League Chess

PLAYED on board one (of five) for Battersea 3 against top-of-the-table Wanstead in Central London League Division Three last night.

Spanton (1957) - John Hodgson (2035)

Sicilian ...e6/Maróczy Bind

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4

This position occurs 3,499 times in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database

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7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 e5!?

This is the commonest move in Mega25, although it does not appear before 1937.

9.0-0 Bxc3!?

This is the critical alternative to the mainline, which runs 9...0-0 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 Bc5!?, with a position Stockfish17 and Dragon1 find hard to judge, their evaluation fluctuating between equality and a slight edge for Black.

10.bxc3 c5!?

Most popular in Mega25 is 10...d6, while the engines suggest castling or 10...Qe7.

11.f4 d6 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.Bg5 Rb8!?

This apparent-novelty - the known move is 13...Qd6 - is the engines' top choice.

14.Qa4+ Qd7 15.Bc2

JH in the postmortem suggested 15.Qa5, when the engines reckon Black should coolly castle.

15...0-0

The engines give Black a slight edge after 15...Qxa4+ 16.Bxa4 Ke7!?

16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Rxf6 Qxa4 18.Bxa4 Be6

White has won a pawn, at least temporarily, but the engines agree Black has full compensation

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19.Rd1 Bxc4

I thought 19...Kg7 is better, and the engines confirm this, but there is not as much in it as I believed.

20.Rc6 Rfc8 21.Rxc8+ Rxc8 22.Bb3 Bxb3 ½–½

Battersea 3 defaulted on board 4, losing the match 1.5-3.5.

MY BATTERSEA SEASON 2024-5

DATE.....EVENT...........................COL..RATING..OPP'S RATING..SCORE..SEASON PERF

12/9/24  Central London League   W     1933         1886                   1            2286

26/9/24  Central London League   B      1933         2112                   1            2399

15/10/24 Club Championship        W     1968         1578                   1            2259*

31/10/24 Central London League  B      1968         1867                   0            2061*

19/11/24 London League               W     1957         1991                   1            2127*

21/11/24 Central London League   B      1957         2035                   =           2112*

*My season's performance is really slightly better than this, the point being my win against the 1578 counts as a 1978 performance, which lowers my average despite me winning the game.

Sant Jordi Round Four

FACED a French junior (born 2010).

Rodrigue Hamm (1915) - Spanton (2013)

Maróczy Bind

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Be3 Bg7 6.c4 Nf6 7.Nc3 d6 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 Bd7 10.f3 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.Qd2

After minor transpositions the game has reached a position occurring 4,330 times in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database

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12...a5 13.Nd5

The mainline in Mega24 runs 13.b3 Nd7!? 14.Be3!? Nc5 15.Rab1 Qb6!? 16.Rfc1 Rfc8, reaching a position that appears 875 times, slightly favouring White, according to Stockfish17 and Dragon1.

13...Nd7!? 14.Rac1!?

Placing a rook on a file that will probably become open if Black captures on d5, either willingly or because of White pressure. The commonest continuation in Mega24 is 14.Bxg7, although frequently in such Maróczy Bind positions Whites keep their better bishop on the board by retreating it to e3 or f2.

14...Bxd4+!? 15.Qxd4 e5!?

Gaining central space. Black hopes to mask the backward d pawn by manoeuvring the knight to d4.

16.Qd2

The engines suggest 16.Qe3, but 16...Bxd5 17.cxd5 Nc5 looks fine for Black.

16...Nc5 17.Rfd1 Ne6 18.Qe3 Bxd5

How should White recapture?

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19.Rxd5?

At first glance this may seem promising, but it allows Black a winning attack. Instead 19.cxd5 Nd4 gives a position in which Black's better minor-piece slightly outweighs White's central space advantage, according to the engines.

19...Nf4

This wins material.

20.Rd2

The engines prefer giving up the exchange with 20.Rd3!?

20...Qg5

As well as mate at g2, Black threatens to win the white queen with 21...Nh3+ etc.

21.Kf1 Qxg2+ 22.Ke1 Qxh2 23.Bf1 Qh4+ 24.Kd1 Qe7 25.Rh2 Kg7 26.Kc2 h5 27.Kb1 Rac8 28.Rd1 Qc7 29.Rhd2 Rfd8 30.Qa3

Black cannot save the d pawn, but exchanges on d6 will let Black successfully activate the passed h pawn

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30...h5 31.Rxd6!?

This hastens the end, but if Black is allowed to remain two pawns up White loses anyway.

31...Rxd6 32.Rxd6 h3 33.Rd2 Rd8 34.Qc3 h2! 35.Rxh2 Rd1+ 36.Kc2 Rxf1 (0-1, 45 moves)

Darlington Round Four

AFTER taking a half-point bye in the morning's third round, I faced an Irishman.

Spanton (1931 ECF/1980 Fide) - Nicholas Webb (1906 ECF/1816 Fide)

Sicilian ..e6/Maróczy Bind

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

How should Black proceed?

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8...d5!?

This is second in popularity, albeit way behind 8...e5, in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database.

9.exd5!? Qa5?!

The mainline in Mega24 runs 9...exd5 10.0-0 0-0 and either 11.cxd5 or 11.Bg5, with at best a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish16.1 and Dragon1.

10.0-0

Even stronger, according to the engines, is 10.Bd2.

10...0-0?

Better is 10...cxd5.

11.Ne4?

White is winning after 11.dxc6 or 11.Bg5, according to the engines.

11...Nxe4 12.Bxe4 cxd5 13.cxd5 Bb7 14.Be3 Rfd8 15.a3 Bf8 16.b4 Qb5 17.Qc2 Rac8?!

Probably 17...f5!? is better.

18.Bxh7+ Kh8

How should White proceed?

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19.Bd3??

This loses, whereas 19.Qd3 gives White at least the upper hand, according to the engines.

19...Qxd5 20.Be4 Rxc2 21.Bxd5 Rxd5 22.Bxa7 g6 23.Rfd1 Bg7 24.Rab1 Ra2 25.h3 Rxa3 (0-1, 39 moves)

British 65+ Round Five

I WAS upfloated against a Scotland-registered player.

Spanton (1919 ECF/1928 Fide) - Adam Walkowiak (1642 ECF/1729 Fide)

Sicilian Maróczy

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 g6?!

The mainline in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database runs 5...Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 e5!?, with equality, according to Stockfish16.1 and Dragon1.

6.Nc3 a6

Overwhelmingly more popular in Mega24 is 6...Bg7?, but then White has 7.Ndb5.

7.Be3 Bg7 8.Qd2 Nge7 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0

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

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White is well ahead on development and has more space, while Black seemingly will have trouble challenging the Bind. The engines reckon White has a positionally won game.

10...e5!?

The engines suggest 10...d5 11.Nxc6!? bxc6 12.Rad1 Qc7, but reckon White is winning.

11.Nb3 Qc7 12.c5!? Na5 13.Nxa5 Qxa5 14.Rfd1 Qc7 15.Rac1 Nc6 16.Nd5 Qa5 17.b4 Qd8 18.a3 Nd4 19.Bc4 Kh8

This allows Bg5 to be met by ...f6.

20.Bg5

But Bg5 is still good.

20...f6 21.Be3 Rb8

Or 21...Nc6 22.Nb6 etc.

22.Bxd4 exd4 23.Qxd4 f5 24.e5 Qg5!? 25.f4 Qh4 26.g3 Qd8 27.Nb6 g5!?

Black is completely lost, so must strive for counterplay of any kind

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28.Qd6 gxf4!? 29.Qxb8 fxg3 30.hxg3 Qg5 31.e6?

White is winning easily after several moves, including 31.Rc3, 31.Qd6 and 31.Kg2.

31...f4

Also drawing is 31...Qe3+.

32.Rd3 Be5

How should White proceed?

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33.Qa7?

The engines show 33.Qxe5+, 33.e7 and 33.exd7 draw, eg 33.e7 Qxe7 (33...Re8? 34.Qxc8! Rxc8 35.Nxc8 Qh5 36.Nd6 Bxd6 37.cxd6 Kg7 38.Re1 Qe8 39.gxf4 etc) 34.Nxc8 Bd4+! 35.Rxd4 Qxe3+ etc.

33...f3 34.Rc2 Qxg3+ 35.Kf1 Qxh3+ 36.Ke1 Bg3+?

Black has several wins, including 36...Qh1+ 37.Kd2 f2 etc.

37.Kd2 Qh6+?

The engines reckon Black is at least equal after 37...f2 and 37...Qh1.

38.Kc3 Be5+ 39.Kb3 f2 40.Rd1 Qh3+ 41.Ka4 Qf3

Or 41...f1=Q 42.Rxf1 Rxf1 43.e7 etc.

The game finished:

42.Rf1 Qc6+ 43.Kb3 Bg3 44.Rc3 Be5 45.Re3 Rf3 46.Rxf3 Qxf3+ 47.Ka4 Qc6+ 48.Ka5 dxe6 49.Qa8 Bc7!? 50.Qxc8+ Kg7 51.Qxe6 1-0

Lessons From Bad Herrenalb IX

MY round-nine game reached the following Maróczy Bind position.

I have just played 16...a5, threatening 17...a4

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The pawn push ...a4 would not be the end of the world for White, but it does weaken the Bind and is probably best prevented.

I expected 17.Rb1, while Stockfish16.1 and Dragon1 very marginally prefer 17.Qb2. In both cases the idea is to meet ...a4 with b4.

My opponent chose 17.Bd1!?

The move more-or-less physically stops ...a4, but it undevelops the bishop and disconnects the white rooks.

The latter point is in some ways the more serious as one of the main tasks in the opening is to get the rooks connected.

Indeed, once rooks are connected the opening can be thought of as over, since achieving the connection normally means the player has developed all the minor pieces and the queen, and has castled.

Hence my opponent's move could be argued as taking White from the middlegame back to the opening.

Having said all that, the engines are perfectly happy with 17.Bd1!?

Dragon1 at first even reckons White has a slight edge, but fairly soon comes to agree with Stockfish16.1 that the position is equal.

However, the position in much harder for a human to play than is the case after 17.Rb1 or 17.Qb2.

This was dramatically illustrated by the game continuation 17...Qb4 18.Qd4 b5 19.Qb6!? Rfc8 20.Nb1? bxc4 21.Qxb4?! axb4 22.Rxc4 Bb5 (0-1, 37 moves).

LESSON: undeveloping moves, especially in ways that discoordinate other pieces, are fraught with danger.

Bad Herrenalb Round Nine

Erwin Illner (2045) - Spanton (1928)

Sicilian Maróczy Bind

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

Ensuring White can get in a Maróczy Bind.

3...Nc6 4.d4 cxd4

Actually Black can avoid the Bind, for example by playing 4...d6?!, but that would surely be a case of the cure being worse than the ailment.

5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 d6 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0

Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position, which occurs 18,859 times in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database?

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Allowing the Maróczy Bind used to be regarded as tantamount to a positional blunder. Theory is no longer so condemnatory, but White's space advantage is worth a slight edge, according to Stockfish16.1 and Dragon1.

9...Bd7 10.Rc1!?

This is a common move in the Bind, although here it is not liked by the engines. The mainline in Mega24 runs 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.f3 with what the engines reckon is at least a slight edge.

10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.f3 Nd7!?

Anyone unfamiliar with the Maróczy Bind might find this surprising, as Black is offering to exchange the fianchettoed bishop. But the text is second in popularity to 12...a5 in Mega24, and White usually responds 13.Be3!? The point is that after ...

13.Bxg7 Kxg7

... White has swopped off his good bishop, and it will not be easy for White to get at the newly weakened h6 square. Nevertheless the engines still prefer White.

14.b3

The mainline in Mega24 runs 14.Qd4+ Kg8 15.Rfd1 Qb6 16.Qxb6 Nxb6 with a slight edge for White (Dragon1) or at least the better side of equality (Stockfish16.1).

14...Qb6+ 15.Kh1 Nf6!?

The black king's knight usually goes to c5 in these lines, often preceded by the move ...a5.

16.Qd2 a5

How should White meet Black's threat to play ...a4, putting pressure on b3 and readying an opening of the a file?

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17.Bd1!?

The engines are fine with this, but undeveloping the bishop while unconnecting the white rooks seems strange. The engines marginally prefer 17.Rb1 or 17.Qb2!?
17...Qb4 18.Qd4 b5 19.Qb6!?

The engines suggest 19.Be2 or 19.Rb1, in both cases claiming equality.

19...Rfc8 20.Nb1?

Another undeveloping move, and this time it is definitely a mistake. The engines give 20.Qd4, eg 20...bxc4 21.bxc4 Bd7!? 22.Be2 Qc5 23.Qxc5 Rxc5 with a slight edge for Black.

20...bxc4 21.Qxb4?!

Better. according to the engines, are 21.Qe3 and 21.Qd4, but in both cases Black ensures the gain of a pawn by answering 21...cxb3.

21...axb4 22.Rxc4 Bb5 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Rg1

White loses a piece after 24.Re1 Rc1 25.Nd2 Be2, but the engines reckon the effectively-forced text is not much better.

24...Rc1

Even stronger is 24...Ra8, but the text is good enough.

25.Nd2?!

Probably better is 25.a4, although after 25...Bd3 26.Nd2 Ra1 27.g4!? Nd7 White is horribly tied down and lost, according to the engines.

25...Ra1 26.g3 Rxa2 27.Nf1 Rf2!?

This forces simplification that frees White's game a little but also makes Black's task easier.

28.Ne3 Be2 29.Bxe2 Rxe2 30.Nd1 Nd7 31.Rg2 Re1+!?

An important nuance. Getting the rooks off is good for Black, but it is much better, as will be seen, if f3 is left unprotected.

32.Rg1 Rxg1+ 33.Kxg1 Nc5 34.Ne3 Nxb3 35.Nc2 Nd2 36.Nxb4 Nxf3+ 37.Kg2 Nd2 0-1

Bodensee Senioren Round Three

DOWNFLOATED against a German Fide master.

Spanton (1902) - Christian Hess (2157)

Sicilian ...e6/Maróczy Bind

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4!?

This is the fifth-most popular continuation in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database.

3...Nc6 4.d4

And here most popular is 4.Nc3.

4...cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Nxc6

This strengthens Black's centre, but it is difficult to successfully avoid, eg 7.f3 can be met by 7...d5, when Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon Black is already slightly better.

7...bxc6 8.Bd3

How should Black respond?

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8...e5!?

This is easily the commonest move in Mega 24.

Possible is 8...d5, but the engines reckon 9.exd5!? exd5 (9...cxd5?? loses to 10.Qa4+ etc) 10.0-0 0-0 11.cxd5 favours White.

On this move, and for several moves to come, both players have to ask themselves whether ...Bxc3(+), smashing White's queenside pawn-formation, but giving up the bishop-pair, is better for White or for Black. According to the engines, 8...Bxc3+ marginally favours White.

9.0-0 0-0 10.Be3

Magnus Carlsen in rapid and blitz games has preferred 10.Qe2!?, drawing all three times.

10...d6

The engines reckon this and 10...Bxc3 are of roughly equal value.

11.Qa4 Qa5

Here the engines reckon 11...Bxc3 12.bxc3, and now the apparent-novelty 12....c5!?, gives Black a slight edge (Stockfish16) or at least the better side of equality (Komodo14.1).

12.Qxa5 Bxa5 13.f3 Rb8

Marek Matlak (2440) - Josef Nun (2460), Nałęczów (Poland) 1987, went 13...Be6 14.Rfd1 Rab8 15.Na4 c5 16.Bd2 Bxd2 17.Rxd2, with a draw agreed seven moves later.

14.Rab1 Be6!?

Is the a7 pawn poisoned?

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Not really, although the engines prefer other moves to capturing the pawn (except that Komodo14.1 changes to liking the capture when it is played on the screen).

15.Bxa7 Ra8 16.Be3

Black is slightly better after 16.b4 Rxa7 17.bxa5 Rxa5, according to the engines.

16...Bxc3 17.bxc3 Rxa2 18.Rf2 Rxf2

Not 18...Rfa8?? 19.Rxa2 Rxa2 20.Rc8+, but the engines reckon 18...Ra3 gives a slight edge (Komodo14.1) or the better side of equality (Stockfish16).

19.Kxf2 Rc8 20.Bg5 d5 21.c5!? dxe4 22.Bxe4?!

The engines prefer 22.fxe4 or 22.Bxf6.

22...Nd5

Black is at least slightly better after 22...Nxe4 23.fxe4 f6, according to the engines.

23.Bxd5 Bxd5

After 23...cxd5 both 24.Be7 and 24.Be3 are fine for White.

24.Be7 h5!? 25.Bd6 f6 26.Rb8 Rxb8 27.Bxb8 h4 28.g3 h3 29.Ke3 g5 30.f4 exf4+ 31.gxf4 Kf7 32.fxg5 fxg5 33.Be5 Ke6 34.Bg3 ½–½

Mariánské Lázně Round Six

Russian Orthodox church

FACED a Latvian woman.

Spanton (1736) - Polina Ni (1881)

Maróczy Bind

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

There are 1,502 games with this position in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database

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8...e5

This was played in 1,002 of the games.

9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 Be7

The mainline in Mega24 runs 10...h6 11.Bh4 Bc5!? (11...Be7 is also popular), when Komodo14.1 calls the position equal, but Stockfish16 gives Black a slight edge.

11.Qe2 d6 12.Rfd1 Rb8 13.Rac1 Qb6!?

This threatens to win with 14...Bg4, but the engines do not like it, suggesting 13...Nd7!?, claiming equality.

How can White exploit Black's last move?

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14.Na4

This is fine, but the engines point out the strength of 14.c5!, eg 14...dxc5 and then 15.Na4.

14...Qb4?!

The queen becomes a target here. Probably better is retreating immediately with 14...Qc7, or 14...Bg4 15.Nxb6 Bxe2 16.Bxe2 Rxb6.

15.b3 Bg4!? 16.f3 Be6 17.Bd2 Qb7 18.c5

This is still good.

How should Black reply?

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18...Rfd8?

The engines reckon Black has to play 18...d5!?, the main variation continuing 19.exd5 Nxd5!? 20.Qxe5 (or 20.Qe4 g6 21.Qxe5) Bf6 21.Qe4 g6, when Black has some activity, but not enough for a pawn.

19.Ba5 Rf8?!

Best may be 19...Rd7 20.cxd6 Rxd6 21.Nc5, or 19...d5!? 20.Bxd8 Rxd8 21.exd5 Nxd5 22.Qxe5, but in both cases White is winning, according to the engines.

20.Ba6 Qd7 21.cxd6 Bxd6 22.Nc5 Bxc5+ 23.Rxc5 Qe7 24.Rxc6

White is a pawn up and has an ongoing initiative

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24...Nh5 25.g3

Even stronger seems to be 25.Bc7.

25...Qg5 26.Bd2 Qg6 27.Be3 Nf4

How should White proceed?

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28.Bxf4?!

This throws away most of White's advantage, according to the engines. They give 28.Qd2 Nh3+ 29.Kg2 Nf4+ 30.Kh1 Qh5, and either 30.Rf1 or 30.Qf2.

28...exf4 29.g4 h5 30.h3 hxg4 31.hxg4 Rfd8 32.Rcd6 Rxd6 33.Rxd6 Qg5

Not 33...Bc4?? as White sidesteps with 34.Qd2.

34.Rd1 Qc5+ 35.Qf2 Qc7 36.Kg2 Rb6 37.Bd3 Rc6 38.Qd2 g5 39.Bb1 Kf8 40.Qd4 Ke7 41.Qb4+ Ke8 42.Rh1

What should Black play?

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42...Rc2+!
This guarantees at least a draw, but also gives White chances to go wrong.

43.Bxc2 Qxc2+ 44.Kh3 Qf2

Not 44...Bxg4+? 45.Kxg4 Qg2+ 46.Kf5 Qxh1, as 47.Qa8+ Ke7 48.Qxa7+ Kf8 49.Qc5+ is very good for White.

45.Qc3??

Missing White's chief threat. Drawing is 45.Qb8+ Ke7 46.Qc7+ etc.

45...Qg3#

Benidorm Lessons: Don't Delay

IN round one the following standard position from the Accelerated Dragon, via a Hyper-Accelerated move-order, was reached after three moves.

I have just played 3...Nc6

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My opponent confirmed afterwards he was planning to set up a Maróczy Bind, but instead of the immediate 4.d4 he played 4.Nc3.

That is not a bad move as such, but after 4...Bg7 White is unable to get in d4, and so there is no Bind.

Indeed after the further moves 5.Be2 d6 6.0-0 e5!? we had a blocked centre in which the most important pawn-breaks are along the f file.

Position after 6...e5!?

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White's f pawn is obstructed by the king's knight, while Black's is free to advance.

The game continued 7.d3 Nge7, after which Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 already give Black a tiny edge.

LESSON: a good plan can sometimes become impossible to execute if delayed by just a move.

Central London League

PLAYED for Battersea on board three (of five) against HMC 2 in division one last night.

Spanton (1870) - Mei-Xian Eunice Hng (2003*)

Maróczy Bind

1.e4 d6 2.c4!? Nf6 3.Nc3 c5 4.Nge2 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Bd7 67Be2 g6 8.Be3 Bg7

This position, which occurs 1,759 times in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, normally arises from a Sicilian Accelerated Dragon move-order

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9.0-0 0-0

We have now reached a position occurring 13,456 times in Mega23.

10.Rc1

This is a popular alternative to the mainline, which runs 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.f3 with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1.

10...Rc8 11.Qd2 Re8 12.b3 a6 13.h3 Qa5

Now both players have connected their rooks, how would you assess the position?

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White's extra space gives at least a slight edge, according to the engines. However White has to deal with Black's immediate tactical threat of 14...Nxe4!, winning a pawn, eg 15.Nxe4 Qxd2 etc or, more complicatedly, 15.Nxc6 Qxc3! 16.Qd1! Qb2 17.Rc2 Nc3! 18.Qd3 Nxe2+ 19.Rxe2 Qc3 20.Qxc3 Bxc3.

14.Rfd1 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 b5

How should White meet this challenge to the Bind?

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16.Bxf6!?

Seeking to take advantage of the unprotected status of the black queen. Wolfgang Glaser (2120) - Aleksandar Vučković (2280), German Team League 1996, went 16.f3 bxc4 17.bxc4?! Be6 with a slight edge for Black, according to the engines (0-1, 41 moves). The text is probably a novelty.

16...Bxf6 17.Nd5 Qxd2 18.Nxf6+ exf6 19.Rxd2 Rxe4 20.Bf3 Re6 21.c5!?

As my opponent pointed out afterwards, 21.Bb7 Rc7 22.Bxa6?! loses the bishop to 22...d5!? 23.Bxb5 Bxb5. True, White gets three connected passed pawns after 24.Rxd5, but the engines reckon Black is much better.

21...Be8!?

Possibly better is 21...Rc7 22.c6 Kf8, when White has full compensation for a pawn, but no more, according to the engines.

22.c6 Rc7 23.b4 Kf8 24.Rd3?!

Hoping to go after the a6 pawn, but this is almost certainly too slow. The engines give 24.Bd5 Re5 25.f4 Re3 26.Bf3 Re6 27.Rdc2, claiming White may have a tiny edge.

24...d5! 25.Rxd5?!

Probably better is 25.Bxd5, eg 25...Rd6 26.Be4 Rxd3 27.Bxd3 Rxc6 28.Rxc6 Bxc6 with a completely equal position, according to the engines.

25...Rexc6 26.Rcd1 Rc1 27.Kf1 Rxd1+ 28.Rxd1 Rc4 29.Rd6 Rxv4 30.Rxa6 Rb2 31.Ra7 f5 32.Bd5 Rd2 33.Bb3 h5 34.Rb7 ½–½

Black is at least slightly better in the final position, according to the engines, but was well behind on the clock

HMC won the match 3-2.

*Fide rating - no ECF

Northumbria Round Two

Faced  a junior (born 2008).

Olga Latypova (1542 Fide/1819 ECF) - Spanton (1858 Fide/1919 ECF)

Sicilian Maróczy Bind

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.c4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 d6 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 Bd7

There are 13,456 games with this position in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database

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10.f3

Géza Maróczy played 10.h3 in a 1906 game, the same move as had been played against him two years earlier by Rudolf Swiderski in the first known example of the Bind (it was named after Maróczy because of his advocation of c4 in Sicilian-like structures).

10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6

This is fine - indeed it is the main move in Mega23 - but one of the points of ...Bc6 is to oblige White to reply f3, slowing down any White kingside attack. Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 suggest, among other moves, 11...Nh5!?, the point being White should normally be reluctant to give up the dark-square bishop in Maróczy Bind structures even if in doing so the black fianchettoed bishop is exchanged. If White avoids the exchange with 12.Be3, then 12...Bxc3!? is interesting. However, ...Bc6 is not played just to put pressure on e4, but also to clear a square for the black king's knight to reroute to c5.

12.Be3 Nd7 13.Qd2 Nc5 14.Rfd1

Possible is 14.b4!? as 14...Na4 can be met by 15.Nxa4, when Black has to reply 15...Bxa4, allowing, for example, 16.Rac1, as 15...Bxa1? is hit by 16.b5, as in Dana Reizniece-Ozola (2312) - Margeir Pétursson (2487), Pühajärve (Estonia) Rapid 2018 (1-0, 51 moves).

14...a5 15.Qc2 Qb6 16.Rab1 a4 17.Kf2?!

There are probably too many pieces on the board to bring the king forward like this, especially as it is now on the same file as a black rook.

17...f5 18.exf5 Rxf5 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.Rxd5 Rxd5 21.cxd5 Rc8 22.b4!?

Black is forced to capture, and so the white rook comes into play.

22..axb3 23.Rxb3 Qc7 24.Rb5 Qd7 25.Qb1 Rc7 26.Ra5 Be5 27.Bb5 Qd8 28.Ra7 e6!?

It is risky opening lines when the opponent has the bishop-pair.

29.g3 exd5 30.Qd1 d4 31.Bxd4 Qf6?

Better is 31...Bxd4+ 32.Qxd4 and either 32...Ne6 or 32...d5. Stockfish16 reckons that is equal, but Komodo14.1 prefers White.

32.Bc4+?

Missing the win of a pawn by 32.Bxc5 dxc5 33.Qd5+ and Rxb7. The engines reckon it is better to give up the b pawn by 32...Rxc5, but White is on top.

32...Kg7?

The game is completely equal after 32...Ne6, according to the engines.

33.Bxc5

Even stronger, according to the engines, is 33.Be3!?, when the threat of Qd5 is hard to meet. Best play may be 33...Ne4+ 34.Kg2 Nc3 35.Qd3, after which the black knight is awkwardly placed, and Black has the less-safe king.

33...dxc5 34.Qd5 Bd4+ 35.Kg2 Qb6 36.Ra8 Qb2+ 37.Kh3 Qg1 38.Qg8+ Kh6 39.Qf8+ Qg7?!

Completely equal is 39...Rg7, according to the engines.

40.Qf4+ g5 41.Qd6+ Qg6 42.Qxg6+?!

White has the upper hand, according to the engines, after 42.Rd8 Qxd6 (forced) 43.Rxd6+ Kg7 44.a4.

42...Kxg6 43.Rg8+ Kf6 44.Kg2 Bd4 45.Rf8+ Ke5 46.Re8+

OL offered a draw in my time (just).

Most of the rest of the game is the story of me overpressing in an equal - at best - position while my opponent is more-or-less on the increment

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46...Kd6 47.Re6+ Kd7 48.Rh6 Ke8 49.Be6+

White is at least slightly better after 49.h4, according to the engines.

49...Kb8 50.Bf5 Re7 51.Bd3 Re3 52.Bc4 Rc3 53.Bd5 Rc2+ 54.Kf1!?

Arguably more ambitious is 54.Kh3, although Stockfish16 reckons both moves give complete equality. However Komodo14.1 at first reckons Black has a slight edge after the text, but eventually switches to equality.

54...b5 55.Rxh7 b4 56.Re7!?

The natural 56.h4 is rated only marginally better by the engines.

56...Rxh2 57.Re8+ Kc7 58.Rg8 Ke6 59.Rxg5 Rh1+ 60.Ke2 Be5?!

The engines reckon 60...Rh2+ and 60...Bf6 give equality.

How should White proceed?

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61.f4?!

Preserving the bishop gives White at least a slight edge, according to the engines.

61...Rh2+ 62.Kd3 Bc3?

Continuing to look for traps, but now the engines reckon White is winning. Correct is 62...Kxd5.

63.Bb3 Rd2+ 64.Kc4 Bd4 65.Rg6+ Ke7 66.g4 Be3 67.f5 Bd4 68.g5 Rg2 69.Re6+?!

White seems to be still winning after this, but much stronger is 69.f6+.

69...Kf8 70.g6?

Black has a draw after this, while 70.Rg6 looks good, eg 70...Be3 71.Rc6! Rxg5 72.Kd3 Bd4 73.f6 (threatening 74.Rc8#) Re5 74.Be6, after which Black has to give up the exchange.

Black to play and draw

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70...Rg4?

I offered a draw, but I should have played 70...Rf2, which does draw as White cannot save the f pawn.

71.Kb5 Rf4

White to play and win

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72.f6?

Winning is 72.Bc2, eg 72...Rf2 73.Be4 Rxa2 74.f6 Ra7 75.Bd5 etc.

72...Bxf6!? 73.Kxc5 Kg7 74.Re2

OL offered a draw in my time.

74...Kxg6 75.Bc2+ Kg7 76.Re4 ½–½

4NCL Final Weekend: Game Three

Martin Clancy (1814 ECF/1706 Fide) - Spanton (1944 ECF/1804 Fide)

Division Four: Poole Patzers v Wessex Some Stars A

Board Six (of six)

Sicilian Maróczy Bind

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.c4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 d6 8.Be2 0-0 9.f3

The mainline in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database runs 9.0-0 Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.f3 with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish15.1 and Komodo14.1.

How should Black proceed?

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9...Qb6?!

This has been played by grandmasters, and it is true there are positions in the Accelerated Dragon where Black can exploit the looseness of white's dark-square bishop by playing ...Qb6, but this is almost certainly not one of those positions. After the text, White scores 70% in Mega23.

10.Qd2

What should Black play?

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10...Nxe4??

Thirty games in Mega23 reach the diagrammed position, and 14 of them saw Black blunder a piece in this way.

The ...Nxe4 trick works in some Accelerated Dragon positions, but here it is refuted by ...?

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11.Nxc6

This wins a piece.

11...Nxd2 12.Nxe7+ Kh8 13.Bxb6 Nxc4 14.Bf2

Even stronger is 14.Bxc4.

14...Nxb2 15.Rc1 Be6 16.Ncd5 Bxd5 17.Nxd5 Rfe8!?

Of roughly equal value is 17...Rae8, but the text has the bonus of setting a trap.

How should White continue?

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18.Nc7??

This turns a win into a loss. White has several winning moves, including 18.Kd1, 18.Kd2, 18.Kf1 and 18.Be3, according to the engines.

18...Nd3+ 19.Kd2

Other king moves are even worse.

19...Nxf2 20.Nxe8 Bh6+ 21.Kc3?!

Almost certainly better is the engines' 21.Ke1!?, but 21...Nxh1 22.Nc7 Bxc1 23.Nxa8 Bf4 24.g3 Nxg3 25.hxg3 Bxg3+ with ...d5 to come leaves Black well on top.

21...Rxe8 22.Bc4 Rc8 0-1

Premature resignation? Not really. The engines reckon best play runs something like 23.Rcf1 Nxh1 24.Kb3 d5! 25.Bxd5 Rc1 etc.

Wessex won the match 3.5-2.5.

London League

PLAYED for Battersea on board five (of eight) against Streatham & Brixton in division one at Hammersmith Mindsports centre last night.

Andrew M Stone (2168) - Spanton (1987)

English Symmetrical/QGD Tarrasch

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

This is not just a development move - it is aimed at preventing White smoothly setting up a Maróczy Bind, as could happen, for example, after Black's second-most popular move, 4...g6.

5.Nc3 e6

Can White set up a Bind despite Black's efforts?

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"Up to a point, Lord Copper." Magnus Carlsen is among those who have played 6.e4!? Traditionally this has been thought a little suspect thanks to the reply 6...Bb4, when White probably has nothing better than 7.Nxc6, after which 7...bxc6 strengthens Black's centre. Against Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand at the 2018 world rapid and blitz championships in St Petersburg, Carlsen's games continued 8.Bd3 e5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Qe2. Both games were drawn.

6.g3

This is the main move in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database.

6...d5!?

The mainline in Mega23 runs 6...Qb6 7.Nb3 Ne5!? 8.e4 Bb4 9.Qe2, when White has again succeeded in setting up a Maróczy Bind, although Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 reckon the position is equal.

7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0

The game has transposed to a line of the Tarrasch Defence to the Queen's Gambit.

8...0-0 9.cxd5 exd5 10.b3 Re8 11.Bb2 a6?!

This move does not seem to have much relevance to the position in that a white knight landing on b5 would be easily dealt with. The engines suggest 11...Bg4 or 11...Bc5!?, which are the two most popular moves in Mega23.

12.Rc1 Bg4!?

This is designed to provoke h3, so the bishop can go to e6 without White being able to play Nxe6 followed by a quick Bh3.

13.h3 Be6 14.e3!?

The engines like this move, which may be a novelty. Thomas A Crispin - Roger J Martin, Oregon Championship (Portland) 1987, went 14.Nxe6 fxe6, which the engines reckon is at least slightly better for White after several moves, including 15.e3, 15.Na4 and 15.Qd2. The game saw 15.Rc2!? Qb6?! 16.Na4 Qa7!? 17.Qa1!? with a nice game for White (1-0, 27 moves).

14...Rc8 15.Qd3 Ne5?!

The engines suggest exchanging on d4, albeit giving White a slight edge.

16.Qe2 Qa5?

Black seems to have nothing better than 16...Nc6, although that would mean White got in Qe2 for free.

White to play and win

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17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Nxd5

White is the equivalent of almost a minor piece ahead (Komodo13.02) or more than a rook ahead (Stockfish15).

18...Nxd5 19.Bxe5 Ba3?

Other moves more-or-less keep the game going, but White is a pawn up, has the bishop-pair and enjoys the better pawn-structure.

20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Qg4 1-0
Streatham & Brixton won the match 4.5-3.5.

Dama Negra Game Nine

Spanton (1895) - David Nechifor (1613)

Sicilian Bb5(+)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Nxd7!?

Garry Kasparov played this and 4...Qxd7, but Magnus Carlsen, as far as I am aware, has only played the latter.

5.0-0 Ngf6 6.Qe2 e6

Developing the black king's bishop to e7 is much more popular than fianchettoing it.

7.c4 Be7

Black can prevent White setting up a Maróczy Bind by playing 7...e5!?, but the loss of tempo and the fact Black is left with a very bad bishop gives White at least a slight edge, according to Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02.

8.Nc3!?

Giving Black another chance to prevent a Bind. Carlsen in this position with white preferred 8.d4 in a 2016 blitz game against Hikaru Nakamura, which ended in a 77-move draw.

8...a6

Preventing the Bind with 8...e5!? favours White, according to the engines, but Black can instead play 8...Ne5!?, when 9.d4? Nxf3+ 10.Qxf3 cxd4 is bad for White, and 9.Rd1 can be met by 9...Rc8, when 10.d4!? cxd4 11.Rxd4 looks awkward but seems playable. Instead White can reply to 9...Rc8 with 10.b3, but then 10...Qb6 again prevents a quick d4.

9.d4!?

Strong players have tended to prefer 9.b3 or 9.Rd1, but the engines like the text.

9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 0-0

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

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White has a Maróczy Bind without having a bad (light-square) bishop. The Bind is generally considered to work better when Black has played ...e6 and ...Be7, as here, rather than ...g6 and ...Bg7. In Black's favour is that a pair of minor pieces has been exchanged, which leaves Black less cramped than would otherwise be the case. The engines reckon White is slightly better.

11.Be3 Rc8 12.Rac1

Not 12.b3? b5.

12...Nc5 13.f3 Qc7 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.Bf2 Qd7!? 16.f4 Ne8 17.e5!?

The engines strongly dislike this, preferring 17.b3 or 17.f5.

17...Qc7!?

This is the engines' top choice.

18.Nf3 Nd7 19.b3 dxe5 20.fxe5 Bc5 21.Ne4?

Black to play and gain a large advantage

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21...Bxf2+?

Black is on top after 21...Ba3, eg 22.Rb1 Nxe5 or 22.Rc2 Nxe5.

22.Nxf2 Qc5 23.Kh1 Nb6
The engines prefer 23...h6.

24.Ne4 Qc7 25.Rf1 h6!?

The engines reckon 25...Nd7 is necessary.

26.Rcd1

The engines give 26.c5!? followed by Nd6, claiming a large advantage for White.

26...Rd7

Black more-or-less equalises with 26...Nd7, according to the engines.

27.Rxd7

Better, according to the engines, is 27.Rc1 or 27.Rde1, the idea being to continue with c5.

27...Nxd7 28.Nf2 Rd8 29.Rd1 Nb8 30.Rxd8 Qxd8 31.Qd3 Qc7 32.Qe3 Nc6 33.Nd3 b6 34.Qe4 Qd7 35.Qe3 Qc7 36.c5!? b5

The position is now completely equal, according to the engines

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37.Nd4 Ne7 38.b4 Nc6 39.Qe4 Nxd4 40.Qxd4 Qc6 41.Nf2 Qd5!?

The engines are OK with this, but after ...

42.Qxd5 exd5

... Black has an IQP that appears harder to defend than White's isolani.

43.Nd3 Kf8 44.Kg1 Ke7 45.Kf2 Ke6

The engines prefer 45...d4!? 46.Kf3 f5 47.exf6+ Nxf6, albeit with at least a slight edge for White.

46.Ke3 Nc7 47.Kd4 Kd7!

The only move to keep the game going.

48.g3

The point of Black's last move is 48.Nf4 can be met by 48...Ne6+, forcing 49.Ke3 (49.Nxe6? fxe6 is dead-drawn because both sides have a protected passer) Kc6, although both 50.Ne2 and 50.g3 give White at least a slight edge, according to the engines.

48...Kc6 49.Nf4 g6

The engines reckon the text and 49...Ne6+, transposing to the previous note, are equally good.

50.h4 h5 51.Nh3 Ne6+ 52.Kd3 Kd7 53.Ng5 Ke7?

Black is at worst only slightly down after 53...Nd8!?, according to the engines.

White to play and win

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54.c6?

Best may be 54.Nxe6!? (the engines reckon 54.Nf3 is also strong) fxe6 55.Ke3, eg 55...Kf7 56.Kf4 Ke7 57.g4 hxg4 58.Kxg4 Ke8 59.Kg5 Kf7 60.c6 Ke7 61.a3! Kd8 62.Kxg6, after which Black queens first but White queens with check and is completely winning, according to the engines. Black's best chance may be 55...Kd7 56.Kf4 Kc6 57.g4 hxg4 58.Kxg4 a5!?, but 59.bxa5 Kxc5 60.Kg5 b4 (better than 60...d4?! 61.Kf4, according to the engines) 61.a6 Kb6 62.Kxg6 d4 63.h5 d3 66.h6 d2 67.h7 d1=Q 68.h8=Q gives White a winning queen-and-pawn ending, according to the engines, although there is a lot of play left in the position. These lines are difficult to calculate, even for engines, and perhaps 54.Nf3 would be the best practical choice. Either way, the text is a mistake.

Black to play and draw

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54...Nc7?

Black draws with 54...Ke8, and even 54...Kd8?! is better than  the text, according to the engines, the point being the 54...Nc7? lets the white king invade Black's position.

55.Kd4 f6 56.exf6+ Kxf6 57.Kc5 Ke7 58.Kb6 Kd8 59.Nf7+ Kc8 60.Ne5 d4 61.Nd3

Black's position is hopeless.

61...Kd8 62.Kb7 Nd5 63.Kxa6 Kc7 64.Kxb5 Nc3+ 65.Kc4 Nxa2 66.b5 Kb6 67.Nb4 Nc1

If 67...Nc3 then 68.Kxd4 Nxb5+ 69.Ke5 Kc5 70.Nd5 Kxc6 71.Ne7+ etc, but not 68.Nd5+? Nxd5 69.Kxd4 (69.Kxd5?? d3 etc) Ne7 (or 69...Nc7) with a draw.

68.Nd5+ Ka7 69.b6+ Kb8 70.c7+ Kb7 71.Ne7 1-0

I'll Never Forget Whatshisname - Part Two

Spanton (2007) - Stebbings (2285)

Gibraltar 2011

English Symmetrical

1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Nc7!?

Black's play may appear a little strange but it is part of a plan attributed to Akiba Rubinstein in which Black sets up a Maróczy Bind. The mainline in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database runs 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 c5, reaching a position occurring 4,379 times in Mega22. Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 reckon Black has equalised.

6.Qb3!?

The start of a counter-plan recommended by Nigel Davies on his ChessBase English Opening DVD.

6...Nd7!?

The commonest continuation is 6...Nc6 7.Bxc6+!? bxc6 with an equal position, according to the engines.

7.Nf3 e5

Black has set-up the thematic bind but lags in development

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8.0-0 Be7 9.e3

White should almost certainly strive to break the bind before Black has time to consolidate.

9...0-0 10.Rd1 Ne6 11.d4

Garry Kasparov played 11.Nd5 in a 1985 simul against 32 computers (he won every game), but today's engines reckon 11...e4 12.Ne1 Nf6 leaves Black in a better state than after the text.

11...exd4 12.exd4 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Ndc5

The bind has been smashed and Black still lags in development.

14.Nxe6!?

Sacrificing the exchange for interesting play. Two subsequent games went 14.Qc4 Nxd4 15.Rxd4 Be6 17.Nd5, after which White has the upper hand, according to the engines.

14...Nxb3 15.Nxd8 Nxa1 16.Nxb7 Bg4!? 17.Rd4 Be6 18.Nd5 Bxd5

I recall during the game being more concerned about 18...Bd8!?, although Rybka3, after the game,  continued 19.Be4 Bb6 20.Rd1, claiming a slight edge for White. However Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 reckon it is Black who has a slight edge after the further moves 20...Bxd5 21.Bxd5 Nc2. In any event my modern engines prefer the text.

19.Bxd5 Rac8 20.Bd2 Bf6 21.Ra4 Bxb2

White is no longer a pawn up but still has the bishop-pair. The engines reckon the position is equal.

22.Bb4 Rc1+ 23.Kg2 Rb8 24.Nd6 Nc2 25.Bxf7+?!

The engines reckon 25.Ba5!? gives complete equality, although the position remains sharp.

25...Kf8 26.Rxa7

How should Black proceed?

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26...Nxb4?

Black has an advantage after 26...Rxb4 27.Be6 g6!, according to the engines, but play is complicated, eg 28.Rf7+ Kg8 29.Re7+ Kh8 30.Bd5!? Ne1+ 31.Kh3 g5!? 32.Re8+ Kg7 33.Re7+ Kg6 34.Re6+ Bf6 35.Ne4+ Rxe4 36.Bxe4+ Kf7. The problem with the text is it leaves the rook on b8 unprotected.

27.Be6 Nc6?

Protecting the hanging rook but walking into a mate. The engines give 27...Rc6!? 28.Rf7+ Kg8 29.Rb7+ Kf8 30.Rxb8+ Ke7 31.Rxb4 Bx3 32.Nf5+ Kxe6 33.Nd4+ Bxd4 34.Rxd4, after which White is two sound pawns up, but it is a rook-and-pawn ending.

28.Rf7+ Kg8 29.Rf6+ Kh8 30.Nf7+ Kg8 31.Nd8+ 1-0

Czech Seniors Open Championship Round Nine

Part of the rosarium

Spanton (1852) - Aleš Barabas (1756)

Sicilian Bb5(+)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Nxd7!?

This allows the black queen to be developed on its normal Sicilian diagonal of d8-a5, but at the cost of placing the queen's knight on a square from where it is less active than it would be on c6.

5.0-0 Ngf6 6.Qe2 e6

The general rule-of-thumb in positions like this is that if Black fianchettoes the king's bishop, White should build a classical centre with c3 and d4, but if Black develops the king's bishop at e7, White should go for a Maróczy Bind.

7.d4

The immediate 7.c4 is possible, the point being if Black prevents the bind with 7...e5!? Black is left with a bad bishop.

7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Be7 9.c4 0-0 10.Nc3 Rc8 11.Rd1

The mainline in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database runs 11.b3 a6 12.Bb2 Qa5 and either 13.Rac1 or 13.Rad1, in each case with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02.

11...a6 12.Bd2

Not 12.b3? b5.

12...Qc7

Torsten Sarbok (2325) - Nick de Firmian (2536), Gausdal (Norway) 2003, went 12...Qb6 13.Be1!? Rfe8 14.Rac1 Bf8 15.b3 with a slight edge to White, according to the engines (½–½, 22 moves).

13.b3 Ne5 14.Rac1 Nc6 15.Be3 Nd7 16.h3!?

I regretted this during the game as a waste of time, but the engines are OK with it, although they prefer 16.Nxc6!?, and if 16...bxc6 then 17.f4.

16...Rfe8 17.f4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bf6

How should White proceed?

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19.Qe3

The engines reckon White is slightly better after the semi-forcing 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.e5 dxe5 21.fxe5 Nd7 and 22.Ne4!

19...Rcd8 20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.e5?!

Almost certainly better is 21.Rd3 with Rcd1 to come.

21...dxe5 22.fxe5?!

This gives White an inferior version of the note to move 19. Almost certainly better is 22.Qxe5, when Black should probably avoid exchanging queens as 22...Qxe5?! 23.fxe5 Nd7 can be met by 24.Ne4!. the point being 24...Nxe5?! can be met by 25.Nd6 Re7 26.Nxb7, when the threat of back-rank mate means the white knight cannot be captured, so White is left with a powerful 3-1 queenside pawn-majority.

22...Nd7 23.Re1

More-or-less forced as 23.Ne4?! can be met by 23...Qxe5.

23...Qc5

The engines prefer 23...h6 or 23...Nb8, with probably a slight edge for Black.

24.Rcd1 Qxe3+ 25.Qxe3 Nb8?!

The game is level after 25...Kf8, according to the engines.

What should White play?

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26.Red3

The engines reckon White is slightly better after 26.Rd6!?, when they give best-play as 26...Rxd6 27.exd6 and now either 27....Rc8 or 27...Kf8, in each case with an edge for White.

26...Rxd3

If 26...Nc6 then 27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.Rxd8+ Nxd8 29.Na4 with maybe a slight edge for White.

27.Rxd3 Nc6 28.Rd7!?

Giving up a pawn but keeping the white rook active. If 28.Re3 then 28...Rd8 gives Black the open file and something of an initiative, eg 29.Kf1 Kf8 30.Ke2 Nd4+ 31.Kf2 Nc2 with a slight edge, according to the engines.

28...Rb8 29.Ne4 Nxe5 30.Rc7 Kf8

The engines prefer 30...b6.

31.Nd6?!

Almost certainly better is 31.Nc5, which, like the text, hits b7 but at the same threatens a6 if the b7 pawn moves.

31...b6 32.c5?

Better is 32.Nc8, and if 32...Ke8 then 33.Nd6+, forcing 33...Kf8 as 33...Kd8? fails to 34.Ra7.

32...bxc5 33.Rxc5 Rd8 34.Ne3 Rd5 35.Rc8+?!

Almost certainly preferable is 35.Rxd5 exd5 36.Nc5, although the engines reckon Black is much better after 36...a5.

35...Ke7 36.Ra8 a5?!

Much stronger seems to be the engines' 36...f5, eg 37.Ng3 Rd1+ 38.Kh2 Rd6.

37.Ra7+ Ke8 38.Nc3 Rc5

This does not spoil anything, but Black needs to find ...Nc6.

39.Ne4 Rd5 40.Nc3 Rc5

After 40...Nc6 Black is at least slightly better, according to the engines.

41.Ne4 ½–½

Czech Seniors Open Championship Round Eight

Soviet war memorial

Jiří Fišer (1768) - Spanton (1852)

Sicilian Maróczy Bind

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.c4 Bg7 6.Nc2!?

This is a long way behind 6.Be3 in popularity but, since apparently first appearing in master play in 1934, has been tried by many leading player including Magnus Carlsen. The idea is White wants to avoid exchanges as White has more space.

6...d6 7.Nc3 Bxc3+!?

This radical departure from 'normal' play is liked by Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02, and was first played in the aforementioned 1934 game, but has since been superseded in popularity by 7...Nf6.

8.bxc3 Qa5 9.Bd2 Nf6 10.f3

If 10.Bd3?! then 10...Ne5.

10...Ne5 11.Ne3

How should Black proceed?

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11...Bd7

Sebastian Siebrecht (2417) - Benedict Krause (2425), German Blitz Championship (Magdeburg) 2020, saw 11...Be6 12.Nd5 Rc8!?, the point being 13.Nxf6+?! exf6 leaves the c4 pawn very vulnerable. Instead the game went 13.Qb3 b6 14.Be2 Nfd7!? with a slight edge to Black, according to the engines (0-1, 46 moves).

12.Qb3 0-0 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.cxd5 Qc7

Stockfish15 slightly prefers 14....Qa5!? or 14...Rac8!?, but Komodo13.02 is equally happy with the text. After 14....Rac8!?, capturing the b pawn with 15.Qxb7?! can be met by 15...Rab8 16.Qa6 Qc5, when the engines reckon Black has more than enough compensation for a pawn.

15.f4 Ng4 16.h3 Nf6 17.Bd3

White has gained space and is starting to activate the bishop-pair - how should Black respond?

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17...Nh5?

This looks vaguely threatening but achieves nothing. The engines prefer attacking the white centre with 17...e6, when 18.0-0!? allows 18...Qc5+ 19.Kh2 exd5 20.exd5 Nxd5, after which Black is a pawn up, but the black pieces are not well-coordinated, and meanwhile the board is opening for White's bishops. Alternatively 18.dxe6 Bxe6 slightly favours Black, according to Komodo13.02, although Stockfish15 calls the position dead-equal.

18.0-0 f5 19.e5

Less convincing is 19.exf5?! Bxf5 20.Bxf5 gxf5, when White has an edge, according to the engines, but the e4 square beckons the knight.

19...Ng3!?

Consistent but unimpressive. The engines suggest 19...b5, but much prefer White.

20.Rf2 a6 21.e6 Bb5?

Allowing White to improve his position with 22.c4 without loss of tempo.

22.c4 Be8 23.a4 Re8 24.Be3 h6

Freeing a square for the black king at h7 in case White tries to come in on the long dark diagonal.

25.Kh2 Nh5 26.g4 fxg4 27.hxg4 Nf6 28.Kg3 h5 29.gxh5 Nxh5 30.Kh2 Kg7 31.a5 Rh8 32.Kg2 Nf6 33.Rf3 Qd8 34.Bb6 Qc8 35.Bd4 Qc7 36.Rg3

The g pawn is doomed.

36...Rh5 37.Qc2 Rh6 38.f5 Rc8 39.Bb6 Qb8 40.Bb2 g5!?

Desperation - the Black position is hopeless.

41.Rxg5+ Kh7 42.Rh1 Ba4 43.Rxh6+ Kxh6 44.Rg6+ Kh7 45.Qc1 Ng4!? 46.Qh1+ 1-0