far off it. Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 reckon the game is equal.

8...Nbd7 9.c4 Rc8 10.Rc1 Qe7 11.Qc2 c5 12.Rfd1 Rfd8 13.Qb1 h6!?

Possibly a novelty. The engines suggest 13...dxc4, 13...cxd4 or 13...Bb8.

14.h3 Ne4!? 15.cxd5!?

This is the engines' top choice. They reckon 15.Nxe4 dxe4 gives Black at least a slight edge.

15...exd5 16.dxc5!?

Again the pawn capture gets engine approval.

16...Bxc5

The engines are not keen on this, reckoning 16...Ndxc5 keeps White's advantage to a slight edge.

What is Black's threat, and how should White respond?

*****

17.Nd4!?

This is the engines' top choice, although they also quite like 17.Nxe4. White had to be careful, though, as Black threatened 17...Nxf2!

17...Qh4?

Best seems to be the engines' 17...Ne5, but also better than the text are 17...Nd6 and 17...Bxd4!?

18.Nxe4 Qxe4

Worse is 18...dxe4? 19.Nf5.

19.Bd3

Even stronger, according to the engines, is 19.Qxe4!? dxe4 20.Nf5, eg 20...Bf8 21.Rxc8 Bxc8 22.Bb5 a6 23.Bc6 h5 24.g4 hxg4 25.hxg4 g6 26.Bf6 Re8 27.Bxd7 Bxd7 28.Rxd7 gxf5 29.gxf5, when White is a pawn up and with much the better pieces. If 20...f6, then 21.Bc4+ Kf8 22.Be6 Bc6 23.Nd4 Ke7 24.Bg4 is very good for White.

19...Qe8 20.Nf5 Ne5

Not 20...Bf8? 21.Nxh6+!

21.Be2!?

The engines fluctuate between the two bishop retreats.

21...Bf8 22.Qa1!?

The engines like this. It induces a weakening of the black king's position.

22...f6 23.Qb1!? Rxc1!?

Played on the principle that a weak IQP is easier to defend with fewer heavy pieces on the board.

24.Rxc1 Rc8 25.Nd4!? Rxc1+ 26.Qxc1 Qc8 27.Qxc8 Bxc8

How would you assess this minor-piece ending?

*****

The isolated queen's pawn constitutes a major weakness, giving White the upper hand, according to the engines.

28.f4!? Ng6 29.Bf3 Bb7 30.Kf2

In the postmortem RH suggested 30.Nb5, when the engines continue 30...a6 31.Nc7 Bc5 32.Kf1!?, the point being 32...Bxe3 33.Nxd5 Bxd5 34.Bxd5+ Kf8 35.g3 leaves White with the bishop-pair on a relatively open board. The engines reckon Black should prefer 32...Ne7, but agree 33.Bd4!? Bxd4 34.exd4 gives White at least a slight edge.

30...Bc5 31.Ne6 Bd6 32.g3 Ne7 33.Nd4!?

This is better than 33.Nc7 Bc8!?

33...Kf7 34.Nb5 Bb8 35.Ba3

How should Black proceed?

*****

35...Ke6?

Several moves seem to hold, including 35...Bc6 and 35...Bc8.

36.Bg4+

There is no satisfactory reply to this.

36...Kf7

Certainly not 36...Nf5?? 37.Nd4+, while after 36...f5?! 37.Nd4+ Kf6 38.Bxe7+ Kxe7 39.Nxf5+ the bishop-pair is nowhere near enough compensation for being a pawn down and with a continuing weakness at d5.

White to play and gain what is probably a winning advantage

*****

37.Nd6+?

RH rejected 37.Bd6!? because of 37...a6 38.Bxb8 axb5 39.Bc7 Nc8, when 40.Bxc8? Bxc8 41.h4 and 42.Bxb6 wins a pawn, but opposite-colour bishops should save Black. However, White has several improvements at move 40, including 40.Bd7!?, when 40...Bc8 41.Bxb5 Bxh3 leaves the number of pawns equal, but 42.a4!? sets in motion White's newly acquired farside majority, and that wins, according to the engines. Note that 37...Ba6? 38.Bxb8 Bxb5 39.Bxa7 gives White a huge advantage.

37...Bxd6 38.Bxd6

Black to play and draw

*****

38...f5?!

The simple 38...Bc8 gets the bishop-pair off the board, and so draws easily. Other moves also probably hold, according to the engines, including 38...g6, 38...Nc6 and 38...Ke8.

39.Bf3 Ke6 40.Be5

This is a good outpost for the bishop, and meanwhile Black's remaining bishop looks a sorry piece.

40...g6 41.Bg7

White has the upper hand after 41.g4!?, according to the engines. They reckon the reply 41...fxg4!? is almost mandatory, but after 42.hxg4 they are unsure how Black can put up the best resistance, one line running 42...Ba6 43.Ke1 Bb5 44.Bg7 Ng8 45.Kd2 Bd7 46.Kd3, with continuing white pressure.

41...h5!?

This puts another black pawn on the same colour complex as Black's bishop, but now White will find creating a breakthrough on the kingside difficult.

42.Be2 Nc8 43.Be5 Nd6!?

Correctly judging that the good-v-bad bishop ending is drawn.

44.Bxd6

White can hardly hope for winning prospects if the knight is allowed to settle on e4.

44...Kxd6 45.b4 Bc6 46.Ke1 a5 47.a3 axb4 48.axb4 b5!?

Blockading the queenside, but Black's task is made trickier by putting yet another black pawn on a light square

*****

49.Kd2 Bd7 50.Kc3 Kc6 51.Kd4 Kd6
Clearly White's king cannot be allowed access to e5 or c5.

52.Bf3 Be6

52...Bc6!? allows 53.g4, when Black may still be OK, but the defence gets more complicated.

53.Bg2 Bf7 54.Bf1 Be8 55.Be2 Bd7 56.Bd1 Be6 57.Bb3 Bf7 58.Kd3 Be6 59.Bc2 Kc6 60.Kd4 Kd6 61.Bd3 Bd7 62.Kc3 Kc6 63.Kd2 Kd6 64.Ke2 Kc6 65.Kf2 Kd6 ½–½

Tournament hall

Wednesday, 18 February 2026

Weimar Round Four

Ralf Schober (2070) - Spanton (1939)

Bird

1.f4 c5 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 g6 4.Bb5+!?

This is the top choice of Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

4...Bd7

The engines like 4...Nd7!?, although Dragon1 comes to marginally prefer the text.

5.Qe2 Nc6 6.Bxc6!?

This may be a novelty. Only castling is in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.

6...Bxc6 7.Ne5 Qc7 8.b3 Bg7 9.Bb2 Nh6 10.0-0 0-0

With both sides having castled, how would you assess the position?

*****

White has more kingside space; Black enjoys more space on the central/queenside. White has a well-posted knight at e5, but Black's bishop-pair is a genuine asset as the knight is pinned, and so cannot simply chop on c6. The engines give Black a slight edge.

11.d3 f6?!

But this breaks the pin, and so gives up the bishop-pair - probably too high a price to pay for evicting the knight. The engines suggest 11...Nf5, 11...b5 or 11...Rad8, in each case preserving the bishops.

12.Nxc6 Qxc6 13.Nd2 Rae8

White has a slight edge after 13...e5 14.fxe5 fxe5 15.e4, according to the engines.

14.e4 e5

The engines reckon it is better to advance the e pawn only one square as, after the text, Black gets an isolated king's pawn.

15.fxe5 fxe5 16.Rxf8+ Rxf8 17.exd5 Qxd5

Black has a central isolani, which also means an extra pawn-island, and a bad bishop

*****

18.Re1 Re8 19.Qe4 Qxe4 20.Nxe4 b6 21.Nd6 Re7 22.Nc4 Nf7

All black pieces, arguably including the king, are less active than their white counterparts, but the e pawn is not in imminent danger of being captured, which is why the engines give White no more than a slight edge

*****

23.a4 Re6 24.Kf1 Kf8 25.Ba3 Ke8 26.Re2 Kd7 27.Bb2 Kc6 28.h3 Kd5

The black king has been fully activated, helping to overprotect e5, while the white king has hardly moved, leading Stockfish17.1 to call the game equal, although Dragon1 still gives White a slight edge

*****

29.Rf2!?

Positions with a central isolani are usually easier to defend without heavy pieces on the board, but RS could presumably find no other way to try to make progress.

29...Rf6 30.Ne3+ Ke6 31.c4!?

The engines are happy with this. It makes d3 backward, but creates a potential outpost at d5.

31...Rxf2+ 32.Kxf2 h5 33.Nd5 Kd6 34.Nc3 Kc6

Not 34...Ke6? 35.Nb5 a6 36.Nc7+, or 35...a5 36.Nc7+ Kd7 37.Kc7 Ne7+, with White in each case winning at least a pawn.

35.Ne4 Kd7 36.Kf3 Nd8!?

This and 36...a5!? are the engines' top choices, but 36...Nd6!? may also be playable, although Dragon1 is doubtful.

37.Bc3 Ne6 38.g3 Kc6 39.h4 Kd7 40.Ke3 Bh6+ 41.Kf2 Bg7 42.Kf3

The white king's triangulation has brought about the same position as after 39...Kd7, but this time with Black, rather than White, to move. However, that makes no significant difference.

42...Kc6 43.Nf2

How should Black proceed?

*****

43...Kd6

Not 43...e4+? 44.Nxe4 Bxc3 45.Nxc3 Nd4+ as 46.Kf4 Nxb3 47.Kg5 wins easily for White.

44.Ke4 Nf8 45.b4!? Nd7!?

Dragon1 strongly dislikes this. Stockfish17.1 is not so sure, but the engines agree that better is 45...cxb4!? 46.Bxb4 Kc6! 47.Bxf8 Bxf8 as 48.Kxe5 Bd6+ 49.Kf6 Bxg3 50.Ne4 Bxh4 51.Kxg6 is completely equal. But note that the natural-looking 46...Ke6? loses to 47.Nh3!, eg 47...Nh7 (47...Nd7? 48.Ng5+ Kf6 49.Kd5) 48.Ng5+ Nxg5 49.hxg5 Bh8 50.Bf8 Kd7 51.a5! bxa5 52.Kd5 a4 53.c5! Kc7!? 54.c6!? Kc8 55.Ba3 Kd8 56.Ke6 Kc7 57.Kf7 Kxc6 58.Kxg6 Kd5 59.Bb2 Kc5 60.Kh7 e4 61.Bxh8 exd3 62.Bc3 a3 63.g6 a2 64.g7 d2 65.Bxd2 a1=Q, after which, despite queening first, Black has no perpetual, and cannot pick up the loose bishop, and so is lost - a long line, with several hard-to-spot moves, but the engines show much of it is more-or-less forcing.

46.b5 Nf6+ 47.Ke3 Bh6+ 48.Kf3 Ke6 49.a5

How should Black continue?

*****

49...bxa5!?

Possibly best is 49...Bf8, despite this allowing 50.a6, after which Black has to watch out for White sacrificing on c5 or b6 to get the a pawn home.

50.Bxa5

How big is White's advantage?

*****

Dragon1 gives White the upper hand, but it reckons both of Black's most plausible moves, 50...Bf8 and 50...Kd7, leave White exactly 0.75 ahead, which in endings can be a sign that the position should be drawn with best play. Stockfish17.1 gives White a slight edge, which tends to confirm that the game is holdable.

50...Bf8 51.Ne4!?

How should Black respond?

*****

51...Nxe4!

This is best, according to Stockfish17.1, despite giving White a good-v-bad bishop ending. Dragon1 reckons 51...Bd6 is equally good, but Stockfish17.1 disagrees.

52.Kxe4

The key to the ending is whether Black can avoid falling into a zugzwang that either loses a pawn or lets the white king in at d5

*****

52...Bd6 53.Bd8 Bb8 54.Bg5 Bd6 55.Bh6 Be7 56.Bd2 Bd8 57.Be3 Be7

An only-move as 57...Bb6? loses to 58.Bf2 Kd6 59.g4! hxg4 60.Bg3 Ke6 61.Bxe5, eg 61...Bd8 62.Bg3 Bf6 63.Kf4 be7 64.Kxg4, after which Black is a pawn down and still has weaknesses.

58.Bh6 Bd6 59.Bg7 Bc7 60.Bf8 Bd6

Another only-move as 60...Bb6? loses to triangulation, eg 61.Ke3 Kf5 62.Bd6 Ke6 63.Bb8 Kf5 64.Kf3 Ke6 65.Ke4 and 66.Bxe5(+), and if 61...Kf7, then 62.Bd6 Ke6 63.Bb8 wins in the same way.

61.Bh6

Or 61.Bxd6 Kxd6, when the pawn ending is also drawn.

61...Bc7 62.Be3 Bd6 63.Bd2 Bc7 64.Bc3 Bd6 65.Ba5 Bb8 66.Bd8 Bd6 67.Ba5 ½–½

Thursday, 11 December 2025

Lessons From Benidorm IV

MY round-five game, in which I had white against Spanish junior Tarek Kaji Senas (1711), reached an instructive endgame position after 31 moves.

Black has just played 31...Bh2-e5

*****

Material is level and both sides have doubled and isolated queenside pawns, one of which is under immediate threat. White has the only passed pawn, but Black has potential to create a passer on a flank.

Quite often in endgames, such a flank passer appears on the queenside, when it is well-known that its power to divert an enemy king can make it decisive. But that can easily also be the case with a passer on the kingside.

The position in the diagram is completely equal, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1, although their first reaction on being shown it is to slightly favour Black.

I suggest this means that, although theoretically equal, the position is easier for Black to play.

But what would be the verdict if the bishops were removed?

Same position, but without bishops

*****

The position is still completely equal, according to the engines, but it is worth watching them play it out to see why this is the case.

Best play goes something like:*

32.Kf3 Kf7 33.Kf4 Kf6 34.e5+ Ke7 35.b4!? (this freezes Black's queenside pawns, and creates a reserve tempo in the shape of b2-b3) h6 36.h4 g5!? 37.hxg5 hxg5+ 38.Kxg5 Kxe5 39.Kg6 Kd4 40.Kf6 Kc4 41.Ke7 Kxc4 42.Kd7 c5 43.Kxc7 c4 44.Kc6 Kb3 45.Kc5 ½–½

*For most moves there are two or more continuations of equal value, and I have preferred what I reckon to be the most natural, or perhaps most human.

Going back to the first diagram, it might be thought White can draw with 32.Bc3?

After 32...Bxc3 33.bxc3 White's pawn-structure has been improved, but the game is lost.

If it were White to move, the game would be drawn, more-or-less as shown above, but the sequence 32.Bc3 Bxc3 33.bxc3 costs White a tempo, and that it is all it takes to turn a draw into a loss

*****

A likely continuation is 33...g5!? (33...Kf7 also wins) 34.Kf3 h5 35.b4 Kf7 36.e5!? Ke6 37.Ke4.

Black to play and win

*****

37...c5!

After 37...g4 38.hxg4 hxg4 39.Kf4 g3 40.Kxg3 Kxe5 41.Kf3 Kd5 42.Ke3 Kc4 the white king is in time to protect c3 with 43.Kd2, and so the game is drawn.

38.bxc5

After 38.b5 c4 39.Kd4 Black creates a winning kingside passer with 39...g4.

38...c6 39.c4 h4! 40.Kd4 g4 etc.

Again going back to the first diagram, the game continuation was 32.Kf3!? Kf7 (32...Bxb2 33.Bf4) 33.Kg4 Ke6 34.Bf4!? Bxf4 35.Kxf4, resulting in a draw.

The engines reckon White has another draw with 32.Bc1!?

I rejected it for fear of getting into zugzwang, but a sample continuation shows my fear was ungrounded, eg 32...Kf7 33.Kf3 Ke6 34.Bf4, when 34...Bxf4 35.Kxf4 reaches the same drawn position as in the game.

LESSON: 'simple' endings can be just as deep, in their own way, as a middlegame slugfest.

Wednesday, 10 December 2025

League Chess

PLAYED on board five (of eight) for Battersea against East Ham in London League Division Two last night.

Spanton (1904) - Aakarsch Boswan (1982)

Caro-Kann Tartakower

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.Be3!?

This is fourth-most popular in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, but is liked by Stockfish17.1, along with the commonest continuation, 6.c3. Dragon1 likes 6.c3 and 6.h3!?

6...Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.Nf3 Re8 9.0-0

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

*****

Appearances can be deceptive. White has the only pawn on the two central files, which is also the only pawn on a fourth rank, and White, unlike Black, has an undamaged pawn-majority, but the engines reckon the position is equal. Wikipedia tries to explain this paradox by explaining that ...exf6 "offers Black rapid development," which is true, but there is no reason why Black's development should be any more rapid than White's.

9...Nd7 10.c4 Nf8 11.Re1 Bg4 12.Be2!?

This position occurs 13 times in Mega26, but in each case with White to move, when the engines reckon White is slightly better

*****

12...Qd7

White's loss of a tempo gives Black equality, according to the engines, and the text is Stockfish17.1's top choice, although Dragon1 suggests 12...Ne6 or 12...Bb4!?

13.Qd2 Ng6 14.Rad1 Qf5

How should White proceed?

*****

15.c5!

The engines agree this is the only way to avoid a disadvantage.

Disastrous would be 13.h3? Bxh3! as 14.gxh3? Qxh3 wins for Black thanks to the threatened ...Nh4. Also losing is 15.Bd3? Qh5, when White has no good answer to 16...Bxf3, while the immediate 15.d5?!, which, like the text, also aims for central counterplay, is well-met by 15...c5.

15...Bc7 16.d5 cxd5 17.Qxd5 Qxd5 18.Rxd5

Now the queens are off the board, how should Black proceed?

*****

18...Nf4

Black still has kingside pressure.

The main alternative is 18...Be6, when 19.Rd3 Bxa2!? wins a pawn, but 20.b3 traps the bishop. However, after 20...Rad8 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Bc4 Black can try 22...Ne5 or 22...Be5, with an unclear position that Stockfish17.1 reckons gives equal chances, but Dragon1 reckons favours White.

19.Rd2 Nxe2+ 20.Rdxe2 Bxf3!? 21.gxf3

How would you assess this late-middlegame?

*****

White's pawn-minority has been smashed, but that is probably not as serious as it looks as White will in any case be defending on the kingside. Meanwhile White has a healthy farside pawn-majority, which for quite some time Dragon1 reckons gives White an edge, but the engine comes to agree with Stockfish17.1 that the position is equal.

21...Re6 22.Bd2 Rae8 23.Re4 f5 24.R4e3 Be5 25.b4 Bd4 26.Rxe6 Rxe6 27.Kg2?!

Best may be 27.Kf1.

27...Kf8?!

The engines give Black the upper hand after 27...Rxe1 28.Bxe1 Kf8.

28.Rxe6 fxe6

What should White play?

*****

29.f4!

This puts a fifth white pawn on a dark square, which is normally not a good idea in an ending when both sides have dark-square bishops. However, the engines agree f4 is the best move in the position, one point being 29.Kf1 is well-met by 29...e5.

29...Ke7 30.Be3!?

How should Black proceed?

*****

30...Bxe3!?

The engines reckon this results in a completely equal pawn ending, whereas 30...e5!? gives Black at least a slight edge, eg 31.fxe5 Bxe3! (31...Bxe5 is only equal, according to the engines) 32.fxe3 Ke6 33.Kf3 Kxe5, when Black's more-active king makes the black position easier to play, but the game should probably be drawn.

31.fxe3 Kd7?

The engines suggest 31..a6 or 31...b6.

White has one winning move - everything else loses

*****

32.b5!

The plausible 32.Kf3 Kc6 33.a4 loses to 33...a5 (33...Kd5 also wins), while 32.a4 Kc6 leads to similar results.

32...e5!?

Standing pat with, say, 32...Ke7 33.Kf3 Kd7 lets the white king manoeuvre to the queenside and force through a passed pawn, eg 34.Ke2 h6 35.h4 g6 36.Kd3 etc.

33.fxe5 g5

Or 33...Ke6 34.c6 bxc6 35.bxc6, when Black cannot capture on e5.

34.Kf3 h6 35.h3 h5 36.a4 a6!?

Black is lost anyway, eg 36...g4+ 37.hxg4 fxg4 38.Kf4 Ke6 39.a5 Kd7 40.c6+!? bxc6 41.b6 etc.

37.c6+ bxc6 38.bxa6 1-0

The match was drawn 4-4.

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

CLL: Central London League

LL: London League

BCC - Battersea club championship

Monday, 1 December 2025

Benidorm Bali Round Five

FACED a junior (born 2012).

Spanton (1896) - Tarek Kaji Senas (1711)

Spanish Exchange

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bd6

This is fifth-most popular in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.

How should White respond?

*****

8.Nc3

Capablanca played the aggressive 8.f4 in what seems to have been an exhibition game in 1911, but the move is not liked by Stockfish17.1 or Dragon1, and the game was drawn.

8...Ne7 9.Be3 0-0!?

Black often castles long in the Exchange Variation of the Spanish, but the text has a specific idea, namely to speedily fully open the centre for the benefit of Black's bishop-pair.

10.f3

10.f4 has been tried, intending to meet 10...f5 with 11.e5, but the engines reckon Black is slightly better after 10...f6 or 10...Re8.

10...f5 11.exf5

The engines suggest 11.0-0-0, 11.Bf2!? or 11.Bg5!?
11...Nxf5 12.Nxf5 Bxf5 13.0-0-0

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

*****

We have the usual battle in the Exchange Variation of the Spanish between White's superior pawn-structure and Black's bishop-pair. The engines reckon Black is slightly better, or at least has the better part of equality.

13...Rae8 14.Bd2 Rf7

The engines like 14...b5, eg 15.Rde1 Rxe1+ 16.Bxe1 Re8, with a slight edge for Black (Stockfish17.1) or even the upper hand (Dragon1).

15.Rde1 Rxe1+ 16.Bxe1 Re7 17.Bd2

The engines suggest 17.Bg3.

17...Bg6 18.h3

And here they prefer pushing the h pawn two squares.

18...Bg3 19.Rf1 b5 20.a3

The engines suggest 20.Kd1 or 20.b3!?

20...a5 21.Kd1 b4 22.axb4 axb4 23.Na4

How should Black proceed?

*****

23...b3!?

A pawn sacrifice to give the light-square bishop more activity.

24.cxb3 Bd3 25.Rg1 Re2 26.Nc3

Probably not 26.Nc5?!, which works fine after 26...Bf2?? 27.Nxd3, but Black instead has 26...Bb5, when 27.b4 Bh2 28.Re1 Rxg2 wins back the sacrificed pawn, and leaves White with four isolanis, two of which are doubled (and Black still has the bishop-pair). Similarly 27.Ne4 Bh2 28.Rf1 Rxg2 29.Rf2 Rg1+ 30.Kc2 also leaves White in a mess.

26...Rf2

How should White proceed?

*****

27.Ne4

Not 27.Be1?? Bc2+ 28.Kc1 Bf4+.

27...Bxe4 28.fxe4 Bh2 29.Re1 Rxg2

How would you assess this rook-and-bishop ending?

*****

White has four isolanis - two more than Black - but has the only passer. Black has a 2-1 flank majority on the kingside, which could prove powerful in a pawn ending. The engines reckon the game is completely equal.

30.Re2

Passed pawns should be pushed? Not always, even here where the passer is supported by a rook. After 30.e5?! Kf7 31.e6+ Ke7 the pawn is firmly blockaded, and 32.Bb4+? only makes matters worse after 32...Bd6.

30...Rxe2 31.Kxe2 Be5

What should White play?

*****

32.Kf3!?

The engines reckon 32.Bc1!? also draws, but I was afraid of getting into zugzwang. Definitely bad is 32.Bc3? as 32...Bxc3 33.bxc3 leaves Black with an easily won pawn ending - the white king would have to abandon the centre (and the queenside) to deal with Black's coming kingside passer.

32...Kf7

Or 32...Bxb2 33.Bf4 etc.

33.Kg4 Ke6 34.Bf4!?

The pawn ending is drawn as long as Black cannot exchange bishops and immediately occupy e5 with the king, as would be the case after 34.Bc3?

34...Bxf4 35.Kxf4 c5 36.h4 g6

All reasonable moves leave the position completely equal, according to the engines.
37.Kg5 Kxe5 38.Kh6 Kxe4 39.Kxh7 Kf5 40.Kg7 g5 41.hxg5

After 41.h5, White queens first, but Black queens with check, and the position remains drawn.

41...Kxg5 42.Kf7 Kf5 43.Ke7 Ke4 44.Kd7 Kd3 45.Kc6 Kc2 46.Kxc5 Kxb3 ½–½

Saturday, 29 November 2025

Benidorm Bali Round Two

Spanton (1896) - Enrique Martínez Pérez (1726)

Modern/Pirc

1.Nc3 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.d4 c6 4.f4 d6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0

With both sides castling early, how would you assess the position?

*****

White has more space and a slight lead in development, which together give the upper hand, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

7...a5!?

This is Stockfish17.1's top choice, for a while, and is anyway preferred over the much more popular 7...b5, which the engines agree is well-met by 8.e5. Dragon1 also prefers the text over 7...b5, but to a lesser degree, and eventually both engines settle on 7...Nbd7!? as best.

8.a4 Qb6 9.Kh1 Na6 10.Ra3!? Bd7 11.Rb3 Qc7 12.Be3 Ng4 13.Bf1 Nb4 14.Qd2 d5

The engines dislike this, preferring 14...Rad8 or 14...Nf6.

How should White proceed?

*****

15.h3

The engines much prefer 15.e5.

15...dxe4!

This equalises, according to the engines.

16.Nxe4 Nf6 17.Nc5 Bc8

The engines give 17...Bf5!, the point being 18.g4 can be met by 18...Ne4 (not 18...Bxc2?? 19.Rxb4 etc) 19.Nxe4 Bxe4, when they reckon Black is at least slightly better. White should probably play 18.c3, when 18...b6 19.cxb4 bxc5 seems equal.

18.c3 Nbd5 19.f5!?

White gets reasonable compensation for this pawn sac, but I probably should have gone for my other main thought of 19.c4!?, and after 19...Nb4, best may be 20.Ne3.

How should Black respond?

*****

19...b6!?

This zwischenzug is Black's best chance for an edge.

20.Bh2 Qd8 21.Nd3

21.fxg6!? is probably asking too much of the position after 21...bxc5, eg 22.gxh7+ (the engines reckon this is is better than taking on f7) Nxh7 (22...Kh8!?) 23.dxc5 Bf5!? 24.Ne5 Be4!?, with a complicated position that the engines reckon favours Black.

21...Bxf5 22.Nfe5 Ne4!? 23.Qc1 Qc8?!

The engines suggest 23...Rc8 or 23...f6, claiming a slight edge for Black.

24.c4 Nb4 25.Nxb4 axb4 26.g4!? Be6 27.Bf3 Bxe5!?

This looks risky, but Dragon1 reckons it is best. Stockfish17.1 also likes the text, but reckons 27...f6 is as good.

28.Bxe5 Nd6 29.Qh6 f6 30.Bxd6 exd6 31.d5!?

31.Rxb4 regains the pawn and gives complete equality, according to the engines.

31...cxd5 32.cxd5?

Capturing on b4 is best.

Black to play and win

*****

32...Bf7?

Missing 32...Qc4!, forking the white rooks.

33.Rfc1 Qd7 34.Rxb4 Ra5

There seems nothing wrong with 34...Rxa4.

35.Qd2 Rc8?!

Capturing on a4 is still playable, and is better than the text.

36.Rxc8+

Possibly stronger is 36.Rc6!?, with a slight edge, according to Dragon1, although Stockfish17.1 reckons the position is equal.

36...Qxc8 37.Rxb6 Rxa4

How would you assess this late-middlegame?

*****

The engines reckon the position is completely equal.

38.Rc6

Not 38.Rxd6? Ra1+, eg 39.Kg2 Qc5 40.Rd8+ Kg7 41.Qf2 Qc7, and White's rook drops, or 39.Bd1 Qb8! 40.Rxf6 Qb3 etc.

38...Qb8 39.Qc3?

Probably best is 39.Kg2, with equality, according to the engines.

Black to play and win

*****

39...Kg7?

Missing 39...Ra1+, followed by 40...Qa7, eg 40.Kg2 Qa7 41.Kg3 Qg1+ 42.Bg2 Re1 etc.

40.g5 Qd8?

Black has to play 40...Rf4, according to the engines, and after 41.gxf6+ probably has to continue with 41...Kh6!?, as 41...Rxf6 42.b4 gives White a dangerous queenside initiative.

White to play and win

*****

41.gxf6+

This wins a pawn, but not the game, whereas 41.b4! wins comfortably, according to the engines, as Black cannot cope with pressure against f6 and d6 as well as the advancing passed pawn.

41...Qxf6 42.Rxd6 Qd4!

There is no win after this.

43.Kg2 Rb4 44.Kg3 Rc4 45.Qxd4 Rxd4 46.Rd7 Kf6 47.b3 h5 48.h4 Rb4 49.Bd1 Rd4

EMP offered a draw in my time.

50.Bc2 Rxd5!?

The engines do not like this because they do not understand the coming bishop-and-pawn ending. Stockfish17.1 reckons the move gives White the upper hand, while Dragon1 reckons White's advantage after the text is worth more than a rook, but they are both wrong.

51.Rxd5 Bxd5 52.b4

This allows complete equality, but so does 52.Kf4 as Black has 52...Bxb3!, which the Syzygy endgame tablebase confirms is a draw (White's bishop is on the wrong colour complex for promoting an h pawn).

52...g5 53.b5 Bb7 54.Bd1 Kg6 55.Bf3 gxh4+ 56.Kf2 Bc8 57.b6 Kg5 58.Kg2 h3+ 59.Kh2 h4 60.Bd5

EMP offered a draw.

60...Kf5 61.Bc6 Ke5 62.Bd7 Bb7 63.Bxh3 Kd6 64.Bg2 ½–½

Wednesday, 9 April 2025

League Chess

PLAYED on board one (of eight) for Battersea 2 against Hammersmith 4 in London League Division Four last night.

Spanton (1985) - Luke Barron (1992)

Caro-Kann Tartakower

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6

A position that illustrates how chess fashion - and knowledge - continues to change

*****

Not long ago capturing with the g pawn was normal, and deemed to give Black dynamic chances, while the e-pawn recapture was regarded as tantamount to ceding White a major advantage. Now the tables are reversed - 5...gxf6 is a rare visitor to the tournament scene, while the text is all the rage.

6.c3 Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.Ne2 Re8 9.0-0

With both sides having castled, how would you assess the position?

*****

White has more space in the centre, and the better pawn-structure for an ending. But Black's kingside pawn-mass has a double function - it gives the black king extra protection, but can also be used for attacking the white king in conjunction with Back's easy development. Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon equal chances.

9...Bg4 10.Qc2 g6 11.h3 Bd7

The engines prefer 11...Bxe2!?

12.Be3 Na6!? 13.Rae1

Capturing on a6 was a serious option.

13...Nc7 14.Nf4 Ne6 15.Nxe6

How should Black recapture?

*****

15...Bxe6

Not 15...fxe6? 16.Bxg6! hxg6 17.Qxg6+ Kh8 18.Qh5+! Kg8 19.Bh6 with a winning rook-lift to come.

16.c4 Bc7 17.b3 Qd6 18.f4 f5!? 19.Qf2

The position is more critical for Black than it at first appears

*****

19...a5?!

The engines reckon Black holds the balance with immediately active moves such as 19...Rad8 and the pawn-sacrifice 19...b5!? After the latter, play might continue 20.cxb5 Bb6 21.bxc6 Qxc6, when the engines reckon Black has full compensation for a pawn.

How can White take advantage of Black's last move?

*****

20.c5?

The engines give 20.d5! cxd5 21.c5!? Qf8!? 22.Bb5 Re7 23.Bd4 Bd7 24.Rxe7 Qxe7 25.Re1 Qd8 26.a4!?, claiming a slight edge for White.

20...Qd7 21.Rd1?

The engines still like sacing a pawn with d5, although they give Black the upper hand.

21...Bd5

Possibly even stronger is 21...a4.

22.Rfe1 Re7 23.Bd2 Rae8 24.Rxe7 Rxe7 25.Re1 Qe8?!

The engines prefer staying in a more-complex middlegame with 25...Be4.

26.Rxe7 Qxe7 27.Qe2 Be4 28.Bc4 Kf8 29.Qe1 Bd5!? 30.Qxe7+ Kxe7 31.Bxd5 cxd5

How would you assess this bishops-of-the-same-colour ending?

*****

Black has the better bishop, so although White has chances of creating a queenside passer, Black will have counterplay against white pawns fixed on dark squares. The engines reckon the position is completely level.

32.Kf2 h6 33.a3 Ke6 34.b4 b6?

Equal is 34...axb4 35.axb4 b5!?

35.cxb6!? Bxb6 36.bxa5! Ba7

Forced, as 36...Bxd4+? loses to 37.Be3 etc.

How should White proceed?

*****

37.Ke3

It seems this natural-looking move is too slow. Best may be 37.Bb4!? Bxd4+ 38.Ke2 Kd7 39.Kd3 Bb2!? 40.Bc5 Kc6 41.a6! Bc1 42.g3, when Stockfish17 reckons White is winning, although Dragon1 awards 'only' the upper hand. Black could try 39...Bf2, but 40.Bc3 Kc6 41.a6 Bc5 (41...Kb6? 42.Bd4+) 42.a4 looks strong, eg 42...Bf2 43.Bd4 Bh4 44.Be3 Bf6 45.a5, when, although the engines agree White is much better, it is not clear the position is winning.

37...Kd7 38.Bb4 Kc8?!

Probably better are 38...Kc6 and 38...Bb8.

39.Bc5

Possibly better is 39.a6, when the engines continue 39...Bb8 40.Be7!? h5 41.Kf3!? Bc7 42.Bf6 Bd6 43.Kg3!? Bc7 (43...Bxa3? 44.Kh4) 44.Be5, claiming White is winning, although again that is not completely clear.

39...Bb8 40.a6 Bc7 41.Bf8

The engines give 41.Kd2!? Bxf4+ 42.Kc3 Kc7!? 43.Kb4 Kc6 44.a7 Bd2+ 45.Ka4 Kb7 46.Kb5, claiming a slight edge for White.

41...Kb8 42.Bc5 h5 43.h4 Bd8 44.g3 Ba5 45.Bb4 Bd8 46.Kd3 Ka7 47.Kc3 Kxa6 48.Kb3 Bb6 49.Bc3 Kb5 50.a4+ Ka6 51.Kc2 Bd8 52.Bb4 Bb6 53.Kc3 Bd8 54.Kb3 Bb6 55.Bc5 Ba5 56.Bb4 ½–½

Battersea 2 won the match 6-2.
MY BATTERSEA SEASON 2024-5

DATE.....EVENT...........................COL..RATING..OPP'S RATING..SCORE..SEASON PERF

12/9/24..Central London League....W......1933..........1886................1............2286

26/9/24..Central London League....B.......1933..........2112................1............2399

15/10/24.Club Championship.........W......1968..........1578................1............2259*

31/10/24.Central London League...B.......1968..........1867................0...........2061*

19/11/24.London League...............W.......1957..........1991................1............2127*

21/11/24.Central London League...B.......1957..........2035................=............2112*

27/11/24.London League...............W.......1957..........1723................=............2056*

12/12/24.Central London League...B.......1965..........2153................0............2018*

7/1/25.....Club Championship.........B.......1958..........1785................1............2037*

9/1/25.....Central London League...B.......1958..........1851................0............1978

14/1/25....Eastman Cup.................B........1958..........2052................1............2021*

28/1/25....London League..............B........1958..........1766................1............2033*

4/2/25......London League..............B........1980..........1757................1............2043*

6/2/25......Central London League..W.......1980..........1932................0............2006*

11/2/25....Central London League..B........1986..........2178................=............2018*

13/2/25....Central London League.W........1986..........1998................1............2042*

27/2/25....Central London League..B........1986..........1996................0............2015*

13/3/25....Central London League..B........1984..........2286................0............2008*

17/3/25....London League..............W........1984..........1870................0............1980*

3/4/25......Central London League..W.......1985...........2127...............0............1967

8/4/25......London League..............W........1985..........1992................=............1968

*My season's performance is slightly better than this as my win against a 1578 was a 1978 performance, lowering my average despite me winning.

I also scored a default win in a Croydon & District League match.