Miniatures 32

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

R White (?) - Spanton (147 BCF)

Highbury (London) Rapidplay 1990

King's Indian Attack

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d3!?

White, going first, can afford liberties like this, which may be why the position after 3.d3!? occurs 4,216 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, with players on the white side including Nimzowitsch, Capablanca, Barcza, Benko, Shirov, Ehlvest, Topalov and Gukesh. Perhaps the idea is to take the opponent out of book, but it is also possible, as happens in this game, to transpose into lines of the King's Indian Attack with a quick g3.

3...Nf6 4.Nbd2 Be7 5.g3 d6

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 reckon 5...d5 gives Black a slight edge.

6.Bg2 Bg4 7.0-0 Qd7!?

Raising the spectre of opposite-side castling

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8.Re1 0-0!?

Cold feet? I cannot recall, but, for what it is worth, the engines are not keen on castling on either side at this point, suggesting instead 8...h5!?

9.c3 Ne8!?

Probably a novelty - the move is not in Mega26.

10.Nf1 Bh3 11.d4 Bxg2 12.Bxg2 exd4

How should White recapture?

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13.Nxd4!? 

Dragon1 prefers 13.cxd4, but Stockfish17.1 fluctuates between the two moves.

13...Nf6 14.h3 Rfe8 15.Nf5!?

The engines strongly dislike this, preferring 15.Bf4 or 15.f3!?

15...Bf8

Preserving the bishop-pair and unmasking pressure against e4. The engines now suggest 16.c4, albeit awarding Black a slight edge.

16.Qg4?? 0-1

RW resigned without waiting for 16...Nxg4.

LESSON: blunders do not come much bigger than putting the queen en prise, but there is always an underlying cause for such moves, and here I suggest it was a case of concentrating so much on one's own threats that the opponent's possibilities were overlooked.

Munich 60+ Round Two

I WAS upfloated.

Andreas Moser (1768) - Spanton (1954)

King's Pawn Irregular

1.e4 e5 2.d3!?

There are 3,353 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database

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2...Bc5 3.Nf3 Nc6

Stockfish17 and Dragon1 do not like this, much preferring 3...d6!?

How should White proceed?

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4.Be2

The engines reckon 4.Nxe5!? leaves White at least slightly better, eg 4...Nxe5 5.d4 Bd6 6.dxe5 Bxe5 7.f4, or 4...Bxf2+!? 5.Kxf2 Nxe5 6.d4, with White in both cases gaining a central space advantage.

4...Nf6 5.c3 0-0 6.0-0

After 6.b4 Bb6!? 7.b5 Ne7 8.Nxe5 d5 Black has full compensation for a pawn, according to the engines.

6...d5 7.exd5!?

The engines prefer this over the more popular 7.Nbd2.

7...Qxd5!? 8.Qc2!?

Apparently a novelty, which is not easy in this position! Known moves are 8.b4, 8.Be3, 8.Nbd2, 8.a4, 8.h3 and 8.Bg5.

8...Bf5!? 9.c4?

This not only makes d3 backward, but is flawed tactically.

How should Black respond?

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9...Qd7

This is good enough for an advantage, but even stronger seem to be 9...Nb4!?, 9...Qd6 and possibly 9...Qe6.

10.a3?

White does not have time for this. The engines give 10.Nc3, meeting 10...Nb4 with 11.Qb3, when the unprotected state of e5 gives White counterplay. However the engines reckon 10...Rae8!? leaves Black with the upper hand.

10...a5?!

Almost certainly stronger is 10...e4 11.dxe4 Nxe4!?

11.Nc3 Rfe8 12.Ne4 Be7

The engines like 12...Nxe4!? 13.dxe4 Bg4.

13.Nxf6+?!

This is not an equal exchange as the white knight is better than Black's, and the exchange makes Black's dark-square bishop more active.

13...Bxf6 14.Rd1 Rad8 15.Be3 Nd4 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.Bf4 Be5

The engines suggest 17...g5!?, one point being 18.Bd2?? is a blunder thanks to 18...Rxe2.

18.Bg3!?

Dragon1 marginally prefers this over 18.Bxe5, but Stockfish17 fluctuates between the two moves.

18...Bxg3 19.hxg3 Re6

The engines reckon 19...Re5!? keeps a slight edge.

20.Bf3

AM offered a draw.

How would you assess the position?

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Black has more space in the centre, the better development and the more flexible kingside pawns, but White is well-placed for play on the queenside. The engines reckon the position is completely equal.

20...Rde8!?

20...c5 21.b4!? probably favours White.

21.Kf1!?

Not 21.Bxb7?? c6 (21...Re2 is also very strong).

21...Rh6

The engines prefer 21...g5!? (Stockfish17) or 21...b6 (Dragon1).

22.Kg1 Bg4

White only has one good move, according to the engines

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23.Re1??
White is fine after 23.Bxg4 Qxg4 and 24.Re1 or 24.Qa4.

23...Bxf3 24.Rxe8+

This is best, according to the engines, but a better practical try is 24.gxf3!? as then Black has only one winning move.

Black to play and win after 24.gxf3!?

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After 24.gxf3!? the engines reckon Black has to find 24...Rf8!, when there is no defence to the threat of 25...Qh3 etc, eg 25.g4 Qd6, when there is no defence to the threat of 26...Qh2+ etc.

24...Qxe8 25.gxf3 f5!?

This is best, but 25...Qe6 also wins easily.

26.g4

Otherwise 26...Qh5 is fatal.

26...fxg4 27.fxg4 Qc6 28.f3 Qxf3 29.Qg2 Qe3+ 0-1

If 30.Qf2, then 30...Rh1+! wins.

Benidorm Round Three

AFTER taking a half-point bye in the first of today's two rounds, I was paired against a Spanish Fide master.

Adrián Galiana Fernández (2334) - Spanton (2009)

Double e-Pawn Irregular

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bd3!?

This position occurs 224 times in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database

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The move can be praised for being anti-theoretical, but not for much else. However, White can take more liberties than Black in the opening, and among those who have lost to it are Mikhail Tal, at the 1952 Latvian championship.

3...Nf6 4.0-0 Bc5 5.h3!?

Tal's opponent, Zigfrīds Solmanis, played 5.c3.

5...0-0 6.Re1 Nh5!?

This sets a little trap, but otherwise achieves little as White does not have much to fear from either ...Ng3 or ...Nf4.

How should White respond?

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7.Bf1!?

Certainly not 7.Nxe5? Qh4, and if 8.Ng4 then best is 8...d5!?, according to Stockfish17 and Dragon1. They suggest 7.c3, when both 7...Nf4 and 7...Ng3? are handily met by 8.Bc2.

7...d6

The engines recommend sacrificing a pawn with 7...Ng3!? 8.Nxe5 Nxf1!? 9.Nxc6 dxc6 10.Rxf1, claiming Black has good compensation after 10...f5 or 10...Qh4.

8.c3 Re8

The engines reckon 8...Qf6!? leaves White only slightly better.

9.d4 exd4

The engines prefer 9...Bb6.

10.cxd4 Bb4 11.Nc3

11.Ng5!? works well after 11...Bxe1? 12.Qh5, but 11...Nf6 equalises, according to the engines.

11...h6 12.a3 Ba5 13.b4 Bb6 14.Nd5 Nf6 15.Nxb6 axb6 16.b5 Ne7 17.d5!

The engines reckon this committal move is best.

17...Ng6 18.Qd4 Nd7 19.Bb2 f6

How would you assess this middlegame?

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White has the bishop-pair, more space and the slightly safer king, but Black has good squares for the knights, especially c5. However the engines agree White has the upper hand.

20.Bd3 Nc5 21.Bc2 Qd7?!

Played with a specific idea in mind, but the idea is faulty, although it leads to complicated play after ...
22.a4

... but the engines reckon 22.e5! Nxe5 23.Nh4 would have led to a strong attack for White, eg 23...Qxb5 24.a4 Qd7 25.f4 Nf7 26.Nf5 Qd8 27.Nxg7! Rxe1+ 28.Rxe1 Kxg7 29.Re8!! Qxe8 30.Qxf6+ Kf8 31.Qg7+ Ke7 32.Bf6+ Kd7 33.Bf5+ Ne6 (33...Qe6 34.Qxf7#) 34.Bxe6+ Qxe6 35.dxe6+ Kxe6 36.f5+!

22...Nf4

How should White meet Black's threat to capture on g2?

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23.Qe3!?

Maybe a tad stronger is the engines' 23.Ra3.

23...Nxd5?!

The engines give best play as 23...g5 24.Nd4 Qf7 25.Qc3, although they reckon White has a positionally won game.

24.Bb3!? c6

Not 24...Nb3? 25.Qxb3 etc.

25.Nd2?!

The engines show White has two winning moves in 25.Qc3!? and 25.bxc6!?, eg 25.Qc3!? Rxe4 26.Rxe4 Nxe4 27.Qd4 Nc5? 28.bxc6 bxc6 29.Bxd5+, when 29...cxd5? loses to 30.Qxd5+ and 31.Qxa8. Better is 27...Qf5, but 28.Bc2 Nf4 29.Qxe4 (not 29.Bxe4?? Ne2+ etc) Qxe4 30.Bxe4 wins.

25...Kh7 26.Qg3 Nxb3?

Better is 26...Nb4, although the engines reckon White has more than enough for a pawn.

27.Qxb3 Nf4 28.Qg3?!

This gives at least a slight edge, but stronger is 28.Qe3, hitting f4 and b6.

28...Ng6 29.Nc4 Qc7 30.Qxd6 Qxd6 31.Nxd6 Rd8

White has the upper hand after 31...Re6?! 32.Red1, according to the engines.

32.Nc4 cxb5 33.axb5 Be6 34.Nxb6 Rxa1 35.Bxa1 Rd6 36.Na4 Bd7 37.Nc5

White has a slight edge after 37.Rb1 Bxb5! 38.Rxb5 Rd1+ 39.Kh2 Rxa1 40.Nc5, according to Dragon1, although Stockfish17 disagrees.

37...Bxb5 38.Nxb7

How would you assess this ending?

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White is a pawn up, but the engines reckon the position is equal, presumably due to the better coordination of the black pieces.

38...Re6 39.Nc5 Re7 40.Re3 Nf4 41.Kh2 Rc7 42.Nb3 Nd3 43.Kg3 Rc2??

I saw my threat, but not White's.

44.Nd4 1-0

Darlington Round Six

TOOK a half-point bye in the first of today's double-round games.

Vivien Webster (1642 ECF/1731 Fide) - Spanton (1931 ECF/1980 Fide)

King's Pawn Irregular

1.e4 e5 2.d3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.a3!?

There are 130 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database, with Stockfish16.1 and Dragon1 reckoning Black is already slightly better

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4...Bc5 5.Be2 d5 6.exd5 Nxd5 7.0-0 0-0 8.Bg5!? f6 9.Bh4?!

It seems the bishop should retreat to d2 or c1.

9...Nf4

Probably even stronger, according to the engines, is 9...g5!?, eg 10.Bg3 g4 11.Nfd2 f5 12.h3? (12.Nb3 is better) f4 13.Bh2 g3!?, after which White loses the dark-square bishop.

10.Nc3 Be6 11.b4 Bb6 12.Na4 Qd7 13.Nxb6 axb6

The engines slightly prefer 13...cxb6!?

14.Bg3 Nxe2+ 15.Qxe2 Bg4 16.Qe4

Not 16.h3? Nd4.

16...Bxf3!? 17.Qxf3 Nd4!? 18.Qxb7

Possibly slightly better is 18.Qd1 - Stockfish16.1 reckons so; Dragon1 fluctuates - but the engines still give Black the upper hand.

18...Nxc2

Even stronger seems to be 18...Rab8!?, the point being 19.Qe4 can be met by 19...f5!? (not 19...Nxc2?? 20.Qc4+ etc) 20.Qxe5 f4!, after which White is in huge trouble, eg 21.Bxf4 Rxf4! or 21.Bh4 f3. If White sees this, and instead plays 19.Qa6, the engines give 19...b5, with ...Rb6 and ...Nc6 to come.

19.Rac1

Not 19.Ra2 Nxb4.

19...Rfb8

This is now the stronger rook move.

20.Qe4 Nxa3

How should White proceed?

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21.d4?

Trying to complicate matters, before White's pawn-deficit and pawn-weaknesses prove fatal, but a much better way to do this is 21.f4!?, activating the bishop and king's rook.

21...Qxd4 22.Qc6!? Qxb4 23.Qe6+ Kh8 24.Rxc7 Re8 25.Qf7 Qf8 26.Qh5!? Re7 27.Rc6 b5 28.f4 e4 29.f5 Nc4 30.Qe2 Qe8 31.Rc7 Rad8 32.Rxe7 Qxe7 33.Re1!? Qc5+ 34.Bf2 Qxf5 0-1

White could play on with 35.Qxe4 Qxe4 36.Rxe4 Rd1+ 37.Be1, but it would take a huge blunder by Black to throw away the win.

Czech Seniors Open Championship Round Three

LARGE sections of Olomouc's medieval walls have survived, partly thanks to the former German-speaking administration not wanting the city to expand by accommodating more Czech-speaking residents.

Here is my second game from yesterday's double-round.

Spanton (1852) - Zdislav Košťál (1646)

King's Pawn Irregular*

1.e4 c6 2.d4 e6!?

There are 279 examples of this move in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database, which dates back to at least the 1840s and was a favourite of the Rev John Owen.

3.Nc3 Nf6!?

Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 strongly dislike this, preferring 3...d5 or 3...d6.

4.Nf3

This was grandmaster Stuart Conquest's choice in a a 2001 simul (he got mated in 13 moves). The engines like 4.e5!?, meeting 4...Nd5 with 5.Ne4.

4...Be7 5.Bd3 h6 6.Qe2 b5

The game's first new move - 6...d5 occurs in Mega22.

7.a3 Bb7 8.Bf4 a5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Rfd1 b4 11.axb4 Bxb4?

Black was in trouble anyway but is now almost certainly positionally lost

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12.Na4 Nh5 13.Be3 Na6 14.c3 Be7 15.d5

The engines prefer 15.e5, but agree the text is also winning.

15...Bg5??

Best, but also losing, according to the engines, is 15...cxd5 16.e5!?, eg 16...f5 17.g3 g5 18.Nb6 Rb8 19.Bxa6 etc.

16.Nxg5 (1-0, 34 moves).

*ChessBase classifies the opening as a French Exchange Variation. It isn't.

Calvià Round Three

My game from last night.

Spanton (1731) - Dolores Heble García (no Fide - c970 Spanish)

Irregular

1.Nf3 d6 2.e4 Bg4 3.Bc4 a6? 4.Bxf7+!

ChessBase classifies this as a "Pirc Defence: Miscellaneous Systems," but Black's first two moves, 1...d6 and 2...Bg4, are often regarded as the Wade defence to the Réti. Either way, Stockfish14 and Komodo12.1.1 already give White a winning advantage.

4...Kxf7 5.Ng5+ Ke8 6.Qxg4 Nf6 7.Qf3 h6 8.Ne6 Qd7 9.Qf5?!

The engines reckon best is 9.Qb3.

Black to play and keep some drawing chances

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9...Qc6?

After 9...Kf7 10.Nf4! (10.Nxf8!? perhaps also gives an edge, but not 10.Nd4? e5! when Black has good compensation for a pawn, eg 11.Ne2!? - better than 11.Nf3, according to the engines - Qxf5 12.exf5 d5) Qxf5 11.exf5 Nc6 the engines agree White is much better but nowhere near as good as in the game.

10.Nc3 Rg8

This is the engines' second choice, narrowly behind 10...a5, but Black is busted.

11.Nd5

Also devastating is 11.Qg6+ Kd7 12.Qf7.

11...g6 12.Nexc7+ Kd8 13.Qe6 Qxc2? 14.Nxa8 Qc8

A marginally better way to get queens off the board is 14...Qxe4+.

The game finished:

15.Qxc8+ Kxc8 16.Nxf6 Rg7?? 17.Nb6+ Kc7 18.Nfd5+ Kd8 19.d3 Rf7 20.Be3 Nc6 21.0-0 Bg7 22.Rab1 e6 23.Nf4 Be5?! (this somehow manages to be Stockfish14's top choice for a short while) 24.Nxg6 Bg7 25.Rfc1 Nb4?? 26.Rc8#