Czech 65+ Round Nine

Wooden carvings

Spanton (2003) - Jan Švub (1910)

Scandinavian

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6

This position occurs 5.756 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, a testament to the rise of 3...Qd6, championed by Tiviakov

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6.g3

This is second in popularity to 6.Ne5, when the main line in Mega26 runs 6...Nbd7 7.Nc4!? Qc7 8.Qf3!? Nb6 9.Bf4, with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish18 and Dragon1.

6...Bg4 7.Bg2 e6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Re1 0-0

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

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White has more space in the centre, and at some point will probably play Bf4 with tempo, factors that add up to a slight edge, according to the engines.

10.h3 Bh5

The engines prefer 10...Bxf3!? 11.Bxf3 Rd8!?

11.Bf4 Qd8 12.g4!?

Going after the bishop-pair. The weakening of White's kingside does not seem serious.

12...Bg6 13.Ne5 Nbd7 14.Nxg6 hxg6 15.Qe2

The engines suggest an apparent-novelty in 15.Qd3!?

15...Nb6

Not, as occurred in a Mega26 game, 15...Nd5? 16.Nxd5 cxd5 17.Bxd5!

16.Rad1 Nbd5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5!?

Stockfish18 reckons this is better than 17...cxd5; Dragon1 is less sure.

18.Bg3 Bd6 19.c4!? Nf6

JS spent more than 25 minutes over this move, presumably calculating the consequences of 19...Nf4, when the engines at first reckon 20.Bxf4 Bxf4 21.d5 gives White a slight edge, but they come to be less enthusiastic about White's position.

20.Be5 Qc7 21.Bxf6?!

The engines strongly dislike this, reckoning it switches the position from slightly favourable for White to slightly favourable for Black.

21...gxf6 22.d5 exd5 23.cxd5 cxd5

The engines prefer creating a queenside majority with 23...c5!? That gives White a passed pawn, but it is a passer that is well-blockaded, and it obstructs the action of the white bishop.

24.Bxd5 Be5 25.Rc1 Qb6 26.Qe4!? Kg7

White threatened 27.Qxg6+!

27.Kg2 Qxb2!? 28.Rb1 Qd4 29.Qxd4 Bxd4 30.Rb7 Rab8 31.Ree7 Rxb7

JS offered a draw.

How would you assess the rook-and-bishop ending?

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After 32.Rxb7 White will have the more-active rook, but the position is completely equal (Stockfish18), or White has a purely notional advantage of +0.1 (Dragon1).  On the other hand, Black's rook and king are tied to defending f7, and by playing on it is hard to see how White can lose, bar a catastrophic blunder.

32.Rxb7 Kg8 33.f4 Kg7 34.h4 Bc5 35.Kg3 Bd4 36.h5 gxh5

The engines prefer 36...f5 as, after ...

37.gxh5

... they reckon White has a slight edge.

37...Bc5 38.Kg4 Bb6 39.Kf5 Bd4 40.Rd7 Bc5 41.Bb3 Bb6 42.a4 Bf2 43.Rd2 Rb8!?

This comes to be the engines' top choice, but it involves a pawn sacrifice that requires precise play from Black. Meanwhile, 43...Bb6 also involves a pawn sacrifice, but after, for example, 44.Rg2+ Kh6 45.Kxf6 Bc7 46.Bxf7 Bxf4, the position may be easier to defend. Perhaps it comes down to a matter of taste.

44.Bxf7 Kxf7

Not 44...Be3?? 45.Rd7.

45.Rxf2 Rc8

Not 45...Rb4? 46.Rc2 Rxa4 47.Rc7+ Kg8 48.Kg6.

46.Rh2 Rc5+ 47.Kg4 Kg7 48.Rb2 Ra5 49.Rb7+ Kh6 50.Rf7 Rxa4 51.Rxf6+

One move draws, the other loses

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51...Kg7?

The Syzygy endgame tablebase shows 51...Kh7! draws. The reason for the difference will soon become clear.

52.Kg5

52.Rg6+? only draws.

52...Ra1 53.h6+

If the king were on h7, White's 53rd move would not come with check, and that makes all the difference as Black would have 53...Rg1+, when play might continue 54.Kf5 Rh1 55.Ra6 Rxh6 56.Rxa7+ Kg8, with a standard draw.

53...Kg8 54.Rg6+ Kf8

Or 54...Kh8 55.f5 Rg1+ 56.Kf6 Rf1 57.Rg7 a5 58.Kg6 a4 59.f6 a3 60.Rh7+ Kg8 61.f7+ Rh8+ 62.f8=Q+ Rxf8 63.Rxf8 Kxf8 64.h7.

55.h7 Rh1 56.Rg8+

Also winning is 56.Rh6.

56...Kf7 57.h8=Q Rg1+ 58.Kf5 Rxg8 59.Qf6+ Ke8 60.Qe6+ Kf8 61.Kf6 1-0

Magdeburg Round Four

Spanton (2039) - Hartmut Krien (1900)

Alekhine

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3

Wimping out? It's hard to argue with that, but my record with the text is better than with 2.e5.

2...d5 3.e5 Ne4!?

Magnus Carlsen has tried this, but he has also played the mainline 3...Nfd7.

How should White respond?

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4.Qe2!?

A rare continuation. The main line in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database runs 4.Nce2!? d4!? 5.c3!? Nc6 6.cxd4 Ng5!? (6...Nxd4?? loses to 7.Qa4+), with White enjoying at least a slight edge, according to Stockfish18 and Dragon1.

4...Nxc3 5.dxc3 c6

The engines fluctuate between several moves, including 5...a6!?, 5...c5, 5...e6 and 5...Nc6.

6.Be3 Bf5 7.Nf3

The engines like 7.g4!?, eg 7...Bg6 8.h4 h5 9.e6!? fxe6, and either 10.0-0-0 or 10.Bh3.

7...e6 8.g3

The engines prefer 8.0-0-0 or 8.c4.

8...Nd7

HK offered a draw.

9.Bg2 Bg4!

The vulnerability of e5 justifies this second move with the light-square bishop.

10.Bf4 g5!? 11.Bd2 Bg7

HK offered a draw in my time.

Objectively, should White take the draw?

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Yes! White is not getting enough for a pawn.

12.Qe3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nxe5 14.Bh5

How should Black proceed?

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14...Nc4?

This turns the upper hand for Black into a winning advantage for White. The engines reckon both 14...h6 and 14...g4 are strong.

15.Qf3?

Not 15.Qxg5? Qxg5 16.Bxg5 Nxb2, but winning is 15.Qxe6+! Qe7 16.Qxe7+ Kxe7 17.Bxg5+, when White emerges a pawn up and with the bishop-pair.

15...0-0 16.h4!?

Stockfish18, but not Dragon1, prefers 16.Bc1!?

16...Nxd2

That's the bishop-pair gone, but opposite-coloured bishops let White hope.

17.Kxd2 Qf6?!

The engines give 17...g4!? 18.Bxg4 f5 19.Bh3, reckoning Black has a winning advantage. Also probably better than the text is 17...d4.

18.Qxf6 Bxf6 19.hxg5 Bxg5+ 20.f4 Be7

Black still has at least a slight edge, according to the engines, but White's pressure down the h file, combined with opposite-colour bishops, gives counterplay

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21.Be2 Kg7 22.Rh5 h6 23.Rah1 Rh8 24.Bd3

Much better, according to the engines, is 24.c4 or 24.a4.

24....Rae8

The engines like 24...b5!?

25.Re1

Pushing either the c pawn or the a pawn two squares was apparently still the way to go.

25...Bd6 26.c4 f6 27.cxd5 exd5 28.Rhh1 Bb4+!?

This is Stockfish18's top choice, the idea being to meet ...

29.c3

... with:

29...Bc5

However, it is far from clear what Black has gained.

30.Rxe8 Rxe8 31.Re1 Rxe1

Avoiding exchanging off rooks with, say, 31...Rf8 is possible, but it is hard to see how Black can make progress with White having the open file.

32.Kxe1

How would you assess this ending?

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It is drawn, but, as always, at least a modicum of care is required.

32...Kf7 33.Bf5 Ke7 34.Ke2

There is nothing in 34.Bc8, as, after 34...b5 35.Bb7, Black has 35...Kd6.

34...b5 35.Bd3 a5 36.b3 Kd6 37.g4 Bg1 38.Kf3 Bc5

Worth a try is 38...Kc5, when 39.Kg2? loses to 39...Be3 40.Kf3 Bd2, but White seems fine after 39.Bf5 or 39.Bg6, eg 39.Bf5 b4 40.cxb4+ Kxb4 41.Bd7 c5 42.Bc6 d4 43.Ke4, and, if 43...Ka3, then 44.Bd5, when 44...Kxa2 can be met by 45.b4+, drawing.

39.Ke2 ½–½

Lessons From Bischofsgrün III

IN my round-three game, where I was Black against Fide master Jochen Bruch (2115), my opponent offered a draw in the following position.

White has just captured on f7

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I am a pawn up and have two passed pawns, so it did not take me long to play 33...Kxf7, confident that, barring a catastrophic mistake, I would either win or have to settle for a draw.

I should have remembered that in rook-and-bishop endings with opposite-colour bishops, what counts more than the odd pawn is the activity of the bishops.

In the diagram, White has a dark-square bishop, anchored on d4 and bearing down on g7, while the black light-square bishop is 'loose', albeit not immediately endangered, and impeded by the black pawn on e4.

If I had seriously considered such matters, I would not have been so surprised after my defeat to discover the position in the diagram is completely equal, according to Stockfish18 and Dragon1.

LESSON: Cecil Purdy put it rather more succinctly, if with a dash of hyperbole: "In endings with bishops of opposite colour, material means NOTHING, position EVERYTHING."

Bischofsgrün Round Three

FACED a Fide master.

Jochen Bruch (2115) - Spanton (1951)

King's Indian Attack

1.Nf3 c5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.0-0 Nc6 5.d3

This keeps the play in King's Indian Attack lines, but Stockfish18 and Dragon1 suggest switching into a Queen's Pawn Game with 5.d4!?

5...e5 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.e4 0-0

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

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Black's broad pawn-centre, achieved without falling behind in development, is liked by the engines, leading them to award Black a slight edge.

8.c3

Fischer played 8.Re1 in a 1956 game, and that is the most popular continuation in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.

8...Rb8

The engines like 8...d4.

9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nc4

The engines much prefer 10.Re1.

10...f6 11.a4 Be6 12.Nh4!?

Probably a novelty. The known move is 12.Qe2.

12...Qd7 13.f4 exf4 14.gxf4 f5 15.Nf3 Bf6 16.Re1 Rbd8 17.Qe2 Rfe8 18.Qf2 b6 19.a5!? b5!? 20.Nce5 Nxe5 21.Nxe5

The engines marginally prefer 21.fxe5.

21...Bxe5 22.Rxe5?!

Missing Black's powerful reply. White should almost certainly prefer 22.fxe5.

How should Black proceed?

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22...Nf6!

A retreat that means the c5 pawn cannot be saved, but Black's twin threats of 23...Ng4 and 23...Qxd3 cannot both be successfully met.

23.h3!?

This is Dragon1's top choice, at least for a while, but the engines eventually more-or-less agree on 23.Bf3!?, albeit allowing 23...Qxd3.

23...Qxd3 24.Be3 Ne4

The engines give 24...Nd7!? 25.Bf1 Nxe5!? 26.Bxd3 Nxd3, claiming Black is winning.

25.Bxe4 fxe4 26.f5 Bc8

This is more active than 25...Bf7.

27.Rxc5 Rf8

How should White proceed?

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28.Bd4!?

The engines agree White should play the text or 28.Re1. Note that 28.Rf1?! allows 28...Bxf5! 29.Rxf5 Rxf5 30.Qxf5 Qxe3+.

28...Qxh3 29.Qg2!? Qxg2 30.Kxg2

White has got queens off, safeguarding his king, but at the cost of a pawn - how would you assess the position?

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White's bishop dominates, and the white king's rook is very active. The engines reckon the position is equal.

30...a6 31.Rf1 Bb7 32.Rc7 Rf7 33.Rxf7+

JB offered a draw.

33...Kxf7 34.Kg3 b4!? 35.Kf4 Rd5 36.Rh1

How should Black respond?

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36...h6?

Several moves hold, including 36...e3!?, 36...Bc8 and 36...Kg8, but not the text.

37.Rg1

White is winning.

37...g5+!? 38.fxg6+ Kg8 39.g7 bxc3 40.bxc3

White threatens 41.Rg6, 42.Rxh6, etc.

40...Rg5!? 41.Rb1 Bd5

Or 41...Rb5 42.Rh1 h5 43.Be5.

42.Rb6 Kh7 43.Rxa6 Rg6 44.Ra7

Also winning is 44.Rxg6 Kxg6 45.Ke5!

44...Bc4 45.Rc7 Bd3 46.Rc8 1-0

World Team 65+ Round Seven

Bo.	46	England - 5	Rtg	-	28	England - 4	Rtg	0 : 0
17.1		Freeman, Richard C P	1897	-		Orton, Stephen L A	2117
17.2	CM	Stokes, Michael	1861	-		Hewson, Brian W R	2060
17.3		Spanton, Tim R	1908	-		Bray, David	1990
17.4		Marshall, Michael	1859	-		Hymer, Barry	1986

Spanton (1908) - David Bray (1990)

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

This position occurs 1,799 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database

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8...e5 9.0-0 0-0

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

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White has set up a Maróczy Bind, but capturing on c6, at a time when Black could reply ...bxc6, means Black is better-placed than usual to break the bind with ...d5. Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 reckon the game is equal.

10.Be3 d6

This is the main move, and was Kasparov's choice in a 1994 rapid loss to Kramnik. In his notes to the game, Kasparov gave the text a question mark, which almost certainly has more to do with the result than with the objective merits of the move. Kasparov recommended 10...Bxc3!? 11.bxc3 d6, claiming equality.

The break 10...d5!? has been tried, but after 11.exd5 (or 11.cxd5) Black is obliged to play 11...Bxc3, when 12.bxc3 cxd5 13.cxd5 (or 13.exd5) Nxd5 is not clear, but the engines give the apparent-novelty 14.Qc2!?, with chances for an advantage, eg 14...h6?! 15.Bc5 Re8 16.Rad1! is very good for White. Instead, 14...Nxe3!? 15.Bxh7+ Kh8 16.fxe3 drops a pawn, but Black gets counterplay, one line running 16...Qg5 17.Be4!? (17.Rae1? f5) Qxe3+ 18.Kh1 Rb8 19.Bd5!?, after which Black has restored material equality, and has fewer pawn islands, but the less-safe king. Stockfish17.1 calls the chances equal, although Dragon1 favours White.

11.h3

This is the commonest move in Mega26. Kramnik played 11.Na4!?, but that allowed 11...d5!?, with apparently equal chances.

11...Bxc3!?

This also equalises, according to the engines.

12.bxc3

How should Black proceed?

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12...c5!?

This is Dragon1's second choice, but both engines slightly prefer 13...Be6. After the text, Black has closed the centre, making White's light-square bishop very bad, and has good prospects of winning the c4 pawn. But the d pawn is backward on a half-open file, and White gets dynamic kingside chances.

13.f4 Nd7!?

This was played in three of the four games to reach the position in Mega26. The other game saw 13...Qe7.

14.f5

A 2647 played 14.Rb1!? in a blitz game, but the engines reckon Black was better after 14...exf4 15.Bxf4 Ne5, although Black, rated 2193, went on to lose.

14...f6 15.g4 Qe7 16.Qd2 Ba6 17.h4

The engines calculate White is better after 17.Rf2, 17.Rf3 or 17.a4!?

17...Nb6 18.g5

The c4 pawn can hardly be saved (18.Qe2 Qe7), but better compensation is to be had with 18.Rad1 or 18.Rf2, according to the engines, eg 18.Rad1 Bxc4 19.Bxc4+ Nxc4 20.Qe2 Nxe3 21.Qxe3, after which Black will have great difficulty mobilising the extra (backward) pawn, or 18.Rf2 Bxc4 19.g5 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 d5 21.Kh2, when the engines reckon Black has an edge, but White has dangerous kingside chances.

18...Nxc4 19.Bxc4+ Bxc4 20.Rf3 Kh8 21.Rg3

Black has to be careful, eg 21...Rg8 22.g6 h6? (22...Qb7 is better) allows 23.Bxh6!

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21...Rad8

The engines suggest 21...Qb7 or 21...d5!?, eg 21...d5!? 22.exd5 fxg5!? 23.Rxg5!? Rad8 24.d6!? Rxd6!? 25.Bxc5 Rxd2 26.Bxe7 Rf7!, with much the better game for Black, but there are many alternatives along the way.

22.g6

The engines fluctuate between several moves, but come to more-or-less settle on 22.h5!? or 22.Kh2.

22...d5

Not 22...h6? 23.Bxh6!, when 23...gxh6? loses to 24.Qxh6+ Kg8 25.g7 etc, but even stronger than the text may be the engines' 22...Qb7!?

23.Qd1! Kg8?

Black should play 23...dxe4 or 23...d4, the point being to meet 24.Qh5 with 24...Bg8.

24.gxh7+?

Both 24.Qh5 and 24.Kh1 are stronger, eg 24.Qh5 h6 25.Kh1 (25.Bxh6!? Be2! 26.Qxe2 gxh6 is not so clear, but probably still winning for White) d4 26.Bxh6!, when 26...Be2!? fails to 27.Qxe2 gxh6 28.g7 Rf7 29.Qh5 Rxg7 30.Rag1 (the reason for playing 25.Kh1).

24...Kh8

How should White proceed?

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25.Kh2

Best may be 25.Qg4, one line running 25...Rf7 26.Bc1!? Kxh7 27.h5 Rh8 28.h6 Kg8 29.Rb1, with a continuing attack, but the position is complicated, and the engines have difficulty agreeing on anything.

25...d4 26.cxd4?

But they do agree that here White had to play 26.Bc1!?

26...exd4 27.Bf4 Qxe4 28.Qg4 Qe2+ 29.Qxe2 Bxe2

With queens gone, so are White's mating chances, leaving Black with an advantage worth more than a rook, according to the engines

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30.Rag1 Rf7 31.h5!? Bxh5 32.Rc1 Rc8 33.Rb3 c4 34.Kg3!? Kxh7 35.Rb2 g5!? 36.fxg6+ Kxg6 37.Rd2 Rd7 38.Be3 d3 39.Rc3 Be2

Black's passed duo is temporarily blockaded, and there are opposite-colour bishops, but that is not enough to hold against three extra pawns

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40.Rb2 Kf5 41.Rb5+ Ke4 42.Bd2 Kd4 43.Ra3 Rc6??

White to play and win

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44.Kf4!?

Black's king is trapped in the middle of the board, whereas many moves. instead of 43...Rc6??, would have won, including either rook to the g file.

44...Rc5

Or 44...c3 45.Ra4+ Rc4 46.Be3#.

45.Be3+ Kd5 46.Rxc5+ Ke6 47.Bd2 1-0

Team Result

Freeman = Orton

Stokes 0-1 Hewson

Spanton 1-0 Bray

Marshall 0-1 Hymer

England 5 1.5-2.5 England 4

Thoughts On Daventry IV

THE following position was reached after 27 moves in round five, in which I was White against Iranian Hooman Honarvarmahalati (1865 ECF/1837 Fide).

Black has just played 27...Bf7-g6

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The game continued 28.Bd6+ Kc8 29.Bxe5 Bxg3 and was eventually drawn.

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 suggest 28.Re1!?, which, naturally, I considered, but rejected for being too passive.

Here I want to try to to discover what is behind the engines' surprising - to me - recommendation, by seeing how the game could develop after their suggestion.

Their main line runs something like 28...h4 29.Kb2 Kd7 30.Re2 Ke6 31.Be1 Bh5 32.Re3 g5 33.g3!? Bg6 34.g4 Rd8.

Position after 34...Rd8

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As far as I can see, White has not made progress, and the engines seem to agree. Their previous evaluation of White either winning or having the upper hand has deteriorated to White having the upper hand or just a slight edge.

Their main line continues more-or-less (they do not always completely agree on the best move): 35.Ba5 Rf8 36.Bc7 Rc8 37.Bb6 Rf8 38.a4 Kd7 39.Rd3+ Ke8 40.Rd6+!? Bxe4 41.Re6+ Kd7 42.Rxe5 Bg2 43.Rxg5 Bxh3 44.Rg7+ Ke6 45.Rh7 Bxg4 46.Rxh4 Bf5.

Position after 46...Bf5

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Stockfish17.1 gives White a slight edge, although Dragon1 reckons White has the upper hand.

With pawns on only one side of the board, and opposite-colour bishops, I suspect most games between strong players would have been agreed drawn by now, and even club players as White would only play on more in hope than expectation.
The pleasing thing from my point of view is that while 28.Re1!? may, objectively, be a little stronger than my 28.Bd6+, I was probably right in regarding it as too passive to give much hope of victory.

League Chess

PLAYED last night on board one (of five) for Battersea against Railsport in Central London League Division Two.

Spanton (1938) - William Taylor (2012)

Sicilian Bb5(+)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.c3!?

The main moves in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database are 4.Bxc6 and especially 4.0-0.

4...Nf6 5.Qe2 Bg7 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 d5 8.e5 Ne4 9.0-0 0-0

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

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White's extra space in the centre may be why Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 give White a slight edge.

10.Nc3!?

This is the main move in Mega26, even though after ...

10...Nxc3 11.bxc3

... White has a backward pawn on a half-open file.

11...Na5 12.Ba3

The position after 11...Na5 is reached 12 times in Mega26, with White trying seven different moves, including the text.

12...Bd7 13.Bd3 Rc8 14.Rfc1

The engines suggest 14.Qe1!?, which protects c3 while keeping the option of kingside play.

14...Nc4 15.Bxc4

The engines give 15.Bc5 b6 16.Bxc4 bxc5!? 17.Bxd5 Bg4, reckoning Black has full compensation for a pawn.

How should Black recapture?

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15...Rxc4

The engines agree this is the better move as after 15...dxc4?! White has a freer hand on the kingside, now that the c file is closed.

16.Nd2 Ra4 17.Bb2 Bh6 18.Rd1

I picked up the rook, intending to play 18.Rf1?, but White is in trouble after the reply 18...Qb6, when Black has two major threats: 19...Qxb2 and 19...Bb5.

18...Bxd2

The engines prefer 18...Qc7 or 18...Qc8, with Dragon1 also liking 18...Bg7!?

19.Rxd2 Qa5 20.a3 Qa6 21.Qxa6

The engines reckon it is better for White to keep queens on.

21...Rxa6

How would you assess this late-middlegame?

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White has an awful bishop, but it protects important pawns, while the black bishop, although it has lovely diagonals to work on, has no targets. The engines award Black a slight edge.

22.Re1

But the engines strongly dislike this, preferring 22.Bc1!?

22...Rb6 23.f3 Rb3 24.Ree2 Rc8 25.Rf2 h5 26.h4 a5 ½–½

The engines reckon Black has the upper hand. A sample line:  27.Kh2 a4 28.Kg3 Bb5 29.Rd1 Bc4 30.Kf4 f6!? 31.Re1 Rc6 32.Rc1!? Kf8 33.Rcc2 Kf7 34.Rc1 Ke6 34.Rcc2 Kd7 35.Rcd2 Ke6, after which they still give Black at least the upper hand, but Black does not seem to have made any progress, and it may well be progress is not possible.

The match was tied 2.5-2.5.

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

24/3/26    BCC     W        1921        1780             1            2049

26/3/26    CLL      B         1921        1942             =            2045

31/3/26    CDL      B        1921         2091             0            2030

7/4/26      BCC     B         1938        1505*            1            2030

9/4/26      CLL      W        1938        2012              =           2029

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

*A win against a 1505 counts as a 1905 performance, so I have excluded this game from calculating my season's performance as it would lower my average despite me winning.

4NCL Easter Round Five

FACED an Iranian in the second of today's double-round games.

Spanton (1944 ECF/1908 Fide) - Hooman Honarvarmahalati (1865 ECF/1837 Fide)

Spanish Exchange

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nc3!?

This is third in popularity in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, behind 5.d4 and especially 5.0-0.

5...f6 6.d4 exd4 7.Qxd4 Qxd4 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.Be3 0-0-0 10.f3 h5 11.0-0-0

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

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As usual in the Exchange Variation of the Spanish, it is a battle between White's superior pawn-structure and Black's bishop-pair. Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 give Black the better part of equality.

11...Nh6 12.a3!? Nf7 13.Nce2 c5 14.Nb3 b6 15.Nf4 Ne5 16.Nd2 Bd6 17.h3 Kb7 18.Nd5 c6

How should White proceed?

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19.Nxb6??

The knight had to retreat, and Stockfish17.1 reckons the better square is c3, although Dragon1 fluctuates between that and f4.

19...Kxb6 20.f4 Kc7??

20...Nf7 wins.

21.fxe5 Bxe5 22.Nc4!?

The engines agree this is better than taking the pawn immediately with 22.Bxc5, but it results in a position with opposite-colour bishops, which engines can have difficulty assessing, at least in an ending.

22...Be6

The engines prefer 22...Be8!?, the point being to get in a quick ...Bg6, attacking d4.

23.Nxe5 fxe5 24.Bxc5 Bc4

The engines suggest 24...Rd7 or 24...h4!?

25.b3 Bf7 26.Bb4

The engines reckon White is winning after 26.Rde1!? or 26.Rdf1 Bg6 27.Re1.

26...Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 Bg6 28.Bd6+ Kc8 29.Bxe5

Again the engines prefer 29.Re1.

29...Bxe4 30.g3 Rg8

Possibly better is giving up the g pawn for active play, eg 30...Re8!? 31.Bxg7 Bf5 32.Rd4!? Bxh3, when White has a slight edge (Stockfish17.1) or at best the upper hand (Dragon1).

31.Rd4 Rg2 32.h4 g6 33.Ra4 Re8!?

This is almost certainly better than 33...Kb7, when 34.Rb4+ forces the black king to the a file as 34...Kc8?? loses to 35.Rb8+.

34.Bf4 Kb7 35.Rb4+ Ka7

Black's king has been forced to the a file anyway, but at least the black rook is active

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36.Kd2

The engines reckon 36.Bd6!? (threatening 37.Bc5+ and 38.Rb6) is even stronger, eg 36...Re2 37.Kd1 Bf3!? 38.Rf4 Re6+ 39.Rxf3 Rxd6+ 40.Ke2, when White is a pawn up in a rook-and-pawn ending, and has fewer pawn islands.

36...c5!?

The engines like this, along with 36...a5.

37.Rc4 Rd8+?!

Probably better is 37...Kb6, and if 38.Be3, then 38...Re5.

38.Ke2?

Definitely better is 38.Kc3, after which White will win the c5 pawn without allowing rooks to come off.

38...Rd5 39.Be3 Kb6 40.b4 Kb5 41.Rxc5+ Rxc5 42.Bxc5

White is two pawns up, but the ending is drawn

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42...a5 43.Ke3 axb4 44.Bxb4!?

The reason for capturing this way will soon become apparent.

44...Bh3 45.Kd4 Be6

HH offered a draw.

46.Bf8 Ba2 47.c4+!?

This is the point of capturing with the bishop at move 44 - at least White's queenside pawns can be mobile.

47...Kc6

Not 47...Bxc4?? 48.a4+ etc.

48.a4 Bb1 49.a5 Bf5 50.Bc5 Bc8 51.Bb6 Be6 52.c5 Bc8 53.Ke5 Ba6 54.Kf6 Bd3 55.a6 Bxa6 56.Kxg6 Be2 ½–½

Bad Wörishofen Senioren Round Five

FACED a Norwegian.

Spanton (1919) - Jan Vidar Vestly (2027)

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Qe2+!?

A rare continuation. Normal are 6.c5 and especially 6.Nc3.

How should Black reply?

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6...Qe7

Stockfish171. and Dragon1 suggest 6...Be7!?, the idea being presumably to show White's queen is misplaced.

7.c5 Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 Be7 9.Nc3!?

This may be a novelty. The engines prefer it over the known 9.Bf4.

9...b6?!

This is a thematic response to an early c5 in positions with pawns on d4 and d5 (just as b3 is a thematic response to an early ...c4 in such positions). However, here it is doubtful because it allows White an expansive but apparently sound continuation. Instead of the text, the engines suggest 9...c6 or 9...0-0, but award White a slight edge.

10.Bf4
Even stronger, according to the engines, is 10.Nb5 Na6 11.c6!?

10...c6

The engines give 10...bxc5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Bxc7, claiming a slight edge for White.

11.b4 a5 12.b5!? bxc5

White to play and gain a large advantage

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13.0-0?!

Almost certainly too slow. Instead 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.0-0 gives at least the upper hand, according to the engines, which reckon Black has to play 14... cxb5!? 15.Bxb5+ Ke7!?, which gives White tremendous compensation for a pawn. But even stronger seems to be 13.Na4!?, threatening 14.Nb6. Black can defend with 13...Nfd7!?, but 14.dxc5!? is very hard to meet, eg 14...Bxc5 15.0-0 Be7 16.Rac1 leaves White with a winning position, according to the engines. Perhaps Black should prefer 14...0-0, but 15.Nd4 is good, eg 15...cxb5 16.Nxb5 Nc6 17.Rc1, when material is equal, but the engines again reckon White is winning. At move 13, rather than meet 13.Na4!? with 13...Nfd7, Dragon1 suggests 13...Bd8, but 14.dxc5 restores material equality, leaving White with a large lead in development.

13...c4!

Establishing a protected passed pawn and interfering with the ability of White's light-square bishop to play on the queenside.

14.Na4

This is still Dragon1's top choice. Stockfish17.1 suggests 14.a3 or 14.a4.

14...Nfd7?!

Probably better is getting on with development with 14...Bf5.
15.Rab1

The engines suggest 15.b6 or 15.Rfe1.

15...0-0 16.Bxb8!?

This may be best.

16...Nxb8

Not 16...Rxb8? 17.bxc6.

17.bxc6?

This gives Black too many options. Correct is 17.Nb6 Ra7 18.bxc6, when 18...Nxc6?! allows 19.Nxd5, after which White may even be slightly better. However, Black has 18...Be6 19.Ne5, with an unclear position, but one that seems to favour Black, eg 19...Rd8 20.Bf3 (Dragon1 likes the piece sacrifice 20.Bxc4!?, but it is far from clear it works) Na6 21.Rfd1 g6!?, when the engines give Black the upper hand.

17...Nxc6 18.Nb6 Bf5!? 19.Nxa8 Bxb1 20.Rxb1 Rxa8

Complications are over, and Black has emerged a protected passed pawn to the good

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Not only that, but d4 is weak, and opposite-colour bishops favour Black.

21.Rb6 Rc8 22.Kf1?!

Probably better is 22.Bd1, but 22...c3!?, with the threat of ...Nb4, decides matters.

22...Nb4 23.a3 c3!? 0-1

Crucifix near Eichwald

Close-up of an accompanying display of local stuffed birds

4NCL Day Two

PLAYED on board one (of six) for Wessex B against Eternal Optimists 2 in weekend three of the Four Nations Chess League Division Four.

Paul Badger (1797 ECF/1883 Fide) - Spanton (1928 ECF/1939 Fide)

King's Gambit

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

There are 110 examples of this move in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database - 11 of the games are mine.

How should White respond?

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4.Nc3!?

More popular are 4.exd5 and 4.Nxe5. Both moves are also much more successful percentagewise, but the text is the top choice of Stockfish17.1.

4...d4!?

This more-or-less commits to sacrificing the dark-square bishop.

5.Nb1?!

This is probably a mistake. A key line runs 5.Na4 Bd6!? 6.fxe5 Bxe5! (otherwise White is massively better) 7.Nxe5 Qh4+ 8.g3 Qxe4+ 9.Qe2 Qxh1 10.Ng6+ Be6 11.Nxh8, with an unclear position that Stockfish17.1 reckons is completely equal, but that Dragon1 evaluates as giving White a slight edge. However, White may have an improvement in 7.Bc4!? Nc6 8.0-0, which seems to have been first played in David McTavish - Todd Southam, Canadian U18 Championship (Winnipeg) 1985. That game continued 8...Nf6 9.Nc5!? Qd6 10.Nd3 Bg4!? 11.Bxf7+!? Ke7! 12.Ndxe5 Nxe5 13.Bb3, with another unclear position (the engines disagree about which side is better), although White went on to win.

5...exf4!

The engines reckon this apparent-novelty is a major improvement on the known 5...Bg4.

6.d3 g5 7.h4

The engines suggest 7.c3 or 7.h3.

7...g4 8.Ne5 h5 9.c3!?

This seems best. The problem with 9.Bxf4?! is 9...Qf6, eg 10.g3 Bd6.

9...Qf6!?

Attacking the advanced knight and defending f4.

10.b4!?

The engines agree this is best.

10...Qxe5 11.bxc5 dxc3

The engines prefer 11...Nc6 or 11...f3!?

How should White proceed?

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12.Qc2

This looks natural, but the engines slightly prefer 12.d4!? Qxe4+ 13.Qe2 Qxe2+ 14.Bxe2, when White is three pawns down, but Black has obvious weaknesses, a sample line running 14...Nc6 15.Nxc3 f3 16.gxf3 gxf3 17.Bxf3 Nxd4 18.Bg2!? Nc2+ 19.Kf2 Nxa1, after which White is a rook and two pawns down, but has dangerous play, eg 20.Nb5 Rb8 21.Nxc7+ Kd8 22.Bf4 Bd7 23.Na6!? Rc8 24.Bxb7 Nc2 25.Rd1!? Ke7!? 26.Rd2 Bf5!? 27.Bxc8 Bxc8 28.Re2+ Kf8 29.Nc7 Bf5 30.Re8+ Kg7 31.Nd5, when White is a knight down, but has full compensation, according to the engines. There are numerous alternatives along the way amid the chaos.

12...Nc6 13.Qxc3 f6 14.Bb2 Bd7?!

Much better, according to the engines, is 14...Nge7.

15.Nd2 Qxc3 16.Bxc3 0-0-0 17.d4 Nge7!?

Played with the coming piece sacrifice in mind.

18.d5 Ne5 19.c6 N7xc6!?

19...Be8?! 20.cxb7+ is good for White after both 20...Kxb7 and 20...Kb8, according to the engines.

20.dxc6 Bxc6

How would you assess this queenless middlegame?

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Black has three pawns for a bishop, but White also has the bishop-pair. Two of Black's pawns are doubled, but two have reached the fifth rank, and White's pawns are weak. Black has the safer king and a slight lead in development. For quite some time, both engines call the position completely equal, but Dragon1 comes to slightly favour Black.

21.Be2?!

The engines much prefer 21.0-0-0 or 21.Rc1.

21...Nd3+!? 22.Bxd3 Rxd3 23.Bxf6 Re3+ 24.Kd1 Rf8 25.e5!? Bxg2 26.Re1 Rxe1+?!

The engines strongly dislike this, reckoning 26...Rh3!? is winning.

27.Kxe1 Bd5

How would you assess this ending?

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Black has three pawns for a knight (rather than for a bishop), but king safety is no longer a serious issue (at least, certainly not for White). Black has a pair of connected passed pawns, but White also has a passer, and both of White's kingside pawns are solidly protected. The presence of opposite-colour bishops should favour whichever side can gain the initiative. Dragon1 reckons the position is completely equal; Stockfish17.1 gives White a tiny edge.

28.Rc1 g3 29.Rc3

The engines suggest 29.Nb3!?, 29.Kf1 or 29.Kf2.

29...Kd7

Black has at least a slight edge after 29...b5!?, according to the engines.

I was tempted by 29...Rg8 30.Bg5 Rxg5!? 31.hxg5 h4, but the position may just be equal (that, at least, is the engines' verdict).

30.Nf3 c6

The engines dislike this, suggesting 30...Rg8, and if 31.Bg5, then 31...Ke6!?, or 30...Bxa2!?, and if, after the latter, 31.Ra3?!, then 31...Bc4, as 32.Rxa7 runs into 32...Ba6. However, in both lines, 31.Rd3(+) may be an improvement.

31.a3

White has at least a slight edge after 31.Nd4, according to the engines, but their more-or-less main line runs 31...b5 32.Ne2 Rg8 33.Bg5 b4 34.Rd3 Re8 35.Nxf4 Rxe5+ 36.Kf1 Kd6, when they reckon chances are equal.

31...b5 32.Rd3

Nd4 may still be White's best.

32...Kc7 33.Ng5

Threatening 34.Rxd5! cxd5 35.Ne6+ etc.

33...Kb6 34.Nf3 a5 35.Nd4!?

Dragon1 for quite some time rates this as a serious mistake, but comes to agree with Stockfish17.1 that the position remains equal.

How should Black proceed?

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35...b4!?

Getting a second queenside passer is desirable, if it can be done safely, and this also sets a trap.

36.axb4 axb4 37.Be7?

White had to play 37.Ne2!, when the engines reckon Black is at most slightly better.

37...Re8

Probably even stronger are 37...g2!? and 37...Ra8!?

38.Bd6

If 38.Bxb4, then 38...Rxe5+ 39.Kd2 (39.Kf1 Bc4) g2, or 38.Bf6 and either 38...Rg8 or 38...Ra8, with ...g2 to come.

38...Rg8 39.Rd1

There is nothing better, according to the engines.

39...f3 40.Kf1 c5 41.Nxf3!?

This keeps the game going, but after ...

41...Bxf3

... White is two pawns down, and opposite-colour bishops should not be enough to save the game.

42.Rc1 Rc8 43.e6 g2+ 44.Kf2 Bd5 45.e7 Bf7 46.Kxg2

White has reduced the deficit to one pawn, and has a passer on the seventh rank, but is still losing, according to the engines

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46...b3 47.Rf1 Be8 48.Be5 Kb5?

This throws away most of Black's advantage, which could have been maintained by, for example 48...c4, when 49.Rf6+ Kb5 50.Rd6 is simply met by 50...Rc7!?, after which 51.Rd8 runs into 51...Rxe7, while 51.Rd5+ Rc5 52.Rxc5+ Kxc5 53.Bc3 is not enough for a draw as Black has 53...Kb5 (an only-move, but a fairly obvious one) 54.Kf3 Ka4 55.Ke4 (55.Bb2 Kb4) Ka3 56.Kd4 b2 57.Bxb2+ Kxb2 58.Kxc4 Kc2.

Analysis diagram - position after 58...Kc2

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It might at first glance seem as if the white king is well-placed, but it cannot both win the bishop and protect the h4 pawn. And note that Black's bishop is the right colour for promoting the h5 pawn, so it would not matter if White's king could get in front of Black's pawn on the h file. A likely finish is 59.Kd5 Kd3 60.Ke5 Ke3 61.Kf6 Kf4 62.Kg7 Kg4 63.Kf8 Ba4 64.e8=Q Bxe8 65.Kxe8 Kxh4 etc.

Returning to the position after 48...c4, White could try 49.Rd1, with the same idea of playing Rd8, but 49...Rc5! wins (49...Bc6+!? may also be good enough), eg 50.Bd4 c3, as after 51.Bxc5+ Kxc5 the white rook cannot cope with connected passed pawns on the sixth rank.

Back to the game.

White to play and draw

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49.Rf6+?

Drawing is 49.Rd1 as Black no longer has ...Rc5, and pushing the c pawn with 49...c4?? loses to 50.Rd8. Black has to play something like 49...Bc6+ 50.Kf2 Re8, but 51.Bf6 holds, eg 51...c4 52.Ke2 Kb4 53.Rd6 Bb5 54.Kd2 (an only-move, but not too difficult to find), after which the engines show neither side can make progress.

49...Bc6+

Now this is strong, but it is not the only winning move, according to the engines.

50.Kf2 Re8 51.Rf5

51.Bd6?! protects the e pawn, but loses to 51...b2, while 51.Rf7 also protects the e pawn, but 51...Kb4 will win.

51...Ka4?

Several moves win, including 51...Rxe7, when 53.Bd6 fails to 53...b2.

52.Bc3 Kb5

Not 52...c4?? 53.Ra5#, while 52...Rxe7 53.Rxc5 leaves no winning chances.

White to play and draw

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53.Rxh5?

53.Bf6 protects the e pawn, and lets White win Black's h pawn, or Black can try 53...b2, but 54.Bxb2 Rxe7 55.Rxh5 is also a draw.

White could probably also play 53.Bd4?!, as long 53...Kc4 is met by 54.Bf6, when the engines reckon that after 54...Rxe7!? 55.Bxe7 b2 56.Rxc5+ Kd3 57.Rxc6 b1=Q Black has a fortress, although Black could play on in the hope of inducing a mistake. Black could also try 54...Rb8, but 55.Bb2 also draws, according to the engines, although again there is play in the position, which could see White go wrong.

53...Rxe7 54.Rg5 Kc4 55.Bb2 Kb4 56.Rg3 Bb5 57.Re3 Ra7

White has an easy draw after 57...Rxe3?? 58.Kxe3 as 58...c4 can be answered by 59.Kd4 or 59.Kd2.

58.Re4+ c4 59.Be5 Ra2+ 60.Kg3 Bc6 61.Re1 c3 62.Re3

Or 62.Bxc3+!? Kxc3 63.h5 b2 64.h6 Be4!? etc.

62...c2 63.Re1 b2 0-1

Eternal Optimists 2 won the match 3.5-2.5.