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 1997, my ECF is 1953 and my ICCF is 2362.

Showing posts with label Central London League. Show all posts

Friday, 8 May 2026

League Chess

FACED a junior (born 2012) on board one (of five) for Battersea 3 against Streatham 2 in Central London League Division Three last night.

Spanton (1939) - Charlie Pearson (2007)

Maróczy Bind

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 d5!?

This is quite a popular alternative to the mainline 8...e5.

How should White respond?

*****

9.cxd5

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 marginally prefer 9.exd5 exd5 9.0-0, but the text has a point that is perhaps not immediately obvious.

9...cxd5??

There are 28 examples of this blunder in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, including by a 2405 and a 2384 (the latter went on to win, albeit both games were at blitz). Black should play 9...exd5 or 9...Bxc3+.

10.Qa4+ Bd7 11.Qxb4 Rb8 12.Qa3 Bc6!? 13.e5!? Ng4 14.Bf4 Qb6 15.0-0 Rb7!?

15...Qxb2 can be answered by 16.Qd6!? and 16.Qxa7, as well as 16.Qxb2.

16.h3 Nh6 17.Rfd1 Qd8!? 18.Qd6!? Qxd6 19.exd6 Rxb2

Black has won a pawn, and has hopes of winning a second, but the engines reckon White's advantage is worth more than a rook

*****

20.Rab1 Rxb1 21.Rxb1 Kd7 22.Bb5 f6 23.Bxc6+ Kxc6 24.Nb5 e5

Not 24...Rb8? as White has 25.Nd4+ (and 25.Nxa7+).

25.Bxh6 gxh6 26.Nxa7 Kxd6 27.Rb6+ Ke7 28.Kf1 Ra8 29.Rb7+ Kd6 30.Rxh7 Kc5 31.Rb7 d4 32.Ke2 e4 33.Kd2 h5 34.h4 f5 35.g3 Rf8 36.Rb5+ Kc4 37.Ke2 Rf7

The engines give 37...f4 38.gxf4 Rxf4 39.Rxh5 d3+ 40.Ke1, when 40...d2+!? 41.Kxd2 Rxf2+ 42.Ke3 Rxa2 leaves White a pleasant choice between saving the knight, and letting it go to get a winning rook-and-pawn ending (it is winning, despite White having a rook's pawn, because Black's king is cut off from interfering with the pawn's progress to h8).

White to play and win

*****

38.Nc8!

38.Ra5 may also win, but is far less convincing.

38...Rf6

This is best, according to the engines.

39.Rb6 Rf8 40.Rc6+ Kd5?!

Allowing a speedy finish.

41.Ne7+ Ke5 42.Ng6+ Kd5 43.Nxf8 Kxc6 44.Ne6 Kd5 45.Nf4 Kc4 46.Kd2 1-0

Streatham 2 won the match 3-2.

My Battersea Season 2025-6

Date Event Colour Rating Opp's Rating Score Season's Perf

16/9/25 CLL W 1936 1952 0 1552

18/9/25 CLL W 1936 1797 = 1675

16/10/25 CLL W 1889 2047 0 1665

23/10/25 CLL B 1889 1823 1 1805

18/11/25 LL W 1891 1980 = 1840

20/11/25 CLL W 1891 1866 1 1911

25/11/25 BCC B 1891 1817 1 1955

9/12/25 LL W 1904 1982 1 2008

16/12/25 LL B 1904 2046 0 1968

18/12/25 CLL B 1904 2066 1 2018

6/1/26 CLL W 1929 2150 = 2066

7/1/26 LL W 1929 1971 = 2058

8/1/26 CLL B 1929 1800? = 2038

13/1/26 LL B 1929 2035 1 2067

27/1/26 LL B 1929 2089 0 2041

29/1/26 CLL B 1929 1882 = 2031

3/2/26 BCC W 1928 1836 1 2043

12/2/26 CDL B 1928 1890 1 2057

25/2/26 LL B 1928 1863 = 2047

26/2/26 CLL B 1928 2015 0 2025

3/3/26 CDL B 1914 1976 1 2043

24/3/26 BCC W 1921 1780 1 2049

26/3/26 CLL B 1921 1942 = 2045

31/3/26 CDL B 1921 2091 0 2030

7/4/26 BCC B 1938 1505* 1 2030

9/4/26 CLL W 1938 2012 = 2029

30/4/26 CLL W 1938 2285 0 2023

7/5/26 CLL W 1939 2007 1 2037

CLL: Central London League

LL: London League

BCC: Battersea club championship

CDL: Croydon & District League

I also have a win-by-default in the Central London League

*A win against a 1505 counts as a 1905 performance, so I have excluded this game from calculating my season's performance as it would lower my average despite me winning.

Friday, 1 May 2026

League Chess

PLAYED on board one (of five) for Battersea against Hammersmith in Central London League Division Two last night.

Spanton (1938) - Tony Niccoli (2285)

Spanish Exchange

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nc3 f6 6.d4 exd4 7.Qxd4 Qxd4 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.Be3 0-0-0

This position occurs 279 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database

*****

10.f3

Long castling was played in 222 of those games.

10...Ne7 11.Rd1

Ruling out castling on the queenside - in fact the plan can be to not castle at all.

11...Ng6 12.Kf2!?

Emanuel Lasker often developed his king this way in the Exchange Variation of the Spanish, the idea being the king is well-placed on f2 to later assist an advance of White's pawn-majority. On the other hand, the absence of the king from c1/b1 leaves the white queenside pawns more vulnerable.

12...Ne5 13.Nb3!?

This may be a novelty, and is not liked by Stockfish17.1 or Dragon1. They suggest 13.h4 or 13.b3.

13...b6 14.h3

Preparing f4, without allowing a black piece to land on g4.

14...Nc4 15.Bc1 Bd6 16.f4?!

But, played this early, the move is probably too loosening.

How should Black exploit White's last?

*****

16...Rde8

Black can seize the initiative with 16...g5!?, when 17.fxg5?! fxg5 gives White an isolani and an exposed king. Better is 17.f5, and the engines suggest 17.Nd4!?, the idea being to meet 17...gxf4 with 18.b3, when 18...Ne5 allows 19.Bxf4, after the engines still much prefer Black, but they reckon even better is 18...Bb4!?, when 19.bxc4 Bxc3 20.Bxf4 equalises the number of pawns, but both 20...Rhe8 and 20...c5 leave Black much better.

17.Rhe1 Bb4 18.Rd3 Re7 19.a3 Bd6 20.Nd2 Bc5+ 21.Kf3 Be6?

Black should swop knights.

How can White exploit Black's last?

*****

22.Nxc4?

Missing 22.Na4!?, after which Black loses the bishop-pair, and contracts tripled c pawns, as 22...Bd6? is met by 23.Nxb6!

22...Bxc4 23.Rdd1 Rhe8 24.Be3 Bd6

Swopping bishops may be better.
25.Bxb6 Bxa3

How should White proceed?

*****

26.bxa3?

This is possibly the worst of the plausible choices. Best is probably the engines' 26.Bxc7!, when 26...Bxb2 27.Ba5!? more-or-less obliges Black to give up the bishop-pair with 27...Bxc3, after which the engines reckon White is at least slightly better. If Black tries to preserve the dark-square bishop with 27...Ba3?, White has 28.Na4!, with very strong play as Black does not seem to have a good answer to the threat of Nb6+, forking king and light-square bishop, eg 28...Bb5 29.Nb6+ Kb7 30.c4.

26...cxb6

Black has lost the bishop-pair, but straightened the queenside pawns, so who stands better?

*****

No one, according to the engines.

27.Rd6 Kc7 28.Red1 Bf7 29.R6d4 Be6!? 30.g4 a5 31.Ne2 Rd7!?
The engines reckon an exchange of rooks favours White.

32.f5!?

The engines prefer 32.Rxd7+ Bxd7, and now 33.f5!?

32...Rxd4 33.Rxd4 Bf7 34.Nf4 b5

Black has a slight edge after 34...g5!? or 34...c5, according to the engines.

35.Nd3 Rd8 36.Ke3 Ba2

Possibly better is 36...Rxd4 37.Kxd4 Kd6, with what the engines agree is complete equality.

37.Nc5 Rd6?

White has at most a slight edge after 37...Rxd4, according to the engines.

38.Rxd6 Kxd6 39.Nb7+ Ke5 40.Nxa5 c5 41.Nb3 Kd6 42.Nd2 Ke5 43.Nf3+ Kd6 44.h4 Bb1 45.Kd3!? b4 46.axb4 cxb4

White to play and maintain a winning position

*****

47.g5?

The simple 47.Nd2 snuffs out Black's counterplay, and, after 47...Ba2, the time is right to play 48.g5.

47...b3

Exploiting White's self-pin at move 45.

48.Nd4

An only-move.

48...bxc2

White to play and draw

*****

49.Nxc2?

White holds with 49.Kd2, eg 49...c1=Q+ 50.Kxc1 Bxe4 51.Kd2 Ke5 52.Ne6, or 49...Ke5 50.Ne6.

Black to play and win

*****

49...Ke5

But not 49...Bxc2+?? 50.Kxc2 Ke5 51.Kd3 Kf4, as 52.gxf6 gxf6 53.Kd4 wins for White, as does 51...fxg5 52.hxg5 Kf4 53.f6.

50.gxf6 gxf6 51.h5 Bxc2+ 52.Kxc2 Kxe4 0-1

TN: "Sorry."

Me: "It was my fault."

Hammersmith won the match 4-1.

My Battersea Season 2025-6

Date Event Colour Rating Opp's Rating Score Season's Perf

16/9/25 CLL W 1936 1952 0 1552

18/9/25 CLL W 1936 1797 = 1675

16/10/25 CLL W 1889 2047 0 1665

23/10/25 CLL B 1889 1823 1 1805

18/11/25 LL W 1891 1980 = 1840

20/11/25 CLL W 1891 1866 1 1911

25/11/25 BCC B 1891 1817 1 1955

9/12/25 LL W 1904 1982 1 2008

16/12/25 LL B 1904 2046 0 1968

18/12/25 CLL B 1904 2066 1 2018

6/1/26 CLL W 1929 2150 = 2066

7/1/26 LL W 1929 1971 = 2058

8/1/26 CLL B 1929 1800? = 2038

13/1/26 LL B 1929 2035 1 2067

27/1/26 LL B 1929 2089 0 2041

29/1/26 CLL B 1929 1882 = 2031

3/2/26 BCC W 1928 1836 1 2043

12/2/26 CDL B 1928 1890 1 2057

25/2/26 LL B 1928 1863 = 2047

26/2/26 CLL B 1928 2015 0 2025

3/3/26 CDL B 1914 1976 1 2043

24/3/26 BCC W 1921 1780 1 2049

26/3/26 CLL B 1921 1942 = 2045

31/3/26 CDL B 1921 2091 0 2030

7/4/26 BCC B 1938 1505* 1 2030

9/4/26 CLL W 1938 2012 = 2029

30/4/26 CLL W 1938 2285 0 2023

CLL: Central London League

LL: London League

BCC: Battersea club championship

CDL: Croydon & District League

I also have a win-by-default in the Central London League

*A win against a 1505 counts as a 1905 performance, so I have excluded this game from calculating my season's performance as it would lower my average despite me winning.

Friday, 10 April 2026

League Chess

PLAYED last night on board one (of five) for Battersea against Railsport in Central London League Division Two.

Spanton (1938) - William Taylor (2012)

Sicilian Bb5(+)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.c3!?

The main moves in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database are 4.Bxc6 and especially 4.0-0.

4...Nf6 5.Qe2 Bg7 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 d5 8.e5 Ne4 9.0-0 0-0

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

*****

White's extra space in the centre may be why Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 give White a slight edge.

10.Nc3!?

This is the main move in Mega26, even though after ...

10...Nxc3 11.bxc3

... White has a backward pawn on a half-open file.

11...Na5 12.Ba3

The position after 11...Na5 is reached 12 times in Mega26, with White trying seven different moves, including the text.

12...Bd7 13.Bd3 Rc8 14.Rfc1

The engines suggest 14.Qe1!?, which protects c3 while keeping the option of kingside play.

14...Nc4 15.Bxc4

The engines give 15.Bc5 b6 16.Bxc4 bxc5!? 17.Bxd5 Bg4, reckoning Black has full compensation for a pawn.

How should Black recapture?

*****

15...Rxc4

The engines agree this is the better move as after 15...dxc4?! White has a freer hand on the kingside, now that the c file is closed.

16.Nd2 Ra4 17.Bb2 Bh6 18.Rd1

I picked up the rook, intending to play 18.Rf1?, but White is in trouble after the reply 18...Qb6, when Black has two major threats: 19...Qxb2 and 19...Bb5.

18...Bxd2

The engines prefer 18...Qc7 or 18...Qc8, with Dragon1 also liking 18...Bg7!?

19.Rxd2 Qa5 20.a3 Qa6 21.Qxa6

The engines reckon it is better for White to keep queens on.

21...Rxa6

How would you assess this late-middlegame?

*****

White has an awful bishop, but it protects important pawns, while the black bishop, although it has lovely diagonals to work on, has no targets. The engines award Black a slight edge.

22.Re1

But the engines strongly dislike this, preferring 22.Bc1!?

22...Rb6 23.f3 Rb3 24.Ree2 Rc8 25.Rf2 h5 26.h4 a5 ½–½

The engines reckon Black has the upper hand. A sample line: 27.Kh2 a4 28.Kg3 Bb5 29.Rd1 Bc4 30.Kf4 f6!? 31.Re1 Rc6 32.Rc1!? Kf8 33.Rcc2 Kf7 34.Rc1 Ke6 34.Rcc2 Kd7 35.Rcd2 Ke6, after which they still give Black at least the upper hand, but Black does not seem to have made any progress, and it may well be progress is not possible.

The match was tied 2.5-2.5.

My Battersea Season 2025-6

Date Event Colour Rating Opp's Rating Score Season's Perf

16/9/25 CLL W 1936 1952 0 1552

18/9/25 CLL W 1936 1797 = 1675

16/10/25 CLL W 1889 2047 0 1665

23/10/25 CLL B 1889 1823 1 1805

18/11/25 LL W 1891 1980 = 1840

20/11/25 CLL W 1891 1866 1 1911

25/11/25 BCC B 1891 1817 1 1955

9/12/25 LL W 1904 1982 1 2008

16/12/25 LL B 1904 2046 0 1968

18/12/25 CLL B 1904 2066 1 2018

6/1/26 CLL W 1929 2150 = 2066

7/1/26 LL W 1929 1971 = 2058

8/1/26 CLL B 1929 1800? = 2038

13/1/26 LL B 1929 2035 1 2067

27/1/26 LL B 1929 2089 0 2041

29/1/26 CLL B 1929 1882 = 2031

3/2/26 BCC W 1928 1836 1 2043

12/2/26 CDL B 1928 1890 1 2057

25/2/26 LL B 1928 1863 = 2047

26/2/26 CLL B 1928 2015 0 2025

3/3/26 CDL B 1914 1976 1 2043

24/3/26 BCC W 1921 1780 1 2049

26/3/26 CLL B 1921 1942 = 2045

31/3/26 CDL B 1921 2091 0 2030

7/4/26 BCC B 1938 1505* 1 2030

9/4/26 CLL W 1938 2012 = 2029

CLL: Central London League

LL: London League

BCC: Battersea club championship

CDL: Croydon & District League

I also have a win-by-default in the Central London League

*A win against a 1505 counts as a 1905 performance, so I have excluded this game from calculating my season's performance as it would lower my average despite me winning.

Friday, 27 March 2026

League Chess

PLAYED on board one (of five) for Battersea 3 against Hackney in Central London League Division Three last night.

Ben Cullen (1942) - Spanton (1921)

Catalan

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Nc3!?

This is third in popularity in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, a long way behind 6.Qc2 and especially 6.Bg2.

6...c6 7.Bg2 dxc4!?

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

8.0-0 0-0

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

*****

Black's extra pawn is not irrelevant, in that White will not find it easy to restore the material balance. But White has a 2-1 majority on the two central files, which might help generate an attack. Equal chances, according to the engines.

9.Qc2 Nbd7 10.Rfd1 Qc7!?

This may be a novelty. The engines prefer the known move, 10...b5, and another possible novelty in 10...a5!? After 10...b5 the engines' main line runs 11.a4 b4 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 Bb7, with what they reckon are still equal chances. After 10...a5!? they are less sure how play should go, but one sharp line runs 11.Ne5!? Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nd5 13.Ne4 Qc7 14.Nd6!? b5 15.b3!? Bxd6 16.exd6 Qxd6 17.bxc4 bxc4 18.e4!? Nb4 19.Qxc4, when they agree White has sufficient compensation for a pawn.

After 10....Qc7!?, how should White proceed?

*****

11.e4

The engines like 11.Bf4 Bd6 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.a4, or immediately 11.a4.

11...e5 12.dxe5

The engines suggest 12.h3!?, 12.b3!? or 12.Ne2!?

12...Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Qxe5 14.Ne2!?
This is Stockfish17.1's top choice; Dragon1 marginally prefers 14.h3!? But if 14.Bf4, then 14...Qh5 seems a good reply.

14...Be6 15.Bc3 Qc7 16.Nd4 Bg4!? 17.f3 Bd7 18.Qe2

The engines prefer 18.f4.

18...b5 19.e5 Nd5

What should White play?

*****

20.Nxb5!?

The engines prefer 20.Kh1, 20.f4 or 20.e6. The text restores material equality, but after ...

20...cxb5 21.Rxd5 b4 22.Be1 Be6 23.Rdd1 Rfd8

... Black's queenside pawn-majority is mobile and advanced.

24.f4 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Rd8 26.Be4 g6 27.Kg2 h5 28.Qc2 Rxd1 29.Qxd1 Qc8!? 30.Bf2 Bc5

The engines give 30...Bh3+ 31.Kh1 c3 with a won game.

31.Bxc5 Qxc5

How should White continue?

*****

32.Qd8+

The engines reckon 32.Qd6! leaves White only slightly worse.

32...Kh7 33.Qd1

If 33.Qf6, then 33...Qc8! gives Black a positionally won game, according to the engines.

33...a5?

Missing a simple tactic.

34.Qxh5+! Kg7 35.Qg5 Qe3 36.Qf6+ Kg8 37.Qd8+ Kg7 38.Qf6+ Kg7 ½–½

Hackney won the match 3.5-1.5.

My Battersea Season 2025-6

Date Event Colour Rating Opp's Rating Score Season's Perf

16/9/25 CLL W 1936 1952 0 1552

18/9/25 CLL W 1936 1797 = 1675

16/10/25 CLL W 1889 2047 0 1665

23/10/25 CLL B 1889 1823 1 1805

18/11/25 LL W 1891 1980 = 1840

20/11/25 CLL W 1891 1866 1 1911

25/11/25 BCC B 1891 1817 1 1955

9/12/25 LL W 1904 1982 1 2008

16/12/25 LL B 1904 2046 0 1968

18/12/25 CLL B 1904 2066 1 2018

6/1/26 CLL W 1929 2150 = 2066

7/1/26 LL W 1929 1971 = 2058

8/1/26 CLL B 1929 1800? = 2038

13/1/26 LL B 1929 2035 1 2067

27/1/26 LL B 1929 2089 0 2041

29/1/26 CLL B 1929 1882 = 2031

3/2/26 BCC W 1928 1836 1 2043

12/2/26 CDL B 1928 1890 1 2057

25/2/26 LL B 1928 1863 = 2047

26/2/26 CLL B 1928 2015 0 2025

3/3/26 CDL B 1914 1976 1 2043

24/3/26 BCC W 1921 1780 1 2049

26/3/26 CLL B 1921 1942 = 2045

CLL: Central London League

LL: London League

BCC: Battersea club championship

CDL: Croydon & District League

I also have a win-by-default in the Central London League

Friday, 27 February 2026

More League Chess

PLAYED on board one (of five) for Battersea against Hammersmith 2 in Central London League Division Two last night.

Tom Townsend (2015) - Spanton (1928)

Spanish Four Knights

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

This is the third-most popular response to the Berlin in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, behind 4.d3 and especially 4.0-0.

4...Bb4 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 d6 7.Ne2!?

This is the top choice of Stockfish17.1; Dragon1 fluctuates between the text and the more common 7.Bg5.

7...Bg4 8.c3

Probably not 8.Ng3?! Nd4.

8...Bxf3 9.gxf3 Bc5 10.d4 Bb6 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.Ng3!?

This seems to be a novelty. The known move is 12.dxe5.

I now picked up my knight, meaning to play 12...Nh5??

*****

12...Nd7!?

TT commented afterwards that, although I had not intended to play the text, it is the correct move in the position, and it does turn out to be Dragon1's top choice. Stockfish17.1 marginally prefers 12...Qd7 or 12...Qe8!?

13.f4 Qf6?

The game is equal after 13...exf4 14.Bxf4 c5!?, according to the engines.

14.dxe5 dxe5?

Hoping for swindling chances, but objectively better is playing on a pawn down after 14...Qe6 15.exd6 cxd6.

15.Qxd7 exf4

How should White proceed?

*****

16.Nf5

Not 16.Ne2?? Qg6+ 17.Kh1 Qxe4+ and 18...Qxe2, but even stronger than the text, according to the engines, is 16.e5!? Qxe5 17.Qf5.

16...Rad8

The engines suggest 16...Rfe8.

17.Qxc6?!

This is good enough for the upper hand, according to the engines, but winning is 17.Qe7 Qg6+ 18.Kh1.

17...Qg5+ 18.Kh1 Bxf2?

'Clever', but not good.

After 18...Qh5, White would have had only one move to keep an advantage

*****

TT said he planned 19.f3?, but that loses to 19...Rd1! Better is 19.Ne7+ Kh8 20.e5, but after 20...Qxe5 Black seems to have at least full compensation for a knight, eg 21.a4 a5 22.Qf3 Qxe7 23.Bxf4 Qxf6, with equality, according to Stockfish17.1, although Dragon1 slightly prefers Black.

However, White has 19.Nh6+!, when taking the knight loses, eg 19...Qxh6? 20.Qxh6 gxh6 21.Rg1+ Kh8 22.Bxf4, after which Black has six isolated pawns, two of which are doubled, giving White an advantage worth more than the knight he has just given back. Instead 19...Kh8 20.e5! Qxe5 21.Qf3!? gxh6 22.Bxf4 leaves a position with material equality, but with White having the upper hand, according to the engines.

Back to the game.

19.Qxc7 Be3

Better is the engines' 19...Rd1!, although 20.Rxd1 Qg4 21.Qxf4! Qxd1+ 22.Kg2 Qg1+ 23.Kf3 keeps a winning advantage, as does 20.Bxf4 Qg4 21.Nd4!

20.Bxe3 fxe3 21.Qxg3 Qxg3

There is nothing better.

22.hxg3 e2 23.Rfe1 Rd2 24.Nd4 Rxb2 25.Rxe2 Rfb8 26.Kg2 Rxe2+ 27.Nxe2 Rb2 28.Kf3 Kf8 29.Nd4 a5 30.a4 Ke7!? 31.Nc6+ Kd6 32.Nxa5 Kc5 33.Ra3 Rb1

Not 33...Rd2?? 34.Nb3+.

34.Nb3+ Kb6

Not 34...Kc4?? 35.Nd2+.

35.a5+ Ka7 36.Nd4 Ka6 37.Nb3 Rf1+ 38.Ke3 f5 39.Nc5+ Ka7 40.a6 g5 41.exf5 Rxf5 42.Ne4 h5 43.Nd6 Rc5 44.Kd4 Re6 45.Nb5+ Ka8 46.a7 h4 47.gxh4 gxh4 48.c4 Rc8 49.Rh3 Rh8 50.c5 Rh7 51.c6 Re7 52.c7

Not 52.Rxh4? Re4+!

52...Rd7+ 53.Kc5 1-0

Hammersmith 2 won the match 3.5-1.5.

My Battersea Season 2025-6

Date Event Colour Rating Opp's Rating Score Season's Perf

16/9/25 CLL W 1936 1952 0 1552

18/9/25 CLL W 1936 1797 = 1675

16/10/25 CLL W 1889 2047 0 1665

23/10/25 CLL B 1889 1823 1 1805

18/11/25 LL W 1891 1980 = 1840

20/11/25 CLL W 1891 1866 1 1911

25/11/25 BCC B 1891 1817 1 1955

9/12/25 LL W 1904 1982 1 2008

16/12/25 LL B 1904 2046 0 1968

18/12/25 CLL B 1904 2066 1 2018

6/1/26 CLL W 1929 2150 = 2066

7/1/26 LL W 1929 1971 = 2058

8/1/26 CLL B 1929 1800? = 2038

13/1/26 LL B 1929 2035 1 2067

27/1/26 LL B 1929 2089 0 2041

29/1/26 CLL B 1929 1882 = 2031

3/2/26 BCC W 1928 1836 1 2043

12/2/26 CDL B 1928 1890 1 2057

25/2/26 LL B 1928 1863 = 2047

26/2/26 CLL B 1928 2015 0 2025

CLL: Central London League

LL: London League

BCC: Battersea club championship

CDL: Croydon & District League

I also have a win-by-default in the Central London League

Friday, 30 January 2026

League Chess

PLAYED on board one (of five) for Battersea against Pimlico 3 in Central London League Division Two last night.

Neil Davies (1882) - Spanton (1929)

Catalan(?)

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 c5 4.c4

It is not easy classifying the opening - a Catalan, or a Tarrasch Defence to the Queen's Gambit? Then again it could be just a Queen's Pawn Game, or arguably all three

*****

For what it is worth, ChessBase classifies the opening as "D30: Queen's Gambit Declined Systems without Nc3."

4...dxc4!?

This capture away from the centre is typical of Open Catalan structures, but also occurs in lines of the Queen's Gambit.

5.Bg2!?

This is more popular in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database than immediately regaining the pawn via 5.Qa4+.

5...Nc6 6.Qa4 Qa5+!?

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer 6...cxd4 or 6...Bd7.

7.Qxa5

Not 7.Nc3? Qxa4 8.Qxa4 cxd4, when Black is two sound pawns up.

7...Nxa5 8.Nc3 Bd7

Guarding against Nb5, but the engines prefer the apparent-novelty 8...Nf6!?, meeting 9.Nb5 with 9...Nd5, and if 10.e4?, then 10...a6 is very good for Black.

How should White proceed?

*****

9.0-0

The engines give another apparent-novelty in 9.d5!?, claiming White has a slight edge, or at least the better part of equality.

9...Nf6 10.Rd1!?

This seems to be an improvement on the known-move 10.Bd2.

10...Be7 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Ne5 Bc6

The engines suggest 12...Rd8.

13.Nxc6 Nxc6

How would you assess this late-opening/early-middlegame position?

*****

Black is up a pawn, but according to the engines this is more than offset by White's bishop-pair and slight lead in development.

14.Bg5 Rd8

The engines prefer 14...Rc8!?

15.Bxc6+ bxc6 16.Rxd8+ Kxd8 17.Ne4

White has cashed in the bishop-pair to mangle Black's pawn-structure and gain an initiative.

17...Be7 18.Nxf6 gxf6

Probably not 18...Bxf6?! 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Rc1, when White will regain his missing pawn, and be left with two -pawn-islands against Black's four.

19.Be3 Kc7 20.Rc1

Not 20.Bxa7?? c5.

20...Rb8 21.Rxc4 Rxb2 22.Ra4

How should Black proceed?

*****

22...Rb7?

Rook passivity in an ending should be a last resort. Black has two perfectly reasonable moves in 22...Rxe2 and 22...c5!? The point about the latter is that if White goes after the black kingside with 23.Rh4?! Rxe2!? 24.Rxh7, the Black c pawn becomes dangerous following 24...c4, and if 23.Rxa7+, then 23...Rb7 is completely equal, according to the engines.

23.Rh4 Rb2

This comes to be Stockfish17.1's top choice, but the engines agree White is winning, or at least has the upper hand, whatever Black plays.

24.Ra4?

After 24.Rxh7 Black is in big trouble, eg 24...Rxa2 25.Rxf7 Kd6 26.h4, when White's passed pawn is much quicker than either of Black's passers.

24...Rb7? ½–½

Pimlico 3 won the match 3.5-1.5.

My Battersea Season 2025-6

Date Event Colour Rating Opp's Rating Score Season's Perf

16/9/25 CLL W 1936 1952 0 1552

18/9/25 CLL W 1936 1797 = 1675

16/10/25 CLL W 1889 2047 0 1665

23/10/25 CLL B 1889 1823 1 1805

18/11/25 LL W 1891 1980 = 1840

20/11/25 CLL W 1891 1866 1 1911

25/11/25 BCC B 1891 1817 1 1955

9/12/25 LL W 1904 1982 1 2008

16/12/25 LL B 1904 2046 0 1968

18/12/25 CLL B 1904 2066 1 2018

6/1/26 CLL W 1929 2150 = 2066

7/1/26 LL W 1929 1971 = 2058

8/1/26 CLL B 1929 1800? = 2038

13/1/26 LL B 1929 2035 1 2067

27/1/26 LL B 1929 2089 0 2041

29/1/26 CLL B 1929 1882 = 2031

CLL: Central London League

LL: London League

BCC: Battersea club championship

I also have a win-by-default in the Central London League

Friday, 9 January 2026

More League Chess

PLAYED on board one (of five) for Battersea 3 against West London in Central London League Division Three last night.

James Regan (unrated) - Spanton (1929)

Sicilian Delayed Wing Gambit

1.e4 c5 2.a3!?

There are more than 4,800 examples of this move in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.

2...Nc6 3.b4!?

A position occurring 1,129 times in Mega26

*****

3...cxb4

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer 3...Nf6!?, eg 4.b5 Nd4 5.c3 Ne6 6.e5 Nd5, claiming a slight edge for Black.

4.axb4 Nxb4 5.c3 Nc6 6.d4

For a pawn, White has space and open lines - fair compensation, according to the engines

*****

6...d5 7.exd5 Qxd5 8.Na3 Bf5

This and 8...Nf6? are equally popular, but the latter runs into 9.Nb5, when the commonest continuation, 9...Qd8?!, is probably another mistake as White has 10.d5, with Bf4 to come.

9.Nb5 Rc8 10.Nxa7! Nxa7

Marcelo-Rafael Ortali (2041) - Rainer Siegmund (2149), Arvier (Italy) 2005, saw 10...Ra8?! 11.Nb5, when Black, presumably realising that 11...Rxa1?? loses to 12.Nc7+, and that 11...Qe4+ is met by 12.Be3, settled for 11...Rc8, but lost quickly: 12.Be2 e5?! 13.Ra8! Qd8 14.Rxc8 Bxc8 15.d5 Nb8 16.d6 Na6 17.Bc4 Nf6 18.Nf3 Bg4 19.Nxe5! 1-0.

11.Rxa7 e5 12.Nf3 exd4

This has been played by a 2689, but the engines prefer 12...Nf6!?

13.Nxd4

The engines reckon 13.Qxd4 gives White at least a slight edge.

13...Bc5?

Magnus Carlsen (2837) - Ernesto Inarkiev (2689), World Blitz Championship (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) 2017, went 13...Bd7 14.Nb5!? Qxd1+ 15.Kxd1 Bc6?! 16.Bd3 Bc5 17.Re1+ Ne7 18.Ba3 Bxa3 19.Rxa3 Rd8, with an equal game, according to the engines (but 1-0, 27 moves).

How should White proceed?

*****

14.Bb5+

The engines suggest the strong novelty 14.Nxf5!, when 14...Bxf2+? fails to 15.Kxf2! Qxd1 16.Bb5+ Qd7 17.Rxb7!, while 14...Qxd1+ 15.Kxd1 Bxa7 can be met by 16.Nd6+ Kd7 17.Nxf7 etc.

14...Kf8!?

14...Bd7 is also fine for Black.

15.Ba3?

Capturing on f5 is still the way to go, but now gives only equality, according to the engines, eg 15.Nxf5! Qxd1+ 16.Kxd1 Bxa7 17.Ba3+ Bc5 18.Nd6! Rc7 19.Ne8!?, when Black has to either return the exchange or allow a draw by repetition. That is a tricky line to visualise, but also better than the text, according to the engines, is 15.Ra4!?

What should Black play?

*****

15...Qe4+?

Dániel Kéméndi (1893) - András Bakos (1934), Hungarian Team Championship 2023, went 15...Bxa3 16.Rxa3 Qxg2, when Black had won a pawn, and went on to win the game.

16.Kf1!? Bxa3 17.Rxa3 Nf6 18.f3 Qf4 19.Ne2 Qc7 20.Nd4 Qf4

The engines reckon Black is slightly better after 20...Bg6.

21.Ne2 Qc7 22.Nd4

I announced I was claiming a draw as my next move would be:

22...Qf4 ½–½

Battersea 3 won the match 3.5-1.5 (West London defaulted on bottom board).

My Battersea Season 2025-6

Date Event Colour Rating Opp's Rating Score Season's Perf

16/9/25 CLL W 1936 1952 0 1552

18/9/25 CLL W 1936 1797 = 1675

16/10/25 CLL W 1889 2047 0 1665

23/10/25 CLL B 1889 1823 1 1805

18/11/25 LL W 1891 1980 = 1840

20/11/25 CLL W 1891 1866 1 1911

25/11/25 BCC B 1891 1817 1 1955

9/12/25 LL W 1904 1982 1 2008

16/12/25 LL B 1904 2046 0 1968

18/12/25 CLL B 1904 2066 1 2018

6/1/26 CLL W 1929 2150 = 2066

7/1/26 LL W 1929 1971 = 2058

8/1/26 CLL B 1929 1800? = 2038

CLL: Central London League

LL: London League

BCC: Battersea club championship

I also have a win-by-default in the Central London League