League Chess

PLAYED on board one (of four) for Battersea against Coulsdon last night in Croydon & District League's Dave Luckin division, where teams are allowed a rating total of 6,600 elo, ie a player-average of 1650.

Ishan Ramdewar (1976) - Spanton (1914)

QGD Exchange

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 h6!?

An early ...h6 used to be taboo in the Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined. The thinking was twofold. Firstly, if played before White castled, it was feared White could castle long and use the pawn as a hook for a kingside pawnstorm. Secondly, if White castled short, it was thought the third rank on the kingside should be left uncluttered as Black might want to place a rook and/or queen there to attack the white king's position. But 6...h6!? has been played by Carlsen, Kramnik, Ding, etc. What changed? Engines quite like the move, rating it marginally better than the common 6...Be7.

7.Bh4 Be7 8.Bd3 0-0 9.Nge2!?

This is massively more popular than the 'traditional' Nf3.

9...Re8 10.0-0

The position after 10.Qc2 Nbd7 11.0-0-0!? occurs 136 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, but 11...b5 gives Black the upper hand, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

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

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Mega26 has 702 examples of this position, with White scoring a very good 59%. The engines reckon White is slightly better.

10...Nh5!? 11.Ng3!?

This seems to be a novelty. The engines prefer 11.Bxe7, followed by queenside play.

11...Bxh4 12.Nxh5!?

The engines marginally prefer this over capturing with the queen.

12...Qg5??

Blundering a piece ... or, at least, it should.

How does White win a piece?

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13.Nf4??

There is no satisfactory answer to the simple 13.g3, eg 13...Bg4 can be met by 14.Be2, after which the black dark-square bishop cannot be saved.

13...Qf6 14.Qc2 Be6

The engines much prefer 14...Qd6, claiming equality.

15.g3 Bg5 16.Nxe6 Qxe6

Not 16...Rxe6?? 17.f4 Rxe3 18.fxg5 Qxd4 19.Bh7+ and 20.Kg2.

17.b4 a6 18.a4 Nd7 19.b5 axb5 20.axb5 Rxa1!? 21.Rxa1

How should Black proceed?

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21...Bxe3??

The engines suggest 21...g6, 21...Rb8 or 21...Nb6, but in each case give White the upper hand.

22.Bf5 Qe7 23.Bxd7 Bxf2+ 24.Qxf2 Qxd7

How big is White's advantage?

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Two pawns come nowhere close to compensating for a knight in this middlegame position, especially with two white queenside pawns effectively holding back three black ones. The engines reckon White is approximately the equivalent of 2.5 pawns ahead.

25.Re1?!

This gives away much of White's advantage.

25...Rxe1+ 26.Qxe1 Qg4?!

After the 'ugly' 26...cxb5! Black has counterplay thanks to having a passed pawn and the safer king.

27.Qe8+ Kh7 28.Qe5 Qf3 29.Ne2?!

White is still winning after 29.Qe1, according to the engines.

29...cxb5!

'Ugly', but effective. Black now has three isolated pawns, but the engines agree having a passer is much more important.

30.Nf4 Qd1+ 31.Kg2 Qc2+?!

It is a game of equal chances after 31...b4, according to the engines.

32.Kh3?!

The engines give White the upper hand after 32.Qe2, one point being 32...Qxe2+?! 33.Nxe2 b4 fails to 34.Nf4!

32...Qd1?

The game is completely equal, according to the engines, after both 32...b4 and 32...Qc8+ 33.Kg2 b4.

33.Qf5+ Kg8

White to play and win

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34.Qxd5?

Both 34.Qd3 and 34.Nxd5 seem good enough for at least a slight edge, but winning is 34.Qc8+ Kh7 35.Qxb7 as 35...Qf1+ 36.Kg4 Qd1+ comes to nothing after 37.Kf5, eg 37...Qxd4 38.Qxb5 g6+ 39.Kg4 h5+ 40.Kh3, although the whole line is not easy to envisage from the diagram.
34...g5 35.Qd8+ Kg7

White to play and draw

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36.Nd5??

White has a draw after no fewer than seven moves, according to the engines, including 36.Ne6+!?, 36.Qd5, 36.Qe8 and 36.Qc7.

Black to play and win

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36...Qf1+ 37.Kg4 f5+ 38.Kh5 Qh3#

Coulsdon defaulted on board three, but the match was drawn 2-2..

My Battersea Season 2025-6

Date       Event  Colour  Rating  Opp's Rating  Score  Season's Perf

16/9/25   CLL       W       1936         1952             0           1552

18/9/25   CLL       W       1936         1797             =           1675

16/10/25 CLL       W       1889         2047             0           1665

23/10/25 CLL       B        1889         1823             1           1805

18/11/25  LL         W       1891         1980             =           1840

20/11/25  CLL      W       1891         1866             1            1911

25/11/25  BCC     B        1891         1817             1            1955

9/12/25    LL         W       1904         1982             1            2008

16/12/25  LL         B        1904         2046             0            1968

18/12/25  CLL      B        1904         2066             1            2018

6/1/26      CLL      W       1929         2150             =            2066

7/1/26      LL         W       1929         1971             =            2058

8/1/26      CLL      B        1929         1800?           =            2038

13/1/26    LL         B        1929         2035             1            2067

27/1/26    LL         B        1929         2089             0            2041

29/1/26    CLL      B        1929         1882             =            2031

3/2/26      BCC     W       1928         1836             1            2043     

12/2/26    CDL      B        1928        1890              1            2057

25/2/26    LL         B        1928        1863              =            2047

26/2/26    CLL      B         1928        2015             0            2025

3/3/26      CDL      B        1914        1976              1            2043

CLL: Central London League

LL: London League

BCC: Battersea club championship

CDL: Croydon & District League

I also have a win-by-default in the Central London League

Cap Negret Round Eight

FACED a fellow Battersea Chess Club member.

Spanton (1896) - Paul Stokes (1807)

QGD Exchange

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 c6 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.Qc2 h6!?

Magnus Carlsen has helped make ...h6 a fashionable move in the Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined.

9.Bh4 0-0

Levon Aronian (2777) - Carlsen (2685), Grenke Classic (Baden-Baden) 2015, went 9...Nh5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.0-0-0!? Nb6 12.Nf3 Bg4 13.Kb1 Nf6 14.Rc1 Nfd7 15.Ka1!? 0-0-0, when White is slightly better, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 (½–½, 64 moves).

10.Nf3 Ne8 11.Bg3 Bd6 12.0-0 Bxg3 13.hxg3

With the opening over and the middlegame underway, how would you assess the position?

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It is largely typical of one arising from the Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit, with White ahead on development and ready to start a Minority Attack on the queenside. Perhaps the main difference from such typical positions is White's damaged kingside. Stockfish17.1 reckons the game is equal, but Dragon1 hovers between equality and giving White a slight edge.

13...Nd6 14.b4 Nf6 15.b5

The engines prefer preparing this with 15.a4, as in Jacobo Bolbochán - Carlos Enrique Guimard, Mar del Plata (Argentina) 1943, which continued 15...Be6 16.Rfc1 Rc8 17.Qb1 Qe7 18.b5 c5!? 19.dxc5 Rxc5 20.Nd4 Rfc8, with equal chances, according to the engines (½–½, 44 moves).

15...cxb5 16.Nxb5 Nxb5 17.Bxb5 Be6 18.Rfc1 Rc8 19.Qb3 Qb6 20.Ne5 Rc7 21.Rxc7 Qxc7 22.Bd3 Nd7!?

22...Nd7!? is Stockfish17.1's top choice, but Dragon1 is less keen for quite some time, until eventually agreeing the text is best (I thought it strange to offer to swop off the better of Black's two minor pieces, but the engines presumably take the view that the exchange is worth it to get rid of White's well-placed knight)

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23.Nxd7 Qxd7 24.Rb1 b6 25.Ba6!? Qc6 26.Qa3 Rd8 27.Rc1 Qd6!?

The engines prefer 27...Qd7.

28.Qa4

After 28.Qxd6 Rxd6 29.Bb5!? Black is slightly better, according to the engines.

28...Bd7 29.Qb3 Bf5 30.Qc3 Be6 31.a4 g6 32.Rb1 Rd7 33.Rc1 Re7 34.a5 bxa5 35.Qxa5 Kg7 36.Be2 Rb7 37.Ra1 Rc7 38.Bf3 Qb6!?

The engines are fine with this move - Stockfish17.1 reckons the game is completely equal, although Dragon1 is less sure - but after queens come off, White has new probing chances to explore.

39.Qxb6 axb6 40.Rb1

How should Black proceed?

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40...Rc6

Black does not need to immediately defend the b pawn, so the engines suggest 40...h5!? or 40...Rc8!? After, for example, 40...h5!? 41.Rxb6 Rc1+ 42.Kh2 Rc2, they reckon the game is completely equal.

41.g4!?

The engines at first rate this move quite highly, but given plenty of time they come to view it as not giving much of an edge at all, although agreeing it is the best try in the position.

41...g5!?

41...Kf6 is preferred by the engines.

42.Rb5 Rd6 43.Kh2!?

The king is headed for g2, which makes the text a complete waste of a tempo, but that is not serious in a position where the opponent has no counterplay.

43...Kf8 44.g3 Ke7 45.Kg2 Kd8 46.Be2 Kc7 47.f4!?

The point of White's manoeuvres - to open a second front.

47...f6 48.f5!? Bd7 49.Rb1

White now has more pawns than Black on light squares, but space has been gained, although the engines reckon the position is completely equal

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49...h5?

Several moves maintain equality, according to the engines, including 49...Rc6 and 49...Ba4. Their point is White cannot gain an advantage going after the h pawn as the b pawn is too fast.

50.Rc1+ Kb7 51.gxh5 Bxf5 52.g4

Even stronger, according to the engines, is 52.Rf1 or 52.Kf3.

52...Bh7 53.Rf1 Kc6 54.Rc1+ Kd7

If 54...Kb7, the engines reckon both 55.Kf2 and 55.Bf3 are winning.

55.Bb5+ Ke6 56.Rc7 Be4+ 57.Kg3 Rd8 58.Rc6+?!

White is still better after this, but 58.Rb7 wins a pawn as 58...Rd6? can be met by 59.h6 Rd8 60.h7! (60.Rxb6+ Ke7! holds, according to the engines) Rh8 61.Bd7+ Kd6 62.Bf5, winning.

58...Rd6?

58...Ke7 and 58...Kf7 seem to give fair drawing chances, although the engines disagree as to which move is better.

59.Rc8 Kf7 60.Rc7+ Kg8 61.Bd7!?

Black's rook is imprisoned, but it seems 61.Rb7 is even stronger

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61...Kh8

The engines much prefer 61...b5!, giving up the b pawn to get counterplay, eg 62.Rb7!? Ra6 63.Rxb5 Ra2 64.Be6+ Kg7 65.Bxd5 Rg2+ 66.Kh3 Re2 67.Rb7+ Kh8 68.Rb8+ Kg7 69.Rg8+ Kh7 70.Rd8 Rxe3+ 71.Kh2 Bc2, at the end of which White has a slight edge (Stockfish17.1) or at best the upper hand (Dragon1), although the line is very hard to visualise from the diagram.

62.Kf2?!

Almost certainly better is 62.Rb7 or 62.Bf5!?

62...Kg8

The engines reckon ...b5 is still the best try.

63.Ke1?!

Again the engines much prefer Rb7 or Bf5.

63...b5!

White has just a slight edge after this sacrifice, according to the engines

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64.Bxb5 Rb6 65.Rc5 Bf3?

The engines reckon Black holds with both 65...Kh7 and 65...Kg7.

White to play and win

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66.Bd7! Rb1+

Or 66...Be4 67.Bc6 Rb1+ 68.Kf2 Rb2+ 69.Kg3 Rg2+ 70.Kh3 Re2 71.Bxd5+ Bxd5 72.Rxd5 Rxe3+ 73.Kg2, after which White is 'only' a pawn up in a rook-and-pawn ending, but White has two passers, and the black pawns are held up by a solitary white one.

67.Kf2 1-0

After 67...Be4 68.Be6+ Kg7 69.Bxd5, White has an even better version of the line given in the previous note.

British 65+ Championship Round Seven

Simon Johnson (1911 ECF/no Fide) - Spanton (1947 ECF/1982 Fide)

QGD Exchange

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.cxd5!?

This method of entering the Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined is often criticised for reducing White's options, and for making it relatively easily for Black to exchange light-square bishops, which is generally regarded as a good for thing for Black to achieve in these lines. However, among those who apparently disagree, or at least do not regard such considerations as overly weighty, are Carlsen, Caruana and Ding, as well as strong players of the past.

4...exd5 5.Nc3 c6

The immediate 5...Bf5!? is suggested by Dragon1, although after the reply 6.Qb3 it reckons White is slightly better. Strangely, however, Stockfish17, which does not recommend 5...Bf5!?, nevertheless reckons the position after 6.Qb3 is equal.

6.Qc2 g6!? 7.Bg5

How should Black proceed?

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7...Bg7

Most popular is 7...Be7, after which the round-two game Johnson - Stephen Dilleigh (2067 ECF/2048 Fide) continued 8.e3 Bf5 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Nbd7 11.h3!? 0-0 12.0-0 Re8, with an equal game, according to the engines (but 1-0, 55 moves).

Grandmasters have also played 7...Bf5!?, although the engines reckon 8.Qb3 gives White at least a slight edge.

8.e3 Bf5 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Nbd7 11.0-0 0-0

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

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White has a slight lead in development, and has an obvious plan to follow in the Minority Attack. But Black has no weaknesses and has swopped off the light-square bishops, which, as I mentioned earlier, is generally believed to ease Black's defence. The engines reckon the game is equal.

12.b4

Mikhail Botvinnik - Max Euwe, World Chess Championship Tournament 1948, went 12.Ne5 Qe8 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.b4 Rfe8, when a draw was agreed (the game was played in round 22 of the 25-round tournament at a stage when Botvinnik was cruising to victory).

12...b5!?

More common is 12...a6 or 12...Rfe8!?

The idea of the text is Black wants to drop a knight on c4, masking the backward c pawn, and meanwhile hoping White's b pawn will prove weak.

13.Ne5 Qb6

The engines prefer 13.Qc7, which leaves the b6 square for the black queen's knight to use on its way to c4.

14.Bxf6!?

This paradoxical-looking swop is quite often played in the Exchange Variation. The idea, I believe, is that the bishop, being on dark squares, cannot directly attack Black's queenside pawns, so swopping it for a knight that can help defend the queenside pawns may help the attack.

14...Nxf6 15.Rfc1

Probably best is 15.a4, when Black seems to have nothing better than 15...a6 (15...bxa4?! horribly weakens Black's queenside, a factor almost certainly more significant than the weakening of b4).

15...a5 16.a3 axb4 17.axb4 Rxa1 18.Rxa1 Rd8 19.Qb1!? Bf8 20.Ra5 Nd7 21.Nf3!?

The engines suggest 21.Nd3.

21...f5?!

The engines strongly dislike 21...f5?!, presumably because it weakens the e6 and e5 squares (a white knight on e5 can no longer be expelled by playing ...f6), and also weakens Black along the second rank

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22.g3 Qc7 23.Qb3?!

Probably better is 23.Ne2, with possibly Nf4 to come, according to the engines.

23...Qd6 24.Na2 Nb6 25.Ne5 Nc4 26.Nxc4 dxc4!

Black also gets a protected passed pawn after capturing towards the centre with  26...bxc4, but then c6 is vulnerable, while after the text c6 has more protection, and Black gets the useful d5 square for the queen.

27.Qa3 Qd5 28.Nc3 Qd6 29.Na2 g5!? 30.Ra8

The engines reckon this is best.

30...Be7 31.Ra7

What should Black play?

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31...h5

31...f4! is a good pawn sacrifice. After 32.gxf4?! gxf4 White's king looks very vulnerable, with White's main strength bunched on the queenside. Instead the engines suggest 32.exf4!?, but 32...Bf6!? is strong.

32.Qa6 h4

...f4 still seems best.

33.Qb7 Re8

Black may have a slight edge after this, but the engines suggest 33...Kf8 or 33...h3!? The point about the latter is 34.Qxe7? runs into 34...Qxe7 35.Rxe7 Ra8 etc.

34.Ra6 h3

Stronger is 34...Rb8! 35.Qxc6 Qxc6 36.Rxc6 Ra8 37.Nc3, and either ...Bxb4 immediately, or 37...h3 38.Kf1 Bxb4.

35.Rxc6

Black to play and draw

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35...Qb8??

The right square, but the wrong piece. After 35...Rb8 the game is completely equal, according to the engines, eg 36.Rc8+ Rxc8 37.Qxc8 Kg7 38.Qxa5 Qa6 39.Qd7 Kf7, when White should take the perpetual.

36.Qd7

Black is busted.

The game finished:

36...Qd8 37.Rg6+ Kh8 38.Qxf5 Qc8 39.Qf7 Bf8 40.Rg8#

Munich 60+ Round Four

RECEIVED a double-upfloat.

Bernhard Solger (1866) - Spanton (1954)

QGD Exchange

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.cxd5!?

This is generally regarded as being played a move early for entering the Exchange Variation.

3...exd5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Qc2 g6!?

This is the point of the previous note - White can hardly prevent Black playing ...Bf5

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6.e3 Bf5 7.Bd3 Bxd3 8.Qxd3

With light-square bishops off the board, Black is considered to have no theoretical problems in the QGD Exchange, although naturally there is plenty of scope for play by both sides.

8...Nf6

Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon 8...Qg5 9.Kf1!? favours White.

9.Nf3 Nbd7 10.0-0 Bg7 11.b4

The start of a Minority Attack - how should Black respond?

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11...b5!?

Apparently a novelty, but a known idea in similar positions. Black gets a chronically backward c pawn, but this can be easily protected in the short run, and masked in the long run by a black knight occupying c4 - and if this knight should be captured, Black will get a protected passed pawn.

Known moves are 11...a6, delaying the Minority Attack, and 11...0-0, preparing to meet 12.b5 by 12...c5!?

12.a4 a6 13.axb5

White can prevent ...Nb6 with 13.a5, but that makes the white bishop an even sorrier sight, and anyway Black can probably manoeuvre a knight to c4 via d6.

13...axb5 14.Rxa8 Qxa8 15.Bb2 0-0

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

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Black has much the better bishop, and b4 is probably weaker than c6. The engines give Black a slight edge.

16.Ra1 Qb7 17.Qb1!? Ra8 18.Ra5?!

The engines do not like this.

18...Nb6

I did not want to give White a passed pawn, but the engines reckon that after 18...Rxa5 19.axb5 the passed but isolated a pawn is more of a weakness than a strength, especially as Black gets a protected passer.

19.Nd2 Bf8 20.Bc1 Bd6?!

This looks aggressive - from d6 the bishop eyes both b4 and h2 - but the bishop is hanging, ie unprotected. The engines reckon 20...Rxa5 21.bxa5 Nc4 gives Black a positionally won game.

21.e4!? dxe4 22.Ncxe4 Nxe4 23.Nxe4 Qe7

The engines prefer 23...Be7 or 23...Nc4.

24.Bd2?!

The engines reckon both 24.Rxa8+ and 24.Bg5 give complete equality.

24...Re8 25.Nxd6 Qxd6 26.Ra6!?

Possibly best is 26.Qd3, but the engines give Black the upper hand.

How should Black proceed?

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26...Nd5

This is enough for an edge, but Stockfish17 gives 26...Qxd4! 27.Be3 Qc3! (only now does Dragon1 realise what is going on ) 28.Rxb6 Ra8, with excellent winning chances.

27.g3 Qf6 28.Qd3 h5 29.h4 Qe6 30.Kg2 Kg7 31.Qf3 Rd8 32.Ra7 Rd7 33.Ra8 Qd6 34.Qe2 Re7 35.Qf3 Nxb4?

Winning a pawn, but giving White equality and good practical winning chances. The engines suggest maintaining the pressure with 35...Qe6 or 35...Qd7.

36.Bxb4 Qxb4 37.Qxc6 Qxd4 38.Qc8

The position is completely equal, according to the engines, but White's control of the back rank, and the vulnerability of the black king, make the position extremely difficult for Black

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38...Qe4+

Acquiescing in the draw that comes after 38...Kh7!? 39.Qg8+ Kh6 40.Qf8+ Kh7 41.Qxe7 (White can also take a draw with 41.Qg8+ etc) Qd5+ 42.Kh2 Qxa8 43.Qxf7+ was probably more sensible.

39.Kh2

Black to play and hold the draw

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39...Kf6!

Everything else loses.

40.Qh8+ Kf5

Another only-move, as 40...Ke6?? lets the white rook into the action with 41.Ra6+.

41.Rb8 Qe5 42.Qc8+

Black to play and hold the draw

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42...Re6?

The engines show only 42...Kf6 maintains equality.

White to play and win

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43.Qd8

Winning is 43.Rb7!, eg 43...Kf6 44.Qh8+ Kf5 45.Rxf7+ Rf6 46.Qc8+ Qe6 47.Qc2+ Ke5 48.Qc3+ Kf5 49.Qd3+ Qe4 50.Rxf6+ etc.

Black to play and hold the draw

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43...Ke4!
Another only-move.

44.Qc8

Black to play and hold the draw

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44...Qd5?

The engines show 44...Kd3!? and 44...Kf3!? keep the game completely equal, at least as far as computers are concerned, while 44...Qf5!? may also be good enough.

White to play and win

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45.Qc2+

There is no defence to 45.Qc1!, when 46.Qe3+ and 46.f3+!? are just two of several powerful threats.

Black to play and hold the draw

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45...Qd3?

Black holds with 45...Kf3!, when 46.Qc3+?? loses to 46...Kxf2, with mate to follow, while a move such as 46.Qb2 can be met by, among other moves, 46...Qc5, eg 47.Rxb5 Qxf2+ 48.Qxf2+ Kxf2, when Black is a pawn up but the position is well-known to be easily drawn by the pawn-down side.

White to play and win

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46.Qxd3+?

The vulnerability of the black king is such that the engines show 46.Qc1 and 46.Qb2 win easily, and other moves may also win.

46...Kxd3 47.Rxb5 Re2 48.Kg2

BS made his move, pressed the clock and offered a draw.

48...Re6 49.Rb7 f6!? 50.Kf3 Kd4!?

This does not throw away the draw, but Black is flirting with danger.

51.Kf4 Rc6!?

Ditto here. More sensible is 51...Rf5, which has the bonus of threatening mate in one.

52.Rd7+ Kc5 53.Rg7

Black to play and hold the draw

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53...f5??

Black loses a pawn after 53...Kd6 (or 53...Kd5) 54.Rxg6, but 54...Ke6 leaves a position so drawish that the engines agree White's advantage is not worth even a tenth of a pawn.

The game finished:

54.Kg5 Kd4 55.Rxg6 Rc2 56.f4 Ke4 57.Kxh5 Rg2 58.Rg5 Kf3 59.Kg6 Rxg3 60.Rxg3+ Kxg3 61.Kxf5 1-0

Cap Negret Round Seven

FACED a Belgian Fide master.

Johan Goormachtigh (2173) - Spanton (2009)

QGD Ragozin

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5

This is second in popularity to 5.Bg5.

5...exd5 6.Bf4!?

The mainline in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database runs 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 g5!? 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.Nd2!? Nxg3 10.hxg3 c6, with a slight edge for White, according to Dragon1, although Stockfish17 is less sure. Note that 9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 Bxc3 11.Rc1 seems to give White good compensation for a pawn.

6...0-0 7.e3 c6

This may be a little passive. Most popular in Mega24 is 7...c5!?

The position looks like a mainline Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, but with the black dark-square bishop on b4 instead of e7, and the white dark-square bishop on f4 instead of g5 

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It is difficult to say whom the changes benefit. The engines reckon White is slightly better in the diagrammed position, but they also reckon White is slightly better in the analogous position from the Exchange Variation.

8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.0-0 Re8 10.Qc2 Nf8 11.h3 Ne6 12.Bg3!?

This may be a novelty. The known move is 12.Bh2.

12...g6!?

A familiar idea from the Exchange Variation. One possible follow-up is ...Ng7 and ...Bf5 to swop light-square bishops.

13.a3

Where should the attacked bishop go?

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13...Be7

The engines prefer 13...Bd6 or 13...Bf8.

14.b4 a6 15.Na4 Ng7 16.Nc5 Nfh5 17.Bh2 Bd6 18.Ne5 Qe7 19.a4 f6?!

The engines reckon White is only slightly better after 19...Nf6.

20.Nf3 Bxh2+ 21.Kxh2 Ne6 22.b5 Nxc5 23.Qxc5 Qxc5 24.dxc5 axb5 25.axb5 Bd7

After a flurry of exchanges, White's Minority Attack has made progress, but how should White proceed?

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26.Nd4

This is Dragon1's top choice, whereas Stockfish17 prefers 26.b6.

26...Ng7 27.Rfb1

But here the engines agree 27.b6 is best.
27...Ne6

The engines like 27...Rxa1!? 28.Rxa1 cxb5!?, claiming White at best has a slight edge.

28.Rxa8

The engines reckon 28.Nxe6 Bxe6 29.b6 gives at least a slight edge.

28...Rxa8 29.bxc6 bxc6 30.Nxe6 Bxe6 31.Rb6 Bd7 32.Ba6 Bc8?!

Probably better is 32...Kf7, and if 33.Bb7, then 33...Rb8.

33.Bxc8 Rxc8

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

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White has an active rook versus a passive one. Dragon1 reckons that gives the upper hand, but Stockfish17 calls the position completely equal.

34.Rb7 h5 35.Kg3 Re8!?

The rook will be less passive on e6.

36.Rc7 Re6 37.Kf4 Re4+ 38.Kf3 Re6 39.Ke2!?

The only way to try to make progress.

39...d4 40.e4!? f5!?

Dragon1 strongly dislikes this, but Stockfish17 is fine with it.

41.Kd3 fxe4+ 42.Kxd4

How should Black continue?

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42...Rf6?!

Both 42...h4 and 42...g5 give complete equality, according to Stockfish17, although Dragon1 reckons White in each case is slightly better.

What should White play?

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43.Kxe4

Stockfish17 reckons 43.g4!? is winning, eg 43...Rxf2 44.Rxc6 Kf7 45.g5!? Rf3 46.Kxe4 Rxh3 47.Rf6+ Kg7 48.c6. For much of the line, Dragon1 reckons the position is equal, but it comes to give White the upper hand.

43...Rxf2 44.Rxc6 Rxg2 45.Rf6 Kg7 46.Rf3 Rc2 47.Kd5 g5 48.c6 Kg6 49.Rf8 Rc3 50.Kd6 Rxh3 51.c7 Rc3 52.c8=Q Rxc8 53.Rxc8

How would you assess this rook-versus-pawns ending?

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Endgame tablebases show the position is drawn, but Black has to start with three only-moves.

53...Kf5!

The white king has to be shouldered away.

54.Kd5 h4!

Other moves lose, eg advancing the king now fails, one line running 54...Kf4 55.Rc4+! Kf3 56.Ke5 h4 57.Kf5 h3 58.Rc3+! Kg2 59.Kg4! h2 60.Rc2+ Kg1 61.Kg3 h1=N+ (the only hope - but White has a winning reply) 62.Kf3! g4+ 63.Kxg4 Nf2+ 64.Kf3 Nd3 65.Rd2 Ne5+ 66.Kf4! Nc4 67.Rd4 (other moves also win) Nb2 68.Kf3 Kf1 69.Rd2 etc.

55.Rf8+ Kg4

The third only-move on the trot, but this one is obvious.

56.Ke4 h3 57.Rh8 Kg3 58.Kf5 g4 59.Kg5 h2 ½–½

County Chess

PLAYED on board five (of 16) for Kent at Surrey in the Southern Counties Chess Union's U2050 championship yesterday.

John Foley (1996) - Spanton (1955)

London System

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bf4 Bg4 4.e3 e6 5.h3 Nh5 6.c4 Bd6 7.Bxd6 Qxd6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0

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

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From the pawn-formation it might be thought the opening was an Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined. The engines reckon White has a slight edge (Dragon1) or at least the better side of equality (Stockfish17).

11...Ne4 12.Rc1 a6 13.a3

The engines reckon White has at least a slight edge after 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Nd2 Bze2 15.Qxe2.

13...Nxc3 14.Rxc3 Ne7 15.Ne5 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 c6 17.b4

White starts the famous Minority Attack.

17...Rfe8 18.Rfb1 Nf5 19.Qf3 Qe6 20.a4 Nd6 21.Nd3 Nc4 22.Qe2 Qf5 

How should White proceed?

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23.b5?

Premature. The engines suggest 23.Qg4!?, claiming equal chances.

23...axb5 24.axb5

What should Black play?

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24...Re6?

Missing the win of a pawn by 24...Na3 etc.

25.bxc6 bxc6 26.Rcb3 h6 27.Nc5 Rg6?

Aggressive, but now White gets the back rank, which is much more dangerous.

28.Rb8+ Rxb8 29.Rxb8+ Kh7 30.Qd3!

The engines agree this is best.

30...Qg5?

Not 30...Qxh3?? 31.Qxg6+ etc, but better is 30...Qxd3, although the engines reckon White is winning after 31.Nxd3, when the c pawn is very weak, eg 31...Na5 32.Ne5 Rf6 33.Ra8 Nb7 34.Ra7 Nd8 35.Rd7 Ne6 36.Nxc6. The engines suggest 31...Rf6, but agree 32.Nb4 Kg6 33.Rc8 Na5 34.Nd3 Nc4 35.g4 gives White a winning advantage, although no material has yet fallen.

31.g3

White threatens ...Nd7-f8#.

How should Black meet the threat?

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31...Qe7

This is the best Black has, but is still losing.

32.h4 f5?!

Objectively better is 32...h5, despite the simple pawn-winning reply 33.Qf5.

33.Qxf5 Nxe3!?

Desperation.

How should White reply?

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34.Qd3

Other moves also win, eg 34.Qc8 Rxg3+ (34...Rd6 35.h5) 35.fxg3 Qf7 36.Qf8, or 34.fxe3 Qxe3+ 35.Kf1 Qxg3 (35...Qc1+ 36.Kg2 Qd2+ 37.Qf2) 36.Nd7 Qg2+ 37.Ke1 Qg1+ 38.Ke2 Qg2+ 39.Kd1, when the checks eventually run out.

34...Ng4 35.Kf1?!

This may be enough to win, but much stronger are moves such as 35.Kg2, and especially the engines' 35.Nd7!, the point being 35...Qxd7 (35...Qe1+ 36.Qf1) is met by 36.h5.

35...Qf6?

Now White is definitely winning. Correct is 35...Qf7, reserving the f6 square for the knight (to prevent h5), while covering the d7 square.

36.f4 Qf5!?

Imaginative, but still losing.

37.Qxf5 Ne3+ 38.Kf2 Nxf5 39.Nd7 Rd6!

The engines prefer three other moves, but they make the win easy, ie 39...Rxg3 40.Rf8 etc; 39...h5 40.Nf8+ Kh6 41.Nxg6; 39...Rf6!? 40.Nxf6+. The text may be objectively worse, at least as far as engines are concerned, but the winning path is narrower.

40.Nf8+ Kg8

White to play and win

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41.h5?

This lets Black equalise. The engines give White a slight edge after 41.Ng6+ (or 41.Nd7+) Kf7 42.Ne5+, but their 41.g4! wins the knight, eg 41...Nxd4 42.Ne6+ etc, or 41...Nxh4 42.Ng6+ etc, or 41...Ne7 42.Ng6+ Kf7 43.Ne5+ Ke6 44.Re8 g6 (44...c5 45.f5+ Kf6 46.Rf8#) 45.Nxg6 Kf6 46.Nxe7 47.Nf5.

41...Kf7 42.Ng6 Nxd4

Black has won a pawn, but White has the draw in hand

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43.Ne5+ Ke6 44.g4 c5 45.Re8+

Or 45.Rb7 Ra6 46.Rxg7 Ra2+, with complete equality, according to the engines, although both sides have the option to play on.

45...Kf6 46.Rf8+ Ke6

Only White has winning chances after 46...Kf7?! 47.Rf7+ and 48.Rxg7.

47.Re8+ Kf6 48.Rf8+ Ke6 49.Re8+ ½–½

Surrey won the match 10-5-5.5.

Championship Chess

PLAYED in the Battersea club championship last night.

Dmitry Kolobkov (1862) - Spanton (1913)

Chigorin

1.d5 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e6!?

Other moves are more popular, including 3...Nf6 and especially 3...dxc4.

How should White respond?

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4.cxd5

The mainline in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database runs 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 0-0 7.Bd3, reaching a position occurring 729 times in Mega24. Komodo14.1 gives White a slight edge, but Stockfish16 calls it equal.

4...exd5 5.Bf4 Bd6!? 6.Bg3

Possible is 6.Nxd5!?, but it does not win a pawn, eg 6...Bxf4 7.Nxf4 Qxd4 8.Qxd4 Nxd4 9.Rc1. The engines also point out 6...Be6!?

6...Nf6 7.e3 Bf5 8.Bd3

If 8.Qb3 Black can reply 8...0-0 as both 9.Nxd5?? Nxd5 10.Qxd5 Bb4+ and 9.Qxb7? Nb4 10.Rc1 Rb8 11.Qxa7 Nc2+ are bad for White.

8...Bxd3 9.Qxd3 0-0 10.Nf3 Re8 11.0-0 Bxg3 12.hxg3

How would you assess this middlegame?

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It looks like an Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, but one in which all the bishops have been exchanged. Stockfish16 reckons the position is completely even, but Komodo14.1 gives White the better side of equality.

12...Ne4 13.Rfc1

White could try 13.Qb5, although after 13...Rb8 the d5 pawn is more-or-less poisoned, eg 14.Qxd5 (14.Nxd5?? a6)  Nxc3 15.Qxd8 Ne2+ 16.Kh2 Rbxd8 17.Rfe1 Nexd4 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.exd4 Kf8 with the better ending for Black. However the engines reckon 14.Nxe4!? leaves White slightly better, eg 14...Rxe4 15.Rfc1 with pressure.

13...a6 14.Na4 Qd6 15.Nc5 Nxc5 16.Rxc5 Ne7 17.b4 c6

White has a Minority Attack against Black's Carlsbad pawn-structure

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18.Rb1 Rec8 19.a4 f6!? 20.Rc3

If 20.b5? then 20...b6 21.Rcc1 axb5 22.axb5 a5 is good for Black. However the engines prefer 20.Qb3 or 20.Ne1.

20...Qd7 21.b5?!

The engines more-or-less suggest marking time, eg 21.Rc5!?, 21.Nh4 or 21.Rcc1!?

21...cxb5!

This slightly counterintuitive capture gives Black at least the better part of equality.

22.Rcb3?!

Probably better is 22.Rxc8+, eg 22...Nxc8 23.axb5 a5 24.Nd2, with equality, according to the engines.

22...bxa4?!

The engines give Black the upper hand after 22...b6.

23.Rxb7 Rc7 24.R7b4 a5 25.Rb5 Nc6 26.Qa3 Nb4 27.Qxa4 Qc6?!

The game is completely equal after 27...Qe8!?, according to the engines.

28.Ra1 Rca7??

White is a pawn up, but at best slightly better, after 28...Nd3 29.Rxa5 Qxa4 30.Rxa8+ Qxa8 31.Rxa8+ Kf7, according to the engines.

29.Rxb4 Qd6

Or 29...axb4 30.Qxc6 Rxa1+ 31.Kh2, although at least 31...Rb8 gives a hint of counterplay.

The game finished:

30.Rb5 Qd7 31.Nd2 h5 32.Qb3 a4 33.Qxd5+ Qxd5 34.Rxd5 a3 35.Ra2 Rb7 36.Nc4 Rb3 37.Ra5 Rc8 38.Nxa3 Rc1+ 39.Kh2 Rd3 40.Rxh5 Rdd1 41.g4 g6 42.Rc5 1-0

MY BATTERSEA SEASON 2023-4

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

24/10/23 London League               B      1870         2102                   =            2102

26/10/23 Central London League  W     1870         2118                    =            2110

21/11/23 Eastman Cup                  W     1882         2118                    =            2113

14/12/23 Central London League  B      1882         2152                    0            2023

10/1/24   London League               B      1884         2130                    0           1964

11/1/24   Central London League   B      1884        2278                    1            2083

25/1/24   Central London League  W      1884        2205                    =            2100

30/1/24   Club Championship         B      1884        1809                    1            2114

1/2/24     Central London League  W      1916        2072                    0            2065

7/2/24     London League               B       1916        2298                    0            2048

8/2/24     Central London League  B       1916        1960                    0            2004

15/2/24   Central London League  B       1916        1951                    =            1999

29/2/24   Central London League  B       1916        2014                    0            1970

5/3/24     Club Championship        W      1910        1990                    1            2000

2/4/24     Club Championship        B       1924        1927                    0            1968

4/4/24     Central London League  B       1924        2123                    =            1978

16/4/24   London League               B       1924        2393                    0            1979

18/4/24   Central London League  B       1924        2329                    0            1976

23/4/24   London League               B       1924        2118                    =            1984

25/4/24   Central London League  W      1924        1997                    0            1964

30/4/24   Club Championship        W      1924        1731                    1            1972

2/5/24     Central London League  W      1913        2074                    0            1956

16/5/24   London League               B       1913       1915                     0            1939

21/5/24   Club Championship         B       1913       1862                     0            1919