Summing Up North Shields

MY score in the Northumberland Open of +1=0-3 (I also received a compulsory full-point bye) lost 26.8 ECF elo and 40.2 Fide elo.

Northumberland Round Five

I RECEIVED a compulsory bye in round four.

Spanton (1936 ECF/1977 Fide) - Andy Trevelyan (1920 ECF/1812 Fide)

King's Indian Sämisch

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Bg5!?

This is the second-most popular continuation in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, but a long way behind 6.Be3.

How should Black respond?

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6...Nbd7

The main line in Mega25 runs 6...c5 7.d5 e6 8.Qd2 exd5 9.cxd5 a6 10.a4 Re8 11.Nge2 Nbd7 12.Ng3 Qa5, when Stockfish17 and Dragon1 give White a slight edge.

7.Qd2 Re8!? 8.Nh3!? e5!?

The engines strongly dislike this, preferring 8...Nf8 9.Nf2 Ne6!?

9.d5 Nf8 10.Nf2 Bd7 11.Be2 h5!?

Apparently a novelty, and preferred by the engines over the known 11...Rc8.

12.h4!? N8h7

How should White proceed?

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13.Be3!

The engines much prefer this over 13.Bh6 Bxh6! 14.Qxh6, after which they coolly continue with 14...c6!?, the point being Black has swopped off his bad bishop, and does not need to worry about the white queen, which looks aggressive but lacks support.

Both moves, according to the engines, are better than leaving White's dark-square bishop where it is, eg 13.g4 Nxg5 14.hxg5 Nh7 15.gxh5 Qxg5, after which the danger to Black's kingside seems over.

13...Qc8!? 14.0-0-0

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

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Material is equal, and positions with opposite-side castling are difficult to judge, but White has more space, and White seems better placed to attack on the kingside than Black is on the queenside. The engines reckon White has a positionally won game.

14...a6 15.Kb1 Rb8 16.Rdg1 b5 17.c5 b4 18.Ncd1 dxc5 19.Bxc5 a5 20.g4 Bb5 21.Nd3 Nd7

The engines suggest 21...c6.

22.Be3

This looks natural, but the engines reckon White can sacrifice a piece with 22.gxh5!? Bxd3+ 23.Qxd3!? Nxc5 24.Qc4, followed by 25.hxg6.

22...Nhf6 23.Bh6!?

This is playable, now Black is no longer able to reply with ...Bxh6 as Qxh6 would leave White geared up for a strong attack.

23...c5 24.dxc6!?

The engines do not like this, reckoning White should keep lines closed on the queenside for as long as possible.

24...Qxc6 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Qg5

The engines prefer 26.gxh5 Nxh5 27.Ne3, but reckon chances are equal.

What should Black play?

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26...Rbc8

The sacrifice 26...Nxe4? 27.fxe4 Qxe4 can be met by 28.Qe3, but the engines like 26...Qd6 and 26...b3, albeit Stockfish17 is much keener than Dragon1.

27.Ne3??

Black to play and win

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27...Rh8??

Missing that 27...Nh7 wins material as 28.Nf5+ Kh8 leaves White with two pieces en prise.

28.Rc1 Qc6 29.Rxc8

Even stronger is the engines' 29.Nf5+ Kf8 30.Nxb4!, eg 30...axb4 31.Bxb5 Qa8 (31...Qxb5 32.Rc8+ and mates) 32.Bxd7 Nxd7 33.Qe7+ Kg8 34.Rxc8+ Qxc8 35.Nd6 etc.

29...Rxc8

Not 29...Bxd3+ 30.Bxd3 Qxd3+? 31.Rc2, while 29...Qxc8 30.Rc1 Bxd3+ 31.Bxd3 Qb7 32.Bc4 is also very good for White.

30.Nxb4?

The same idea as in the note to White's 29th move, but it is no longer strong. Instead 30.Nf5+ wins, eg 30...Kf8 31.Qh6+ Ke8 32.Qh8+ Nf8 and now 33.Nxb4!, for example 33...axb4 34.Bxb5+ Qxb5 35.Nd6+ etc. Probably slightly better is 30...Kg8!?, but in addition to 31.Ne7+ Kh7 32.Nxb4! the engines fairly quickly find 31.Nf4+!, eg 31...exf4 32.Ne7+ Kg7 33.Bxb5 Qb7 34.Nf5+ Kg8 35.Nd6 Qb8 36.Nxc8.

30...axb4 31.Bxb5 Qxb5 32.Nf5+ Kg8

Not 32...Kf8?? 33.Qh6 Ke8 34.Nd6+ and 35.Nxb5.

33.Ne7+ Kf8?

The engines reckon Black has enough compensation for the exchange after 33...Kg7 34.Nxc8+ Qd3+ 35.Ka1 Qxf3.

34.Nxc8 Qd3+ 35.Ka1 Qxf3 36.Rc1

White is winning because, unlike in the previous note, the white queen has a check on h6.

36...hxg4 37.Qh6+ Ke8 38.Qd2?

White has a win with 38.Qh8+ Nf8 39.Nb6!, eg 39...Ke7 40.Nd5+! Nxd5 41.Qxe5+ Kd8 42.exd5 etc.

38...Qf4 39.Nd6+ Kf8 40.Qc2 g3 41.Qc4

Black to play and draw

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41...Ng4

This looks natural and forced, but the engines' 41...Kg7!! draws, the point being that after 42.Qxf7+ Kh6 White has nothing better than 43.Qc4, when Black's passed g pawn gives sufficient counterplay.

42.Rf1 Nf2

How should White continue?

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43.Qxb4?

This loses.

There seem to be several drawing lines, including 43.Qc8+ Ke7! (43...Kg7? 44.Qxd7 g2 45.Rg1) 44.Nb7! g2 45.Qd8+ Ke6 46.Qe8+ Kf6 47.Qh8+ with perpetual check, and 43.Rg1 Kg7! 44.a4!? bxa3 45.bxa3 Nh3 46.Rg2 Nf2 47.Rg1 etc.

However, the best try is probably 43.h5!?, as it is tricky to meet, eg 43...gxh5? (this is the engines' choice at first) 44.Qc8+ Ke7 45.Nf5+ (this is possible now Black's g6 pawn has been diverted) Kf6 46.Qxd7 g2 47.Qd6+ Kg5 48.Qd8+ Kg6 49.Qg8+ Kf6 50.Qg7+ Ke6 51.Qxg2 wins for White. Better is 43...g2, when 44.Rg1 Qf3 45.hxg6 fxg6 46.Qc7 Kg8 47.Qxd7 Nh3 seems to hold, and 43...Kg7 may also be good enough for a draw.

Black to play and win

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43...Kg7

Winning is 43...g2! as White has no useful discovered check, and, according to the engines, has nothing better than 44.Rb1, when 44...Nd3! wins, eg 45.Qc4 Qf1! 46.Qf7+!? Qxf7 47.Nxf7 Kxf7, after which the knights and Black's pawn on the seventh are too much for the rook to handle. If 45.Qb3, then 45...N7c5 brings another piece decisively into the attack, eg 46.Qd1 Qf2 47.Qg1 Qd2 48.Nc4 Qb4 49.Na3 Qxe4 with what the engines reckon is an overwhelming position.

44.Ne8+ Kh6

White to play and draw

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45.Qe1?

The engines agree 45.Qe7! draws, their main line running 45...g2 46.Qg5+ Qxg5 47.hxg5+ Kxg5 48.Rg1 Kf4 49.Rxg2 Nxe4, when Black's active king and extra pawn seem to provide full compensation for the exchange.

Stockfish17 reckons 45.Qd6!? also draws. but Dragon1 claims it loses. After Dragon1's 45...Nxe4, Stockfish17 gives 46.Qd3, when Dragon1's 'winning' 46...Ndc5?! runs into 47.Rxf4 Nxd3 48.Rxe4 f5 49.Re3 g2 50.Rg3, after which 50...Ne1 gives complete equality, Dragon1 'admits', but it loses for Black, according to Stockfish17. However the engines agree 46...Nec5!? draws. Having gone through this analysis, I took the engines back to the position after 45.Qd6!?, when Dragon1 changes to agreeing the position is drawn, but Stockfish17 at first reckons 45...g2!? gives Black a slight edge, although it fairly soon reverts to calling the position equal. So it seems 45.Qd6!?, like 45.Qe7!, draws, but the line is very complicated, even for top engines.

Black to play and win ... or lose

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45...Qxe4??

This turns a win into a loss.

White has no good answer to activating the 'reserve' knight with 45...Nc5, eg 46.Nd6 Ncd3 47.Qb1 Kh5! 48.a4 Kxh4 49.a5 Nb4 50.Nc4 g2 51.Rg1 Kh3 52.b3 Nfd3 53.Nb2 Nxb2 54.Kxb2 Qd2+ 55.Ka3 Nc2+ 56.Kb2 Nd4+ etc.

The engines reckon the immediate 45...Kh5!? also wins.

46.Qd2+ Qf4 47.Qxd7 g2 48.Rg1 Nh3??

Missing a backward queen move in time trouble, but after the better 48...Ng4, both 49.Nf6 and 49.a4 win, according to the engines.

49.Qxh3 Qf2 50.Qxg2 1-0

Northumberland Round Three

I WAS upfloated against a junior (born 2011).

Joel Ofeni (1836 ECF/1782 Fide) - Spanton (1936 ECF/1977 Fide)

Albin Countergambit

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.a3

This and the commoner 4.Nf3 are almost equally liked by Stockfish17 and Dragon1.

4...Nc6 5.Nf3

Via a minor transposition the game has reached a tabiya occurring 3,320 times in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database

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5...Be6

The main moves in Mega25 are 5...Nge7 and 5...Bg4, while the engines also quite like 5...g6!?, albeit reckoning White in each case has the upper hand.

6.Nbd2

The engines prefer this and 6.b4 over the more popular 6.e3.

6...Qd7 7.b4 0-0-0?!

This is strongly disliked by the engines. They suggest developing the king's knight, to either e7 or h6.

8.Qa4!

This seems to be a novelty, and is slightly preferred by the engines over the known 8.Bb2.

8...Kb8

8...Nxe5?! is probably not an improvement for Black after 9.Qxa7.

9.b5 Nce7 10.Bb2?!

Almost certainly better is 10.Nb3 as it prevents Black's next.

10...c5 11.bxc6 Nxc6 12.Qb5

The engines prefer 12.g3 or 12.Nb3, eg 12.g3 Nxe5?! (the engines suggest 12...f6!?) 13.Qxd7 Nxf3+ 14.Nxf3 and 15.Nxd4.

12...f6!?

Perhaps best is 12...a6 13.Qb6 Nge7, with ...Nc8 to come.

13.exf6 Nxf6 14.Ne5?!

Aggressive, but the engines prefer concentrating on kingside development with 14.g3.

14...Nxe5 15.Qxe5+ Bd6!?

Offering a second pawn, but 15...Ka8 may be even stronger.

16.Qxd4 Qc7

The engines, particularly Stockfish17, prefer 16...Qc6.

17.Qc3 Rhe8 18.h3?!

Probably too slow. Best may be 18.e3, allowing 18...Bxh2, when Black has won back one pawn and has good compensation for the remaining pawn-deficit.

18...Bf5 19.e3

This is Dragon1's top choice. Stockfish17 suggests 19.Qf3.

19...Be5 20.Qb3

How should Black proceed?

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20...Rxd2!

The engines reckon this exchange sacrifice is the strongest continuation.

21.Kxd2 Qa5+?

But this is a weak follow-up. White is lost after 21...Ne4+ since 22.Ke2, as in the game, can be met by 22...Rd8 23.Bxe5 Qxe5, when Black threatens ...Qxa1, ...Rd2+ and ...Nc3+, while 22.Kc1 Nxf2 is hardly an improvement.

22.Ke2 Rd8?

Now Black is losing. The engines reckon ...Ne4 is still correct, this time with equal chances.

23.Bxe5+ Qxe5 24.Rd1 Rxd1 25.Qxd1 Qb2+ 26.Qd2 Qxa3 27.f3 Nh5 28.Kf2

Also good is 28.Qd8+ Bc8 29.Kf2.

28...Qe7 29.Qd4 Qc7 30.Qh4 Nf6

There is nothing better, but now queens come off.

31.g4 Be6 32.Qg3 Nd7 33.Qxc7+ Kxc7 34.Bd3 h6 35.f4 Nb6 36.Rc1

The final white piece enters play, meaning White's advantage of the exchange and a pawn is overwhelming

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36...Kc6 37.Be4+ Kc5 38.Bxb7 Nxc4 39.e4 a5 40.f5 Bd7 41.Ba6 Bb5 42.Bxb5 Kxb5 43.Ke2 a4 44.Kd3 Ne5+ 45.Kd4 Nc6+ 46.Rxc6!? Kxc6 47.e6 a3 48.Kc3 1-0

Northumberland Round Two

David Egan (1917 ECF/1787 Fide) - Spanton (1936 ECF/1977 Fide)

Spanish Berlin

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.0-0 Nd4 6.Nxd4 Bxd4 7.c3 Bb6

A standard position, occurring 735 times in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database

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8.Bg5

This and 8.Nd2 are almost equally popular, but the latter scores 11 percentage points higher in Mega25.

8...h6 9.Bh4 c6 10.Ba4

Stockfish17 and Dragon1 prefer 10.Bc4!?

10...d6 11.Nd2?!

The engines strongly dislike this, although it has been played by grandmasters. They suggest 11.Bxf6!?, albeit giving Black a slight edge, but definitely not 11.Qf3?? as that loses the dark-square bishop to 11...g5, since 12.Bg3? can be met by 12...Bg4, trapping White's queen.

11...g5

This is why the engines dislike White's 11th move,

12.Bg3 Bg4

They reckon even stronger is 12...h5, and if 13.h4 then 13...Bg4, eg 14.Qe1 Nd7! with a strong kingside attack.

13.Qe1 Nh5

Again the engines prefer ..h5.

14.Nc4

The engines agree this is marginally better than 14.Kh1, as played in Alexei Shirov (2660) - Peter Keller (2328), Chess.com Blitz 2024. That continued 14...Qf6 15.h3?! Be6 16.Bh2!? Nf4, with the upper hand for Black, according to the engines (but 1-0, 54 moves).

14...Nxg3 15.hxg3 Qd7

This may be a novelty. The engines like the known 15...Bc7, or another apparent-novelty in 15...h5.

16.Nxb6 axb6 17.Bb3 h5!? 18.f3 Be6 19.Qe3

The queen hits two undefended pawns.

How should Black respond?

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19...h4!

The engines prefer this over defending the b and g pawns with 19...Qd8.

20.g4

Possible is 20.Qxg5!?, but 20...hxg3 21.Qxg3 0-0-0 gives Black promising compensation. After 22.Kf2!? (forced, according to the engines) Rhg8!? 23.Qh4 d5 the position is unclear, with the engines fluctuating between calling the position equal and awarding White a slight edge.

20...Qd8

The engines are happy with this retreat, now the position has changed slightly.
21.d4 c5?!

Probably better is 21...Bxb3.

22.Bxe6 fxe6 23.dxe5 dxe5 24.Rfd1 Qe7

Black has two pairs of doubled pawns, but the weaknesses are not easy for White to get at

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25.Qd3 h3?

It is better to give up the b6 pawn, eg 25...Kf7!? 26.Qb5 Kg6!?, and if 27.Qxb6, now 27..h3, when 28.g3 h2+ 29.Kg2 Rad8 is completely equal, according to the engines.

26.Qb6+ Kf8 27.Rd7 Ra5?!

Probably better is 27...Qf6, but 28.Qxb6 hxg2 29.Rad1! is winning, according to the engines.

28.Qd3 Qf6?

Better is 28...c4, but the simple 29.Rxe7 cxd3 30.Rxe6 gives an advantage that the engines reckon is almost equivalent to being a rook up.

29.Qd6+ 1-0

Northumberland Round One

Spanton (1936 ECF/1977 Fide) - Oliver Graham (1829 ECF/1751 Fide)

Spanish Exchange

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5!?

This has been played by grandmasters, but trails 7...Nf6, 7...c5 and especially 7...Bd7 in popularity in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.

How should White respond?

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8.Be3

This beats 8.Nb3 for popularity, but Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon there is little to choose between the two moves.

8...Nf6

This was Capablanca's choice in a 1914 game, and it is the commonest continuation, but the engines suggest 8...Bd7 or 8...Ne7.

9.f3 Bb6!?

Capablanca preferred castling.

10.Nc3 Bd7 11.Kf2!? h6!?

Apparently a novelty. The engines suggest 11...h5, 11...0-0-0 or 11...Ba5.

12.Nb3!?

This allows White to force off Black's bishop-pair.

12...Be6!? 13.Bxb6 cxb6 14.Nd4 Ke7!?

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

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White's superior pawn-majority gives the upper hand, according to the engines.

15.Nxe6 Kxe6 16.Rad1 Rhd8 17.Na4!?

This achieves nothing. The engines suggest starting to realise White's majority with 17.g4!?

17...Nd7 18.Rd2 b5 19.Nc3

Possible was 19.Rxd7!? as, whichever way Black captures, White regains the exchange with 20.Nb6(+).

19...Ne5 20.Rxd8 Rxd8 21.Rd1 Rxd1 22.Nxd1 b6

OG offered a draw.

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

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White still has the superior pawn-majority, but the engines reckon it is not easy to make much of it. Dragon1 gives White a slight edge, but Stockfish17 is not even sure of that.

23.Ne3 Nc4?

Allowing a pawn ending is probably losing, and at any rate makes Black's defence very difficult.

24.Nxc4 bxc4 25.Ke3 c5 26.f4 h5 27.h3!?

This allows 27...h4, which Dragon1 reckons is good for Black, reducing White's advantage to a slight edge, but Stockfish17 agrees with me that 28.Kf3 wins, eg 28...f5!? (Dragon1's idea) can be met by both 29.g4 and 29.e5, which Dragon1 comes to realise win for White.

27...Kd6 28.Kf3 b5 29.g4 h4!?

This is Stockfish17's top choice. Dragon1 prefers 29...hxg4+, but both 30.hxg4 and my planned 30.Kxg4!? seem to win.

30.g5 b4 31.Kg4 a5

White to play and win ... or lose

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32.Kxh4??

This allows Black a well-known breakthrough on the queenside, whereas that is prevented by 32.c3 (but not 32.a3?? c3).

32...a4

There is no defence against the threat of 33...b3

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33.Kg4

If 33.b3 then 33...cxb3 34.axb3 axb3 35.axb3 c4 etc, while 33.c3 loses to 33...a3, and 33.a3 loses to 33...c3.

The game finished:

33...b3 34.cxb3 axb3 34.axb3 cxb3 36.e5+ Kd5 37.g6 fxg6 38.Kg5 c4 39.Kxg6 c3 40.bxc3 b2 41.Kf7 b1=Q 42.e6 Qf5+ 0-1

North Country

AM making final preparations for traveling to Newcastle tomorrow for the Northumberland congress, which is being held at nearby North Shields with five rounds over three days.

The time control is 110 minutes, plus a 10-second increment, and there are 115 entries, including 24 in the open.

Northumberland Open Game Five

Spanton (1952 ECF) - Steven B Booth (1919 ECF)

1.Nc3

1.Nc3 d5 2.d4 c5 3.e4!?

White is playing an Albin Countergambit, with colours reversed and an extra tempo (Nc3).

3...dxe4 4.d5 Nf6 5.Be3

Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 like 5.Nge2, and if 5...e6 then 6.Bg5 or 6.Nf4.

5...Nbd7 6.Nge2 g6 7.Ng3 Bg7 8.Rb1?!

White should probably get on with development, eg 8.Qd2.

8...0-0 9.Ngxe4 b6

The engines give 9...Nxe4 10.Nxe4 Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Qxa2 12.c4 Nf6, when Black is a good pawn up.

10.Bc4?!

The bishop is a target here. Almost certainly better is 10.Be2.

10...Nxe4 11.Nxe4 Nf6?

Better is 11...Ne5, when the engines reckon best is 12.Be2, losing a tempo on lines with 10.Be2.

12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Bh6 Bg7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.0-0 Qd6 16.Re1 Bb7 17.Qd3 a6 18.a4 b5!? 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bxb5 Bxd5 21.c4 Be6 22.Qc3+ Kg8 23.Rbd1 Qf4 24.Qe5 Qxe5 25.Rxe5 Rfc8

How would you assess this late-middlegame position?

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White has a backward b pawn but the potential to create a passed farside pawn. The engines reckon Black has a tiny pull.

26.h3 Kf8 27.Kf1 Bf5 28.g4!? Bc2 29.Rd2 Ba4 30.Bxa4 Rxa4 31.b3 Ra3 32.Rd3 f6!? 33.Re6 Kf7 34.Rde3 Rc7 35.Kg2 Rb7 36.f3 g5 37.Kg3 h6 38.h4 gxh4+ 39.Kxh4 Raxb3 40.Rxe7+ Rxe7 41.Rxb3

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

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Black has an extra pawn-island but the position is equal, according to the engines.

41...Rd7?!

Probably better is activity with 41...Re1, eg 42.Rb5 Re3 43.Kg3 Re5 44.f4 Re3+ 45.Kf2 Re4.

42.Rb5 Rc7?

Here, activity is definitely better, eg 42...Rd3 43.Kg3 f5 44.Rxc5 fxg4 45.Kxg4 is a draw, according to the Syzygy endgame tablebase.

43.Kh5 Kg7 44.f4 f5!?

Or 44...Kh7 45.Rb6 Kg7 46.f5 etc.

45.gxf5?

White has a simple win with 45.g5.

45...Kf6 46.Kg4 h5+ 47.Kxh5 Kxf5 48.Rb8??

48.Kh6 is a tablebase draw.

48...Rh7#

Northumberland Open Game Four

Spanton (1952 ECF/1776 Fide) - Nigel Villalard (1924 ECF/1869 Fide)

Veresov

1.Nc3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bg5 Bf5 4.e3 e6 5.Bd3 Bb4?

The mainline in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database runs 5...Bxd3 6.Qxd3 with what Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 reckon is an equal position.

6.Bxf5 exf5 7.Qf3 g6

Black can avoid immediately giving up a pawn by playing 7...Qd7, but 8.Bxf6 gxf6 is at least as good for White.

8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.Qxd5 Nc6 10.Nge2 0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.a3 Rfd8 13.Qb3 Bd6 14.Qxb7!?

This is OK as long as White reacts correctly to Black's idea.

14...Rb8 15.Qxa6 Nxd4!

How should White proceed?

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16.Qd3?

Not 16.Nxd4?? as 16...Bxh2+ wins the white queen, but correct is moving the king's knight, eg 17.Ng3, and if 17...Nxc2 the engines give 18.Ra2! Rxb2 19.Rxb2 Qxc3 20.Rb7! Nxa3, when Black has a pawn for the exchange but is losing, according to the engines.

16...Nxe2+ 17.Nxe2 Rxb2 18.Rab1 Ra2 19.Rb3 Ra8 20.Rfb1 Ra1 21.g3 R1xa3 22.Rxa3 Rxa3

Black has completely equalised, according to the engines

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23.Qb5 Qd8 24.Qd5 Qc8 25.Nd4 Qa8 26.Qxa8+!? Rxa8

Bishop and rook usually make better partners than knight and rook, but the engines reckon this position remains completely equal.

27.Kf1 Ra2 28.c4 Kg7 29.h4 Kf6 30.Kg2 Ra4 31.Rc1 Bc5 32.Kf3 h6 33.Rc2 Ke5 34.Nb3 Bb4 35.Nd4 c5 36.Nb5 f6 37.Rc1 Ra2 38.Nc3 Rd2?!

It was easiest for Black to take a draw with 38...Bxc3, but the engines reckon 38...Rb2 is also equal.

39.Nd5 h5?

Stockfish15 reckons 39...g5 and 39...Ra2 hold, but Komodo13.02 reckons White would have the upper hand.

How should White continue?

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40.Nxb4

This is probably enough for an edge but the engines reckon better are 40.Nf4 and especially 40.Ra1!?

40...cxb4 41.Rb1

As NV pointed out afterwards, 41.c5?? loses to 41...b3, eg 42.Rb1 b2 followed by capturing the c pawn.

41...Kd6!?

The engines agree that this is as good as other moves, including 41...Rc2 and 41...g5, but again Stockfish15 reckons the position is equal while Komodo13.02 gives White the upper hand.

42.Rxb4 Kc6?

Black has good drawing chances after 42...Rc2.

43.Rb8 g5

There is no defence. The game finished:

44.Rf8 Rd6 45.hxg5 fxg5 46.Rxf5 g4+ 47.Ke2 Rh6 48.Kd3 Rh7 49.Kd4 h4 50.Rf6+ Kc7 51.gxh4 Rxh4 52.Kd5 Rh5+ 53.Ke4 Rh4 54.Rf4 Kc6 55.f3 Kc5 56.Rxg4 Rh5 57.Kd3 1-0

Northumberland Open Game Three

Anthony Sweeting (1759 ECF) - Spanton (1952 ECF)

English Opening

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.d3 Nge7 6.Nf3 0-0 7.Rb1 d6 8.0-0 f5 9.b4??

There are nine examples of this blunder in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database. Amazingly, White manages to score 50% with the move, albeit helped by a 2565 and a 2065 missing Black's piece-winning reply.

9...e4 10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.dxe4 Be6 12.Nd2?!

Almost certainly better is 12.Qc2.

12...Qd7 13.Re1?!

The rook has little future here.

13...Ne5 14.Qc2 Rf7?!

Hoping to double on the f file, but White easily counters this, so the rook is probably misplaced.

15.f4 Ng4?!

Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 prefer 15...N5c6, which means 16.Nf3, as played in the game, can be met by 16...Nd4, countering the threat of Ng5.

16.Nf3 Qc6?!

Probably better is simply evading the knight fork by 16...Rff8.

17.h3 Nh6 18.Ng5?!

This looks natural but almost certainly better is the engines' 18.c5, as after ...

18...Qxc4 19.Qxc4 Bxc4 20.Nxf7 Nxf7

... White should not play 21.a3? as the white queen's rook is trapped by ...Ba2. The engines reckon best is 21.Bb2 Bxa2 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 (22...Bxb1? 23.Bf6) 23.Ra1 Be6, when Black has the better pawn-structure as well as two knights for a rook.

21.a3? Nc6? 22.e3 Ba2 23.Rb2 Bxb2 24.Bxb2

White has a pawn and the bishop-pair, but remains a piece down and is losing, according to the engines

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24...Re8 25.Rc1 a6 26.e5 d5?

Much better, according to the engines. is 26...dxe5 27.Bxc6 bxc6 28.Rxc6 exf4.

27.Bf1!?

The engines suggest 27.Rc5, but agree Black is on top.

27...Nfd8 28.Kf2 b5!? 29.Bd4?!

Giving up the bishop-pair, even though White's e pawns in the process are undoubled, is probably wrong.

29...Nxd4 30.exd4 Bc4 31.Bg2 Nc6??

How should White proceed?

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32.Ke3?

White is completely equal, according to the engines, after 32.Rxc4!

32...Kf7?? 33.h4

33.Rxc4!

33...h5?? 34.Bh3?

34.Rxc4!

34...Ne7 35.g4 hxg4 36.Bxg4 Nf5+ 37.Bxf5 gxf5 38.Rh1 Rg8 39.Kf3 Bd3 40.Rh3 Ra8 41.h5 Rh8 42.h6?

Giving up the h pawn without a struggle.

42...Kg6 43.Rg3+ Kxh6 44.Rh3+ Kg7 45.Rxh8 Kxh8 46.Kg3 Kg7 47.Kh4 Kg6 48.e6?

Another gratuitous pawn-loss.

48...Kf6 49.e7 Kxe7 50.Kg5 Kf7 51.Kh6 Kf6 52.Kh5 Ke6 53.Kg6 Be4 54.Kg7 Kd6 55.Kf6 c5!?

The right plan, but it would have been so much better if played at a point when White's reply is not with check.

56.dxc5+

Black has an even easier win after 56.bxc5+? thanks to having a queenside pawn-majority.

56...Kc6 57.Ke5 Kd7 58.Kd4 Ke6 59.Ke3 Bg2 60.Kd4 Bf3 61.Ke3 Bh5 62.Kd4 Be8 63.Ke3 Kf6 64.Kd4 Bc6 65.Ke3 Bb7 66.Kd4 Ba8 67.Ke3

AS offered a draw.

67...Kg6 68.Kf3 Kh6 69.Ke3 Kg4 0-1

Hard to believe this game was played by players experienced enough to have ratings.

Northumberland Open Game Two

Spanton (1952 ECF/1776 Fide) - Kevin Millward (2070 ECF/1887 Fide)

Philidor Defence

1.Nc3 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.e4 e5!?

For what it is worth, Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 reckon this is better than entering a Pirc with 3...d6 or a Pribyl with 4...c6.

4.Nf3

4.dxe5 dxe5 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8 is generally regarded as relatively innocuous, eg 6.Bc4 Be6!? 7.Bxe6 fxe6, when the mainline in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database continues 8.f3 Bd6 9.Be3 Ke7 (9...a6 is also popular) 10.0-0-0 with what the engines reckon is a slight edge for White.

4...Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0 c6 7.a4 0-0 8.a5!?

The mainline in Mega22 runs 8.Re1 b6 (8...a5 is also popular) 9.d5 cxd5 10.Nxd5 Bb7 11.b3 Rc8 12.Re2, when the engines reckon Black is equal after, for example, 12...Nc5 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Bd5 Bxd5 15.Qxd5 Ne6.

8...Qc7 9.h3 Qb8!?

This seems to be a novelty. The engines prefer 9...Rb8.

10.Be3 b5 11.axb6 axb6 12.Qd2

The engines give White a slight edge after 12.Rxa8 Qxa8 13.Qa1 Qb8 14.Qa2.

12...b5 13.Bd3 Bb7 14.Rfd1 Qc7

Both players have connected rooks - how would you assess the coming middlegame?

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White has more space in the centre, Black on the queenside. The engines give White a tiny pull, but only if White continues 15.b4!?

15.Qe1 Rfe8 16.Rxa8 Rxa8 17.Nh4?

Trying for kingside play, but the move is tactically flawed.

How should Black respond?

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17...exd4

Also good is 17...b4, but not 17...Nxe4? 18.Nf5 Nxc3 19.Nxe7 Kf8 20.Qxc3 Kxe7 21.dxe5 (the engines also like 21.b4, but 21.Bxb5 allows 21...Qa5 22.Qxa5 Rxa5, when Black is close to equal) Nxe5 22.Bxb5, after which White is much better, according to the engines, as 22...Qa5 23.Qd4 is strong for White.

18.Bxd4 b4 19.Nb1 c5 20.Nf5 Bf8 21.Bxf6 Nxf6

White has avoided material loss but given up the bishop-pair and is under pressure on the queenside

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22.f3?

This weakens the kingside dark squares. Best is 22.Nd2, although the engines reckon Black has the upper hand.

22...d5

The engines' 22...c4 seems even stronger, eg 23.Bf1 and now 23...d5.

23.e5 Nh5 24.Qh4?!

The engines prefer fighting for queenside space with 24.c4.

24...g6 25.Re1 Re8 26.f4 Qd8!

Forcing queens off and so removing any danger to the black king, and exposing White's dark-square weaknesses.

27.Bb5

Even worse is 27.Qg4? Bc8.

27...Qxh4 28.Nxh4 Rb8 29.f5 Be7?!

Black still has an advantage after this but almost certainly better is the engines' 29...c4 or 29...Nf4.

30.f6 Bd8 31.Nd2 Nf4 32.Bf1?

This is too passive, according to the engines, which reckon 32.Bd7!? leaves Black with only a slight edge.

32...Bc7 33.Nhf3 Ra8 34.Nb3 Bb6 35.Kh2 Ne6 36.Ra1??

Black was much better anyway thanks to having a mobile pawn-majority and the bishop-pair, but the text effectively loses a piece.

36...Rxa1 37.Nxa1 c4

The a1 knight is imprisoned

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38.b3

This is best, according to the engines, but for all practical purposes White is playing a piece down.

38...c3 39.Kg3 Bc7 40.Bb5 h6 41.Bd3 d4 42.Kg4 Bxf3+ 43.Kxf3 Bxe5 (0-1, 47 moves)

Northumberland Open Game One

Matthew Forster (2122 ECF/2070 Fide) - Spanton (1952 ECF/1776 Fide)

English Opening

1.c4 e6 2.b3 d5 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Bb2 Nf6 5.g3 Bd6 6.Bg2 0-0 7.Nf3

Clearly White cannot win a pawn by 7.Bxf6?!, intending Bxd5, as 7...Qxf6 threatens the white queen's rook.

7...c6 8.0-0

ChessBase's 2022 Mega database has 41 games with this position

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8...Qe7!?

8...Re8 was played in 21 games, but the two highest-rated players as Black preferred developing the queen's bishop - one to g4 and the other to f5.

9.d3 Nbd7 10.Nbd2 Re8 11.e4!

White activates his central pawn-majority. Other moves have been played, but Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 agree the text is best.

11...dxe4

Florian Mossakowski (2283) - Peter Issing (2196), German Upper League North West 2018, went 11...Ba3 12.Bxa3 Qxa3 13.Re1 dxe4 14.dxe4, when the engines reckon White is at least slightly better (1-0, 51 moves).

12.dxe4 Ne5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.Bxe5 Qxe5 15.Nc4

Exchanges have simplified the position but left White with a central initiative

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15...Qc7

This is best, according to the engines. After 15...Qe7?! they like 16.e5, eg 16...Nd5 17.Bxd5!? cxd5 18.Nd6 with what they reckon is a positionally won game for White.

16.e5 Ng4 17.Re1 b5??

White is only slightly better after the calm 17...Be6, according to the engines.

18.Qd6!

This is even stronger than 18.Nd6.

18...Qxd6 19.Nxd6 Re6 20.Nxb5 Rb8 21.Nd4 1-0

Black is only a pawn down, for now, but after, say, 21...Re8 22.Nxc6 is the equivalent of being more than a piece down, according to the engines.

Summing Up North Shields

MY score in the Northumberland open of +2=0-3 saw me lose 9.2 ECF elo but gain 2.6 Fide elo.

Northumberland Round Five

LOST with white in 48 moves this afternoon to Steven B Booth (1919 ECF/no Fide).

Northumberland Round Four

WON with white in 57 moves this morning against Nigel Villalard (1924 ECF/1869 Fide).

Northumberland Round Three

THIS afternoon I won with black in 69 moves against Anthony Sweeting (1759 ECF/no Fide).

Northumberland Round Two

LOST with white in 46 moves this morning to Kevin Millward (2070 ECF/1887 Fide).

Northumberland Round One

THIS evening I lost with black in 21 moves against Matthew Forster (2122 ECF/2070 Fide).

North To Northumberland

AM traveling to North Shields today for the 58th Northumberland congress, which starts this evening.

There are four sections, with my ECF rating of 1952 meaning I have to play in the open, which is Fide-rated.

The time control is 110 minutes, plus a 10-second increment, with Saturday and Sunday's rounds at 10am and 2.30pm.

There are 141 entries, including 43 in the open: N.

Lessons From North Shields V

Virgil Szekely (2103 ECF/no Fide) - Spanton (1965 ECF/1747 Fide)

Northumberland Open Round 5

Sicilian Hyper-Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 Bg7 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 d5 6.e5

The main alternative is 6.exd5, while the analysis engines Stockfish14 and Komodo12.1.1 quite like 6.Bb5+!? (it is the latter's top choice for a while, and comes to be Stockfish14's second choice), but in the end both engines opt for the text.

6...Bg4 7.Bb5+ Nd7

7...Nc6 8.Bxc6+!? bxc6 9.Nbd2 gives White the upper hand, according to the engines.

8.0-0 a6 9.Bd3 e6 10.Nbd2!?

The idea of this move in lines like this is to follow up with h3, obliging Black to capture the king's knight on f3 at a time when White can recapture with the queen's knight. However the move-order in this game ...

10...Ne7 11.h3

... means Black is not forced to take.
11...Bf5

How should White proceed?

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12.Nb3

Mladen Palac (2591) - Ljubomir Orak (2308), Zlatni Rat (Croatia) Rapid 2011, saw 12.Bxf5 Nxf5 13.Nb3 0-0 14.Bg5 with advantage to White, according to the engines (1-0, 46 moves).

White could keep light-square bishops on the board with 12.Be2, but 12...Rc8 13.Ne1!? is equal, according to Komodo12.1.1, although Stockfsih14 prefers White.

12...Rc8

Miklós Németh (2469) - Igor Vladimirovich Glek (2537), EU Cup (Ohrid, North Macedonia) 2009, continued 12...Qb6 13.Bg5 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 h6 15.Bd2 Nc6, when the engines reckon White has a slight edge but the game was drawn in 65 moves.

13.Bg5 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 h6 15.Bxe7!?

The engines prefer retreating the bishop to d2 or e3.

15...Qxe7 16.Rac1 0-0 17.Rc3 Nb6 18.Nc5 Nc4

How should White proceed?

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19.b3?

White should play 19.Qe2 or 19.Qc2, when the position is equal, according to the engines.

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19...Nxe5! 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.Rfc1!?

Better, according to the engines, is 21.Nxe6 Qxe6 22.dxe5 Qxe5 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Rd1 Rd8 25.Qe3!? Qxe3 26.fxe3, when Black is a pawn up but White has good practical drawing chances in a rook-and-pawn ending.

VS's choice keeps more play in the game, and was probably the better 'human decision'.

21...Bg7 22.Na4 Rxc3 23.Qxc3 b5!?

This turns the c5 square into an outpost for the white knight from where it cannot be evicted. Nevertheless the engines agree Black remains much better.

24.Nc5 Rc8 25.b4 h5 26.Qd2 Rc6 27.Rc3 Qh4 28.Rd3 Kh7 29.Kh2 Bh6 30.Qe2 Qf4+ 31.g3 Qd6 32.h4 Bf8 33.Ra3 Bg7 34.Rd3 Bf6 35.Kg2 Kg7 36.Kh3 Qc7 37.f4

There has been a lot of manoeuvring with little apparently accomplished by either player. I now decided to break on the queenside.

37...a5 38.a3 a4?

Closing the queenside is the wrong plan, and is perhaps an example of rating-itis. True, the closure greatly reduces Black's chances of losing, but it also greatly reduces Black's chances of winning. After 38...axb4 39.axb4 the engines reckon 39...Qc8 40.Kg2 Qa8 gives very good winning chances.

39.Rd2 Qb6 40.Nd7 Qb7 41.Nc5 ½–½

The engines reckon Black is still a fair bit better in the final position, but are unable to come up with a plan for making progress.

Lessons From North Shields IV

Spanton (1965 ECF/1747 Fide) - David W Gostelow (1975E/1915F)

Northumberland Open Round 4

Sicilian Bb5(+)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5

This move scores 57% in ChessBase's 2021 Mega database, which compares very favourably with the 51% of 3.d4 and the 52% of 3.c3.

3...g6 4.c3

More popular, and scoring marginally better in Mega21, are 4.0-0 and 4.Bxc6.

4...Nf6 5.Qe2

This, and gaining space in the centre with 5.e5, are almost equally popular in Mega21, with both moves scoring 52%.

5...Bg7 6.d4!?

Normal is 6.0-0, which has been played by Magnus Carlsen and Levon Aronian.

6...cxd4 7.cxd4 d5 8.e5 Ne4 9.0-0 0-0 10.Nbd2!?

Trying to trap the advanced black knight with 10.Bxc6 (not 10.Ne1?? Nxd4) bxc6 11.Ne1? runs into 11...Qb6, when Black threatens the d4 pawn as well as ...Ba6. However, more popular than the text are 10.Nc3 and 10.Be3.

How should Black proceed?

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10...Nxd2

This looks natural but grandmasters have tended to prefer a move favoured by Stockfish14 and Komodo12.1.1, namely 10...Qb6!? If White replies 11.Bxc6, aiming to follow up by twice capturing on e4, Black has 11...Qxc6. Black can even play 11...bxc6!? as 12.Nxe4? is met by 12...Ba6.

11.Bxd2 Bg4 12.Bc3

The engines prefer 12.Bxc6!? bxc6 and either 13.Bb4 or 13.h3.

12...Qb6 13.Bxc6 bxc6

White's move-order has given Black the option to capture on c6 with the queen, but the queen will eventually be hit by a white rook coming to c1. Stockfish14 prefers the text; Komodo12.1.1 prefers 13...Qxc6.

14.h3 Bf5

The engines strongly prefer returning the bishop-pair with 14...Bxf3!? 15.Qxf3 a5, which they reckon gives White at best a tiny pull.

15.Qd2!?

Preventing Black quickly activating the king's bishop with ...Bh6, which would control the c1 square, and at the same time preparing queenside action.

15...a5

DW said in the postmortem he nearly played 15...Rfd8??

16.Nh4 Bd7

16...Bc8 might look natural but, as DG pointed out, the follow-up ...Ba6 is unlikely to be possible because it leaves the a5 pawn hanging.

17.Kh2

Stockfish14 gives 17.b4!?, to which both engines reckon Black's best reply is 17...a4. 

Analysis position after 17...a4

Stockfish14 claims White is positionally winning but Komodo12.1.1 rates the position as equal. Given enough time, Komodo12.1.1's concedes White a slight edge, but even so the contrast in the engines' evaluations is huge.

17...Rfc8 18.f4 e6 19.g4

The game becomes a race between rival flank attacks. Although it is White who is attacking on the kingside, it is the white king that becomes more exposed.

Stockfish14 gives White a slight edge; Komodo12.1.1 gives Black a slight edge

19...c5 20.f5?!

The engines prefer 20.Nf3, 20.Rf2 or 20.dxc5. The text looks natural, but there is an unexpected problem that will soon become apparent.

20...exf5

This is best, but also satisfactory for Black is the line I feared: 20...cxd4 21.Bxd4 Qb4, when White has nothing better than 22.Qxb4 axb4 23.f6 with approximate equality. Bad is 22.Bc3? Bxe5+!, while 22.Qf2?! Rc4 23.Bc3, which was DW's suggestion and looked good for White in the postmortem, runs into 23...Rxc3! 24.bxc3 Bxe5+ 25.Kg2 Bxc3, when for an exchange Black has two pawns, the bishop-pair and attacking chances.

21.gxf5

Black to play and win (or least get a large advantage)

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21...gxf5?

21...cxd4 22.Bxd4 Qb4 is similar to a line in the previous note, but the engines point out 22...Rc2!! 23.Qxc2 (23.Bxb6 Rxd2+ leaves White with too many hanging pawns) Qxd4, when Black is down an exchange but has the bishop-pair and will win a pawn, and gets attacking chances, eg 24.Qf2 Qxe5+ 25.Kg1 Bb5, which Stockfish14 reckons is winning for Black although Komodo12.1.1 gives Black 'only' the upper hand.

22.Nxf5 Bxf5 23.Rxf5 cxd4 24.Bxd4 Qg6?!

Probably better is the engines' 24...Qc7, although they reckon 25.Bc3 leaves White well on top.

25.Raf1!?

Even stronger seems to be 25.Qf2 followed by 26.Rg1.

25...Rc4 26.b3 Rc7?

The engines reckon much better is 26...Rc6, although 27.R1f2 is still very good for White.

27.R1f2

Even stronger is 27.R5f2!?, when the engines reckon best-play runs 27...Qh6 28.Qxh6 Bxh6 29.Rg2+ Kf8 and either 30.e6 or 30.Bb2!?, in each case with a winning advantage.

27...Rac8?

Better is the engines' 27...Kh8!?, but 28.Qd3 Rc1 29.Rg2 is very strong.

28.Qf4?

Slow. Winning easily is 28.Rg5, eg 28...Rc2 29.Rxg6 Rxd2 30.Rxg7+ etc.

28...Rc2 29.Rg5 Rxf2+ 30.Bxf2 Qh6 31.Qf5?

White keeps a large advantage with 31.Bd4, eg 31...Rc2+ 32.Kg3 when the threat of 33.e6 cannot be met.

Black to play and draw (or at least be only slightly worse)

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31...Qe6?

Best is 31...Rc6, when the engines reckon White has a slight edge but no more.

32.Qf6!

Black is completely lost.

The game finished:

32...Qxf6 33.exf6 Rc2 34.Rxg7+ 1-0