Bregenz Seniors Round Seven

Overnight hail and snow

FACED a Belgian.

Bernard Logie (1822) - Spanton (1911)

Sicilian Hyper-Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 d5 4.e5!?

Stockfish18 and Dragon1 prefer this over the more popular 4.exd5, and it scores five percentage points better in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.

4...Nc6 5.d4 Bg7

This natural-looking move may be a little slow; the engines prefer 5...Bg4 or 5...cxd4.

6.Bb5!? Ob6!?

How should White proceed?

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7.Bxc6+!?

Giving up White's good bishop is the top choice of the engines.

7...bxc6

The engines reckon the less popular 7...Qxc6!? is better.

8.0-0 e6?!

The engines suggest an apparent-novelty in 8...f6!?

9.Na3 Ne7 10.Nc2 0-0

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

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White's central space advantage is much more important than Black's bishop-pair, according to the engines, and they reckon White has a positionally won game.

11.b4

The engines suggest 11.b3.

11...c4?!

Reducing the light-square bishop to a sorry looking piece,

12.a4

BL pressed the clock and immediately offered a draw.

12...Nf5 13.a5 Qc7 14.g4!?

This is the top choice of Stockfish18, and is also liked by Dragon1, although the latter marginally prefers 14.Bf4.

14...Ne7 15.g5!?

Again Stockfish18 approves; Dragon1 suggests 15.h4 or 15.Qe2.

15...Nf5 16.Ne3!? Nxe3

Otherwise White has 17.Ng4.

17.Bxe3 Ba6 18.Re1 Rfd8 19.Kg2 Rab8 20.Qc2 Bb5 21.h4

White I was thinking about my next move, BL offered a draw, commenting that he was tired

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White's advantage is worth about two pawns, according to the engines, but in human terms the advantage is surely worth much more as White can build up at leisure on the kingside, safe in the knowledge that any possible counterplay by Black will involve giving up a pawn for nebulous compensation.

½–½

This game ended a sequence for me of 11 without a draw, and I have had just two draws in my last 21 games.

Thoughts On Daventry V

IN round seven, after taking a halfpoint bye in the morning, I was Black against David Flynn (1867 ECF/1816 Fide).

The game featured a sharp line from the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon in the Sicilian, and I think the line is worth a closer look.

It began 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3.

This usually means a Closed Sicilian, but as has been pointed out by many chess instructors, White is not committed to keeping the position closed (although White has ruled out a Maróczy Bind).

I played 2...g6, partly because I had seen in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database that after 2...Nc6 DF 'always' (seven games out of seven) plays 3.Bb5.

Now 3.Bb5 is not something Black should fear, although my record against it is a disappointing +1=0-3, including two losses to much lower-rated opposition.

But it seemed to make sense to deprive my opponent of the ability to play his 'favourite' variation.

He could have stayed in another type of Closed Sicilian with 3.g3, but instead opened the game with 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4.

After the further moves 4...Nf6 5.Nf3 we reached a position occurring 2,722 times in Mega26.

The usual Hyper-Accelerated move-order is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3

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Following 5...Nc6 6.Qa4 the threat of 7.e5, forcing the black king's knight to move, more-or-less obliges Black to play 6...d6.

But 7.e5 comes anyway, and after 7...dxe5 8.Nxe5 the game remains sharp.

The position after 8.Nxe5 occurs 1,784 times in Mega26

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On three occasions reaching this position I have continued 8...Bd7, which is easily the main move in Mega26.

The drawback is White can immediately win the bishop-pair with 9.Nxd7, and, although I have drawn this position in correspondence play, I lost with it both times over-the-board, albeit against much stronger opposition.

This time I played the gambit move 8...Bg7!?, expecting 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Qxc6+ Bd7, which occurred in Hanna Kyrjebo (1831) - Spanton (2002), Hastings 2014-5.

That game continued 11.Qf3 0-0 12.Bd3 Qb6 13.0-0 Bc6 14.Qe3 Qb7 15.f3 Rad8, with Black enjoying full compensation for a pawn, according to the engines (0-1, 44 moves).

However DF surprised me with 9.Bb5.

Of course this should not have been a surprise, especially as it is the most popular continuation in Mega26.

One of its points is that unless Black reverts to giving up the bishop-pair with 9...Bd7, Black will either have to give up a second pawn or allow some simplification.

The game continued 9...0-0 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bxc6

How should Black proceed?

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I chose 11...Rb8!?, offering a second pawn, and the continuation can be seen here.

It is the main move in Mega26, but the engines marginally prefer the alternative, 11...Bd7.

After 12.Bxd7 they reckon Black should avoid further simplification, which would occur with 12...Qxd7?! 13.Qxd7, and instead play 12...Nxd7, which looks a little retrograde, but the knight will gain a tempo on the white queen with ...Nb6 or ...Nc5, and Black's dark-square bishop has been unmasked.

The engines continue 13.0-0 Bxc3!? 14.bxc3 Nb6, claiming Black has full compensation (Stockfish17.1) or is no more than slightly worse (Dragon1).

Indeed the engines reckon White should meet 11...Bd7 with 12.0-0, when, to avoid serious disadvantage, the engines agree Black has to play 12...Rc8.

Now 13.Bxd7 should be met, they reckon, with 13...Qxd7!?, not fearing the simplification that occurs with 14.Qxd7 Nxd7.

How should White proceed?

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15.Bd2 might seem natural, but is perhaps too passive. After 15...Nb6 (threatening ...Nc4) 16.Rfd1 Rfe8 17.Be1!? Nc4, the engines give Black full equality.

Instead they suggest 15.Nd5!?, when 15...Rfe8?! 16.c3 is good for White.

However 15...Rxc2 16.Nxe7+ Kh8 leaves Black with great activity. A plausible continuation runs 17.Rd1 Ne5!? 18.Nd5!? Rd8 19.Rb1 h6!? 20.h3!? Nc4 21.Ne3 Rxd1+ 22.Nxd1, after which Black remains a pawn down, but has enough compensation (Stockfish17.1) or is only slightly worse (Dragon1).

The conclusion seems to be that the pawn-sacrifice 8...Bg7!? is a dynamic and fully viable alternative to giving up the bishop-pair with 8...Bd7, even though White retains a slight edge in many lines.

There is certainly much left to explore in the resulting positions.

4NCL Easter Round Seven

TOOK a halfpoint bye in this morning's round six.

David Flynn (1867 ECF/1816 Fide) - Spanton (1944 ECF/1908 Fide)

Sicilian Hyper-Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Qa4 d6 7.e5 dxe5 8.Nxe5

This position occurs 1,784 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database - how should Black proceed?

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8...Bg7!?

Offering at least one pawn. The main line in Mega26 runs 8...Bd7 9.Nxd7 Qxd7 10.Be3 Bg7 11.Rd1 Qc8!? 12.Be2 0-0 13.0-0, when White's bishop-pair and lead in development outweigh Black having the only pawn on the two centre files, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

9.Bb5

This is the most popular move in Mega26. It is also marginally the top choice of Dragon1, and will quite possibly give White the option of grabbing two pawns. Stockfish17.1, however, for quite some time marginally prefers 9.Nxc6, before coming to see the two moves as more-or-less exactly equal. After 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Qxc6 Bd7, Stockfish17.1 reckons Black has sufficient compensation for a pawn, but Dragon1 gives White a slight edge.

9...0-0 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bxc6 Rb8!?

Offering a second pawn. Instead 11...Bd7 12.Bxd7 Nxd7!? divides the engines as before, with Stockfish17.1 calling the position equal, while Dragon1 slightly prefers White. At move 12, instead of capturing on d7, White can also castle.

What should White play?

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12.0-0

This is the engines' recommendation. After 12.Qxa7!? they suggest an apparent-novelty in 12...Qd6!? (12...Bf5 is known), when 13.Bf3 Ba6 gives a sharp position with what the engines reckon are equal chances.

12...Bf5

More popular, and possibly marginally better, is 12...Qc7, while 12...a5!? has scored very well in practice.

13.Rd1 Qc7 14.Bf3 Rfc8!?

This may be new, and is the top choice of Dragon1, whereas Stcokfish17.1 prefers the known 14...a5.

15.Re1!?

Presumably in the hope of playing Bf4 without Black being able to reply ...e5. The engines suggest 15.h3 or 15.Rb1, but are fine with the text.

15...e5 16.Ne4 Bd7

The engines reckon Black should regain the sacrificed pawn immediately with 16...Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 Qxc2.

17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Qa6!? Rb6 19.Qe2 Qxc2 20.Qxc2 Rxc2

The pawn has been regained anyway, and the game is equal, according to the engines

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21.Be4 Rc7 22.b3 Be6 23.Bd2 Rd6

Perhaps 23...Ra6!?, with queenside pressure, is a tad better.

24.Be3 Bg7 25.Rac1 Rxc1 26.Rxc1 Ra6 27.Bb1 Ra5?!

The engines suggest 27...Bf8, 27...f5 or 27...e4!?

28.Rc5 Rxc5 29.Bxc5 a6 30.Bd3 Bc8 31.f3

Trying to centralise the king as quickly as possible, but 31.Bd6 gives White at least a slight edge, according to the engines.

31...Bf8 32.Bb6 Bb4 33.Kf2 Kf8 34.Ke3 f5 35.Bc4 Bb7 36.g3 Ke7 37.g4!? h6 38.gxf5 gxf5

Giving Black a 2-1 central pawn-majority seems a little strange, but the engines call the position completely equal

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39.Bd3 Bc8 40.Bc4 h5!? 41.Bd5 Be6 42.Bc6

Exchanging bishops is also OK for White, according to the engines.

42...h4!? 43.Bb7 a5 44.Bc6 Kd6 45.Bb7 Bc5+!?

There seems no other way to make progress. Dragon1 at first reckons the text gives Black the upper hand, but eventually agrees with Stockfish17.1 that the game remains equal.

46.Bxc5+ Kxc5

How should White continue?

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47.Kd3!?

The engines reckon both 47.f4!? e4 48.Ba6 and the immediate 47.Ba6!? are completely equal. Stockfish17.1 is also fine with the text, at least at first, but Dragon1 instantly calls it losing. Given more time, the engines come to agree it leaves Black slightly better. One point about 47.Ba6!? is that after 47...Kb4 48.Bd3 Ka3 49.Bb5 Kxa2 White has the neat trick 50.Bc4!, with what the engines reckon is complete equality.

47...Kb4

White seems to have only one drawing move

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48.Kc2

This looks natural, but the engines show White has to play 48.Ke3! Ka3 49.Ba6!?, again relying on the neat trick 49...Kxa2 50.Bc4!

48...Ka3 49.Kb1 Bd7 50.Bd5 Bb5 51.Kc2!?

The best try, but it should not save White.

51...Kb4!?

This may win, but other moves, eg 51...f4!?, are more convincing. However, not 51...Kxa2? 52.b4+.

52.a4?!

The engines suggest 52.Be6 f4 53.Kb2!?, but agree 53...e4!? is one of several winning moves. However, after, 54.Bg4 e3 55.a3+ Kc5 56. Kc3 Bc2 57.b4+ axb4 58.axb4+ Kd6!?, the picture is not as clear as Dragon1's assessment of +3.48 for Black makes it appear. Instead Stockfish17.1's +1.29, ie the upper hand, rather than winning, may be nearer the mark.

52...Bd7 53.Kb2 Kc5 54.Bb7 Be6 55.Kc3 f4!?

This is probably the key move, which has to be played at some point to bring home the full point.

56.Be4 Bd7

Also winning is 56...Bd5!?, but the lines get hairy, eg 57.Bxd5 Kxd5 58.Kd3 h3! 59.Kc3 e4 60.fxe4+ Kxe4 61.Kd2 f3 62.Ke1 Ke3 63.Kf1 f3, when there is no stalemate as White has to play the losing 64.b4. Alternatively, 58.b4 axb4+ 59.Kxb4 Kd4! 60.a5 e4 61.a6 e3 62.a7 e2 also loses as after 63.a8=Q Black queens with check, 63...e1=Q+, and then 64.Kb5 Qe2+ 65.Kb6 Qe6+ 66.Kc7 Qe5+ 67.Kd7 Qd5+ forces queens off, leaving Black with a winning pawn ending. Engines see these lines in the blink of a (human) eye, but over-the-board for club players it is another matter.

57.Bb7

DF offered a draw.

57...Bf5 58.Ba6

Or 58.Ba8 Be6 with ...Bd5 to come. The text is the engines' top choice.

58...e4 59.fxe4 Bxe4 60.Bc4 Bg2 61.Kd3

This lets Black get bishops off, but 61.Kd2 is also hopeless after, for example, 61...Bd5.

61...Bf1+ 62.Ke4 Bxc4 63.bxc4

Black wins the pawn race

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63...Kxc4 64.Kxf4 Kb4 65.Kg4 Kxa4 66.Kxh4 Kb3 67.Kg5 a4 68.h4 a3 69.h5 a2 70.h6 a1=Q 71.Kg6 Qh8 0-1

Bad Wörishofen Senioren Round Six

Frank Krumland (1744) - Spanton (1919)

Sicilian Hyper-Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 Bg7 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 d5 6.e5 Bg4 7.Qa4+!?

A rare try. Many other moves are more common in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, including 7.h3, 7.Nbd2, 7.Be2, 7.Nc3 and especially 7.Bb5+.

How should Black respond?

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7...Nd7?!

This is probably the worst of the plausible continuations, behind 7...Bd7, 7...Qd7 and 7...Nc6, the last-named being the top choice of Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

8.Nc3!?

Apparently a novelty, and, according to the engines, an improvement on the known 8.Qb3, when 8...Bxf3!? 9.gxf3!? e6 10.Qxb7 is a risky pawn-grab, eg 10...Rb8 11.Qxa7? loses material to 11...Qc8! 12.Nc3 Ra8. Better is 11.Qa6, but the engines reckon Black has more than enough for a pawn.

8...Nh6!

This pawn sacrifice is the top choice of the engines, although Dragon1 does for quite some time fluctuate between the text and 8...Bxf3 9.gxf3 e6, when 10.Nb5 Bf8 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Nd6+ Kf8 keeps Black in the game. The problem with an immediate 8...e6?! is 9.Nb5 Bf8 10.Bg5 Be7, when 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Nd6+ Kf8 13.Ng5 is winning.

9.Bxh6?!

The engines reckon White has a slight edge after 9.h3!?, 9.h4!? or 9.Ng5!?

9...Bxh6 10.Nxd5 0-0

Who stands better?

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White's extra pawn is backward and on a half-open file, and White is yet to castle, but has more central space. Black has the bishop-pair and a slight initiative. Equal chances, according to the engines.
11.Be2 Be6!? 12.Ne3 Nb6 13.Qb5 Rc8 14.b3?

Too slow. Probably best is 14.0-0

14...Bxe3!? 15.fxe3 Nd5 16.e4 Ne3?!

This loses much of Black's advantage, whereas 16...Nf4 is difficult to meet satisfactorily, eg if, as in the game, 17.Kf2, then 17...Rc2 18.Rhe1 Qc7 ratchets up the pressure, one line running 19.Rad1 Bd7 20.Qb4 a5!? 21.Qa3 (21.Qxe7 Nxe2, when 22.Rxe2 Rxe2+ 23.Kxe2 loses to 23...Bb5+) Qc3 22.d5 Bb5 23.Nd4 Bxe2 24.Nxe2 f5! If 17.g3, then 17...Bd7 18.Qxb7 Nxe2 19.Kxe2 Bg4 20.Rhd1 Rc3 wins.

17.Kf2 Ng4+ 18.Kg3!? f5 19.exf6 Rxf6?

Black is well on top after the engines' 19...Rc3!, eg 20.h3 Qc7+ 21.e5!? a6!? 22.Qa4 Ne3!? (better than 22...Nxf6, according to the engines) 23.Qa3!? (it is hard to come up with a better suggestion) Nf5+ 24.Kh2 Nxd4 25.fxe7 Nxf3+ 26.Bxf3 Qxe5+ 27.Kg1 Re8 28.Qb2 (28.Bxb7? Qd4+ 29.Kh2 Qf2 and mates) Rxe7, after which Black has restored material equality, but has much the better piece-coordination.

20.h3 Nh6 21.Rhc1

Black has no compensation for a pawn

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21...Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Qb8+?!

The engines suggest 22...Nf7 or 22...g5, but agree White is winning.

23.Qe5 Qd6?! 24.Qxd6 exd6 25.d5

Black is losing a second pawn.

25...Bd7 26.Rc7 Be8 27.Rxb7 Rf7 28.Rb8 Re7

28....Rf8 29.Ra8 is hardly an improvement.

29.Bb5 Kf7 30.Bxe8+ Rxe8 31.Nf7 Ke7 32.Rxe8+ Kxe8 33.Nxh7 Nf7 34.Nf6+ Ke7 35.Ng4 Kd7 36.Kf4 Kc7 37.e5 a5 38.e6 Nh8 39.Kg5 1-0

Latest addition to my collection of chess pens

Kidlington U2000 Round Four

FACED a junior (born 2016).

Aviraj Bhaduri (1707) - Spanton (1929)

Sicilian Hyper-Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 d5!?

The main line in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database runs 3...Bg7 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 d5 6.e5, with at least a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Bb5+!?

This trails 5.Be2, 5.Na3 and especially 5.d4 in popularity.

5...Bd7 6.Bxd7+ Nxd7 7.d4 Ngf6 8.0-0 Bg7 9.Be3 cxd4 10.Qxd4 0-0

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

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Black has the only pawn on the two centre files, which could be a middlegame asset, while White has the possible endgame asset of a farside pawn-majority. The engines reckon the position is equal. 

11.Re1!?

They much prefer 11.Rd1 or 11.Na3.

11...Rfe8

The engines reckon 11...e5 12.Qxd5 Nxd5 gives Black the upper hand.

12.Na3 a6 13.Nc4 b5 14.Nb6 Qxd4 15.Bxd4 Nxb6 16.Bxb6 Nd5 17.Bd4 e6 18.Bxg7 Kxg7

How would you assess this late-middlegame position?

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Black has more space on the queenside, but the only other major difference between the two sides is the rival pawn-majorities. The engines agree the game is equal.

19.g3 Rec8 20.Rec1 Rc7 21.Rc2 Rac8 22.Rac1 Kf6

Not 22...Nb4 23.Rd2 Nxa2? 24.Ra1 Nxc3 25.bxc3 Rxc3 as, after 26.Kg2, White is well-placed to blockade, and ultimately destroy, Black's connected passers.

23.a3 h5 24.Kf1 g5!? 25.Ke2 g4!? 26.Nd2 Ke7 27.Kd3 f5 28.c4 bxc4+ 29.Rxc4 Rxc4 30.Rxc4 Rxc4 31.Nxc4

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

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White's queenside majority looks dangerous, but the engines reckon the position is completely equal.

31...f4?

But this is the wrong plan. Instead 31...Nf6, eyeing the e4 square, keeps White in check.

32.Ke4 f3 33.Ne3?

White is winning after 33.Ke5, according to the engines.

How should Black proceed?

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33...Nb6

The engines prefer a move I dismissed without bothering to analyse, namely 33...Nxe3!? I assumed 34.Kxe3 gave White a winning pawn ending. However, after 34...e5!? 35.Ke4 Ke6 36.b4 Kd6 37.a4 Ke6 38.b5 axb5 39.axb5 (39.a5?? loses to 39...Kd6) Kd6 40.b6 Kc6 41.Kxe5 Kxb7 42.Kf5 Kc5 43.Kg5 Kd4 44.Kxh5 Kd3 45.Kxg4 Ke2 46.h4 Kxf2 47.h5 Kg2 48.h6 f2 49.h7 f1=Q 50.h8=Q Qf3+, the game is drawn.

34.b3 Nd7!?

The text is for a long time strongly disliked by Dragon1, but the move seems to be fine. However, the engines are sure Black maintains complete equality with 34...Kd6, one point being 35.Kf4? loses to 35...Nd5+, eg 36.Nxd5 Kxd5! 37.Kg5 e5 38.Kxh5 e4 39.Kxg4 Kd4 40.h4 Kd3 41.h5 e3 etc.

35.b4 Nb6 36.Nd1!?

The engines for quite some time marginally prefer this over 36.Ke5, but come to view the two moves as equal.

36...Nc4 37.a4 Nb6

Going after the h2 pawn with 37...Nd2+? does not work, eg 38.Kf4 Nf1? 39.Kg5 Nxh2 40.Ne3!? Kd6 41.Kxh5. Slightly better is 38...Kf6, but 39.Ke3 Nf1 40.Kd4, with b5 to come, wins for White.

How should White proceed?

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38.Nc3

Interesting is 38.a5!? Nd5 39.b5 axb5 40.a6 Nc7 41.a7, but both 41...b4 and 41...Kd6 seem to hold.

The engines suggest 38.Kf4!? Kf6 (38...Nxa4? 39.Kg5 Nb6 40.Nc3! is very good for White, and if 40...Nd5 41.Nxd5+ exd5, White wins with 42.Kxh5 d4 43.Kxg4 etc), and now 39.Nc3, when 39...e5+ 40.Ke4 Ke6 transposes to the final position in the game, except with White, rather than Black, to move. The engines reckon White has to continue 41.a5!?, when Dragon1's 41...Nd7?! loses, according to Stcokfish17.1, but 41...Nc4 42.b5!? axb5 43.a6 b4!? 44.a7 Nb6 45.Na4 Na8 seems to hold.

38...Kd6 39.Kd4

39.Kf4 Nd5+ 40.Nxd5 exd5! is completely equal, according to the engines.

39...e5+ 40.Kd3 Ke6 41.Ke4 ½–½

Cracovia 60+ Round Three

Józef Twardy (1585) - Spanton (1913)

Sicilian Hyper-Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bb5!?

This position occurs 46 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, and includes White wins by grandmasters Zaven Andriasian and Zhamsaran Tsydypov

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I guess the opening could be called a Sicilian Bb5(+), although I do not recall the line being covered in any books I own.

3...Bg7

Five games saw Black play 3...Nc6!?, transposing to a main line of the Bb5(+) Variation of the Sicilian.

4.0-0 a6

Seven of the 12 games to reach the position after 4.0-0 saw Black choose 4...Nc6!?, again transposing to a well-known main line.

5.Bc4

Apparently a novelty. Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 reckon it is an improvement on the known 5.Ba4?? (obviously) and 5.Be2 (marginally).

5...Nc6

If 5...b5!?, then 6.Bd5.

6.a3 Nf6 7.d3 b5 8.Ba2 0-0

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

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White's play has been on the eccentric side, with Black able to expand on the queenside 'for free', but there are no weaknesses in the white position, and White has the only pawn on the two central files to reach the fourth rank. The engines reckon the game is equal.

9.h3!? d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Re1 Bb7

How should White proceed?

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12.c4?!

The engines suggest 12.Nbd2.

12...Nb6 13.Nc3

This is best, according to the engines, one point being 13.Qb3? runs into 13...bxc4 14.dxc4 Na5.

13...b4 14.axb4!?

The engines are OK with this. Indeed, it comes to be Stockfish17.1's top choice, although Dragon1, after initially top-rating it, comes to prefer the move I expected, 14.Ne4, when both engines reckon 14...Nd7 gives Black at least a slight edge. Also quite good for Black is 14...bxa3 15.Nxc5 axb2.

14...Nxb4 15.Bb1 Qc7 16.Na2 a5 17.Nxb4?!

The black knight looked menacing, but swoping it improves Black's pawn-structure and gives up control of the a file.

17...axb4 18.Ra2!?

Even worse is 18.Ba2? Bxf3 19.gxf3 (19.Qxf3 b3) Ra6, when Black has huge pressure against White's queenside. However, possibly better than the text is 18.Rxa8.

18...Rxa2 19.Bxa2 Ra8 20.Bb3 Ra1!?

What should White play?

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21.Qe2

This is Stockfish17.1's choice; Dragon1 comes to prefer 21.d4.

On 21.Bf4!? I intended sacrificing the exchange, with 21...Qxf4! 22.Rxa1 Bxf3, which gives Black more than enough compensation, eg 23.gxf3 Bd4. The engines reckon 23.Qc1!? is an improvement, but 23...Qxc1 24.Rxc1 Bc6 leaves Black well on top.

21...e6 22.Qc2?

The engines suggest 22.Rd1, but agree Black has a positionally won game.

22...Bxf3 23.gxf3 Bd4 24.Bd2? Qg3+! 25.Kh1 Qxf3+ 26.Kh2 Qxf2+ 27.Kh1 Rxe1+ 28.Bxe1 Qxe1+

Missing 28...Qg1#.

29.Kg2 Qg1+ 30.Kf3 Qf1+ 31.Kg3 Be5+ 0-1

Championship Chess

Played in the Battersea club championship last night.

Alan Palmer (1817) - Spanton (1891)

Sicilian Hyper-Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Qa4 d6 7.Bd3

The main line in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database runs 7.e5!? dxe5 8.Nxe5 Bd7 9.Nxd7 Qxd7 10.Be3, when White has the bishop-pair and, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1, a slight edge.

How should Black meet 7.Bd3, which occurs three times in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database?

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7...Bg7

Although the position has only been reached three times in Mega26, three moves have been played: the text, 7...Nd7!? and 7...Bd7.

8.Nd5!?

A delayed e5 has been played, but the engines like the reply 8...Nd7!?

8...0-0

Again the engines like 8...Nd7!?

9.Nxf6 Bxf6 10.c3 d5

The engines suggest 10...Bg4, one point being 11.Nd4?! runs into 11...Nxd4 12.cxd4 Bd7!, eg 13.Qb4 a5!? 14.Qxb7 Bxd4, when Black has a positionally won game, according to the engines.

11.0-0

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

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The main difference between the two sides may be that Black has an extra pawn on the two centre files, which could be why the engines for quite some time give Black the better part of equality. However, while Dragon1 sticks to this, Stockfish17.1 gradually comes to give Black a slight edge, but then flips to almost dead-eye equality.

11...e5?!

However the engines agree this is wrong, preferring 11...d4!? After 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.cxd4 Qxd4 14.Qxd4 Bxd4, Black's central majority has gone, but Black has a little pressure against the white queenside.

12.Bh6 Re8 13.h3

13.exd5 Qxd5 14.Be4 gives White an initiative.

13...d4 14.cxd4 exd4 15.Rfe1 Bd7 16.a3!? Qb6 17.b4!? Ne5 18.Qd1 Nxd3 19.Qxd3

How would you assess this middlegame?

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Black has the bishop-pair and an isolated, but passed, centre pawn. White has a kingside pawn-majority that could give middlegame attacking chances against Black's king. The engines agree the position offers equal chances.

19...Bb5 20.Qd2 d3

The engines suggest 20...Bc6, pressurising the e pawn, or 20...Bh8!?, making sure e5 does not come with tempo.

21.Be3

21.e5 gives White a slight edge, according to the engines.

21...Qa6!?

Not just overprotecting d3, but putting pressure on a3.

22.Bd4 Bxd4 23.Nxd4 Rac8

White to play and lose

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24.f3??

'Consolidation', but it sets up a fatal pin. The engines give 24.Nxb5 or 24.a4!?, in each case claiming equality.

24...Qb6 25.Qf2 Ba4!?

From a4 the bishop eyes the passed pawn's queening square, prevents the retreat Nb3 and, also importantly, as will be seen later, protects e8.

26.Rac1 Rcd8?!

Black is still winning after this, but much better is 26...Red8.

27.Rc5

Possibly better is 27.Rc4, although Dragon1 is a lot less sure about this than Stcokfsih17.1. A sample continuation: 27...Rd7 28.e5!? Rd5!? 29.Re4 Rdxe5, after which White has saved the knight but not, according to the engines, the game.

27...Qf6?

Much stronger is 27...Rxd4! 28.Qxd4 Rd8 etc, or 27...Rd7 with ...Red8 to come.

28.e5 Qe7

How should White proceed?

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29.e6?

Best is 29.Re4, eg 29...f5 30.exf6 Qxf6 31.Rxe8+ Rxe8 32.f4, after which the knight has a retreat square, and Black only retains a slight edge, according to the engines.

29...fxe6 30.Rf1?!

This passivity does not help, but either recapture on e6 can be met by ...d2.

30...b6 31.Re5 Qd6 32.Re4 e5 33.Qa2+ Kg7 34.Rfe1

Or 34.Nb3 Qd5 35.Rb1 Bxb3, with pushing the d pawn to come.

34...exd4 35.Rxe8 Rxe8 0-1

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           

CLL: Central London League

LL: London League

BCC - Battersea club championship

Lesa Round Five

FACED a junior (born 2012)

Leonardo Vincente (2120) - Spanton (1937)

Sicilian Hyper-Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Qa4 d6 7.e5!? dxe5 8.Nxe5 Bd7 9.Nxd7 Qxd7

How would you assess this position?

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White has won the bishop-pair, at a slight cost in time, and also has the probable endgame asset of a queenside pawn-majority, while Black has the only pawn on the central two files. Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon White is slightly better.

10.Be3 Bg7 11.Be2!? 0-0 12.Rd1

This is more-often played at move 11.
12...Qc8

Possibly better is 12...Qc7!?, the idea being 13.Nb5 can be met by 13...Qe5, when 14.Bf4?! Qxb2 is probably just good for Black. But note that 13...Qa5+? loses a pawn to 14.Qxa5 Nxa5 15.Nxa7.

13.0-0 a6 14.Qb3!? b5 15.a4 b4?!

The engines prefer 15...Na5.

16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.Rxd5 Rd8??

It seems White had to play 17...e6, allowing 18.Rc5 to be met by 18...Qe8, although the engines reckon 19.Rd1 gives White at least the upper hand.

18.Bf3

The black knight cannot be sensibly saved

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18...Rb8 19.Rc5 Rd6 20.Qc4 Bxb2 21.Rxc6 Rxc6 22.Qxc6 Qxc6 23.Bxc6 Rc8 24.Be4 f5 25.Bd3 e5 26.Rb1 e4 27.Rxb2 exd3 28.cxd3 a5 29.Kf1 Rc3 30.Bb6 1-0

English 65+ Round Four

Philip Bonafont (2118 ECF/1976 Fide) - Spanton (1985 ECF/1922 Fide)

Sicilian Hyper-Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 d5!?

Much more popular, and slightly more successful percentage-wise in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, is 3...Bg7, but Stockfish17 and Dragon1 much prefer the text.

4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 Bg7

How should White proceed?

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6.Nbd2!?

This is only fifth-most popular in Mega25, but is the top choice of the engines, along with the commonest move 6.Na3. After the latter, the main line in Mega25 runs 6...cxd4 7.Bc4 Qe4+ 8.Be3!? Nh6 (8...dxe3? 9.Bxf7+! etc) 9.cxd4, with a completely equal position, according to the engines.

6...cxd4 7.Bc4 Qh5!?

This is Dragon1's top choice, while Stockfish17 prefers 7...Qc5!?, but both engines also like 7...Qd8, which is the chief move in Mega25, where the main line continues 8.Nxd4 Nf6 9.0-0 0-0, with a slight edge for White, according to Dragon1; equality, according to Stockfish17.

8.Qb3 Nh6 9.Nxd4 0-0 10.N2f3 Nc6!?

The engines are OK with this, but prefer 10...e5, 10...Nf5 or 10...Nd7!?

11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.0-0

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

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Black's isolanis and White's better coordination add up to a slight edge, according to the engines.

12...Qa5?!

The engines do not like this, preferring 12...Ng4, the idea being to meet 13.Re1 with 13...Ne5.

13.Re1 e6 14.Bf4 Ba6 15.Bxa6 Qxa6 16.Rad1 Rfd8 17.Bc7!?

Even stronger, according to the engines, is 17.h3!?, and if 17...Nf5, then 18.g4!?

17...Rd5 18.c4 Rc5?

Better is 18...Rxd1 19.Rxd1 Re8, albeit with the upper hand for White, according to the engines.

19.Re4 Rc8 20.Rd7 Rf5!?

The engines suggest 20...Re8, but agree White has a positionally won game.

21.g4!? Rc5

Giving up the exchange with 21...Rxf3!? brings no relief after 22.Qxf3.

22.Qd3?

As PB pointed out afterwards, 22.h3 leaves White with a winning position, as do other moves.

Black to play and win

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22...Rd5!

This completely turns the tables. There is no defence.

23.Rd4

Or 23.Rxd5 cxd5, when White has two pieces en prise and the c pawn remains pinned.

23...Bxd4 24.Rxd5 cxd5 25.Qxd4 Rxc7 26.Qf4 Qxc4 0-1

Bad Soden-Salmünster Round Nine

I WAS upfloated.

Karl-Heinrich Scherf (1971) - Spanton (1922)

Sicilian Hyper-Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3!?

This is second in popularity in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, a long way behind 3.d4, but scoring four percentage points better.

How should Black respond?

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3...Bg7

The obvious and most popular move, but Stockfish17 and Dragon1 much prefer 3...d5!?, when the main line in Mega25 runs 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 Bg7 6.Na3 cxd4 7.Bc4 Qe4+ 8.Be3!? Nh6 (8...dxe3? 9.Bxf7+ etc) 9.cxd4 0-0, with an equal position, according to the engines.

4.Bc4!?

Much more common is 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 d5, when White usually chooses between 6.exd5 and the more popular 6.e5.

4...e6 5.0-0 Ne7 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4!?

The engines prefer the text over the more usual 7.cxd4, which scores nine percentage points less in Mega25.

7...0-0

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

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White has more space in the centre, and Black has a potentially weak d pawn on a half-open file. The engines give White a slight edge.

8.Bg5

This is the most popular move in Mega25, scoring an excellent 72%, but the engines prefer 8.Re1!?

8...h6 9.Bh4 a6 10.Nd2 Nbc6 11.N2f3!?

The engines agree this is a small improvement on the 11.Nxc6!? of Arystanbek Urazayev (2429) - Dmitry Andreikin (2728), Chess.com Blitz 2023, which continued 11...bxc6 12.Bd3 d5 13.Re1 g5!? 14.Bxg3 dxe4 15.Nxe4 f5 16.Nc5 f4 17.Bxf4, when 17...gxf4 18.Nxe6 Bxe6 19.Rxe6 would have left Black up knight for two pawns, but with at best a slight edge, according to the engines (instead Black blundered his queen with 17...Rxf4?? 18.Bh7+! etc).

11...b5!?

This allows White an interesting combination liked by the engines.

Can you see the idea?

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12.Nxc6!? dxc6 13.Qxd8 Rxd8 14.Bxe7 Rd7

How should White proceed?

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15.Bc5!?

This is enough for a slight edge, according to the engines, but as K-HS pointed out after the game, probably a little better is 15.Ba3!? However 15.Bxb5 cxb5 leaves Black with good compensation for a pawn, thanks to the bishop-pair and pressure against e4 and the white queenside.

15...bxc4 16.Rfd1 Rb8 17.Rxd7

The engines slightly prefer 17.Ba3!?

17...Bxd7 18.Rb1?

The position is completely equal after 18.Ba3!? or 18.Rd1!?, according to the engines.

18...Bxc3! 19.Bd4?

K-HS offered a draw.

Not 19.Rd1? Bxb2! (this is even stronger than 19...Rxb2), and if 20.Rxd7, then 20...Bd4 (threatening back-rank mate) followed by ...Bxc5. However the engines reckon 19.h4 and 19.Bd6!? keep White in the game.

19...Bxd4 20.Nxd4 c5 21.Nc2 Bc6 22.f3 c3 23.b3 Rd8?

This lets White off the hook. Instead 23...c4 piles on the pressure.

How does White equalise?

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24.Ne3?

Both 24.Rc1 and 24.Ne1 hold, according to the engines.

24...Rd3 25.Kf2?!

This probably makes matters worse, although 25.Nc2 f5!? 26.exf5 gxf5 is winning, according to the engines.

25...Rd2+ 26.Ke1?!

Perhaps best is 26.Kg3, but 26...Re2 27.Nc4 Bb5 28.Rc1 Bxc4 29.bxc4 c2 leaves Black roughly the equivalent of a rook ahead, according to the engines.

26...Bb5 0-1

Massive loss of material is inevitable, eg 27.Ng4 Rxg2 28.Kd1 c2+ etc.

Fareham Round Four

TOOK a halfpoint bye in round three.

David Collyer (1968) - Spanton (1984)

Sicilian Maróczy Bind

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4!?

Ensuring White will get a Maróczy Bind.

3...Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 d6 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0

How would you assess this position. which occurs 19,854 times in ChessBaase's 2025 Mega database?

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White's space advantage gives a slight edge, according to Stockfish17 and Dargon1.

9...Bd7 10.f3!?

This has been played by many strong players, including Capablanca, Alekhine, Kramnik and Short, but more popular are 10.Rc1 and especially 10.Qd2.

How should Black respond?

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10...Qb6!?

The engines prefer the main continuation, 10...Nxd4, meeting 11.Bxd4 by offering an exchange of dark-square bishops with 11...Nh5!? (Dragon1 also likes 11...a6). After 12.Bxg7 Nxg7 White is left with a bad bishop, and will not find it easy to exploit the weakening of the black king's position. Nevertheless the engines give White an edge.

How should White meet Black's queen development?

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11.Na4

This is the most popular continuation in Mega25, but the engines slightly prefer 11.Kh1!?, when 11...Qxb2!? allows the queen to be trapped after 12.Na4, eg 12...Qb4? 13.Bd2 Qa3? 14.Nb5, or 12...Qa3?! 13.Bc1, when 13...Qb4 14.Bd2 transposes to the previous line. The engines suggest 12...Qxa1!? 13.Qxa1 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bxa4, when Black has rook, knight and pawn for the queen, but the engines give White the upper hand.

Far from clear is 11.Qd2!? Nxe4!?, although after the fireworks of 12.Nxc6 Nxd2 13.Nxe7+ Kh8 14.Bxb6 Nxf1 15.Bf2 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Rae8 (16...Rfe8?? 17.Bd4+ f6 18.Bxf6#) 17.Bd4+ f6 18.Nd5 Rxe2 19.Nxf6 Rxf6 20.Bxf6+ Kg8 21.Kxf1, the resulting position is completely equal (but there were many chances to go wrong along the way).

11...Qa5 12.Nxc6

The engines prefer 12.Nb5 or 12.Nc3, claiming a slight edge for White.

12...bxc6 13.c5!?

This had been seen in Ninh Ngo (no Fide) - Minh Hoang Pham (2479), Hanoi 1995, which continued 13...Rfd8 14.Bd2 Qc7 15.Bf4 Be6 16.Qc2, with an equal game, according to the engines (but 0-1, 59 moves).

13...d5!?

The engines reckon this is an improvement on that game.

14.e5 Ne8 15.f4 Rb8 16.b3 f6 17.Bd4?!

The engines give 17.Bg4!? Bxg4 18.Qxg4 Nc7 19.f5 with attacking chances, although they prefer Black.

17...Qc7?!

The engines reckon 17...fxe5 18.fxe5 Rxf1+ 19.Qxf1 Qd2 is very good for Black.

18.Bg4?

Too late! Instead 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Qd2 leaves White only slightly worse, according to the engines.

18...fxe5 19.fxe5?!

Probably better is 19.Bxd7 Qxd7 20.Bxe5.

19...Rxf1+ 20.Kxf1 Rb4!?

The engines agree this is best.

21.Rc1 Qc8

Even stronger seems to be 21...Bxe5!? 22.Bxe5 Qxe5, although the engines are not sure how to meet 23.Bxd7. One line runs 23...Nf6 24.Qd2!? Rf4+ 25.Kg1 Nxd7, after which Black is a pawn up, has the better coordinated pieces and a pair of passed pawns. Trying to hold on to the extra piece with, for example, 24.Bh3 runs into 24...Rf4+ 25.Kg1 Qe3+ 26.Kh1 Ne4.

22.Bf3 Bh6!? 23.Rc3 Ng7 24.a3 Rb8

Sacing the exchange with 24...Rxd4!? 25.Qxd4 Nf5 is also tempting, but the engines disagree as to whether it is better than the text.

25.Nb2?

The engines suggest making the king safer with 25.Kg1, or opposing Black's dark-square bishop with 25.Be3, or advancing on the queenside with 25.b4.

25...Qa6+ 26.Nd3 Nf5 27.Bf2

How should Black proceed?

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27...d4?!

Simply taking the a3 pawn is good, but the engines also like 27...Ne3+ 28.Bxe3 Bxe3.

28.Rc4 Ne3+ 29.Bxe3 Bxe3 30.Ra4 Qb7 31.Rb4 Qc7 32.Rxb8+ Qxb8

Black has the bishop-pair and is slightly better, according to the engines, but White has queenside play

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33.b4 Qf8 34.Ke2

The engines suggest first playing 34.Qb3+, meeting 34...Kg7 with 35.Ke2.

34...Qf7 35.Qc2 g5?!

Black should slow White's queenside play with 35...a6, according to the engines.

36.a4?!

This may be too slow. Instead 36.b5! cxb5 37.c6 gives complete equality, according to the engines.

36...a6?!

The engines like 36...g4 37.Be4 Qh5, and if 38.b5 then 38...Bf5!?

37.b5 axb5 38.a5?

White has complete equality after 38.axb5, according to the engines.

38...g4 39.Be4 Be6?!

Best may be 39...Bc8!?, and if 40.Bxc6 then 40...b4, eg 41.Be4 Ba6 42.Ke1 (Black's threats included 42...Qf2+) b3 43.Qb2 Qc4 etc. Instead White should probably play the immediate 40.Ke1, although Black seems to remain on top in a sharp position.

40.a6 Bb3 41.Qb1?!

The engines reckon 41.Qb2 maintains equal chances.

41...Bc4

White to play and lose

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42.a7??
This allows mate in two.

White had to play 42.Ke1, when the engines agree the best reply is 42...e6, but their evaluation of the position fluctuates wildly, albeit coming to give Black the upper hand.

42...Qf2+ 0-1

World Senior Team Championship 65+ Round Five

ENGLAND 3 faced Denmark today.

John Mortensen (1983) - Spanton (1896)

Sicilian Hyper-Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 Bg7 4.Bc4!?

This is second-most popular in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, but a long way behind 4.d4. It is also the second choice of Stockfish17 and Dragon1 (again behind 4.d4).

4...e6 5.0-0 Ne7 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 d5 8.exd5 exd5

Where should White's light-square bishop go?

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9.Bb5+

This and 9.Bb3 are almost equally popular in Mega25, but the text scores 16 percentage points better.

9...Bd7 10.Qb3!?

This may be a novelty. Normal is 10.Bxd7+, when 10...Qxd7 11.Ne5 Qd6!? is fine for Black as 12.Bf4 can be coolly met by castling.

10...Nc6 11.Nc3!?

How should Black proceed?

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11...0-0!?

This seems fine. The engines also like 11...a6 and 11...h6!?, but 11...Nxd4? loses to 12.Nxd4 Bxd4 13.Nxd5, eg 13...0-0 14.Bg5! Bxb5 15.Nxe7+ Kh8 16.Qxb5 f6 17.Bh6 Qxe7 18.Bxf8.
12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Be6 14.Qxd8 Rfxd8 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Be3

How would you assess this queenless middlegame?

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White is a pawn up, has a farside pawn-majority, and has one isolani against Black's two. But Black has the bishop-pair, a lead in development and the initiative. The engines reckon the game is completely equal.

16...Rab8 

Possibly better is 16...Rdb8!? This takes pressure off d4, but if, as seems likely, White feels obliged to play b3, a rook on the a file will defend a7 in the short term and, in the medium term, support a7-a5-a4.

17.b3

What should Black play?

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17...a5!?

Black wins the exchange with 17...c5 18.dxc5 Bxa1, but after 19.Rxa1 White has two pawns for it, and Black no longer has the bishop-pair. Dragon1 reckons that leaves White slightly better, but Stockfish17 is less sure.

18.Rac1 Bd5 19.Ne5

How should Black continue?

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19...Bxe5!?

Dragon1 reckons this is best, but Stockfish17 flicks between the text and 19...Rb6. After the latter, play might run 20.Nd3 (20.Rc5 Ra6 seems fine for Black) a4!? 21.bxa4 Ra8 22.Nc5 Rb2 with an an active position for Black that more-or-less compensates for White's extra two, but doubled, pawns.

20.dxe5 a4?!

The engines dislike this, preferring first 20...Re8, and if 21.f4 then 21...a4. However White can instead play, for example, 21.Rfd1!? as 21...Rxe5?? fails to 22.Bf4, so best may be 21...Ra8, after which the e pawn cannot really be held as 22.f4 is met by 22...a4.

21.bxa4 Ra8 22.Bb6 Re8 23.a5 Rxe5

How should White proceed?

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24.Rfe1!?

White is still better after this, but the engines prefer hanging on to the extra pawn, even though it is doubled and interferes with White's rooks joining the a file to support White's advanced passer. The engines quite like pushing the a2 pawn, either one square or two, but their top choice comes to be 24.f3, one point being 24...Re2 can be met by 25.Rf2.

24...Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Bxa2

How would you assess this rook-and-opposite-coloured-bishops ending?

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Material is equal, but, as is fairly well-known, the presence of a pair of rooks dramatically reduces the drawish tendencies of opposite-coloured bishops. Here, the fact that White's passed pawn is further advanced than Black's gives White the upper hand (Dragon1) or at least a slight edge (Stockfish17). Nevertheless it appears the game should be drawn with correct play.

26.Rc1 Bd5 27.f3 Kf8 28.Kf2 h5 29.Ke3 Ke7 30.Kd4 Kd6 31.Ra1 Ra6

The black rook effectively can no longer move, as to allow a6 would almost certainly be fatal

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32.Ra3 Be6 33.f4

Creating the possibility of a later f5!?

33...Bf5 34.Kc4 Be4 35.g3 Bd5+ 36.Kb4 Be6 37.Rd3+ Bd5

Now 38.f5!? can be played, but after 38...gxf5 there seems no way for White to get at Black's shattered kingside.

38.Ra3 ½–½
TEAM RESULT

Per Andreasen (FM 2233) = Brian Hewson (2039)

Peter Mikkelsen (2112) = Anthony Ashby (2049)
John Mortensen (1983) = Tim Spanton (1896)

Steffen Cordes (1943) 0-1 Charles Higgie (1945)
DENMARK 1.5-2.5 ENGLAND 3