4NCL Round 10

PLAYED on board one (of six) for Wessex B against a junior (born 2009) for Ashfield 2 this afternoon.

Sebastian Griffin-Young (1901 ECF/1841 Fide) - Spanton (1940 ECF/1911 Fide)

King's Indian Attack

1.g3 d5 2.Nf3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.0-0 e5 5.d3 Nf6 6.e4!?

Contrary to first impressions, 6.e4!? does not lose a pawn

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6...dxe4 7.dxe4 Qxd1 8.Rxd1 Bg4

If 6...Nxe4?!, then 7.Nxe5! is good for White as 7...Nxf2?? (this has been played) loses to 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.Kxf2.

9.Re1 Rd8

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer getting the queen's rook to d8 via 9...0-0-0.

10.Na3!?

This is not in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, which has 10.h3, 10.c3 and 10.Nbd2? (10...Nb4).

10...Be7

The engines suggest 10...Be6!?, 10...h6 or 10...Bd6.

11.Nc4 Bxf3?!

Breaking the well-established rule that when you have a bad bishop (in this case the king's bishop, hemmed in by black pawns), you should not swop your good bishop.

12.Bxf3 0-0

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

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Black's light-square weaknesses are probably the main reason why the engines award White the upper hand.

13.Ne3 g6 14.c3 Kg7 15.Nd5 Rd7 16.Be3

The engines like 16.Nxf6!?, or starting to advance on the kingside with 16.h4 or 16.g4!?

16...b6

Black equalises (Stockfish17.1), or comes close to it (Dragon1), with 16...Nxd5!? 17.exd5 Na5.

17.Rad1

Again the engines like swopping on f6.

17...Rfd8

And here they again like swopping on d5.

18.Rd2

I will not repeat the obvious, but at this point the engines also like 18.Bc1!?, eg 18...h5 19.h4 Rd6 20.Kf1!?, claiming Black has nothing more constructive than 20...R6d7!?, but then they seem to run short of ideas, one line given being 21.Kg2!? Rd6 22.Kf1!?, nevertheless agreeing White has the upper hand.

18...Na5!?

Stockfish17.1 reckons this is even better, albeit marginally, than 18...Nxd5. Dragon1 is not so sure.

19.b3 Nxd5 20.exd5 Nb7

The engines suggest 20...c4!?, eg 21.b4 Nb7. However, Stockfish17.1 recommends sacrificing a pawn with 21.d6!? Rxd6 22.Rxd6 Rxd6 23.b4 Nc6, claiming the bishop-pair gives enough compensation.

21.c4 Nd6

How would you assess this queenless middlegame?

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White has the bishop-pair and a protected passed pawn, but the latter is well-blockaded, and only likely to become dangerous in an ending. Meanwhile, the bishops do not have open diagonals on which to work. The engines call the game equal.

22.Rde2 f5 23.Bg2 Bf6 24.h3 h5 25.h4 Re7 26.f3!? Rde8 27.Bf2 g5!?

The engines prefer 27...e4 or 27...a5.

28.hxg5 Bxg5 29.Be3?!

Unnecessarily giving up the bishop-pair. The engines suggest getting White's queenside going with 29.b4!?, eg 29...cxb4? 30.c5. Better is 29...Nxc4, but 30.bxc5 bxc5 31.Bh3!? gives White plenty for a pawn, with the position opening up for the bishops.

29...Bxe3+ 30.Rxe3 Kf6 31.Kf2

How should Black proceed?

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31...f4

This is reasonable, but best may be the engines' 31...h4!?, eg 32.gxh4 f4 33.R3e2 Rh7, when Black will regain the pawn, with a position the engines disagree about. Dragon1 reckons Black is winning, but Stockfish17.1 gives Black only the better part of equality. Allow the engines more time, and they start to see more resources for White, with Dragon1 downgrading Black's advantage to the upper hand, and Stockfish17.1 giving Black a tiny edge worth about a tenth of a pawn. A possibly better response is 32.f4!?, when 32...hxg3+ 33.Kxg3 again brings disagreement, except both engines reckon Black is at least equal.

32.Rd3!?

Possibly better is 32.R3e2, or 32.gxf4 exf4 33.Rxe7 Rxe7 34.Rh1.

32...fxg3+ 33.Kxg3 Rg8+ 34.Kf2 Reg7 35.Bf1 Nf5

How should White proceed?

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36.f4!?

The engines like this pawn sacrifice to activate the e1 rook, although they reckon other moves also give complete equality.

36...exf4 37.Re6+ Kg5 38.Bh3 Nd4 39.Re5+ Kh4 40.a3!?

40.Re4 and 40.d6!? maintain equality, according to the engines. They strongly dislike the text at first, but, given time, Stockfish17.1 reckons White is still holding, although Dragon1 gives Black the upper hand.

40...Rg3

Dragon1's idea at first is 40...f3, but 41.Bf1 seems to hold, It switches to 40...Rg5, but White seems fine after 41.Rxg5, followed, whichever way Black recaptures, by 42.d6!? Dragon1 later likes the text for a while, and the move comes to be Stockfish17.1's top choice, again for a short time.

41.Bf1?

But the engines agree this is wrong, preferring 41.Rxg3 Rxg3 42.Bg2, with what they reckon is enough compensation for a pawn.

Black to play and win

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41...Rxd3?

Simplification helps White. The engines reckon both ...Kg4 and ...a5 win, eg 41...Kg4 42.d6!? Rd8 43.Rd5, and now 43...Rxd3 44.Bxd3 h4, with a large advantage for Black.

42.Bxd3 Rg3 43.Be2!?

The text threatens mate in one, but White completely equalises with 43.Be4, according to the engines.

43...Nxe2 44.Kxe2

Black has one move that wins (Dragon1) or draws (Stockfish17.1), but plenty of continuations that lose

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44...Rg7?

Correct is 44...Rg5!, when 45.Rxg5?! Kxg5 gives a pawn ending that, despite White's protected passed pawn, is won for Black (Dragon1) or at least gives Black the upper hand (Stockfish17.1), eg 46.Kf3 h4 47.Kg2 Kf5 48.Kf3 h3 49.a4 Ke5 50.Kf2 Kf5 51.Kf3, after which it is hard to see how Black makes progress, even though Dragon1 reckons Black's advantage is equivalent to more than four pawns. However, note that 46.d6? definitely loses to 46...Kf6 47.Kf3 Ke6 48.Kxf4 Kxd6 49.Kg5 Ke5 etc.

Instead of trading rooks, White can play 45.Re7, when 45...Kg3 is completely equal (Stockfish17.1) or leaves Black with the upper hand (Dragon1). This time, however, giving the engines more time leads Stockfish17.1 to backtrack a little and award Black a slight edge. Play might continue 46.d6 f3+ 47.Kf1 Rg6 48.d7 Rd6 49.Rg7+ Kf4 50.Kf2 Rd2+ 51.Ke1!? Rd3 52.Kf2 h4 53.Rh7 Kg5 54.b4!?, after which the engines agree the position is completely equal.

45.Kf3

White is winning easily

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45...Rf7 46.d6 Rg7 47.Rd5 Rg3+ 48.Kxf4 Rg4+ 49.Ke5 Rg8 50.d7 Rd8 51.Kd6 Kg4 52.Kc7 1-0

After 52...Rxd7 53.Rxd7 h4, White sacrifices the rook for the h pawn, leaving White's king to mop up the black queenside pawns.

Final standings in the triangular match:
Wessex B 3.5-2.5 Iceni2
Ashfield 2 4-2 Wessex B
Iceni 2 1-5 Ashfield 2

4NCL Easter Round Three

AFTER taking a halfpoint bye in round two, I faced a junior (born 2016).

Spanton (1944 ECF/1908 Fide) - Tara Tamilselvan (1879 ECF/1820 Fide)

King's Indian Defence

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Qc2!?

White can get away with moves like this early in the opening, but it can hardly be the best continuation.

3...Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.d4 e5 7.d5

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer 7.dxe5, albeit giving Black at least equality after the reply 7...dxe5.

How should Black proceed?

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7...Nd4!

A typical idea in the King's Indian, and here almost a necessity, according to the engines, as they reckon White is doing well after 7...Ne7.

8.Nxd4!?

Dragon1 is quite happy with this, but Stockfish17.1 prefers playing around the knight.

8...exd4 9.Ne2 0-0 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 c5 12.dxc6?

The engines suggest 12.f3 or 12.Bxf6!?, but reckon Black has at least the upper hand.

12...Qa5+!

This zwischenzug gives White a major headache.

13.Kd1

Also deeply unpleasant is 13.Qd2 Qxd2+ 14.Kxd2 Nxe4.

13...bxc6 14.f3 Qb6 15.Qd2 c5

The engines prefer 15...Rb8, and if 16.Bf2!?, then 16...c5.

16.Rb1 Ba6

Stockfish17.1 likes 16...d5!?, the idea being to meet 17.exd5 with 17...Bf5 18.Rc1 Rae8. giving pressure, and 17.cxd5 with 17...Ba6, again enjoying a strong initiative for a pawn.

17.Nc1

The engines much prefer 17.Bxf6!? Bxf6 18.Nf4, but certainly not 17.b3? g5!? 18.Bg3 Bxc4!

17...Nd7 18.Bd3 Ne5 19.b3 Rfe8 20.Bg3 Nxd3!?

An odd decision, at first sight, giving up a well-placed knight for a hemmed-in bishop, but the engines agree it is clearly the best move.

21.Qxd3 Rad8

Almost certainly even stronger is the positional pawn sacrifice 21...d5!? 22.exd5 Re3.

22.Re1 d5 23.exd5 Rxe1+ 24.Kxe1 Rd8 25.Qc2

Probably not 25.Qe4?! Rd8.

25...Rd8 26.Nd3 Qa5+ 27.Kf1 Kh7?!

The engines reckon this gives away almost all of Black's advantage, whereas 27...Bc8 maintains the upper hand.

28.Re1

But they agree the best response is 28.Bh4, and if 28...Re8, then 29.Re1 with what they reckon is complete equality.

28...Bc8 29.Bh4 Rd6

29...g5!? looks very risky, but White has nothing better than retreating the bishop, according to the engines, after which 30...Bf5 is good.

30.Be7 Rc6 31.Re2 Qc7 32.Kg1

The position of the white king at last looks normal

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32...Bf5 33.Bh4!? Re6 34.Rxe6 fxe6!? 35.Bg3?

This drives the black queen to a good square, whereas after 35.Be1!?, or 35.g4 Bxd3 36.Qxd3, the engines agree the game is equal.

35...Qa5 36.a4?

After 36.Kf1!? Bxd3 (36...Qc3? 37.Qxc3 bxc3 38.Ke2=) 37.Qxd3 Qxa2 38.Bd6 Black is a pawn up but, at best, only slightly better, according to the engines.

36...Qc3 37.Qxc3

Forced.

37...bxc3 38.Nc1 Bd4+ 39.Bf2

39.Kf1? Be3.

39...Bc2 40.Kf1 Kg7 41.a5 Kf7?

This almost certainly should not win, whereas certainly winning is 41...e5,  the idea being to meet 42.Bxd4 with 42...exd4.

42.b4??

Also losing, according to Dragon1 for quite some time, is 42.Bxd4 cxd4 43.Ke2, but Stockfish17.1 reckons Black is only slightly better. At first 43...Ke7 is Dragon1's top choice, but eventually it comes to see 44.b4 as more-or-less equalising, so it switches to 43...e5 44.b4 e4!? 45.fxe4 Bxe4, but after 46.Nd3 Ke6 47.Nc5+ Ke5 48.b5 it agrees with Stockfish17.1 that White holds.

42...Bxf2 43.b5

The point behind 42.b4??, but it is easily parried.

Black has three winning moves

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43...Bd4

Also winning are 43...Be3 and 43...Bh4.

44.f4 Be4 45.Ke2 Ke7 46.Nb3 Kd7 47.g3 Kc7 48.h3 c2 49.Kd2 Bb2 50.Ke3 Bf5 0-1

4NCL

PLAYED on board one (of six) for Wessex B against a junior (born 2012) from Guildford Young Guns B in weekend three of the Four Nations Chess League Division Four.

Spanton (1928 ECF/1939 Fide) - Elijah De Lange (1840 ECF/1664 Fide)

Pirc

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 c5!?

A well-known idea in the Pirc. The point is that after ...

6.dxc5

... Black does not have to recapture immediately.

6...Qa5 7.Bd3 Qxc5 8.Qe2 Bg4 9.Be3 Qb4!?

This is a rarely played alternative to the normal 9...Qa5.

How should White respond?

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10.0-0

Stockfish17.1 also likes 10.a3!? Qxb2 11.Kd2!?

10...Nbd7!?

This apparent-novelty is Stockfish17.1's top choice, at least for a while. Known moves are 10...0-0, 10...Nc6 and 10...Qxb2? The capture is bad because of the reply 11.Nb5, when 11...Na6 loses the black queen to 12.Rfb1.

11.a3 Qa5

Not 11...Qxb2?? 12.Na4.

12.b4!?

This makes the c pawn backward, but takes away the c5 square from the black queen's knight.

12...Qd8 13.Rad1 0-0

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

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White has more space and a lead in development, but Black has a solid position - one that looks as if it could have come from the Dragon Variation of the Sicilian. Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 give White a slight edge.

14.Qf2

The engines suggest 14.h3 or 14.Qe1!?

14...Bxf3!?

This is a common idea in the Pirc/Modern complex. Black gives up the light-square bishop for the white king's knight, usually as preparation for playing ...e5. Ideally, from a black perspective, the capture is provoked by White spending a tempo on playing h3. White has not done that here, but it could be argued 14.Qf2 is a similar spend of a tempo, in that after the text White is obliged to recapture on f3 with the queen.

15.Qxf3 a6 16.Rfe1

The engines claim White has at least a slight edge after 16.Ne2!? or 16.Nb1!?

16...Rc8 17.Nb1!? Qc7?!

This is strongly disliked by the engines. They reckon both 17...b5 and 17...Nb6 equalise.

18.c4 a5 19.Rc1 axb4 20.axb4 b6 21.Nc3 Ra8 22.Nd5 Nxd5 23.cxd5 Qb7

How should White proceed?

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24.Rc6

Active and aggressive, but Black has counterplay. The engines suggest 24.Bb5.

24...Ra3 25.Bb5?

Too late. White still has chances of a small edge after 25.Qe2.

25...Bc3!?

The 'Dragon' bishop strikes.

What should White play?

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26.Rb1?!

Stockfish17.1 gives 26.Rc1!? Bd2 27.Bxd2 Rxf3 28.gxf3, which is the same as the game, except the white king's rook is on the open c file instead of passively placed behind the b4 pawn. Dragon1 comes to view both moves as equally good.

26...Bd2 27.Bxd2

There is nothing better.

27...Rxf3 28.gxf3

How would you assess this imbalanced middlegame?

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White has rook and two bishops for queen and knight. That is a material advantage for Black, but the bishop-pair and White's control of the c file give some compensation, although Black is still winning, according to the engines, which probably regard White's weakened king's position as significant.

28...Nb8!?

The engines prefer 28...Nf6.

29.Rc2

There is no good way to give up the exchange on c6.

29...Rc8 30.Ra2 Rc7 31.Rba1 Qc8 32.Ra8?

As with my 24th move, I play something that is active and aggressive, but fails to take into account my opponent's counterplay. Perhaps best is 32.Be1!?, Stockfish17.1's idea being to meet 32...Qh3 with 33.Bg3.

Black to play and win

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32...Rc2!

Other reasonable-looking moves allow White to more-or-less equalise, according to the engines.
33.Bc6?

Perhaps best is the retreat 33.R8a2, but then White has lost the initiative, and has no compensation for being material down and with an exposed king.

33...Rxd2 0-1

Black wins easily after 34.Rxb8 Qxb8 35.Ra8 Qxa8 38.Bxa8 Rb2.

The match was drawn 3-3.

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

Lessons From Benidorm VI

MY round-seven game, where I had white against Malaysian junior Taj Prasshad Nambiyar Chanthiran (1518), reached the following position after my 26th move.

I have just played 26.Rbd1

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White has pressure down the f file and a strongly placed knight; Black controls the open file, with pressure against d3.

Stockfish17.1 gives White a slight edge, while Dragon1 reckons White has the upper hand, but the engines agree Black should kick the f5 rook with 26...g6!?, or play 26...Qd8, when the queen covers the d8-h5 diagonal as well as being well-placed to join play on the a file with ...Qa5.

Instead Black doubled up on the a file with 26...Rfa8??, allowing a decisive fork, 27.Nb6.

LESSON: Black's blunder is an example of what happens when a player focuses on the opponent's main threat (in this case, to set up a sacrificial attack against the black king), and omits to check for simple threats elsewhere.

Lessons From Benidorm V

MY round-six game, in which I had black against Singaporean junior Rahul Lakshminarasimhan (1626), featured a simple missed opportunity.

White to play and win

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The knight, which cannot move without Black suffering a catastrophic loss, is attacked three times and defended three times.

However, White can bring a fourth attacker into play long before the black king can get over to provide a fourth defender, so 22.Rc3 Kf8 23.Rfc1 is decisive.

Black can break the pin with 22...Qd6, when 23.Rfc1? can be met by 23...Ne7, but White has 23.Ba6, when 23...Rd8 again makes Rfc1 decisive.

I do not know what my opponent missed in this short tactical sequence, but perhaps he was unsure of his calculations, and so instead went for the sure win of a pawn by 22.Qa6? Qd8 23.Bxc6 Rxc6 24.Rxc6 Rxc6 25.Qxa7.

But after 25...Rc2 (not the only drawing move, eg 25...g6 is also completely equal, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1) the rook on the seventh rank led to a quick draw.

LESSON: when, as in the diagram, a player is tied down and his options are limited, there is probably a strong tactical solution.

Lessons From Benidorm IV

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

Black has just played 31...Bh2-e5

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

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

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

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

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

Same position, but without bishops

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

Best play goes something like:*

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

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

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

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

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

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

Black to play and win

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37...c5!

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

38.bxc5

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

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

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

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

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

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

Benidorm Bali Round Seven

FACED a Malaysian junior (born 2010).

Spanton (1896) - Taj Prasshad Nambiyar Chanthiran (1518)

English Four Knights

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e4!?

Nimzowitsch pioneered this move, and the associated pawn-formation with a grip over d5, but a hole at d4. Botvinnik is credited with refining the idea by playing e4 before developing the king's knight, which then went to e2, in conjunction with a kingside fianchetto.

How should Black respond?

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4...Bb4

This was a popular reply from the beginning, along with 4...Bc5, and has today established itself as the main continuation.

5.d3 h6!?

Nakamura and other grandmasters have played this, but more popular are 5...0-0 and especially 5...d6.

6.Be2 d6 7.Bd2 Bc5!?

A known idea, but apparently a novelty in this exact position. The move is liked by Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1, along with another apparent-novelty, 7...a5!?

8.0-0 0-0

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

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White has more space on the queenside and has a grip over d5, but a hole at d4. Both white bishops are passive, while Black's dark-square bishop is technically bad, in that Black's centre pawns are on dark squares, but is outside the pawn-chain and is the most active piece on the board. The engines reckon the game is completely equal.

9.Na4 Qe7 10.a3 a5 11.Rb1 Ba7 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 Nd4 14.Nc3 Nxe2+!?

Black wins the bishop-pair, but swops off White's bad bishop.

15.Qxe2 Bg4 16.h3 Bh5 17.Be3 c6

Maintaining the bishop-pair with 17...Bb8!? does not look appealing, and 17...b6? is simply bad after 18.Ra1 or 18.b5!?

18.b5 Bxe3

Black is slightly better after this, according to the engines, but they reckon 18...Bd4!? is stronger.

19.fxe3!?

It is hard to say which recapture is better - the engines are split on the matter - but I thought this was the less-drawish choice.

19...c5?!

Black is slightly better after 19...Nd7 or 19...Qd8, according to the engines, but they reckon the text leaves White slightly better.

20.g4 Bg6 21.Nh4!?

Black cannot exploit this tactically, because White threatens Nxg6, which in turn threatens Nxe7+, but they reckon White should be playing on the queenside with 21.Ra1 or 21.Qb2.

21...Bh7 22.Nf5 Bxf5 23.Rxf5 Nh7 24.Qf2 Ra3!?

Counterplay, but the engines reckon 24...g6!? gives complete equality, despite the hole at f6.

25.Nd5 Qd7 26.Rd1

Black to play and lose

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26...Rfa8??

Black is only slightly worse after 26...g6!? or 26...Qd8, according to Stockfish17.1, although Dragon1 awards White the upper hand.

27.Nb6 Qe7 28.Nxa8 Rxa8 29.Kh2 f6 30.Qf1 Nf8 31.Ra1 Rxa1!?

The engines are not overly critical of this, although swopping rooks when the exchange down is rarely a good idea.

32.Qxa1 Ne6 33.Qa8+ Kh7 34.Qc8

How should Black proceed?

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34...Nf4?!

This 'clever' combination wins back the exchange, but at the cost of allowing White to swop off into an easily won pawn ending. However, Stockfish17.1 reckons White's advantage is anyway worth almost a rook, and Dragon1 is even more effusive.

35.exf4 g6 36.fxe5 gxf5 37.Qxf5+ Kg8 38.Qg6+ Qg7 39.Qxg7+

The game finished:

39...Kxg7 40.exd6 Kf7 41.Kg3 Ke6 42.Kf4 Kxd6 43.Kf5 Ke7 44.Kg6 b6 45.h4 1-0

Benidorm Bali Round Six

FACED a Singaporean junior (born 2007).

Rahul Lakshminarasimhan (1626) - Spanton (1896)

London System

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 Bd6 4.Bg3 Nf6 5.e3 Ne4!?

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer the mainline 5...0-0, or 5...c5.

How should White respond?

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6.Bxd6!?

White usually plays 6.Nbd2 or 6.Bd3, eg 6.Nbd2 Nxg3 7.hxg3, when the half-open h file and 'promotion' of the h pawn to a more-central g pawn are roughly balanced by Black having the bishop-pair and more flexible kingside pawn-structure. The engines give White the better part of equality.

White has also tried 6.Bh4, when Black has 6...g5!?, as well as the more conventional 6...Be7.

6...cxd6!? 7.c4 Qa5+ 8.Nbd2

The engines come to marginally prefer 8.Nfd2!?

8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 d5 10.Bd3!?

The engines agree this apparent-novelty is a slight improvement on the known 10.Be2.

10...Nc6 11.0-0 Nxd2 12.Nxd2 0-0

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

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White has much the better bishop, which the engines agree gives White a slight edge, although Stockfish17.1 is less sure than Dragon1.

13.f4

This looks dangerous, but the engines prefer immediate queenside play with 13.Nb3.

13...Bd7 14.Nb3!?

A move such as 14.Rf3, 14.Nf3, or even 14.Qh5!?, intending to meet 14...g6 with 15.Qe2, would seem more consistent, but the engines reckon White 's kingside play is not dangerous, and they prefer the text.

14...Qc7!?

This invites a pin, which is why the engines suggest 14...Qd8.

15.Rc1 Rac8

This is Dragon1's top choice; Stockfish17.1 prefers 15...Rfc8!?

16.Nc5 b6?!

This is Dragon1's top choice, at least for a while, but Stockfish17.1 much prefers 16...g6 or 16...Ne7, and Dragon1 comes to agree, presumably because the text is too loosening.

17.Nxd7 Qxd7 18.Qa4

How should Black proceed?

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18...Rc7?
Black had to play 18...Qd6 or 18...Nb8, although neither is pleasant, and it is unclear which is better, eg 18...Qd6 19.Ba6 Rc7 20.Qa3! Qd8! (20...Qd7 21.Qc3 is much worse, according to the engines) 21.Qc3 Re8 22.Bb5 Qb8! 23.Rc2 (23.Bxc6? Rec8 equalises) Rec8 24.Rfc1 Qb7 25.f5!? exf5 26.e4!, with the upper hand for White, according to the engines, or 18...Nb8 19.Qxd7 Nxd7 20.Ba6 Ra8 21.Rc7, with pressure, but only a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish17.1, although Dragon1 again awards White the upper hand. Both lines are sharp and there are alternatives along the way.

19.Bb5 Rfc8 20.Ba6 Rcd8 21.Bb5 Rdc8

White to play and win

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22.Qa6?

Doubling on the c file, starting with 22.Rc3, gives a simple win, eg 22...Qd6 23.Ba6 Rd8 24.Rfc1 etc. The engines suggest 23...b5!?, but 24.Qxb5 Rb8 25.Qc5 Qd8 26.Rfc1 wins, eg 26...Rxb2 27.Qxc6! (27.Bb5 is also good enough) Rxc6 28.Rxc6, after which the black queen falls.

22...Qd8

Also drawing is 22...Qe7!?, as long as after 23.Bxc6 Black plays 23...Qd8! and not 23...Rxc6? 24.Qxc8+! etc.

23.Bxc6 Rxc6 24.Rxc6 Rxc6 25.Qxa7

White has won a pawn, but Black's activity on the open file forces a draw

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25...Rc2 26.Qa3 g6 27.Qb3 Qc7 28.Rf2

There is nothing better.

The game finished:

28...Rc1+ 29.Rf1 Rc2 30.Rf2 Rc1+ 31.Rf1 Rc2 ½–½

Benidorm Bali Round Five

FACED a junior (born 2012).

Spanton (1896) - Tarek Kaji Senas (1711)

Spanish Exchange

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

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

How should White respond?

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8.Nc3

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

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

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

10.f3

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

10...f5 11.exf5

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

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

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

13...Rae8 14.Bd2 Rf7

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

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

The engines suggest 17.Bg3.

17...Bg6 18.h3

And here they prefer pushing the h pawn two squares.

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

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

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

How should Black proceed?

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23...b3!?

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

24.cxb3 Bd3 25.Rg1 Re2 26.Nc3

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

26...Rf2

How should White proceed?

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27.Ne4

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

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

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

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

30.Re2

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

30...Rxe2 31.Kxe2 Be5

What should White play?

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32.Kf3!?

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

32...Kf7

Or 32...Bxb2 33.Bf4 etc.

33.Kg4 Ke6 34.Bf4!?

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

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

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

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

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

Benidorm Round Four

FACED a Norwegian junior (born 2008) after taking a halfpoint bye in the first of today's double-round games.

Spanton (1941) - Tord Albrigtsen (1717)

Spanish Exchange

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Nc3 0-0-0 9.Be3 Bb4

This is the commonest continuation in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, and dates back to at least 1912.

10.Ne2 Re8!?

A little more popular is 10...Ne7, but Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 fluctuate between the two moves.

11.a3 Bxc3+!?

The engines prefer 11...Bd6, but the text was Svetozar Gligorić's choice when he reached the position.

12.Nxc3 f5!?

This may be a novelty. Gojko Laketić (2425) - Gligorić (2585), Yugoslav Championship (Kladovo) 1990, went 12...Nf6 13.f3 Nd5!? 14.Bd2 f5 15.0-0 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 fxe4 17.fxe4 Rxe4 18.Rae1!? Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Bf5!? 20.Bxg7 Rd8 21.Bf6 Rf8 22.Be7, when a draw was agreed.

13.exf5 Bxf5 14.0-0-0

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

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Stockfish17.1 calls the game completely equal, but Dragon1 reckons White has at least the better part of equality.

14...Nf6 15.h3 h5 16.Rhe1 h4?!

The engines dislike this, suggesting 16...Ne4 or 16...b6.

17.Bd4

The engines reckon 17.Bg5 gives White at least the upper hand, the point being the black h pawn is weak.

17...b6 18.Bxf6!?

White is slightly better after 18.f3 or 18.Be3, according to the engines.

18...gxf6 19.Ne2 Re4

The engines prefer 19...Rhg8.

20.Nd4 Rxe1 21.Rxe1 Bd7

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

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Black has the better piece for working with a rook, especially with rival pawn-majorities, but that is outweighed by White's better pawn-structure, according to the engines.

22.Ne2?!

Better is 22.Nf3, targeting the weak h pawn.

22...Rh5?!

The pinning 22...Re8 equalises, according to the engines.

23.f4?!

Almost certainly the wrong idea. The engines reckon White has an edge after 23.Nf4.

23...c5!?

Not just taking away the d4 square from the knight, but preparing to target the backward g pawn.

24.Rf1 Bc6 25.Rf2 Rh7 26.f5 Rg7 27.Nf4 Rg5 28.Ng6?!

Probably better is 28.Ne6 Rxg2 29.Rxg2 Bxg2 30.Nf4 Be4 31.Ng6 Kd7 (not 31...Bxf5?? 32.Ne7+ and 33.Nxf5) 32.Nxh4, although Dragon1, but not Stockfish17.1, for quite some time reckons the line wins for Black.

28...Bxg2 29.Nxh4 Bxh3

Black has won a pawn and is winning the game, according to the engines

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30.Kd2 Rg4?!

The engines reckon 30...a5, or advancing the king with 30...Kb7 or 30...Kd7, is stronger.

31.Ng6 Kd7 32.Nf4 Rg3
Black is still at least slightly better after 32...Rh4, according to the engines.

33.Nd5 Rg5 34.Nxf6+ Kc6

Not 34...Kd6?? 35.Ne4+ and 36.Nxg5.

35.Ne4 Rxf5 36.Rxf5 Bxf5

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

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With pawns all on one side of the board, Black's extra pawn should not prevail, but Black can play on with little risk.

37.Ng3 Bg6 38.c3 Kb5 39.Ne2 a5 40.Nf4 Be4 41.Ne6 Kc6 42.c4!?

Putting a pawn on the same colour complex as the bishop, making it a possible target, but the engines are fine with the move, which gains space.

42...Kd6 43.Ng5 Bg2

White to play and hold the draw

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44.Ke3?

The engines show 44.a4!? or 44.b3!? is necessary.

Black to play and gain a winning advantage

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44...Bf1

It seems the only winning move is 44...a4!, a possible continuation being 45.Kf4 (this is White's best try, according to the engines) Ke7! (if 45...Bf1, then 46.Ne4+ and 47.Nd2) 46.Ke5 c6, after which the c4 pawn falls. If 45.Kd3, then 45...Ke5 46.Nf7+ Ke6!? 47.Ng5+ Kf5 48.Nf7 Bf1+ 49.Kc3 Kf6! 50.Nd8 Bg2 traps the knight.

45.Ne4+ Kc6 46.Nd2 Bg2 47.a4!?

Not the only drawing move.

47...Kb7!? 48.Kf4 Bc6 49.b3

All white pawns are on the same colour complex as the bishop, but the position is drawn

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49...Be8 50.Kc5 Bh5

White to play and hold the draw

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51.Kd5?

Three king moves draw (51.Ke6, 51.Ke4 and 51.Kf6!?), but the text is not one of them, and 51.Ne4? also loses, according to the engines.

Black to play and win

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51...Bd1

The winning move is 51...Kc8!, when play might run 52.Ke6 Kd8 53.Ne4 Bd1 54.Nd2 Bc2 55.Kf6 Kd7 56.Ke5 c6!? 57.Kf4 (57.Kf6 Kd6) Ke6 58.Ke3 Ke5 59.Nf3+ Kf5 60.Nd2 Bd1 61.Kd3 Kf4 62.Kc3 Bg4! (if 62...Ke3 then 63.Nb1!? seems to hold) 63.Kd3 Bf5+ 64.Ke2 Bc2! 65.Kf2 Bd3 66.Nf3 Ke4 67.Nd2+ Kd4 with ...Kc3 etc to come.

However, if White had played, for example, 51.Ke6, the plan with 51...Kc8 does not work, as Black has 52.Ke7. Similarly, 51.Ke4 Kc8 is also fine for White, eg 52.Kd3 Kd7 53.Kc3 Kd6 54.Nf1 Ke5 55.Ne3 c6 56.Nc2 Kf4 57.Kd3!? Bg6+ 58.Kd2 Bxc2 59.Kxc2 Ke3 60.Kc3, and the pawn ending is drawn. 

[I do not suppose it needs stating, but, just in case, this is all engine analysis.]

After 51...Bd1, White has one drawing move

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52.Ke5

Only 52.Ke6! draws, as after the text the ...Kc8 plan again works. 52.Ke4 also loses to 52...Bc2+, followed by the ...Kc8 plan.

52...c6 53.Kd6 Bc2 54.Kd7 Bh7 55.Nf3 Bf5+ 56.Kd6 Be4 57.Nd2 Bg2 58.Kd7 Bh3+ 59.Kd6 Bf5 60.Ke5 Bg4 61.Kd6 Bd1 62.Kd7 Be2 63.Kd6 Bg4 64.Ne4 Be2 65.Nd2 Bd3 66.Nf3 Be2 67.Nd2 Bd1 68.Kd7 b5

The final try

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69.axb5

The engines show 69.Kd6!? bxa4 70.bxa4 Bxa4 71.Kxc5 also draws, while 69.cxb5 transposes to the game.

69...cxb5 70.cxb5 Kb6 71.Nc4+ Kxb5 72.Kd6

An only-move, but there was little real choice.

72...Bxb3

Or 72...a4 73.Na3+ Kb4 74.bxa4 Bxa4 with similar play as in the game.

73.Nxa5! Bf7 74.Nc6

Not 74.Nb7? c4 75.Nc5 c3 76.Ne4 c2 77.Nc3+ Kc4 78.Ne2 Kd3 79.Nc1+ Kc2 80.Nc3+ Bxc3.

74...c4 75.Nd4+ Kb4 76.Nc2+ Kb3 77.Nd4+ Kc3 78.Kc5 Kd3 79.Nc6 c3 80.Nb4+ Ke3 81.Nc2+ Ke4!?

Nothing wins - it is a tablebase draw.

82.Ne1 Bg8 83.Kb4 Kd4 84.Nf3+ Kd3 85.Ne1+ Kd2 86.Nf3+ Kc2 87.Ne1+ Kb2 88.Nd3+ Kc2 89.Ne1+ Kd2 90.Nf3+ Ke3 91.Kxc3 Kxf3 ½–½