Summing Up Darlington

MY score in the Northumbria Masters U2000 of +3=1-2 (I also took three half-point byes) lost 9.2 ECF elo and 17.8 Fide elo.

Darlington Round Nine

I WAS upfloated.

Jack Erskine-Pereira (2005 ECF/1962 Fide) - Spanton (1931 ECF/1980 Fide)

New London

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 e6 3.e3 Bd6 4.Bg3 b6!? 5.Nf3

How should Black proceed?

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5...Nd7

Stockfish16.1 and Dragon1 suggest 5...Nf6 or 5...Bb7, but reckon 5...Ba6?! 6.Bxa6 Nxa6 7.c4 gives White at least a slight edge.

6.c4 Bb7 7.cxd5 Bb4+!?

Possibly better is 7...Bxg3 8.hxg3 exd5, although the half-open h file makes short-castling problematic for Black.

8.Nc3 exd5 9.Bd3 Ngf6 10.0-0 0-0

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

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The big difference between the two sides is the respective pawn-structures, with Black's on the queenside being somewhat awkward to play with. The engines give White at least a slight edge.

11.Nb5 c5?

Better is 11...c6, but the position favours White.
12.Nd6 Bc6?!

The bishop proves loose here, so probably better is 12...Bc8.

13.a3 Ba5 14.Rc1 Nb8!?

This seems best, as 14...c4 is well-met by 15.b4.

15.dxc5 bxc5 16.Rxc5 Bb6 17.Rc1

White is a pawn up, is ahead on development and probably has the better pawn-structure

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17...Ne4?

Better is 17...Bc7.

18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Ne5 Bd7

There is no defence.

The game finished:

20.Qd5 Be6!? 21.Qxa8 Qxd6 22.Ng6 Qd8 23.Nxf8 Bd5 24.Qxb8 1-0

Darlington Round Eight

I TOOK a half-point bye this morning in the first of today's double-round games.

Spanton (1931 ECF/1980 Fide) - John Cawston (1757 ECF/1776 Fide)

French  Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.c4 dxc4!?

The usual advice in such positions is to wait for White to develop the king's bishop before capturing on c4. However many grandmasters have played the text.

6.Bxc4 

How should Black proceed?

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6...Qe7+

Stockfish16.1 and Dragon1 slightly prefer 6...Nf6, which is the main move in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database.

7.Be3 Nf6 8.0-0 0-0

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

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Clearly the pawn-structure is a major consideration, but for me it is impossible to say with certainty whom this favours. Both sides have developed three pieces, but the key factor here may be that the black queen is awkwardly placed on an open file,

9.Re1 Bg4!?

This sets a little trap, in that 10.Bg5? Bxf3 gives Black at least equality.

10.h3 Bh5 11.Nc3 Nbd7?!

The engines prefer 11...Qd7!?, albeit awarding White at least a slight edge.

12.Bg5 Qd8 13.g4!?

This is always a double-edged move in such positions, but here it seems strong.

13...Bg6 14.Ne5

White's main threat is 15.f4 - how should Black deal with it?

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14...Kh8

This unpins the f7 pawn, but the engines slightly prefer a move such as 14...Bb4!?

15.Nd5

15.f4 was still strong.

15...Bb4??

A ridiculous blunder. but Black has huge problems anyway. Perhaps the best suggestion from the engines runs 15...Nb6 16.Nxb6 axb6 17.f4, with an advantage they reckon is worth about 2.5 pawns.

16.Nxb4 1-0

Darlington Round Six

TOOK a half-point bye in the first of today's double-round games.

Vivien Webster (1642 ECF/1731 Fide) - Spanton (1931 ECF/1980 Fide)

King's Pawn Irregular

1.e4 e5 2.d3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.a3!?

There are 130 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database, with Stockfish16.1 and Dragon1 reckoning Black is already slightly better

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4...Bc5 5.Be2 d5 6.exd5 Nxd5 7.0-0 0-0 8.Bg5!? f6 9.Bh4?!

It seems the bishop should retreat to d2 or c1.

9...Nf4

Probably even stronger, according to the engines, is 9...g5!?, eg 10.Bg3 g4 11.Nfd2 f5 12.h3? (12.Nb3 is better) f4 13.Bh2 g3!?, after which White loses the dark-square bishop.

10.Nc3 Be6 11.b4 Bb6 12.Na4 Qd7 13.Nxb6 axb6

The engines slightly prefer 13...cxb6!?

14.Bg3 Nxe2+ 15.Qxe2 Bg4 16.Qe4

Not 16.h3? Nd4.

16...Bxf3!? 17.Qxf3 Nd4!? 18.Qxb7

Possibly slightly better is 18.Qd1 - Stockfish16.1 reckons so; Dragon1 fluctuates - but the engines still give Black the upper hand.

18...Nxc2

Even stronger seems to be 18...Rab8!?, the point being 19.Qe4 can be met by 19...f5!? (not 19...Nxc2?? 20.Qc4+ etc) 20.Qxe5 f4!, after which White is in huge trouble, eg 21.Bxf4 Rxf4! or 21.Bh4 f3. If White sees this, and instead plays 19.Qa6, the engines give 19...b5, with ...Rb6 and ...Nc6 to come.

19.Rac1

Not 19.Ra2 Nxb4.

19...Rfb8

This is now the stronger rook move.

20.Qe4 Nxa3

How should White proceed?

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21.d4?

Trying to complicate matters, before White's pawn-deficit and pawn-weaknesses prove fatal, but a much better way to do this is 21.f4!?, activating the bishop and king's rook.

21...Qxd4 22.Qc6!? Qxb4 23.Qe6+ Kh8 24.Rxc7 Re8 25.Qf7 Qf8 26.Qh5!? Re7 27.Rc6 b5 28.f4 e4 29.f5 Nc4 30.Qe2 Qe8 31.Rc7 Rad8 32.Rxe7 Qxe7 33.Re1!? Qc5+ 34.Bf2 Qxf5 0-1

White could play on with 35.Qxe4 Qxe4 36.Rxe4 Rd1+ 37.Be1, but it would take a huge blunder by Black to throw away the win.

Darlington Round Four

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

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

Sicilian ..e6/Maróczy Bind

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

How should Black proceed?

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8...d5!?

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

9.exd5!? Qa5?!

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

10.0-0

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

10...0-0?

Better is 10...cxd5.

11.Ne4?

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

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

Probably 17...f5!? is better.

18.Bxh7+ Kh8

How should White proceed?

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19.Bd3??

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

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

Darlington Venue

THE tournaments are being held at the town's modern Dolphin leisure centre.

Inside Central Hall, whose use has apparently been donated free of charge by Darlington Borough Council

Darlington Round Two

FACED a Belgian in the second of yesterday's double-round games.

Spanton (1931 ECF/1980 Fide) - Gert de Block (1667 ECF/1738 Fide)

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bd3 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1 0-0

I reached the same position in round six at Olomouc earlier this month.

How should White proceed?

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9.Bg5

The most popular move in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database, which I played in the earlier game, is 9.Bf4, but, as I mentioned in my notes, grandmasters have preferred the text or 9.Nbd2.

9...Re8 10.Nbd2 Nbd7 11.Nf1 c5!? 12.Ng3 Bg6 13.c3 Qb6 14.Re2

This may be a novelty; known is 14.Bxg6 hxg6 15.Qb3, with complete equality, according to the engines.

14...Ne4!? 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Rxe4 Nxf6?

Correct is 17...Bxg5, eg 18.Nxg5 h6 19.Rxe8+ Rxe8 20.Nf3 Qxb2.

18.Re2 Rad8?!

This almost certainly makes matters worse, whereas after 18...cxd4 19.Nxd4 Bc5 Black has some activity for the pawn.

19.Qa4 Kf8

Or 19...cxd4 20.Nxd4 Kf8 21.Rae1 Bc5 22.Rxe8+ Rxe8 23.Rxe8+ Nxe8 24.Be3, which the engines reckons gives White an advantage worth at least 2.5 pawns.

20.Rae1 a6?!

The engines prefer 20...cxd4.

21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.dxc5 Rd5 23.Ne5 Red8

There is no defence, eg 23...Qf5 runs into 24.c6 bxc6 25.Nxc6 etc.

24.Ng4 1-0

Darlington Round One

FACED a Scot.

Christopher Nield (1831 ECF/1773 Fide) - Spanton (1931 ECF/1980 Fide)

Vienna Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Qf3!?

This is third in popularity behind 5.d3 and especially 5.Nf3.

How should Black respond?

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5...f5

The text and 5...Nc6!? are the top choices of Stockfish16.1 and Dragon1, but most popular in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database is 5...Nxc3.

6.exf6!?

This seems to help Black more than White. The mainline in Mega24 runs 6.d3 Nxc3 7.bxc3 d4!?, with an equal game, according to the engines.

6...Nxf6 7.h3?

Slow and weakening. The engines suggest 7.d4, meeting 7...Bg4 with 8.Qe3+, and if 8...Be7, then 9.h3 with tempo.

7...Bd6 8.d4?!

Not 8.Nxd5?? Nxd5 9.Qxd5?? Bg3+ etc. However the engines much prefer giving check with the queen, eg 8.Qe2+, and if 8...Kf7!?, then 9.Qf2 Re8+ 10.Kd1, although they agree Black is winning.

8...0-0 9.Bg5 Qe8+ 10.Qe3?

Much better, according to the engines, is putting a piece on e2, whether it be queen, bishop or king's knight.

How should Black proceed?

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10...Bg3+?

This deprives White of castling rights, but throws away almost all of Black's considerable advantage, whereas the simple 10...h6 wins a piece. The problem with the text is that after ...

11.Kd2

... Black is more-or-less obliged to swop queens, after which White's king is safe.

11...Qxe3+

Not 11...Ne4+? 12.Nxe4 Qxe4 13.Qxg3 Qxd4 as Black does not get enough compensation after 14.Bd3.

12.Bxe3 Bf5 13.Bd3 Bxd3 14.cxd3!?

The engines marginally prefer the conventional 14.Kxd3.

14...c6 15.Nge2 Bd6 16.Rhf1 Nbd7

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

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The engines give Black a slight edge, presumably based on the pawn-structure and, perhaps, Black having the marginally better bishop.

17.Nf4 Rf7 18.Rf3 Re8 19.Raf1 Rfe7 20.g4!? h6 21.a3 a5 22.Ng6 Rf7 23.g5!? hxg5 24.Bxg5 Kh7 25.Nh4 Bf8 26.Nf5 b5 27.Bf4 b4!?

This seems fine, if followed up correctly.

28.axb4 axb4 29.Na4?!

White probably should have played 29.Nd1, holding.

How should Black proceed?

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29...b3?

This makes the pawn weak. Instead the engines give 29...Ra8 30.b3 Ne4+!, taking advantage of the hanging knight on f5. After 31.dxe4 dxe4 White seems to have nothing better than 32.Nh6 gxh6 33. R3f2, ceding a pawn, as 33.Re3?! apparently loses to 33...Nb6!, eg 34.Nxb6 Ra2+ 35.Ke1 Ra1+ 36.Ke2 Rxf1 37.Rxf1 Rxf4+, when White is even worse off than in the first line.

30.Nd6 Bxd6 31.Bxd6 Re6 32.Bg3 Rf8 33.Nc3?

Black does not have a decent answer to 33.Kc3.

33...Rfe8 34.Ra1 Nh5 35.Bh4 Rg6 36.Ra7 Rg2+ 37.Rf2 Rxf2 38.Bxf2 Rf8 39.Ke3 c5!? 40.Rxd7 cxd4+ 41.Kxd4 Rxf2 42.Rxd5

CN offered a draw.

The game finished:

42...Nf6 43.Rb5 Rxb2 44.Kc4 Rh2 45.Rxb3 Rxh3 46.Ne4 Rh4 47.Kd4 Kg6 48.Rb5 Kh6 49.Ke3 Ng4+ 50.Kf3 g6 51.Kg3 Rh5 52.Rxh5+ gxh5 53.Kh4 Ne5 ½–½

What Has Darlington Ever Done For Us?

THE town of Darlington is best known for trains and Quakers.

In 1825 the Stockton & Darlington Railway opened to carry goods and passengers from the coal mines around Shildon, County Durham, via Darlington to the port of Stockton.

Passenger wagons were at first pulled by horse, but coal wagons were hauled by steam locomotives from the start, which is why the S&DR is cited as being the world's first public railway using such locomotives.

The influence of local Quaker families was such that the railway was nicknamed the Quaker Line.

Statue of railway pioneer Joseph Pease, who became the first Quaker to sit as an MP and who paid for the town's prominent clock tower

View of the clock tower from my hotel room

Mastering Chess

AM making final preparations for traveling to Darlington tomorrow for Tim Wall's Northumbria Masters.

I have entered the U2000, where I am the top seed of 43 entries from eight countries spread over three continents.

There are nine rounds over five days, and I have decided to take the maximum-allowed three half-point byes on the morning rounds of days two, three and four.

Summing Up Northumbria

MY score in the Challengers (U2000 Fide) of +2=3-4, including a full-point bye, lost 51.8 Fide elo and 56.4 ECF elo.

Northumbria Round Nine

FACED a Scottish junior (born 2009).

Tushar Roul (1494 Fide/1597 ECF) - Spanton (1858 Fide/1919 ECF)

Spanish Berlin

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5

Magnus Carlsen has played seven different moves in this position - can you guess them all?

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Carlsen has played 5.c3, 5.Bxc6!?, 5.Nbd2, 5.Nc3, 5.Bg5, 5.Ba4!? and:

5.0-0

Most popular in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database is 5.c3.

5...Nd4 6.Nxd4 Bxd4 7.Re1?!

This may be a novelty. Carlsen seems to have only played the mainline 7.c3.

7...c6 8.Ba4 d6

This may be enough for a tiny pull, but probably better is 8...Qb6!? with a double-attack on f2 and b2. Best-play, according to Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1, continues 9.Qd2!? and either 9...Bxb2 10.Bxb2 Qxb2 11.Bb3!?, with a sharp position that seems to favour Black, or 9...Ng4!? 10.Rf1 Bxb2 11.Bxb2 Qxb2 and 12.Bb3!? or 12.Nc3, again with a sharp position that seems to favour Black.

9.h3!?

The engines give 9.c3 Bb6 10.Be3.

9...Be6

Stockfish16 suggests 9...g5!?, while Komodo14.1 again likes ...Qb6!?

10.c3 Bb6 11.d4 0-0 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4 Qe7 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Nd2 Rad8 16.Qe2 Rd7 17.Bb3 Rfd8 18.Red1 Rd3 19.Bc2 R3d7 20.Bg3 Bc7 21.Nf3 Qc5 22.Rxd7 Rxd7 23.Bb3 Bxb3 24.axb3 a6 25.b4 Qe7

How would you assess this late-middlegame position?

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White has pressure against e5, while Black occupies the open file. The engines reckon the position is completely equal.

26.Qe3 Nh5 27.Kf1?!

Bishops are not particularly powerful in this position as there are so many pawns on the board and the centre is fixed, but White probably should not allow his kingside pawn-formation to be damaged, although he does end up with knight against bad-ish bishop.

27...Nxg3 28.fxg3 Qd8 29.Ke2?

Better is 29.Qe2.

29...Bb6 30.Qc1 Qf6?

Strong is 30...Rd3, eg 31.Qc2 Re3+ 32.Kf1 Qf6 33.Rd1 (the engines reckon either this or 33.Ra3!? is best) 33...Rxf3+! 34.gxf3 Qxf3+ 35.Ke1 Qxg3+ with Black getting much more than enough for the exchange.

31.Qc2 Qe6 32.b3 Qe7 33.Rd1 Rxd1 34.Qxd1 c5 35.c4!? cxb4 36.Qd5 Qc5 37.Qxc5 Bxc5 38.Nxe5

How would you assess this minor-piece ending?

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Black has fewer pawn-islands and has hopes of creating a queenside passer, but White's knight will be able to use d5 as a strong outpost. The engines reckon Black has the better side of equality.

38...f6 39.Nd3 b6 40.Kf3 Bd6 41.g4!?

The engines prefer 41.Nf4 or 41.Ke3.

41...Kf7 42.Ke3 Ke6 43.Ne1

TR offered a draw.

43...Be5 44.Kd3 a5 45.Nc2 Bd6 46.Nd4 Ke5 47.g3

TR offered a draw.

47...g6 48.Nc6+ Ke6 49.Nd4+ Kd7 50.Ne2 Be5 51.Nf4 Bg5 52.Nd5

TR offered a draw in my time (just).

52...Kc6 53.Ne7+

Possibly better is the engines' 53.h4!? Kc5 54.h5.

53...Kc5 54.Nd5?!

Probably better is 54.h4, and if, as in the game, 54...b5, then 55.cxb5 Kxb5 56.Ng8 gives sufficient counterplay. However Black has 54...a4! 55.bxa4 b3 with promising play (Stockfish16 reckons White may be holding; Komodo14.1 gives Black the upper hand).

54...b5 55.cxb5 Kxb5 56.Kc2 a4 57.bxa4+ Kxa4 58.Nb6+ Kb5

The engines reckon 58...Ka3 wins, but I do not think it does.

Position after 58...Ka3

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The engines' mainline after 58...Ka3 runs 59.Nc4+ Ka2 60.Na5 Bc7 61.Nb3 Bxg3 62.Nc1+ Ka3 63.Nb3 Be5 64.Nd2 Ka2 65.Nb3, after which Komodo14.1 reckons Black's advantage is worth +2.04, while Stockfish16 reckons Black is about +6.00, but there seems no way for Black to make progress. But see Comments below.

Back to the game:

59.Nd5 Kc4 60.Ne3+ Kd4 61.Nf5+

TR offered a draw.

61...Kxe4 62.Kb3 Kf3

Or 62...h5 63.Kxb4 (63.gxh5?? Kxf5) hxg4 64.hxg4 Kf3 65.Nh6 Kxg3, reaching a position similar to what is reached in the game. Komodo14.1 suggests instead 65...Bd6+!?, but 66.Kc4 Bf8 67.Ng8 Bg7 68.Ne7 Kxg4, but 69.Kd5 is a tablebase draw, although this may have given better practical chances.

63.Kxb4 Bxg3 64.Kc4

TR offered a draw in my time (just).

64...Kg2 65.Nxh6 Kxh3 66.Kd5 Be5 67.Ke4 Kg3 68.Kf5 Kf3 69.Ng8 Bd4 70.Nh6 Ke3 71.Ng8 Be5 72.Nh6 Kf3 ½–½

Northumbria Round Eight

Spanton (1858 Fide/1919 ECF) - Nicholas Fallowfield (1875 Fide/1930 ECF)

Alekhine

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Rc1 0-0 9.b3

Some of White's moves will probably have looked odd to those unfamiliar with Alekhine's Defence, but there are 2,660 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database

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One of the points of White's play is Black at some point may want to grab a bigger share of the centre by playing ...d5. If that happens it is often desirable to reply c5, and White wants to do this without allowing Black in turn to reply ...Nc4. Whether White's somewhat artificial-looking manoeuvres are worth it is another matter, but Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon the diagrammed position is slightly better for White.

9...Bf5!?

More popular are 9...e5 and especially 9...Nc6, but the text is easily the most successful percentagewise, scoring 53% in Mega23 against 9...e5's 41% and 9...Nc6's  34%.

10.Bd3!?

This is something of a sideline, the most popular moves being 10.Be2 and 10.Nf3.

10...Bxd3 11.Qxd3 d5!?

As advertised, although after ...

12.c5 Nc8

... White is ahead on development and has more queenside space. On the other hand Black has the better bishop and perhaps has hopes of forcing through the lever ...e5. The engines slightly prefer White.

13.Nf3 Nc6 14.Bf4!?

This may be a novelty. The known move is 14.0-0, when Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2608) - Javokhir Sindarov (2513), Central Asia U20 Championship (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) 2019, continued 14...e6 15.a3 N8e7 16.b4 a6 17.Na4, after which Komodo14.1 at first gives White the upper hand, while Stockfish16 gives White a slight edge. However, the more time the engines are given to look at the position, the more they  like Black's chances, albeit preferring White, who went on to win in 49 moves. Note that meeting 14.0-0 with 14...e5?! runs into 15.dxe5, uncovering the weakness of d5.

How should Black respond to the apparent novelty?

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14...Nxd4!?

The engines suggest 14...e6.

15.Nxd4 e5 16.0-0!?

Best, according to the engines, is 16.Bxe5 Bxe5 17.0-0, after which Black's IQP is passed but well-blockaded, and meanwhile White has a fairly mobile queenside pawn-majority.

16...exf4 17.Rfd1 Re8

Black equalises with 17...Ne7, according to the engines.

How should White proceed?

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18.c6!?

This leads to interesting play, but the engines prefer 18.Qf3.

18...Bxd4?

Better are 18...Rb8 and 18...Ne7.

19.cxb7 Bxf2+ 20.Kf1?!

This is good enough for an advantage, but there was no need to be so cute. After 20.Kxf2 Qb6+ 21.Qd4 Qxb7 White has 22.Nxd5, threatening two deadly forks (at f6 and c7), and Black cannot prevent both.

20...Rb8 21.bxc8=Q Rxc8 22.Kxf2

White is up a knight for two pawns, but Black has practical chances based on the passed d pawn, the weakness of the white king, and the outpost at e3

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22...Re3 23.Qd2!

This is best as 23.Qxd5? loses to  23...Qh4+ 24.Kg1 Rcxc3, the point being 25.Rxc3?? fails to 25...Re1+ 26.Rxe1 Qxe1#. If White tries 24.Kf1!?, hoping for 24...Qxh2 25.Ne2, after which White is at least equal, Black wins with 24...Rce8.

23...d4! 24.Nb5?

Also incorrect is 24.Qxd4? as 24...Qxd4 25.Rxd4 R(either)xc3 26.Rxc3 Rxc3 draws. But note that 24...Qh4+ can be met by 25.Kf1!, when 25...Rce8? fails to 26.Nd5, while 25...Qxh2 26.Ne2 is at least slightly better for White.

24...Qh4+?

The engines reckon 24...d3 25.Rxc8 Qxc8 26.Kf1 Qc5 27.Nc3 f3 is completely equal, and also 24...Rxc1 25.Rxc1 d3, albeit both lines involve sharp play.

25.Kg1 Rxc1 26.Rxc1

Not 26.Qxc1? Re2 27.Rf1 f3!

26...d3 27.Nd4 Qd8 28.Qc3 Qd5 29.Qb4 Kg7 30.Rd1?

Both 30.Rc8 and 30.Nf3 are winning.

30...Qe4 31.Qc3 Kh6?

The engines reckon Black is worse, but not losing, after 31...f6.

32.Nf3?

Strong is 32...Rf1.

Black to play and win

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32...Rxf3!

The rook cannot be taken, eg 33.gxf3? Qe3+ results in a very easily won queen-and pawn-ending.

I struggled on with 33.Qd2 Qd4+ 34.Kh1 Rf2 35.Qe1 Qe3. 36.Qb4, but eventually lost on time as I was about to be mated (0-1, 51 moves).

Northumbria Round Seven

FACED a junior (born 2013) in today's single-round.

Sujan Nargund (1480 Fide/1580 ECF) - Spanton (1858 Fide/1919 ECF)

French Tarrasch

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 a6!?

There are five much-more popular moves in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database. The text first appears in a 1948 game, but was later tried by, among others, Mikhail Botvinnik.

4.Ngf3 c5

One of the ideas behind 3...a6!? is to play ...c5 without allowing the reply Bb5+.

5.exd5 exd5 6.Be2

A little-more popular in Mega23, but less successful percentage-wise, is 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.Nb3 Bb6 8.Bd3 Qe7+ 9.Qe2, with White maybe having a slight edge, according to Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1.

6...Nc6

The main move in Mega23 is 6...c4!?, but 6...Nf6 and the text are also popular.

7.c3!?

7.c3!? may be a novelty, but has a drawback, as will become clear, although the position after it has been reached 14 times in Mega23 via other move-orders

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7...Nf6 8.0-0 cxd4 9.cxd4 Bd6

The pawn-structure is more-or-less equal, but the black queen's knight and king's bishop are better placed for it than their white counterparts

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10.Re1 0-0 11.Nb3!?

Ukrainian grandmaster Yuriy Kryvoruchko played 11.Nf1 in a 2008 rapid game, but the engines prefer the text.

11...Ne4 12.Bd3 Re8 13.a3!?

Presumably played so Qc2 cannot be met by ...Nb4.

13...Bg4

How should White proceed?

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14.Be2?!

Although this is the third time the white king's bishop has moved, breaking the pin on the king's knight seems a natural thing to do. The engines suggest 14.Be3.

14...Qf6

The other obvious queen move, 14...Qc7, can be met by 15.g3. Black is better after both moves, but the engines point out the strength of 14...Bxf3! 15.Bxf3 Bxh2+ 16.Kxh2 (less damaging, according to the engines, is 16.Kf1!?, but that leaves Black up a pawn and with a continuing attack) Qh4+ 17.Kg1 Qxf2+ 18.Kh2 Qg3++ 19.Kg1 Nf2 with very strong play.

15.h3?!

Another natural-looking move, but again it allows a strong sacrificial combination, and this time I find it.

Black to play and win

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15...Bxh3!

The start of a double-piece sacrifice.

16.gxh3 Qg6+ 17.Kh1??

This allows mate-in-one. Critical is 17.Kf1.

Position that would arise after 17.Kf1

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I had planned 17...Nxf2! (the engines reckon 17...Qf5 is also good) 18.Kxf2 Qg3+ 19.Kf1 Qxh3+, after which, materially, Black only has three pawns for bishop and knight, but the attack is winning, eg 20.Kg1 Qg3+ 21.Kf1 Re6 22.Qd3 Qh3+ 23.Kf2 Bg3+ 24.Kg1 Bxe1 25.Nxe1 Rg6+ 26.Kf2 Qh4+ 27.Ke3 Qg5+ 28.Kf2 Qg1+ 29.Kf3 Qg3#.

The game finished with a much quicker mate:

17...Nf2#

Northumbria Round Six

RECEIVED a full-point bye.

Northumbria Round Five

BOTTOM-board clash.

Spanton (1858 Fide/1919 ECF) - Richard Porter (1800 Fide/1885 ECF)

QGD Exchange

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 h6 7.Bf4!?

The main move is 7.Bh4, but the text and 7.Bxf6!? are also tried from time-to-time.

7...Bd6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6

How would you judge the exchange of Black's good bishop for White's technically bad, but active, bishop?

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It is hard to say whom the exchange favours. Stockfish16 reckons White now has a slight edge, while Komodo14.1 calls the position equal.

9.Bd3 0-0 10.Qc2 Re8 11.Nf3 Nbd7 12.0-0 Nf8 13.a3 a5 14.Ne5 Ng4 15.Nxg4 Bxg4 16.Na4!?

The Minority Attack is not White's only queenside plan in this type of position.

16...Bh5 17.Nc5 b6 18.Na4 Nd7 19.Rac1 b5 20.Nc5 Nxc5 21.Qxc5 Re6!

This is Black's only defence, eg 21...Qxc5? 22.Rxc5 Re6 23.Rfc1 Ra6 loses to White capturing on d5 or b5.

22.Rc3

If 22.Bf5, then 22...Rf6 holds, but not 22...Qxc5 23.Rxc5 Rf6 24.Bd7 etc, nor 23...Rd6 24.Rfc1 etc.

How should Black proceed?

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22...Qd8!
Black avoids an exchange of queens, which would largely nullify Black's kingside counterplay, and at the same time highlights the awkwardness of White having a queen as a lead attacker along a file that can be defended by a lesser piece.

23.Rc1!? Bg6 24.Qc2 Qg5 25.Qd2

If 25.f4, hoping for 26.f5, then simply 25...Bxd3.

25...Bxd3 26.Qxd3 Rg6 27.g3 h5 28.h4!?

Possible, as 28...Qxh4?? loses to 29.Qxg6 etc.

28...Qf6 29.Rc5 Re8 30.Rfc1?!

Probably safer is 30.Kg2.

30...Qf3

During the game I was more worried about 30...Rf6, thinking it facilitated ...Qxh4, but the engines give 31.Kg2, and if 31...Qxh4 then 32.Rxc6.

31.Rxc6

The engines reckon 31.Qf1!? may be slightly better.

Black to play and gain a maybe winning advantage

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31...Rxg3+

This is enough for a draw, but the engines point out the strength of 31...Rxe3!, eg 32.Qxe3 Rxg3+ 33.Kf1 Qg2+ 34.Ke1 Rxe3+ 35.fxe3 Qxb2, after which Black has queen and two pawns for a pair of rooks, and White has numerous weak pawns. Best seems to be the engines' 32.Qf1!?, but after 32...Rxc6 33.Rxc6 Re2 the engines reckon Black has at least a slight edge.

32.fxg3 Qxg3+ 33.Kf1 Qf3+ 34.Kg1

Now 34...Rxe3?? loses to 35.Rc8+ Re8 36.Rxe8#, but also disastrous is 34...Re4?? 35.Rc8+ Kh7 36.Re8.

34...Qg3+ ½–½

Northumbria Round Four

FACED a Scot.

Chris Sykes (1766 Fide/1990 ECF) - Spanton (1858 Fide/1919 ECF)

New London

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 e6 3.e3 Bd6 4.Bg3 Nf6 5.Nd2 b6 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.Ngf3 Ne4!?

Swedish grandmaster Nils Grandelius has three games in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database that reach the position after 7.Ngf3. In the first two he played 7...Nbd7, but then switched to the text.

How should White respond?

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8.Bxe4!?

Commonest in Mega23 is 8.c3. Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 suggest the apparent novelty 8.c4!?, but they are also OK with other moves, eg 8.Rc1.

8...dxe4 9.Ne5 Nd7!?

This may be new. Known moves are 9...0-0 and 9...Bxe5!?

10.Qg4!? Nxe5

The engines reckon Black may have an edge after 10...0-0.

11.dxe5 Bf8 12.0-0-0 h5!? 13.Qe2 h4 14.Bf4 g5??

Correct is 14...Qe7, when 15.Qb5+ Qd7!? (not 15...c6? 16.Qe2 as 16...c5 can be met by 17.Nxe4! with Nd6+ to come) 16.Qxd7+ Kxd7 17.Nxe4 Ke8 leaves Black a pawn down but with the bishop-pair and good play, eg 18.f3 Bxe4 19.fxe4 Be7 should be fine for Black. If instead 18.Nc3 then both 18...Bxg2 and 18...h3!? are available.

15.Nxe4 Qc8

Objectively better is giving up the queen.

16.Nf6+ Ke7 17.Bxg5 Bh6 1-0

Northumbria Round Three

Faced a Spanish junior (born 2010)

Spanton (1858 Fide/1919 ECF) - Nicholas Kowalski Rubiales (1694 Fide/1708 ECF)

Philidor

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.f4 e5 5.Nf3

Considered harmless is 5.fxe5 dxe5 6.dxe5 Nxe5 7.Qxd8+, as after 7...Kxd8 the black king is not in danger.

5...exd4 6.Qxd4

The queen is not easily harassed here, so the text is much more popular than 6.Nxd4.

6...c6 7.Be2

Normal is 7.Be3, one point being 7...Ng4 can be met by 8.Bg1.

How should Black proceed?

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7...Qb6

Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon Black equalises with 7...d5!?, eg 8.exd5 Bc5 9.Qd3 Nd5 10.Nxd5 cxd5, when 11.Qxd5!? is risky in view of 11...Qa5+, eg 12.Qd2 Qb6! with obvious compensation.

8.Qxb6 Nxb6?!

Probably better is 8...axb6, the half-open a file, and the fact the a pawn now covers two squares instead of one, being more than enough compensation for doubled pawns.

9.a4 Bg4 10.a5 Nbd7 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3

White's bishop-pair and extra space are positionally winning (Stockfish16), or at least give the upper hand (Komodo14.1)

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12...g6?!

Since the dark-square bishop needs to defend the weak d pawn, the text is almost certainly a waste of time and weakening.

13.Be3 Be7?!

Black probably needs to play 13...a6.
14.0-0?!

Much stronger is 14.a6, eg 14...b6 runs into 15.e5.

14...0-0?!

Again ...a6 is probably necessary.

15.Rad1

Still good is a6, but the text is also positionally winning, according to the engines.

15...a6 16.g4 Ne8 17.Na4 Bd8 18.b4 Bc7 19.c4 Rd8 20.Rd3

Even stronger is 20.c5, eg 20...dxc5 21.Nxc5 Nxc5 22.Rxd8 Bxd8 23.Bxc5, winning the exchange. One suggestion of the engines is 20...g5!? 21.fxg5 Ne5, but they agree White is winning.

20...Nef6 21.Rfd1!? Rfd8 22.c5

This is strong, but best seems to be the engines' 22.Bb6!?, eg 22...Bxb6+ 23.axb6 Nxe4 24.Bxe4 Rxe4 25.Rxd6, or 22...Nxb6 23.axb6 Bb8 24.Nc5 Re7 25.e5 Ne8 26.Ne4.

22...Nxe4 23.cxd6 Nxd6 24.Kf2?

Black cannot avoid losing significant material after the engines' 24.Bf2.

24...Nf8?

The engines reckon 24...Nc4 and 24...Nf6 equalise.

25.Nc5?

Easily winning is 25.Bb6.

25...Ne6?!

The engines reckon 25...Nc4 and 25...h6 keep Black's disadvantage to a minimum.

26.Nxb7??

White is much better after 26.Nxe6 Rxe6 27.f5.

26...Nxc7 27.Bxc6 Rxd3 28.Rxd3 Rb8

Even stronger is 28...Rd8!

29.Rd7

What should Black play?

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29...Nbd8

Probably better is the engines' 29...Nd6!?

30.f5 Nxc6?!

Probably better are 30...Bf4 and 30...Rxb4!?

31.fxe6 Be5?!

Not 31...Be8?? as 32.exf7+ mates, but Black should probably have given the piece back by 31...fxe6 32.Rxc7, when 32...Nxb4 leaves Black a pawn up, but White has the better pieces.

32.exf7+ Kh8 33.Bc5

The engines prefer putting the king on a light square, for example 33.Ke2!?

33...Bg7 34.Rc7?

Better is 34.Rd6 Ne5 35.Rxa6. After 35...Nxf7? 36.Rb6 the white queenside pawns are too strong, so Black has to play 35...Nd3+ and 35...Nxc5, when the engines reckon White has just a slight edge.

34...Bd4+ 35.Bxd4 Nxd4 36.Re7?!

White is equal after 36.Ke3 or 36.Rb7!?, according to the engines.

36...Rf8 37.Ra7 Nc6 38.Rxa6 Rxf7+ 39.Ke2 Nxb4 40.Rb6 Nd5 41.Rd6?!

There are more drawing chances, according to the engines, with 41.Rb8+ Kg7 42.a6.

41...Nf4+ 42.Kd2 Nxh3 43.a6 Kg7 44.Rb6 Kh6 45.Rb7 Rf2+ 46.Ke3 Ra2 47.a7 Rc3+ 48.Kd4 Nf2 49.g5+ Kxg5 50.Rxh7

Black to play and win

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50...Kg4

The engines give the only winning move as 50...Ra5!

51.Kc5 Ne4+ 52.Kb6 g5

White to play and draw

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53.Kb7??

The obvious 53.Rh8 is one of several moves that draw.

53...Nd6+ 54.Kb8

Or 54.Kc6 Nb8 etc, while 54.Ka8, hoping for stalemate, loses to 54...Rc3.

54...Rb3+ 55.Kc7 Nb5+ 56.Kc6 Nxa7 57.Rxa7 Rd3 58.Rg7 Kh4 59.Kc5 g4 60.Kc4 Rd8 0-1

Northumbria Round Two

Faced  a junior (born 2008).

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

Sicilian Maróczy Bind

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

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

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10.f3

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

10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6

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

12.Be3 Nd7 13.Qd2 Nc5 14.Rfd1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

32.Bc4+?

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

32...Kg7?

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

33.Bxc5

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

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

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

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

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

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

OL offered a draw in my time (just).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How should White proceed?

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61.f4?!

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

61...Rh2+ 62.Kd3 Bc3?

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

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

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

69...Kf8 70.g6?

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

Black to play and draw

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70...Rg4?

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

71.Kb5 Rf4

White to play and win

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72.f6?

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

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

OL offered a draw in my time.

74...Kxg6 75.Bc2+ Kg7 76.Re4 ½–½

Northumbria Round One

FACED a teen (born 2004).

Spanton (1858 Fide/1919 ECF) - Owen Crawford (no Fide/1740 ECF)

Veresov

1.Nc3 Nf6 2.d4 d5 3.Bg5 g6!?

This is only the seventh commonest continuation in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, which is slightly surprising when one considers how popular kingside fianchetto systems are against 1.d4.

4.Qd2 Bg7 5.Bh6 Bxh6 6.Qxh6 c5 7.dxc5!? Qa5 8.0-0-0!? Qxc5 9.e3

How should Black proceed?

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9...a6!?

This apparent novelty - known moves are 9...Nc6 and 9...Bg4 - is the top choice of Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1.

10.Nf3 Bg4 11.Be2 Nbd7 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Rc8?

Over optimistic. The obvious 13...e6 is better, as is 13...Nb6,

How should White continue?

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14.Rd2?

Naturally not 14.Nxd5?? Qxc2#, but 14.Bxd5 safely wins a pawn. I rejected it because of 14...b5, missing that 15.Rd2, among other moves, is fine as 15...b4?! can be met by either 16.Ne4 or 16.Na4.

14...Qa5 15.Kb1 Ne5

What should White play?

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16.Rhd1?

This would have been the best reply to 15...Nc5?, but here it is disastrous. The engines reckon the game is equal after both 16.Rd4 and 16.Rxd5!?

How can Black punish White's error?

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16...Rxc3!

This is winning, according to the engines.

17.Rxd5!

The best try. After 17.Bxd5 Rc8 Black is piece-for-pawn up.

17...Nxd5?

The simple 17...Rc5 is much better. White can keep the game going with either 18.Rd8+!? Qxd8 19.Rxd8+ Kxd8 20.Bxb7, or 18.Rxc5 Qxc5 19.Bxb7, but in both cases Black's material advantage should tell.

18.Bxd5?

After 18.Qg7 Rf8 19.Qxe5 Rc8 20.Rxd5 White is the exchange down, but has a pawn and superior coordination.

18...Rd3!?

This may be better - the engines disagree - than the simple 18...Rc5.

19.cxd3 Qxd5

Black has emerged from the complications up a knight for a pawn, and White is doomed once the black rook gets into play

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20.Qg7 Rf8 21.e4

No improvement is 21.Qxh7 Qxg2.

21...Qb5 22.f4 Nc6 23.Qc3 Qa4 24.Rc1 Kd7 25.Qg7 Rc8!

White has found a way to quickly get the rook into play.

26.Qxf7

This sets up a beautiful finish, but White was lost anyway.

Black to play and finish in style

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26...Nb4! 27.Rxc8 Qd1+ 28.Rc1 Qd3+ 29.Ka1 Nc2+ 0-1