Miniatures 38

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

M Wadud (136 BCF) - Spanton (147 BCF)

Upminster Major 1991

Bishop's Opening/King's Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.f4!?

This move goes back at least to a game of Frank Marshall's in 1925. The position can also arise from a King's Gambit via the move-order 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Bc4!?

How should Black respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

3...Bxg1

Marshall's opponent played 3...d6, but Stockfish17 and Dragon1 suggest a novelty in 3...d5!?

4.Rxg1

The zwischenzug 4.Qh5! is preferable.

4...Qh4+ 5.g3?

Better is 5.Kf1, when 5...Qxh2?! 6.Nc3 leaves Black dangerously behind in development. However, Black can instead get on with development, eg 5...Nf6, with what the engines reckon is the upper hand.

5...Qxh2 6.Kf1?!

The unpalatable 6.Rf1!? is probably better.

6...d5! 7.f5!?

The threat of 7...Bh3+ with a quick mate means White does not seem to have anything better, but White is losing a piece, to go with an already lost pawn.

7...dxc4 8.d4 cxd3 9.Qxd3 Bd7 10.Na3 Nf6 11.Bg5 Ng4 12.Qf3?! Qh5 13.Ke2!?

The second bishop cannot be saved, emphasising the desperateness of White's position.

13...Qxg5 14.Nb5? 0-1

LESSON: White in the King's Gambit needs to constantly be aware of the danger of allowing ...Qh4+.

Miniatures 37

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

Spanton (147 BCF) - A Darrington (?)

Highbury (London) Rapid 1991

Pirc

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be2!?

A modest continuation, but it develops a piece, and has been played by many grandmasters, including Garry Kasparov. One idea is to play a quick Be3, without fearing ...Ng4.

How should Black respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

4...e6!?

The main move is 4...Bg7. Stockfish17 and Dragon1 do not like the text, which is not in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.

5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bg5 0-0!? 7.Qd2 Nc6 8.0-0-0

White's large lead in development and greater space give a positionally won game, according to the engines

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

8....Bd7?

The engines suggest 8...a6 or 8...d7.

9.h4

Even stronger is 9.e5.

9...Qb8 10.h5 Ng4 11.hxg6!? Nxf2?

This forks White's rooks, but Black has to play 11...fxg6 to have any sort of chance of escaping defeat.

12.Rxh7 f6?!

Again ...fxg6 is better, but still losing.

13.Bh6 1-0

LESSON: there are many mainstream defences in which Black falls well-behind in development or space, but none, as far as I know, in which Black falls behind in both.

Miniatures 36

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

D Jerome (101 BCF) - Spanton (147 BCF)

Highbury (London) Rapid 1991

King's Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d5!? 4.fxe5? dxe4

How can White keep damage to a minimum?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

5.d4?

The engines give 5.Ng5!, when, after 5...Qxg5 6.d4 Qh4+!? 7.g3 Qe7 8.dxc5 Qxe5, White is a pawn down, but at least has the bishop-pair.

5...exf3 6.dxc5

At first glance White might seem OK, but the white queen cannot be saved

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

6...f2+ 7.Ke2 Bg4+ 0-1

LESSON: in the King's Gambit, White is particularly sensitive on the h4-e1 diagonal.

Miniatures 35

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

William Watson (239 BCF) - Spanton (147 BCF)

Highbury (London) Rapid 1991

Spanish Berlin

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Be7!?

This has been largely superseded by 5...Nd6, heading for a Berlin Wall.

6.dxe5

Most popular is 6.Qe2.

6...0-0 7.Qe2 d5 8.Rd1 Re8?

Probably a novelty, and not in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database. Known moves are 8...a6 and 8...Bg4.

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

9.c4

The logical follow-up to 8.Rd1.

9...Be6 10.cxd5

Even stronger. according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1, is 10.Be3.

10...Bxd5 11.Bd3?!

This seems to throw away White's advantage, whereas 11.Bf4 gives the upper hand, according to the engines.

What should Black play?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****
11...Nc5!

An only-move (11...f5? 12.Bc4), but it gives complete equality, according to the engines.

How should White continue?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

12.Bc2??

Even grandmasters can blunder (Watson was awarded the title in 1990). The bishop could have been safely preserved by 12.Bb5 or 12.Bf5, but not the text.

12...Bxf3! 13.Qxf3 Nxe5??

Turning a win into a loss, whereas 13...Nd4 (13...Qc8!? is good enough for equality, according to the engines) leaves White without a good answer, eg 14.Qg4 Nxc2! 15.Rxd8 Raxd8, when Black gets more than enough for a queen. Another line given by the engines runs 14.Bxh7+!? Kxh7 15.Qh3+ Kg8 16.Nc3 Nce6, when White has nowhere near enough for a knight.

14.Qh3 Bd6?!

Other moves are a little better, but still losing.

15.Qxh7+ Kf8 16.Qh8+ Ke7 17.Qxg7 Kd7 18.Bg5 Qc8 19.Bf5+ Ne6 20.Qxe5 1-0

LESSON: a GM rarely gives a club player the chance to claim his scalp, but if the chance is not immediately taken, it is unlikely to be repeated.

Minatures 34

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

Bertrand Barlow (173 BCF) - Spanton (147 BCF)

Hastings 3rd Week A 1991

King's Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d5!?

How should White respond to Black's unusual third move?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

4.exd5

This is the commonest continuation in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, but Dragon1 prefers 4.Nxe5, while Stockfish17.1 suggests 4.Nc3!?

4...e4 5.d4!?

More popular are 5.Qe2 and especially 5.Ne5, but the engines like the text, which goes back to at least 1839.

5...exd3 6.Qxd3!? Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Bd2 Ng4?

The obvious 8...Re8+ is better.

9.0-0-0?

White has a large advantage after 9.Ng5, eg 9...Re8+ 10.Be2 g6 11.Nce4 Bf5 12.Bxg4 Bxe4 13.Nxe4 Qh4+ 14.Kf1! Rxe4 15.g3 Qe7 16.c3!?

9...Nf2 10.Qc4

What should Black play?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

10...Nxd1?

Best is 10...b6, protecting the loose bishop while maintaining a fork of the white rooks.

11.Qxc5 Nd7 12.Qd4 Nxc3 13.Bxc3 Nf6

White's bishop-pair and extra pawn give full compensation for the exchange, according to the engines

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

14.Bc4 Qd6 15.Re1 Bd7 16.Ne5 a5?!

Black probably needs to disrupt White's build-up, perhaps by 16...b5, and if 17.Bb3, then 17...a5 18.a3 Rfb8, with equal chances, according to the engines, which reckon 17.Be2!? is a promising alternative.

17.Re3 b5?

Too late. 17...R(either)d8 keeps the game going by allowing the black queen to keep defending f6.

18.Nxd7 Qxd7 19.Qxf6! 1-0

If 19...gxf6?, then 20.Rg3+ leads to mate, while 19...Qg4 20.Qd4 f6 21.Bxb5 leaves White with an advantage worth more than a rook, according to the engines.

LESSON: when enemy pieces are lining up against your king's position, precise calculation is usually required.

Miniatures 33

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

Spanton (147 BCF) - N Foster (200 BCF)

Barbican (London) Rapid1990

Nimzowitsch Defence

1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.g3!?

The main continuations in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database are 5.c3 and especially 5.Bd3.

5...f6!?

This immediate attack on the white centre is a rare continuation but is liked by Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

6.exf6 Qxf6!?

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

7.Bg5?

The engines suggest 7.c3 or 7.Bg2, with what they reckon is equality.

7...Bxc2! 8.Qe2

Or 8.Bxf6 Bxd1 9.Kxd1 (forced) gxf6, when Black is a sound pawn up.

8...Qf5 9.Nc3?

Better is 9,Nbd2, developing and protecting the king's knight.

9...Bb4?

Missing the strength of 9...Be4.

10.h4?

The bishop should be moved, probably to e3.

10...Be4 11.Bg2 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Qxf3 13.Bxf3 Nxd4

Winning a second healthy pawn.

14.Bd1 Nf6 15.0-0 0-0 16.Rc1 c6 17.a3 Bd6 18.Be3 Nf5 19.Re1?! 0-1

LESSON: success against a much higher-rated opponent is made infinitely harder if basic tactical mistakes are committed while still in the opening.

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

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?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****
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.

Miniatures 31

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

P Orn (150 BCF) - Spanton (147 BCF)

Highbury (London) Rapidplay 1990

QGD

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.Be2!?

This has been played by grandmasters, but trails 7.cxd5, 7.Qc2, 7.Bd3 and especially 7.Rc1 in popularity.

7...dxc4!?

Offering a transposition, which is accepted, to 7.Bd3 lines.

8.Bxc4

This position occurs 2,244 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

8...Nd5!? 9.Bxe7 Nxe7 10.0-0

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White's extra central space and lead in development give a slight edge, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

10...c5 11.Qc2 cxd4 12.Nxd4 b6?

Better is 12...Nf6.

How can White exploit Black's last move?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

13.Qe4

White has the upper hand after this, according to the engines, but they prefer 13.R(either)-d1 and 13.Bxe6!? fxe6 14.Nxe6  Qe8 15.Nc7 etc.

13...Rb8 14.Bd3

Again the engines like R(either)-d1, but not 14.Bxe6?? as Black has 14...Nc5.

14...Nf6 15.Qf4 Bb7 16.Bc2 Ned5 17.Nxd5 Qxd5 18.f3??

Spotting one threat (18...Qxg2#), but missing:

18...e5

The game finished:

19.Be4 exf4 0-1

LESSON: don't stop thinking when you have spotted an opponent's threat - the most dangerous moves have more than one idea.

Miniatures 30

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

D Muroko (174 BCF) - Spanton (147 BCF)

London League 1990

Spanish Berlin

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Be7!?

This is very much second in  popularity to 5...Nd6, but has been played by Carlsen, Kramnik and Morozevich.

How should White respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

6.Re1

More popular, and preferred by Stockfish17 and Dragon1, are 6.dxe5 and 6.Qe2.

6...d5?!

The main continuation 6...Nd6 is probably better.

7...Bd7 8.Bxc6
Luke Harmon-Vellotti (2409) - Ognjen Matko (2307), Chess.com Blitz 2015, saw 8.Nxd7 Qxd7 9.c3 0-0 10.Nd2, with a slight edge for White, according to the engines (1-0, 37 moves).

8...Bxc6 9.Qg4?!

The engines reckon this makes the queen more of a target than an attacking weapon. They suggest Qe2, either immediately or after first exchanging on c6.

How should Black respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

9...0-0!

Coolly done, but everything else loses, according to the engines, eg 9...Bf6? 10.f3!? (10.Nxc6 is also strong), or 9...g6? 10.Bh6.

10.Nxc6

If 10.Bh6, then 10...Bf6.
10...bxc6 11.c4

The engines prefer 11.Nd2 or 11.Qd1!?

11...Bb4!? 12.Rd1 Qf6?

Black is better after 12...f5!?, according to the engines.

13.f3!

Simple, but effective.

What should Black play?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

13...Rae8!

This seems best. The problem with 13...Nd6? is that it loses a piece to 14.a3 Ba5 15.b4 etc.

14.a3!?

Possibly better is grabbing the knight with 14.fxe4, although after 14...Rxe4 15.Qf3 Rxd4 Black has compensation. Nevertheless 16.Bd2!? Qxf3 17.gxf3 Rb8!? 19.Nc3!? Rxc4 20.Rab1 leaves White with a knight for three pawns, and at least a slight edge, according to the engines.

14...Bd6 15.c5?

This is a mistake, although the engines' top choice 15.fxe4 is unclear after 15...Rxe4 16.Qf3, when both 16...Rxd4 and 16...Qh4!? give interesting compensation.

15...Bxh2+! 16.Kxh2

Even worse is 16.Kf1? as after 16...Ng3+ White has to give up the queen to avoid mate in one.

16...Nf2 17.Qg3

Objectively probably better is 17.Qf4, but 17...Qxf4+ 18.Bxf4 Nxd1 leaves White with few hopes.

17...Nxd1 18.Bf4 Nxb2 19.Be5 Qh6+ 20.Kg1 Nd3 0-1

LESSON: check those checks - both your own, and your opponent's.

Miniatures 29

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

Peter Szabo (141 BCF) - Spanton (147 BCF)

Barbican (London) Rapid 1990

King's Indian Attack

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nbd7!? 4.0-0

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 suggest preventing ...e5 with 4.d4, or attacking Black's centre with 4.c4.

4...e5 5.d3 Be7 6.Nbd2 0-0

With both sides castling early, how would you assess the position?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

It looks like a Pirc, but with colours reversed and 'White' - Black in this case - having played the queen's knight to a somewhat unusual square. The engines reckon the position is equal.

7.c3 c6 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4

The engines prefer 9.Nxe4.

9...Qc7 10.Qe2 Nc5

The engines suggest 10...a5 or 10...Rd8.

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

11.b4?!

Kicking the knight, before Black consolidates its position with ...a5, is normal in this type of position, but here specific analysis suggests it is too weakening. The engines suggest 11.Nc4 or 11.a4.

11...Na4 12.Qd3 Rd8 13.Qc2 Nb6

The engines like 13...b5!?

14.Nb3

White maintains equality with 14.Bb2, according to the engines.

14...Be6 15.Nfd2?!

The engines strongly dislike this, suggesting 15.Be3 or 15.Nc5!?

15...Nc4

Black has an edge after this, but even better, according to the engines, are 15...Na4 and 15...Nbd7!?

16.Rd1 Bg4 17.f3??

White is only slightly worse after 17.Re1.

17...Ne3 0-1

Resignation is not premature as, after 18.Qb1 Nxd1, White can hardly play 19.fxg4?! as Black has 19...Qb6+ etc.

LESSON: when an enemy knight is established on your fourth rank, tactics are rarely far away.

Miniatures 28

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

Spanton (147 BCF) - William Upton (?)

Highbury (London) Rapid 1990

Nimzowitsch Defence

1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 Nf6?!

There are 200 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, but Black already has a lost game, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

3.Nc3!?

There seems no good reason not to play 3.d5.
3...d5 4.e5

This is a relatively mainstream position, reached 897 times in Mega26

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

4...Bg4??

Normal is 4...Nd7, as played by Magnus Carlsen, although Edgar Colle back in 1925 preferred 4...Ng8.

5.f3 Bh5 6.exf6 gxf6 7.Bd3 Bh6?? 8.Bxh6 Nxd4 9.Bb5+ Qd7?? 10.Bxd7+ Kxd7 11.Qxd4 Rag8!? 12.Qxd5+ Ke8 13.0-0-0 e6 14.Qd8#

LESSON: for once I am lost for words.

Miniatures 27

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

Thomas Hauptmann (166 BCF) - Spanton (147 BCF)

Guernsey 1990

Scotch

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3

This was the main move 36 years ago, but has been massively overtaken by the Kasparov-popularised 5.Be3. Nevertheless, in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database it scores 56%, two percentage points more than 5.Be3, and also two more than the other popular continuation, 5.Nxc6.

5...Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Bd3

More popular are 7.Bg5 and especially 7.Qe2!?, but the text has also been played by grandmasters.

7...d6 8.0-0

This game is the first in Mega26 to reach this position

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

8...Bg4

Stockfish17 and Dragon1 suggest 8...h6 or 8...Ne5!?

9.Qe1

Subsequently, 9.Be2 became slightly more popular, but the text is probably better.

9...0-0

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

The most significant factor in the position is probably White's central space advantage. The engines give White a slight edge.

10.Be3 Bxe3 11.Qxe3 Re8 12.Qg3 Qd7

The engines prefer 12...Be6 or 12...Nb4!?

13.h3 Bh5?!

Probably the wrong retreat.

14.f4 Re7?

The engines give 14...h6, but much prefer White.

15.Qh4 Rae8 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Be2?!

'Better', but still losing, is 17...Nb4.

18.Qxh7+ 1-0

LESSON: the game could be dismissed as being simply decided by tactical mistakes, but the underlying factor was that White's central dominance made Black's position harder to play.

Miniatures 26

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

J Martin (140 BCF) - Spanton (147 BCF)

London (Barbican) Rapid 1990

QGD Semi-Tarrasch

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Nxd5!?

This occurs 143 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, and has been played by grandmasters, but more popular are 6.g3, 6.e3 and especially 6.e4.

6...Qxd5 7.e3 Nc6 8.Bb5 Bd7

Benoît Colin - Alexander Alekhine, Bern 1932, went 8...cxd4 8.Qxd4?? Qxb5 0-1.

9.0-0 cxd4 10.Bxc6

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 suggest making a gambit of it with 10.Qe2!?

10...Bxc6 11.Qxd4 Be7!?

Can White safely grab the g pawn?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

My opponent thought so, but he was wrong.

12.Qxg7? 0-0-0!?

Offering a second pawn, but it too is poisoned.

13.Qe5

The engines suggest 13.Re1 or 13.e4, but agree Black is winning.

13...Rhg8 14.Qxd5 Bxd5

Queens are off the board, but Black still has strong pressure against White's kingside, the obvious immediate threat being ...Bxf3.

15.Kh1

The engines give 15.e4!? Bxe4 16.Ne1, but 16...Rd1 leaves Black with a large advantage.

Black to play and win

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

16...Rxg2!

Not the only way to win, but the most convincing.

17.Kxg2 Rg8+ 18.Kh3 Bxf3 0-1

Mate cannot be prevented.

LESSON: grabbing a pawn in front of your castled king often gives the opponent lots of compensation.

Miniatures 25

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

Spanton (151 BCF) - Paul Dargan (173 BCF)

British Major (Eastbourne) 1990

Morra Gambit (Delayed)

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4!? e6 5.0-0 Nf6 6.Qe2!?

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 are not keen on this, preferring 6.Re1 or 6.e5.

6...Qc7

Spanton (2015) - Kristian Schmidt (2272), Politiken Cup (Helsingør, Denmark) 2013, went 6...Nxe4!? 7.Qxe4 d5 8.Bxd5 Qxd5 9.Qxd5 exd5 10.Re1+ Be7, with Black enjoying the upper hand, according to the engines (0-1, 50 moves).

7.c3!? dxc3 8.Nxc3

How should Black proceed in this position, which occurs 484 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

8...Ng4

Springing the Siberian Trap.

How should White respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

9.Nb5

Avoiding 9.h3? Nd4!

9...Qb8 10.Be3?

Possibly best is 10.h3 h5!? 11.e5!? with complicated play, eg 11...Ngxe5 12.Bf4 d6, and here the engines suggest what seems to be a novelty in 13.Rad1, claiming White has full compensation for being two pawns down.

10...a6 11.Nbd4 Nxe3 12.fxe3?!

Probably better is 12.Qxe3.

12...b5!? 13.Nxc6 dxc6 14.Bb3

The engines suggest 14.Ng5!?, albeit much preferring Black after 14...Ra7.

14...Be7 15.Ng5??

Presumably I missed that after ...

15...Bxg5 16.Qh5

... Black has ...

16...Bf6

This would have been a good point for White to resign.

17.g4 Qe5 18.Rf5!? Qxb2 19.Rff1 Qe5 20.Qh3 0-1

LESSON: backward bishop moves can be hard to spot.

Miniatures 23

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

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

Highbury (London) Rapid 1990

French Exchange

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

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

How should Black proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

10...Qd7

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

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

What should White play?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

15.Qd2?

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

15...Qxf5 16.Nh4?

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

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

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

Miniatures 22

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

Spanton (151 BCF) - Dan Mayers (178 BCF)

Barbican (London) Rapid 1990

Alekhine Defence

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3!?

International master John Cox stated in Starting Out: Alekhine's Defence that in his experience with the opening he faced 2.Nc3!? more than half of the time.

2...d5 3.exd5 Nxd5 4.Bc4!? Nxc3!?

More popular are 4...e6, 4...c6 and especially 4...Nb6, all of which score slightly better than the text in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.

5.Qf3!? e6 6.dxc3!?

Slightly more common is 6.Qxc3, with pressure against g7, but Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer text.

6...Nc6

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

7.Ne2?!

Probably better is 7.Qe2, clearing the f3 square for the white king's knight, and preventing 7...Ne5.

7...Ne5 8.Bb5+!? c6 9.Qe4 Qd5 10.Qxd5 exd5 11.Bd3 Bd6 12.Be3 0-0 13.Kd2?! Ng4!? 14.f3 Nxe3 15.Kxe3 c5!? 16.Rae1??

Completely missing one of the points - arguably the only point - of Black's last move. Necessary is 16.b3, albeit Black is better.

16...c4 0-1

LESSON: when the opponent makes a move that does not seem at first glance to have much going for it, there are two possibilities - either the move really does not have much going for it, or you have missed the idea entirely.

Miniatures 21

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

Robert Newton (158 BCF) - Spanton (151 BCF)

Halifax Major 1990

King's Fianchetto Opening

1.g3 g6 2.Bg2 Bg7 3.d4 d5 4.Be3!?

This move does not appear in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.

4...c5!? 5.Nc3!?

Not 5.dxc5?? Bxb2.

5...cxd4

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 do not like this, preferring 5...Nc6 or 5...e5!?

6.Bxd4 e5 7.Bc5

How should Black proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

7...e4?

The engines reckon Black has an edge after 7...Na6 8.Ba3 d4.

8.Qd2?!

White has a large advantage after 8.Nxd5, according to the engines.

8...Be6 9.0-0-0!? Na6 10.Ba3 Nf6 11.f3 Qb6?!

Probably better is 11...Rc8.

12.fxe4 Ng4?

Best, according to the engines, is 12...dxe4, although they reckon 13.Nh3 gives White the upper hand.

13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Qxd5 Ne3??

After 14...Rd8 15.Qxd8+ Qxd8 16.Rxd8+ Kxd8 17.Nf3 White is winning, but there is a long way to go before the position becomes resignable.

15.Qd7#

LESSON: king safety is not a paramount concern in a quiet opening, but if such an opening suddenly becomes sharp, beware.

Miniatures 20

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

Spanton (151 BCF) - N Rutherford (105 BCF)

Barbican (London) Rapid 1990

St George Defence

1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5

This is how Tony Miles with black beat Anatoly Karpov in a 1980 game.

3.c4!?

Karpov preferred the more conventional 3.Nf3.

3...Bb7!? 4.cxb5 axb5 5.Bxb5 Bxe4 6.Nf3 Bxb1!? 7.Rxb1 Rxa2?!

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 dislike this.

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

8.0-0

This is not bad, but strongest is 8.Qb3, according to the engines.

8...Ra8!?

The engines fluctuate between this and 8...Nf6, coming to prefer the latter.

9.Ne5

9.d5!? is suggested by the engines.

9...Nf6 10.g4?!

Again the engines like d5.

10...c6!?

This is the engines' top choice.

11.Qf3 d6??

Black is fine after 11...Qb6!?, according to the engines.

12.Nxc6 1-0

LESSON: when behind in development, and especially if uncastled, one slip can be fatal.

Miniatures 18

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

G Wagner (145 BCF) - Spanton (151 BCF)

Hastings Main A 1989-90

Scotch Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5

This is the main alternative to the more popular 4...Nf6. The latter scores a healthy 49% in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, while the text scores 45%. Worth serious consideration is 4...Bb4+!?, which scores a miserable 32%, but is the top choice of Stockfish17 and Dragon1.

5.0-0!?

Most popular in Mega25 is 5.c3 Nf6, which is a transposition to the main line of the Giuoco Piano.

5...d6 6.c3

Offering to make the gambit permanent - how should Black respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

6...dxc3

There are 247 examples of the text, and of 6...Bg4!?, in Mega25, but there the similarity ends as the latter scores a magnificent 64%, while the text scores 'only' 49%.

7.Qb3!?

The engines find it hard to decide between this and the more popular 7.Nxc3.

7...Qd7!?

Probably not 7...Qe7?! 8.Nxc3 as the engines reckon the threat of Nd5 means Black has nothing better than 8...Qd7, eg 8...Nf6?! 9.Bg5 renews the threat of Nd5.

8.Qxc3!?

This is overwhelmingly the chief continuation in Mega25, but the engines prefer 8.Nxc3 or 8.Re1.

8...Nf6 9.e5

The engines suggest 9.Bg5, but reckon Black is better after 9...Qe7!?

9...Nxe5 10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.Qxe5+

Gergely-Andras-Gyula Szabó (2518) - Dirk Sebastian (2445), European Club Cup (Kemer, Turkey) 2007, went 11.Bxf7+!? Kxf7 12.Qxc5 Re8 13.Qc4+ Kf8 14.Re1, with a slight edge for Black, according to the engines (½–½, 31 moves).

11...Qe7 12.Re1?

After 12.Qxe7+ Kxe7 Black is a pawn up, but the game continues.

12...Bxf2+! 13.Kf1

Even worse is 13.Kxf2? Ng4+ and 14...Nxe5.

13...Bxe1 14.Qxe1 Qxe1+ 15.Kxe1 0-0 0-1

LESSON: as is well-known, but easily forgotten in the heat of battle, the most vulnerable squares in the opening, especially in double-e pawn games, are f7 and f2.

Miniatures 17

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

Spanton (151 BCF) - G Faulkner (131 BCF)

Highbury (London) Rapid 1989

Sicilian Bb5(+)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 g6 8.Be3 Nc6 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.f3

This standard position -  a Maróczy Bind, but with the light-square bishops exchanged - occurs 1,964 times in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

10...a6!?

The main line in Mega25 runs 10...0-0 11.0-0 Rac8 12.b3, with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish17 and Dragon1.
11.0-0 0-0 12.Rc1 Rac8 13.Qe2? Nxd4?

Missing the win of a pawn by 13...Nxe4! After the text the engines give White a slight edge.

14.Bxd4 Qc6 15.Rc2?

Correct is 15.b3.

15...Qxc4 16.Qe3?

White is still in the game after 16.Rd1 or 16.Qd1.

Black to play and win

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

16...Ng4! 0-1

Black was much better anyway, but the text puts the seal on the win (16...Nd5 is also very strong).

LESSON: the d4 square can be vulnerable to combinations in those Maróczy Bind positions where Black has fianchettoed on the kingside.