Bad Wörishofen Senioren Round Five

FACED a Norwegian.

Spanton (1919) - Jan Vidar Vestly (2027)

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Qe2+!?

A rare continuation. Normal are 6.c5 and especially 6.Nc3.

How should Black reply?

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6...Qe7

Stockfish171. and Dragon1 suggest 6...Be7!?, the idea being presumably to show White's queen is misplaced.

7.c5 Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 Be7 9.Nc3!?

This may be a novelty. The engines prefer it over the known 9.Bf4.

9...b6?!

This is a thematic response to an early c5 in positions with pawns on d4 and d5 (just as b3 is a thematic response to an early ...c4 in such positions). However, here it is doubtful because it allows White an expansive but apparently sound continuation. Instead of the text, the engines suggest 9...c6 or 9...0-0, but award White a slight edge.

10.Bf4
Even stronger, according to the engines, is 10.Nb5 Na6 11.c6!?

10...c6

The engines give 10...bxc5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Bxc7, claiming a slight edge for White.

11.b4 a5 12.b5!? bxc5

White to play and gain a large advantage

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13.0-0?!

Almost certainly too slow. Instead 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.0-0 gives at least the upper hand, according to the engines, which reckon Black has to play 14... cxb5!? 15.Bxb5+ Ke7!?, which gives White tremendous compensation for a pawn. But even stronger seems to be 13.Na4!?, threatening 14.Nb6. Black can defend with 13...Nfd7!?, but 14.dxc5!? is very hard to meet, eg 14...Bxc5 15.0-0 Be7 16.Rac1 leaves White with a winning position, according to the engines. Perhaps Black should prefer 14...0-0, but 15.Nd4 is good, eg 15...cxb5 16.Nxb5 Nc6 17.Rc1, when material is equal, but the engines again reckon White is winning. At move 13, rather than meet 13.Na4!? with 13...Nfd7, Dragon1 suggests 13...Bd8, but 14.dxc5 restores material equality, leaving White with a large lead in development.

13...c4!

Establishing a protected passed pawn and interfering with the ability of White's light-square bishop to play on the queenside.

14.Na4

This is still Dragon1's top choice. Stockfish17.1 suggests 14.a3 or 14.a4.

14...Nfd7?!

Probably better is getting on with development with 14...Bf5.
15.Rab1

The engines suggest 15.b6 or 15.Rfe1.

15...0-0 16.Bxb8!?

This may be best.

16...Nxb8

Not 16...Rxb8? 17.bxc6.

17.bxc6?

This gives Black too many options. Correct is 17.Nb6 Ra7 18.bxc6, when 18...Nxc6?! allows 19.Nxd5, after which White may even be slightly better. However, Black has 18...Be6 19.Ne5, with an unclear position, but one that seems to favour Black, eg 19...Rd8 20.Bf3 (Dragon1 likes the piece sacrifice 20.Bxc4!?, but it is far from clear it works) Na6 21.Rfd1 g6!?, when the engines give Black the upper hand.

17...Nxc6 18.Nb6 Bf5!? 19.Nxa8 Bxb1 20.Rxb1 Rxa8

Complications are over, and Black has emerged a protected passed pawn to the good

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Not only that, but d4 is weak, and opposite-colour bishops favour Black.

21.Rb6 Rc8 22.Kf1?!

Probably better is 22.Bd1, but 22...c3!?, with the threat of ...Nb4, decides matters.

22...Nb4 23.a3 c3!? 0-1

Crucifix near Eichwald

Close-up of an accompanying display of local stuffed birds

Openings From Weimar III

I HAVE had the position after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 60 times as White.

In the vast majority of those games Black has replied with 4...Nf6 or 4...Bd6.

But in round three of the Thuringia seniors' championships, my opponent, Kurt Wiest (1800), preferred 4...Nc6, which I faced twice in 2024, three times 2025, and twice already this year.

The move is not new - it goes back to at least 1849 - but I suspect its sudden relative prominence must be the result of being recommended recently in a book or magazine, or online.

How should White respond?

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Capablanca in a 1901 game chose 5.Bd3, which has also been played by Kramnik and Anand, even though it allows the irritating 5...Nb4.

Anand is apparently the only one of the three to have actually faced 5...Nb4, and he replied with the slightly surprising 6.Bb5+.

After the further moves 6...c6 7.Ba4, Viswanathan Anand (2751) - Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa (2746), London WR Masters 2024, went 7...a5 8.a3 Na6 9.c3 Bd6 10.0-0 Ne7 11.Bc2 Bf5 12.Bxf5 Nxf5 13.Re1+ Ne7, when Dragon1 gives White a slight edge, but Stockfish17.1 calls the game equal (½–½, 48 moves).

More popular in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database is the move I played, 5.Bb5, to which KW replied with the commonest continuation, 5...Bd6.

After the further moves 6.0-0 Ne7 7.Re1 0-0 the engines, as is often the case with the Exchange Variation of the French, reckon the position is equal.

What else is there?

First, it should be noted that 5.Ne5 is simply bad as 5...Qe7 wins a pawn.

Dragon1 suggests 5.c3, preparing Bd3, or developing the bishop more modestly with 5.Be2.

Stockfish17.1 likes 5.Bb5 and 5.Nc3, but without awarding White anything but a token advantage.

The move 5.c4, which is played early in many modern treatments of the French Exchange, can be effectively answered with 5...Bb4+, when 6.Nc3 Nf6 (the engines slightly prefer this over the more popular 6...Nge7) appears to give Black at least equality.

The bottom line seems to be that whatever hopes White can realistically expect from 1.e4 e6 2.exd5, a theoretical opening advantage is not among them.

Weimar Round Three

Spanton (1939) - Kurt Wiest (1800)

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bb5!?

This is easily the commonest continuation in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.

5...Bd6 6.0-0 Ne7 7.Re1 0-0

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

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The game looks fairly equal to the naked eye, and that is how Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 evaluate it.

8.Bg5 Bg4 9.c3 Qd7!?

This seems to be a novelty. The engines prefer the known 9...f6, but they also like another apparent-novelty in 9...Qc8!?

10.h3 Bh5

And here the engines reckon Black ought to play 10...Bxf3 or 10...Be6.

How should White proceed?

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11.g4?

The engines give 11.Ne5!, eg 11...Bxd1? 12.Nxd7 Rfd8 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Bxe7. Better is 11...Bxe5, but then 12.Qxh5 Bd6 13.Bd3 g6 (13...h6 14.Nd2!?) 14.Qf3 is good for White.

How should Black meet the inferior g4?

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11...Bxg4!?

Also possible is 11...Bg6, as long as 12.Ne5 is met by 12...Qc8 or 12...Bxe5, and not, for example, by 12...Qd8?, when 13.Bxc6 leaves Black with nothing better than 13...f6!? 14.Nxg6 hxg6 15.Ba4 fxg5.

However, the engines' 11...f6!? may be best, eg 12.Bh4 Be8!? 13.Bg3 f5, when the white king's position looks decidedly shaky.

12.hxg4 Qxg4+ 13.Kf1 Nf5

White's king escapes to the queenside after 13...Qh3+ 14.Ke2.

14.Nbd2 Qh3+!?

Stockfish17.1 is not keen on this, but it is Dragon1's equal-top choice at first. However, possibly ...R(either)e8 is best, eg 14...Rae8 15.Be3 Qg2 16.Kd3 Qg6 17.Ke2, when Black can settle for a repetition with 17...Qg2, or try for more with 17...Bf4. That is why the engines suggest 15.Bd3, when Black can take a draw with 15...Qh3+ 16.Kg1 Qg4+ etc, or again try for more, one line running 15...h6 16.Rxe8 Rxe8 17.Bxf5 Qxf5 18.Be3 Qh3+ 19.Ke2 (19.Kg1?? Re6 etc) Qe6, with equal chances, according to the engines.

15.Ke2 Ng3+?

This works in some lines, but not here. Instead, 15...Rae8+ 16.Kd3 leaves Black slightly worse, according to the engines, but enjoying much the safer king in continuing complications.

16.fxg3 Rfe8+ 17.Be3 Rxe3+!?

This may be best, but White is winning.

18.Kxe3 Re8+ 19.Ne5 Bxe5

What should White play?

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20.dxe5?

Both 20.Bxc6 and 20.Qf3 leave White with a substantial advantage.

20...Rxe5+ 21.Kd3?

White still has an edge after 21.Ne4!, eg 21...Rxe4+? 22.Kd2. However 21...Qh6+! is much less clear, eg 22.Kd3 dxe4+ 23.Kc2 Rxb5.

21...Qf5+

Black is winning

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22.Ne4 Rxe4?

The wrong way to capture. After 22...dxe4+ 23.Kc2 Rxb5 Black has three pawns for the exchange, and a continuing attack.
23.Rxe4?

The engines agree White is winning after 23.Kd2! as Black does not have enough for a rook, even though the extra rook is out of play for the present.

23...dxe4+ 24.Kc2?!

Objectively bad, but 24.Kc4 concedes a draw after a series of only-moves, viz 24...Qe6+ 25.Qd5 Ne5+ 26.Kd4 Nf3+ 27.Kc4 and 27...Ne5+ or 27...Nd2+.

24...Qxb5

Black has emerged from the complications with three pawns for the exchange

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25.Qf1!? Qg5

After 25...Qxf1 (Dragon1's second choice, at least for a while), Black is better, but much less so than after 25...Qc5, according to the engines. They reckon the text also keeps an advantage, but again less so than after 25...Qc5, when the knight threatens both ...Nb4+ and ...Nd4+.

26.Re1 Qg6?!

Black should probably settle for 26...Qxg3 27.Rxe4 Qg6! 28.Qd3 f6, with at least the upper hand, according to the engines.

27.Qb5?

As Dutch player Stef van Kesteren pointed out when we looked at the game later, 27.Qf4 is good, giving complete equality, according to the engines.

27...e3+?

27...Qxg3 28.Rxe4 Qg6! is very similar to the note at move 26, and transposes after 29.Qd3 (29.Qd5 may be a marginal improvement).

28.Qd3 Qxd3+

The engines fluctuate between this and 28...Qf6, but, either way, White wins the e pawn.

29.Kxd3

How would you assess this rook-v-knight ending?

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Black, temporarily, has three pawns for the exchange, but that will soon be reduced to two. A knight and two pawns for a rook is not a material disadvantage by most -point-count systems. Indeed, since computer analysis seems to put a minor piece's average value at 3.25 points, Black could even be thought to have a slight material edge. But this is an ending, which is when rooks are usually strongest, so it is perhaps not surprising that the engines give White the upper hand.

29...Ne5+ 30.Kxe3 f6

The engines much prefer 30...Kf8!?

KW offered a draw.

31.Ke4

Even stronger is 31.Rd1, getting the rook into Black's position, and not worrying about 31...Nc4+ as the rook will wreak havoc against the black queenside.

31...Kf7 32.Rd1 Ke7

The king is in time to keep the rook out, but White can continue probing.

33.Rd5 Nd7 34.Rh5 h6 35.Rh2 c6 36.Rd2 g6 37.c4

The engines do not like this, suggesting 37.b4!?, 37.Re2 or 37.Kd4.

37...f5+

The engines suggest 37...a5 or 37...h5.

38.Kf4 Ke6?

They still prefer ...a5. After the text, which is Dragon1's second choice for a while, the rook can enter Black's position.

39.Re2+ Kf7

Or 39...Kf6 40.Re8.

40.Rh2 Kg7

40...h5 may be the lesser evil, but 41.Rd2, as in the game, is strong.

41.Rd2 Nf6 42.Rd8 b5

This does not help, but Black is lost anyway.

43.Ra8 bxc4 44.Rxa7+ Kg8 45.Ra6

Not 45.Rc7?? Nd5+.

45...Nd5+ 46.Ke5 Nb4 47.Rb6 Nd3+

After 47...Nxa2 48.Rxc6, the other c pawn also falls.

48.Kf6 f4!?

Perhaps the best try - White can still go wrong.

49.Rb8+Kh7 50.Rb7+ Kg8 51.gxf4

Not 51.Kxg6? as 51...Ne5+ draws, eg 52.Kf5 f3 53.Kf6 (53.Kxe5?? f2) f2 54.Rb8+ Kh7 55.Rb7+ Kg8 56.Rb8+ etc.

51...Nxf4 52.a4 g5 53.Kf5 Nd5 54.a5 Ne3+ 55.Kg6 1-0

Miniatures 23

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

Spanton (151 BCF) - David Sands (191 BCF)

Highbury (London) Rapid 1990

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be3 Bd6 7.Nc3 Nge7 8.h3 Bh5 9.g4!? Bg6 10.h4!?

Not in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database. Known moves are 10.Bxg6, 10.Qd2, 10.a3 and 10.Ng5?!

How should Black proceed?

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10...Qd7

This is best, according to Stockfish17, although Dragon1 prefers 10...Bxd3 11.Qxd3, and then 11...Qd7.

11.Rg1 0-0-0 12.h5 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 f5! 14.gxf5 Nb4

What should White play?

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15.Qd2?

White had to play 15.Qe2, covering f3 as well as c2. If Black replies, as in the game, 15...Qxf5, White has 16.0-0-0 with what the engines reckon is an equal game.

15...Qxf5 16.Nh4?

This makes it easy for Black, but if 16.Ke2, then 16...Rhf8, eg 17.Ne1 Qxh5+ 18.Kf1 Nf5 19.Nd1 Rde8 20.c3 Nc6, after which Black is 'only' a pawn up, but according to the engines has an advantage worth much more than a rook.

16...Nxc2+ 17.Kd1 Nxe3+ 18.Qxe3 Qxh5+ 19.Nf3 Rhf8 0-1

LESSON: the vulnerability of hangers, ie pieces that are unprotected, is often the basis of a combination.

Kidlington U2000 Round Five

Spanton (1929) - Jeffrey Bryant (1745)

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bd3!?

The main move in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database is 5.Bb5!?

5...Nb4 6.Be2 Bd6

If 6...Bf5, then 7.Na3, with c3 to come.

7.a3 Nc6 8.c4!? dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nge7?

Sensible is 9...Nf6.

How should White proceed?

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10.Ng5

Crude, but effective.

10...0-0 11.Qh5

Black has no good way to defend both h7 and f7.

11...Bf5

Much worse is 11..h6?

12.Nxf7 Rxf7

Slightly less ruinous is the engines' 12...Bb4+!? 13.axb4 Qxd4, when White needs to find 14.Qe2! to maintain a large advantage.

13.Qxf7+ Kh8

White is the exchange and a pawn up, but is uncastled and well behind in development - indeed White has only one move that keeps a winning advantage

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14.Bg5

Winning is 14.Bh6!!, when 14...gxh6?? allows 15.Qf6#, while 14...Qf8 15.Qxf8+ Rxf8 16.Be3 sees White consolidate his material advantage.

14...Bg6 15.Bxe7 Bxf7

The engines prefer 15...Nxe7!?, claiming Black has full compensation for being down the exchange and a pawn.

16.Bxd8 Bxc4 17.Nd2 Bd3 18.Bxg5 Nxd4

Black has won back the pawn, and now 19.Nf3 Nc2+ 20.Kd2 Nxa1 21.Kxd3 Nb3 wins back the exchange, after which the engines reckon 22.Re1 gives White a slight edge.

19.0-0-0?? Ne2#

Cap Negret Round Six

Spanton (1896) - Josep Fernández Pérez (1801)

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.c4!?

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 slightly prefer this over the more popular 5.Bd3, and the text scores 14 percentage points higher in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.

How should Black respond?

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5...c6

This is Dragon1's top choice, but Stockfish17.1 favours 5...Nf6.

6.Nc3 Ne7!?

The idea of this passive-looking placement of the king's knight is to meet Bd3 with ...Bf5, in order to swop light-square bishops, which generally speaking should benefit Black when pawns are fixed on d4 and d5, as in the diagram.

7.Bd3 0-0!?

The main move is 7...dxc4, giving White an IQP with tempo.

How should White proceed?

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8.0-0

Not 8.Bxh7+?? Kxh7 9.Ng5+ Kg8 10.Qh5 as Black has the winning 10...Bf5.

8...Bf5!?

Thematic, and it has been tried by players rated over 2400, but there is a problem with the move on this occasion.

9.Bxf5 Nxf5 10.Qd3
This is the engines' second choice, but it seems to be a novelty, probably because most players have preferred 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Qb3.

10...g6

The engines suggest 10...Qd7 or 10...Ne7.

11.c5

Swoping on d5 is still the way to go, followed by 12.Qb5.

11...Be7 12.Bf4 Na6 13.h3 Nc7 14.b4 Ne6 15.Be5 Bf6 16.a4?

Better is 16.Rfe1.

16...Bxe5 17.Nxe5

If 17.dxe5, then 17...a5!

How should Black proceed?

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17...f6?

Black wins an important pawn with 17...Nfxd4, as attempting to trap the knight with 18.g4? only leaves matters worse after 18...f6.

18.Nf3 Qd7 19.b5 Rab8

The engines reckon Black, rather than defend the queenside, should go for counterplay on the kingside with 19...Nf4 or 19...Rae8.

20.Rfb1 Qc7 21.Rb4

The engines prefer 21.a5, and if 21...Qf4, then 22.Rd1 or 22.Kf1. The point about 22.Kf1 is that 22...Nfxd4?? fails to 23.Rb4 as ...Nxf3 does not come with check.

21...Qf4?!

This threatens 22...Nxc5, but that is easily countered.

It seems Black can more-or-less equalise by instead playing 21...a5!, coming at a time when White cannot gain advantage from opening the b file, eg 22.bxa6 bxa6 23.Rab1 Rxb4 24.Rxb4, and now 24...Re8!? or 24...Ng5!?, with serious kingside counterplay, one point being 24...Re8!? cannot be met by 25.Qxa6? as Black has 25...Nexd4!, when 26.Nxd4?? runs into 26...Re1+. After 24...Ng5!? 25.Nxg5 fxg5, the engines reckon White can play 26.Qxa6, but 26...Qf4 draws, eg 27.Qd3 Qc1+ 28.Kh2 Qf4+ etc, or 28.Nd1 Re8, with strong play for Black.

22.Rab1 a5

This comes to be Dragon1's top choice, at least for a while, but 22...Qc7 may be better.

23.bxa6 bxa6 24.Ne2!?

The key move, protecting d4 with tempo, leaving the white queen free to capture on a6.

24...Qc7 25.Qxa6 Ra8 26.Qd3 Rfb8 27.Rxb8+ Rxb8 28.Rab8+ Qxb8 29.a5 Nc7 30.Nd2

The engines prefer kingside play, eg 30.g4!? Ng7 31.g5!?, when Black has to worry about the king as well as about the a pawn queening.

30...Qb5 31.Qxb5

How should Black recapture?

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31...Nxb5?!

The engines strongly prefer creating a rival passed pawn with 31...cxb5.

32.Nb3 Nc7 33.Kf1 Ne7 34.Nc3 Nc8

The engines prefer activating the king.

35.Ke2 Kf7 36.Kd3 Ke6 37.Na2 Na6 38.Nd2 Na7 39.Nb1 Kd7 40.Na3 Kc7 41.Kc3 Kb7 42.Nb4 Nc7

The engines agree this is much better than swoping a pair of knights.

43.Nbc2?!

It seems this knight should have been left where it was to keep the black king out of a6.

43...Ka6

Now the black king is blockading the passed pawn, how would you assess the position? 

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Completely equal, according to Stockfish17.1, although Dragon1 gives White a token edge of about 0.1.

44.Kb4 Ncb5?!
Now White is back in business. Instead 44...Ne6 maintains equality, according to the engines.

45.Nb1 Kb7 46.Nd2 Nc8 47.Nf3 Ka6 48.Ne3

The engines reckon 48.g4!? gives at least a slight edge.

48...Ne7 49.g4

A move too late, apparently, as Black can now gain complete equality, according to the engines, although their assessment of other moves fluctuates. However it is possible 49.Ng4 or 49.Nc2!? is better.

49...h6

This may be enough for a draw, but the engines reckon 49...g5 virtually guarantees it.

50.Nc2 Nc7

Temporising with the king may be better.

51.Nfe1

51.Ka4 gives at least a slight edge, according to the engines.

51...Ne6 52.Nd3 g5!?

Dargon1 prefers temporising with the king, or pushing the h pawn, but Stockfish17.1, although at first sceptical, comes to be fine with the text..

53.Ka4 Nc7?

But this is a mistake. Instead 53...Kb7 seems to hold, although Dragon1 is less sure than Stockfish17.1.

54.f4

This seems enough for at least the upper hand, and is probably winning, but 54.Ndb4+ Ka7 55.Ne3 Kb7 56.f3!? Ka7 57.a6! definitely wins, according to the engines, eg 57...Nxa6 58.Nf5! Nxb4 (58...Nxf5 59.Nxc6+) 59.Nxe7 Nc2 60.Nxc6+ etc.

54...Nb5?

This makes it relatively easy. 54...Ng6 is trickier, but Stockfish17.1's 55.f5!? seems to win, although Dragon1 for quite some time disagrees, the main line running 55...Nf4 56.Nxf4 gxf4 57.Ne1 (Dragon1 now agrees White is winning) Nb5 58.Nf3 Nc3+ 59.Kb4 Ne4 60.h4 Ka7 61.Kb3 Ka6 62.Kc2! Kxa5 63.Nd2 Ng3 64.Kd3 Kb4 65.g5! hxg5 66.hxg5 Nxf5 67.gxf6 Nh6 68.Nf3 Nf7 69.Ne5 etc.

55.fxg5 fxg5 56.Ndb4+ Ka7

White to play and win

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57.Nxc6+! Nxc6 58.Kxb5 1-0

Correspondence Chess

I PLAY correspondence chess at the Fide-recognised International Correspondence Chess Federation.

Most games, thanks to modern engines, are drawn, but occasionally one escapes that fate, or is interesting for other reasons.

Spanton (2330) - David Picken (1684)

British Correspondence Chess Championship Reserves Section D

French Exchange

1.d4 e6 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.c4

This scores 50% in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, which is not great, but is the highest percentage of White's five most-popular continuations.

4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7

This is the commonest move, but Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer 6...Bb4 or 6...Nc6.

6.Nf3 0-0 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bd3 c6 9.0-0

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

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It looks like a classic IQP position, but with Black having occupied the blockading square with the king's knight, leaving f6 free to be occupied by the queen's knight. Complete equality, is the engines' verdict.
9...Bg4

The engines suggest 9...Be6 or 9...Na6!?

10.Re1 Nd7

The engines again prefer ,,,Na6!? They dislike the text because it gives White the chance to inflict an IQP on Black.

11.Nxd5!? cxd5

The engines reckon White has a slight edge

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12.Bf4 Nf6

Jonathan Speelman (2610) - Valery Salov (2645), Linares 1991, went 12...Rc8 13.h3 Bh5 14.Bf5!? Bg6 15.Bxg6, with the upper hand for White, according to the engines, although the game was eventually drawn.

13.h3 Bh5 14.Re3 Bg6 15.Qb3

How should Black proceed?

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15...b6?

The engines reckon Black should precede ...b6  with 15...Bxd3, or play for activity with 15...Bd6!?, eg 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Bxg6 hxg6 18.Qxb7 Rfb8.

16.Ne5

This seems best, but 16.Ba6!? also appears strong.
16...Bxd3?

The engines prefer 16...Be4 or 16...Bd6.

17.Nc6!?

An easy move to miss, at least over the board.

17...Bc4 18.Qa4 b5 19.Qc2 Qb6 20.Nxe7+ Kh8 21.b3!? Qxd4 22.Be5 Qc5 23.Bxf6 gxf6 24.Qf5

Black must lose a piece for inadequate compensation, but also has to worry about mating threats

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24...Qd6 25.bxc4 dxc4 26.Rae1 Rab8

Presumably hoping to push Black's extra pawns.

27.Re4 Qd3?!

Black is getting mated anyway, but this speeds the process.

28.Qxf6#

Calvià Round Eight

FACED an Englishman.

Spanton (1941) - Oliver Stubbs (2195)

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Bd3 Ne7 6.0-0 Nbc6 7.c3 Bf5!?

Much more popular in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database is 7...Bg4. The point of the text is to swop Black's 'bad' bishop for White's 'good' one, as judged by the squares the central pawns occupy.

How should White respond?

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8.Re1

This is the commonest continuation in Mega25, while Stockfish17 and Dragon1 marginally prefer 8.Bxf5 Nxf5 and either 9.Re1+ or 9.Qb3!? Note that the latter does not win a pawn as Black can reply 9...b6, safe in the knowledge that 10.Qxd5?? loses to 10...Bxh2+ and 11...Qxd5.

8...0-0

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

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The game looks balanced, and that is what the engines reckon.

9.Nh4!? Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Qd7 11.Be3 Rae8 12.Nd2 Qg4

This may be a novelty. The known move is 12...Nd8!?

13.Ndf3!?

Taking the king knight's square ... at least for the moment.

13...h6 14.h3 Qd7

Possible is 14...Qe4!?, when 15.Qxe4?? loses a piece as the h4 knight is trapped after 15...dxe4. However the white queen can simply move away, with what the engines reckon is an equal position.

15.Nh2

The engines suggest 15.Bd2!?, the idea being to meet 15...g5?! with 16.Bxg5! hxg5 17.Nxg5, gaining what seems to be a winning attack, eg 17...f5 18.Qf3! Nd8 19.Qh5 Rf7 20.Nxf7 Nxf7 21.Re2 Kg7 22.Rxe7! Rxe7 (22...Bx7? 23.Qg6+ Kf8 24.Nxf5 etc) 23.Nxf5+ Kf6 24.Nxe7 Qxe7 25.Qxd5, when White is winning on material, or 17...Ng6 18.Nxg6 fxg6 19.Qxg6+ Qg7 20.Qxg7 (20.Qxe8!? may be even stronger) Kxg7 21.Ne6+, and again White is winning on material.

15...f5 16.Bd2

The engines like this, but reckon 16.f4!? may be even stronger, despite shutting in White's bishop.

16...g5 17.N4f3 f4 18.Ng4 Kg7

Not 18...Nf5?! as after 19.Rxe8 Qxe8 (19...Rxe8?? 20.Nf6+) 20.Re1 Qg6 (20...Qf7 21.Qxf5!) 21.c4!, the engines reckon Black's position collapses, mainly thanks to the exposed black king, eg 21...h5 22.Nge5 Bxe5 23.Nxe5 Nxe5 24.Rxe5 dxc4 25.Qxc4+ Qf7 26.d5 c6 27.Qd3 Qd7 (27...cxd5?! 28.Bf8) 28.Qe2 h4 29.Qg4, when White is winning material, and still has a strong attack.

19.Nge5 Qf5 20.Qxf5 Nxf5

How would you assess this queenless middlegame?

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The engines at first slightly prefer White, but given plenty of time they come to the conclusion that the position is equal.

21.Nd7 Rxe1+ 22.Rxe1 Rd8 23.Nc5!? Bxc5 24.dxc5 Kf6 25.b4 b5!?

This is the engines' top choice.

26.Kh2 a5 27.a3 axb4 28.axb4

The engines prefer 28.cxb4!?

28...Ra8

Even stronger, according to the engines, is 28...Nfe7!?, and if, as in the game, 29.g3, then 29...Ng6, the idea being to keep a space-gaining pawn on f4.

29.g3 fxg3+ 30.fxg3 Ra3 31.g4 Nfe7 32.Rf1 Kg7 33.h4 gxh4 34.Nxh4 Ne5 35.Re1 N7c6 36.Rg1?

Too much flitting about with the rook. After 36.Kg2 White is fine, according to the engines, and if 36...Nxg4, then 37.Re6 Nce5 38.Bf4 Nd3 39.Bxc7, with what they reckon is an equal game.

36...d4 37.Rg3

The engines are unsure whether the text or 37.cxd4 is correct, but in either case much prefer Black.

37...Ra2?!

Stronger is 37...d3.

The problem with the text is that after ...

38.Rg2

...White threatens to win the black rook with 39.Bxh6+!

38...Kh7 39.cxd4 Nxd4 40.Kg3 Nc4 41.Bf4 Ra3+ 42.Kh2 c6 43.g5 hxg5 44.Bxg5 Nf3+ 45.Nxf3 Rxf3

How would you assess this rook-and-minor-piece ending?

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White has what is usually the better minor piece for cooperating with a rook, but the c6 pawn cannot be harassed by the bishop, while both the knight and black rook can attack b4. The engines reckon the position is equal.

46.Rg3 Ne5 47.Kg2

Not 47.Rxf3?? Nxf3+ and 48...Nxg5. However Dragon1, but not Stockfish17, prefers 47.Bd8.

47...Rxg3+ 48.Kxg3 Kg6

White to play and draw

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49.Bd2?

This almost certainly loses by force (the analysis is very difficult, even for engines), and at any rate makes White's task difficult, whereas the engines reckon both 49.Bd8 and 49.Kf4!? definitely draw, eg 49.Kf4!? Nd3 50.Ke4 Nxb4 51.Bd2 Na6 52.Ke5 Nxc5 53.Kd6!? Ne4+ (there is nothing better) 54.Kxc6 etc.

49...Kf5

What should White play

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50.Kf2?

This makes it easy. The engines reckon 50.Bc3!? may hold, eg 50...Ke4 51.Bxe5! Kxe5 52.Kf3 Kd4 53.Kf4 Kc4 54.Ke5 Kxb4 55.Kd6, and both sides queen. Trickier is 50...Nd3!? 51.Kf3 Nf4!?, when 52.Ke3? loses to 52...Nd5+ 53.Kd3 Nxc3 54.Kxc3 Ke4, after which b4 eventually drops. However, the engines suggest 52.Bb2 Nd5 53.Ba3 Ke5 54.Bb2+ Ke6, when 55.Ba3 Kf5! 56.Bb2 (56.Ke2 Ke4 is hopeless) Nxb4 wins for Black. But they are much less sure about the outcome after 55.Ke4!? Nxb4.

Position after 55.Ke4!? Nxb4

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In fact White is in zugzwang. The Syzygy endgame tablebase shows that if it were Black to move in the diagram, the position is a "cursed win," ie "mate can be forced, but a draw can be achieved under the 50-move rule." However, with White to move, the position is lost, eg after the engines' 56.Bc3 Na6 (56...Nd5 also wins) 57.Kd4 Black has the winning 57...Kf5!!, which to be fair, is suggested by Stockfish17, albeit without realising how strong the move is. The main line can be thought of as 58.Ba5 Nb8! 59.Bc7 Nd7 60.Bd6 Nf6 61.Bb8 Nd5 62.Bd6 Nf4 63.Ke3 Ne6 64.Kd3 Nd8!? 65.Kd4 Nb7 66.Bc7 Kg4!? 67.Bd6 Kf3 68.Kd3 Nd8!? 69.Bb8 Ne6 70.Bd6 Ng5!? 71.Be7 Ne4 72.Kd4 Nd2 73.Kd3 Nc4 74.Bd6 Nb2+ 75.Kc2 Na4 76.Kd3 Kf2!? 77.Kd2 Nb2 78.Be7 Kf3 79.Kc2 Nc4 80.Kd3 Kf4 81.Kd4 Kf5 82.Bf8 Nd2 83.Kd3 Nf3!? 84.Ke3 Ne5 85.Kd4 Nc4 86.Be7 Na5 87.Bd6 Ke6 88.Bf8 Nb3+ 89.Ke4 Kf6!? 90.Bd6 Nd2+ 91.Kd3 Nc4 92.Bf4 Kf5 93.Bb8 Ke6 94.Kd4 Nd2 95.Bd6 Nf3+!? 96.Ke3 Ng5! 97.Kd4 Kf5 98.Be7 Ne6+ 99.Kc3 Ke5 100.Bd6 Ke4! 101.Kb3 Kd4 102.Kb4 Kd5 103.Be7 Nc7 104.Ka5 (104.Bf8 Na6+) Kc4 105.Bd6 Nd5 106.Ka6 b4 - a pawn moves just in the nick of time, and so Black wins. Incredible stuff!

Back to the game:

50...Ke4 51.Bc3 Nd3+ 52.Ke2 Nf4+ 53.Kd2 Nd5 54.Bg7

Or 54.Kc2 Nxc3 55.Kxc3 Ke3 56.Kc2 Kd4 57.Kb3 Kd3 58.Kb2 Kc4 59.Ka3 Kc3 60.Ka2 Kxb4.

54...Nxb4 55.Kc3 Na6 56.Bf8 Kd5 57.Kb3 Nxc5+ 58.Kc3 Na6 59.Kb3 c5 60.Kc3 Nb4 61.Bg7 Nc6 62.Kb3 c4+ 63.Kc3 b4+ 64.Kb2 Nd4 65.Bf6 c3+ 66.Kb1 Kc4 67.Bg7 b3 68.Bh6 Kd3 69.Kc1 Nf3 70.Kb1 Nd2+ 0-1

York Round Three

I TOOK a half-point bye in the second round.

Spanton (1936) - Nick Shakhlevich (1932)

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Nc3

This is third in popularity, behind 5.c4 and especially 5.Bd3, scoring just 30% in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.

5...c6 6.Bd3 Bg4 7.0-0 Ne7 8. Re1 Nd7 9.Qe2 f6!?

Apparently a novelty, and not liked by Stockfish17 or Dragon1. Known moves are 9...h6, 9...Bh5!?, 9...Bxf3!? and 9...Qc7. The engines, as well as liking 9...h6, suggest 9...Nf8!?

10.h3 Bh5 11.Nd1 Qc7

Believe it or not, this loses material, which is why the engines suggest 11...Nb6 or 11...Bg6.

White to play and win

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12.Ne3

Missing 12.Bf4!!, when 12...Bxf4?? 13.Qxe7# is obvious, while 12....0-0-0? loses to 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Qxe7. By no means so obvious are 12...Nb6 13.Qxe7+! Qxe7 14.Bxd6 Qxe1+ 15.Nxe1, when White has two pieces for a rook, and also has the bishop-pair, and 12...Nf8 13.Qxe7+! Qxe7 14.Bxd6 Qxe1+ 15.Nxe1, when White again has two pieces for a rook, and the bishop-pair.

12...0-0-0

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

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As usual, positions with opposite-side castling are very difficult to judge, but, for what it is worth, the engines reckon chances are equal.

13.c4!?

The engines prefer 13.c3 or 13.a4.

13...dxc4 14.Bxc4 Kb8 15.Bd2 Rhe8!?

Opposite-side castling might suggest rival pawn-storms, but fighting for control of the open centre is probably a better plan.

16.Qd1 Nb6 17.Ba5 Bf4 18.Be2?!

Almost certainly a mistake. The engines give 18.g4!? Bg6 19.Ng2!?, albeit preferring Black.

18...Bxe3 19.fxe3 Ned5 20.e4!? Rxe4 21.Bd3? Rxe1+

Even stronger is 21...Rxd4! as 22.g4? loses to 22...Qg3+ 23.Kh1 Nf4!

22.Qxe1 Bxf3!

The engines agree this is best.

23.gxf3 Nf4 24.Bf1 Rxd4 25.Qf2 Rd5 26.Bd2 Nh5!? 27.f4!? Rf5 28.Bd3 Rd5 29.Be4 Rd8 30.Re1

Now the last white piece has got into play, how would you assess this middlegame?

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Black is two pawns up, has the safer king and has fewer pawn islands. White's only advantage is having the better minor pieces, but they do not change the verdict that Black is winning. However, NS was now down to two minutes, and about to play on the 10-second increment.

30...Nc4 31.Bc1 Qb6?

Getting queens off, but that will make the bishops even stronger, and anyway the move loses a pawn. Best is 31...g6.

32.Bxh7 Qxf2+?!

Now White is better. The engines give 32...Nd2!? 33.Qxb6 axb6 34.Re2 Nf3+ 35.Kf2, although they agree White has enough for a pawn.

33.Kxf2 Rd4?

The h5 knight is in danger of being trapped, but this is not the solution, although 33...Rh8 34.Bg6 is good for White, eg 34...Nd6 (the engines suggest sacrificing a pawn with 34...f5!? 35.Bxf5, so the knight can go to f6, while 34...Rh6? 35.f5 is very good for White) 35.f5, and the knight will eventually fall. However the engines' 33...Nxb2! 34.Bxb2 Rd2+ 35.Re2 Rxe2+ 36.Kxe2 Nxf4+ and 37...Nxh3 gives good drawing chances.

34.b3?!

Almost certainly stronger is 34.Kf3.

34...Nb6 35.Be3 Rd5?

Better is 35...Rb4, maintaining the threat to f4 and preparing to meet 36.Kf3? with 36...Nd5. Best play may be 36.Bg6!? Nxf4 37.Bc5!? a5!? (37...Rb5? 38.Bd6+ etc) 38.Re8+ Ka7 39.Bxb4 axb4 40.Bf5, with at least a slight edge for White, according to the engines.

36.Rg1?

Much stronger is 36.Bg6 as the h5 knight cannot be saved.

36...g5?!

Probably better is 36...Nc8!? or 36...Ra5, although White is definitely for choice.

37.fxg5 fxg5 38.Rxg5

Now pawns are level, but White retains the bishops and has a dangerous passer on the h file

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38...Nf6 39.Bf4+ Kc8 40.Rg7?!

It was probably better to preserve the bishop-pair with 40.Bf5+, or swop rooks, eg 40.Rxd5 Nbxd5 41.Bf5+ Kd8 42.Kf3, and if 42...Nxf4 43.Kxf4 White has the more-active king, the better minor piece and the only passed pawn.

40...Rh5?!

Black probably had better drawing chances with 40...Nxh7 41.Rxh7 Rf5 42.Kg3 Nd5.

41.Rc7+?

Best is 41.Bg6 as 41...Rxh3?? loses to 42.Bf5+ etc.

41...Kd8 42.Bg6 Rxh3

With pawns on only one side of the board, the position is rather drawish

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43.Rxb7 Nbd5 44.Rb8+ Ke7 45.Bg5 Ke6!?

Black is equal after this, but simpler is 45...Rh2+ and 46...Rxa2.

46.Kg2 Rc3

The only safe square available to the rook, but it is good enough.

47.Rb7 Ne3+ 48.Bxe3 Rxe3 49.Rxa7 Ne4 50.Bxe4 Rxe4

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

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The engines reckon the position is completely equal, and the Syzygy endgame tablebase confirms the position is a draw. However it is clearly worth playing out, at least at club level.

51.Kf3 Rb4

NS offered a draw in my time.

52.Ke3 Kd5 53.Ra5+ c5 54.Kd3 Rh4 55.Kc3 Rh3+ 56.Kb2 Rh2+ 57.Ka3 Rh4 58.Ra4 Rh3 59.Rg4 Rh8 60.Rc4 Rh3 61.Kb2 Rh2+ 62.Rc2 Rh8 63.a4 Rb8 64.Kc3 Rb4 65.Rd2+ Kc6 66.Rh2 Rg4 67.Rd2 Kc7 68.Kb2 Kc6 69.Rc2 Kb6 70.Rc4 Rg2+ 71.Ka3 Rg7 72.Rh4 Ka5 73.Rh5 Kb6 74.Rh6+ Ka5 75.Rc6 Rg5 76.Kb2 Kb4?

Black had five drawing moves: 76...Rg2+, and any rook move along the fifth rank.

77.Rb6+ Ka5 78.Rb5+ Ka6 79.Kc3 Rg3+ 80.Kc4 Rg4+ 81.Kd5

This does not throw away the win, but there is nothing wrong with the straightforward 81.Kxc5.

81...Rg5+ 82.Ke4 Rh5 83.Kf4?

The only winning move is 83.Kd3.

83...Rh3 84.Ke5

Black to play and draw

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84...Rh5+?

Cutting off the white king from the queenside with 84...Rd3 draws, and so does 84...c4!? as 85.bxc4 brings about an example of the famous drawn ending of rook against rook with pawns on the bishop and rook files.

85.Kd6 Rh6+ 86.Kxc5 Rh5+ 87.Kb4 Rxb5+?!

Black is lost anyway, but keeping rooks on the board gives more chances of, for example, pulling off a stalemate swindle.

88.axb5+ Kb6 89.Kc4 Kb7 90.Kc5 Kc7 91.b6+ Kb7 92.Kb5 Kc8 93.Ka6 Kb8 94.b7 1-0

Civil War

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

Spanton (1936) - Christopher Rawlinson (1952)

French Exchange

1.Nf3 e6 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.d4 Bg4 5.Bd3 Bd6 6.0-0 h6!?

Not a popular continuation.

7.Re1+ Ne7 8.h3 Bh5 9.g4!? Bg6 10.Bxg6 fxg6 11.Qd3

Stockfish17 and Dragon1 do not like this apparent-novelty, preferring another move not in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, 11.c4!? However the text seems better than the known moves 11.Ne5?! and 11.g5?

11...0-0

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

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Black's pressure down the half-open f file, where White has a backward pawn, helps give at least a slight edge, according to the engines.

12.Nc3 c6 13.g5!? Qd7!

The queen takes the square that the Black queen's knight probably wants to go to, but the engines agree it is the best move.

14.Ne5 Bxe5 15.Rxe5 Nf5 16.gxh6 gxh6 17.Bd2 Qf7!?

Freeing the d7 square and adding to the pressure down the f file.

18.Rae1 Nd7 19.Re6 Nf6

How should White proceed?

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20.Bxh6?!

This comes to be Dragon1's top choice, but Stockfish17 is almost certainly correct in condemning the move.

20...Nxh6 21.Re7 Rae8 22.Rxf7 Rxe1+ 23.Kh2

Dragon1 prefers 23.Kg2?!, missing that after 23...Kxf7 24.Qd2 Ree8 25.Qxh6 Black traps the white queen with 25...g5!

23...Kxf7 24.Qd2 Ree8 25.Qxh6 Ng4+! 26.hxg4 Rh8 27.Rxh7 Rxh6+

How would you assess this ending?

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White has a pawn for the exchange, but Black is winning comfortably as the rook is so strong.

28.Kg2 Re8 29.Kf1 Kf6 30.f3 b6 31.Kf2 Ke6 32.Ne2 Kd6 33.Nf4 Rg8 34.Kg3 c5 35.Ne2 Re8 36.Kf2 cxd4 37.Nxd4 Kc5

Either the black king or rook will penetrate White's position.

38.Nb3+ Kc4 39.Nc1 Rh8 40.Kg2 Kd4 41.Nd3 Rc8 42.Ne1 Ke3 43.c3 Kd2 44.Kf2 Re8 45.Ng2 g5 46.f4 Kc2 47.f5 Kxb2 48.Ne3 Kxa2 49.Nxd5 Kb3 50.f6 Kc4 51.Ne7 Rf8 52.Ke3 Rxf6 53.Nf5 Kxc3 0-1
Battersea Galacticos won the match 3.5-1.5.

Czech 65+ Open Championship Round Four

FACED an international master on board two.

Spanton (1982) - Milan Babula (2086)

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.c4 Nf6!?

More popular is 5...c6, but there are 1,482 examples of the text in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.

6.c5!?

Much more popular is 6.Nc3, but Dragon1 marginally prefers the text, while Stockfish17 fluctuates between the two moves.

6...Be7 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Bd3 b6

This is the prescribed response to White pushing on with the c pawn in the manner of this game, and in this case the move scores a fabulous 71% in Mega25, albeit from 36 games.

9.cxb6 axb6 10.0-0

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

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Thanks to having an isolated queen's pawn, White has an extra pawn island, but the isolani is not much of a weakness. Both sides have a half-open file, but it may be easier for White to exert pressure on the c file than it is for Black to do likewise on the a file. The engines reckon the game is equal.

10...Ba6!? 11.Bf4 c5!? 12.Bxb8!?

The engines dislike this. Dragon1 suggests 12.Ne5 or 12.Bxa6, in each case claiming a slight edge for White; Stockfish17 reckons 12.Bxa6 is equal, but 12.a3 may give a slight edge.

12...Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Rxb8 14.b3 Rc8 15.dxc5!? bxc5 16.Rfd1 d4!? 17.Ne4 Nd5 18.Rac1

The engines suggest 18.Qc4!?

18...f5!? 19.Ng3

19.Ned2!? allows 19....Nc3 with a double-threat to d1 and a2. However the position is not altogether clear, one line running 20.Re1 Nxa2 21.Ra1 Nb4 22.Qc4+ Kh8 23.Ne5 Bf6!? 24.Nf7+ Rxf7 25.Qxf7 Nc2 26.Qe6 Nxe1 27.Rxe1, when the engines reckon White's activity gives decent compensation for a pawn.

19...g6 20.Ne5?!

Almost certainly better is 20.Ne2, with equality, according to the engines.

20...Bf6 21.Nc4?

This loses a pawn. Better is retreating back to f3.

21...Nc3 22.Re1

Not 22.Rd2? Bg5.

22...Nxa2 23.Ra1 Nb4

Materially Black is up a protected passed pawn, but is the equivalent of almost a minor piece ahead, according to the engines

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24.Qf3?? Nc2 25.Ra7 Nxe1 26.Qb7 Be7!? 27.Ne5!?

After 27.Qxe7 Qxe7 28.Rxe7 Rfe8 Black is up the exchange and a passer.

27...Rc7!? 28.Qxc7 Qxc7 29.Rxc7 Bd6 0-1

British 65+ Championship Round Six

I WAS upfloated.

Spanton (1947 ECF/1982 Fide) - Ed Goodwin (1804 ECF/1827 Fide)

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.c4 c6 6.Nc3 Ne7!?

The idea of 6...Ne7!? is to prepare a swop of Black's 'bad' bishop for White's 'good' bishop, the terms 'bad' and 'good' being related to the squares the d pawns occupy

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7.c5!?

As usual, pushing on like this is controversial. It seems that whenever I do it, analysis engines are not impressed, and when I fail to do it, they reckon pushing on is the best option.

7... Bc7 8.Bd3

Bearing in mind Black intends playing a quick ...Bf5 to exchange light-square bishops, there is something to be said for 8.Be2!?, but that is somewhat passive, and the text has been the choice of grandmasters.

8...Bf5 9.0-0 0-0

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

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Both sides have developed three minor pieces. Light-square bishops are likely to be exchanged, but White has no light-square weaknesses, and any ending, when White's 'bad' dark-square bishop might be a liability, is a long way off. Meanwhile the main difference in the position is surely that White has more space on the queenside, and that may be a large part of the reason Stockfish17 and Dragon1 give White a slight edge.

10.Bg5 f6!? 11.Bh4 Qd7!? 12.Re1 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Ng6

This may be a novelty. The known move is 13...Na6!?

14.Re3

The engines prefer queenside play with 14.b4.

14...Na6 15.a3 Rae8 16.Rae1 Bf4 17.R3e2 Kf7!? 18.b4 Rxe2 19.Rxe2 Re8 20.Bg3 Rxe2 21.Nxe2!? Bxg3 22.Nxg3 Nc7

Material is identical, and White's queenside space advantage seems no longer relevant as White can hardly push pawns there, so the position is completely equal, according to the engines 

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23.h4 Kg8!? 24.h5 Ne7

The engines reckon 24...Nf4 is also completely equal.

25.Qe3 Nf5??

This lets White's queen into Black's position, which is decisive as Black does not have a perpetual. The engines reckon several moves maintain equality, including 25...a6, 25...Ne6 and 25...Kf7!?

Even if it were White to move after 25.Qe3, the engines agree there would be no need to fear 26.h6 as it could be safely met by 26...g6 or 26...g5!?

26.Nxf5 Qxf5 27.Qe7 Qf4

Possibly better is 27...Qc8!?, but then 28.h6 is a problem, with 28...gxh6 29.Qf6 clearly very good for White.

28.Qd8+ Kf7 29.Qd7+ Kg8 30.Qc8+ Kf7 31.Qxb7 Qc1+ 32.Kh2 Qf4+ 33.Kh1 g5!?

This may be Black's best try, but it is easily met.

34.Qxc6 g4 35.Ne5+!?

Not the only winning move.

35...fxe5?!

Objectively there may be little between 35...fxe5?! and 35...Kg8!?, but the latter is the better practical try as after it White seems to have only one winning move

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After 35...Kg8!? White should play 36.Nd3!

Back to the game:

36.Qxc7+ Kf8 37.Qxe5 Qxf2 38.Qd6+ Kg7 39.Qd7+ 1-0