British 65+ Round Six

Paul Kenning (1831 ECF/1778 Fide) - Spanton (1940 ECF/2003 Fide)

Vienna Game

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

This early central advance, reminiscent of the Centre Game (1.e4 e5 2.d4) scores 59% in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, the same as the main move 3.f4, and up to 11 percentage points better than the other popular continuations, 3.Bc4, 3.Nf3 and 3.g3.

3...exd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qd3!?

This is the main continuation, upping White's score in Mega26 to 62%.

How should Black respond?

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5...Bb4

This is the commonest continuation in the Centre Game, after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Nc3, and it is also the commonest continuation in this line of the Vienna, but after it White's score in Mega26 climbs to 67%. Stockfish18 and Dragon1 suggest 5...Bc5 or 5...d5!?, one point being 5...d5!? 6.exd5 can be met by 6...Nb4.

6.Bd2 0-0 7.Nge2!?

Stockfish18 marginally prefers the much more common 7.0-0-0, but Dragon1 fluctuates between the two moves.

7...Re8 8.0-0-0

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

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White has the only pawn on the fourth rank, but, as is often the case with opposite-side castling, the position is both tricky to assess and to play. The engines reckon chances are equal.

8...Qe7?!

But not anymore! The engines suggest 8...Ne5 or 8...d6.

9.Bg5!

Moving the bishop for the second time, but it is worth it as the pin is hard to meet.

9...Ne5?!

Apparently a novelty, and probably not a good one, although it does come to be the engines' second choice, at least for a while, behind getting out of the pin immediately with 9...Qe6, after which the engines suggest another apparent-novelty in 9...f3!?, claiming White has at least the upper hand, a sample line running 10.Bh4 Ne5 11.Qd4!? Ba5 12.Qa4!? Qb6, reaching a position where the engines disagree as to how White should proceed, but agree White is winning.

10.Qg3

White's main threats are 10.f4 and 10.Nd5

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10...Bxc3!?

The engines suggest 10...c6, but reckon 11.a3!? (as well as 11.f4) is very strong, one line running 11...Bxa3!? 12.Bxf6!? Bxb2+ 13.Kxb2 Qxf6 14.Nd4, when Black does not seem to have enough for a knight. Alternatively, 11...Bc5 12.f4 Neg4!? 13.e5 d5!? 14.Bxf6!? Nxf6 15.exf6 Qxf6 also leaves Black significantly down on material.

11.Nxc3 Qe6 12.f4!?

This seems even stronger than 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Nd5 Qd8 14.f4.

12...Nc6 13.e5 Nh5 14.Qf3 h6!?

Giving up a pawn to keep the game going, as 14...g6?! 15.g4 Ng7 16.Nd5 is horrendous.

15.Qxh5 gxh5 16.Qxg5

How big is White's advantage?

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White is roughly the equivalent of being up a piece and a pawn, according to the engines.

16...Nb4!?

If 16...d6, then 17.Nd5.

17.Kb1 d6 18.a3 a5!?

Desperation, but the game is lost anyway.

19.axb4 axb4 20.Nd5 dxe5 21.Qxe5 Qd7

White to play and win

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22.Nf6+?

White has several strong moves, the most convincing being 22.Qg5 and 22.Bb5!?, eg 22.Qg5 Qa4!? 23.Nf6+ Kf8 24.Qc5+ Re7 25.Rd8+ Qe8 26.Rxe8#, or 22.Bb5!? c6 23.Nb6 Rxe5 24.Rxd7 Bxd7 25.fxe5.

22...gxf6 23.Rxd7 fxe5 24.Rxc7

PK offered a draw.

Objectively, should Black accept?

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Stockfish18 reckons the game is completely equal after 24.Ra5 or 24.exf4. Dragon1 is less convinced, but reckons White has no more than the better part of equality.

½–½

Miniatures 37

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

Spanton (147 BCF) - A Darrington (?)

Highbury (London) Rapid 1991

Pirc

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

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

How should Black respond?

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4...e6!?

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

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

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

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8....Bd7?

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

9.h4

Even stronger is 9.e5.

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

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

12.Rxh7 f6?!

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

13.Bh6 1-0

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

4NCL Easter Round Four

FACED a Chinese woman.

Ran Li (1701 ECF/1699 Fide) - Spanton (1944 ECF/1908 Fide)

Vienna Game

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

A relatively unusual continuation, but there are 1,152 examples in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, where it scores a very good 59%. RL explained afterwards that although it has little or no coverage in books, there is quite a lot of information about it online.

3...exd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qc4!?

After 5.Qe3 the game would have transposed to the fashionable Centre Game, the normal move-order being 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Nc3, a position occurring 3,464 times in Mega26.

After 5.Qc4!?, how should Black respond?

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5...Be7

Most games have continued with the active 5...Bb4, a move also common in the Centre Game, but the text has been played by Rubinstein and Shirov.

6.Bd2

RL suggested the bishop might be better off on f4 or g5, and Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 agree.

6...0-0 7.0-0-0

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

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White has more central space, and is ahead on development, but the white queen will likely be harassed by a black minor piece, and the white king may have to spend a tempo going to b1. As usual, positions with opposite-side castling are difficult to assess, but, for what it is worth, the engines reckon chances are equal.

7...d6

The engines prefer 7...Re8 or 7...a6.

8.f3!?

They strongly dislike this, reckoning White has a slight edge after the more-energetic 8.f4.

8...Ne5

And here they like 8...Be6, claiming 9.Nd5 Bxd5!? 10.exd5 Ne5 gives Black at least a slight edge.

9.Qe2

RL explained that this is part of White's general strategy, with the queen later going to f2 and coming out on the kingside.

9...Be6 10.Qf2 c6!?

The engines like this, despite the weakening of d6.

11.Nh3 b5 12.Nf4

But probably not 12.Ng5?! Nfg4!

12...Qd7 13.Nxe6 Qxe6

The engines prefer 13...fxe6!?

14.Kb1 a5

The problem with ...b4 in such positions is usually that White can partially blockade Black's pawn-storm with Na4, but in this particular case the engines reckon 14...b4?! is best met by 15.Ne2!, eg 15...d5 16.Nd4 Qc8 17.Nf5 Qe6!? 18.Qg3 Ng6!? 19.Nd4!? Qc8 20.e5, with a strong initiative.

Perhaps best is 14...Rfd8!?

15.g4 a4 16.g5 Nfd7 17.f4 Nc4

How should White proceed?

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18.f5?!

RL rejected 18.Bxc4 because of 18...bxc4? (the engines much prefer 18...Qxc4), but 19.f5 is strong, whether 19...Qe5 is met by 20.Bf4 or 20.a3!? The engines reckon preserving the bishop-pair with 18.Bc1!?, while also adding to the defence of the queenside, leaves White with a positionally won game.

18...Nxd2+ 19.Qxd2 Qe5

Black is at least slightly better, according to the engines, but the position remains sharp.

20.f6!?

The engines fluctuate between this and 20.a3!?, which is a typical dilemma of not knowing whether attack or defence should take priority in games with opposite-side castling.

20...gxf6

More-or-less forced, as 20...Bd8?! 21.Bh3! Nc5 22.Qxd6 is good for White.

21.gxf6 Nxf6

21...Bxf6!? is safer, but after 22.Qxd6 the game is equal, according to the engines.

22.Rg1+ Kh8 23.Rg5!?

The engines are unsure whether to prefer the text or 23.a3!?, but agree Black is better.

What should Black play?

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23...Ne4

The engines prefer 23...Qe6, reckoning it forces 24.a3, after which both 24...b4 and 24...Rfb8 seem to give an edge.

24.Nxe4 Qxe4

How can White best prosecute the attack?

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25.Bd3??

Completely missing Black's reply. Instead 25.Rh5 is unclear, but promising (Dragon1 reckons White is winning; Stockfish17.1 gives White a slight edge). Play might proceed 25...Qg6 (not, as we thought in the postmortem, 25...f5??, as White wins with 26.Re1) 26.Qc3+! f6! (not 26...Bf6 27.Qh3 and 28.Bd3) 27.Qh3 Rf7 28.Bd3 Qg8 29.Bf5 Rg7 30.Be6 Qb8!? 31.a3, when Stockfish17.1 still gives White only a slight edge, but Dragon1 has downgraded White's advantage to having the upper hand.

25...Bxg5 26.Qxg5 Qe5 27.Qxg5 Qe5 28.Qh6 f5 0-1

Not everyone would resign here, especially at club level, but Black is up the exchange and two pawns, and the black king is safer than it has been for quite some time. Meanwhile, Black has a queenside attack.

Weimar Round Two

Rolf Müggenburg (1716) - Spanton (1939)

Colle

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 Bd6!?

More common are 3...f5!?, 3...c5 and especially 3...Nf6.

4.Bd3 Nc6!?

Overwhelmingly most popular in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database is going for a Dutch Stonewall with 4...f5!?

5.c3 e5!?

Black is first to get in a central pawn-break, and this seems worthwhile, despite the loss of time involved in moving the e pawn twice so early in the game

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6.dxe5 Nxe5 7.Nxe5 Bxe5 8.0-0 Qh4!?

This apparent-novelty - the known move is 8...Nf6 - is not liked by Stockfish17.1 or Dragon1.

9.f4

Also possible is 9.g3, especially as 9...Qh3 can be met by 10.Bb5+! c6 11.Qxd5!, while 9.h3!? invites a draw by repetition with 9...Bxh3 10.gxh3 f4 11.Qg3+ etc.

9...Bd6 10.Nd2

The engines again like Bb5+

10...Bg4 11.Qb3

RM offered a draw, shortly after pressing the clock.

How should Black react?

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11...0-0-0!?

The engines agree this is best, although they reckon Black is also fine after 11...Nf6 12.Qxb7 0-0.

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

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White's pawn-structure makes the white dark-square bishop a sorry-looking piece, but, as usual, opposite-side castling introduces a lot of uncertainties. The engines give Black a slight edge.

12.Nf3

Not 12.Qxd5?? Bxf4 as 13.Bf5 can be answered by the wining 13...Kb8.

12...Qh5 13.Qc2!?

This both covers the kingside and frees the b2 pawn to advance.

13...Nf6 14.h3 Bd7 15.Qf2?!

The engines strongly dislike this, claiming White is equal after 15.Ng5.

15....Ne4 16.Qh4 Qg6

Black is also much better after 16...Qxh4!? 17.Nxh4 Rde8!?, according to the engines.

17.Nd4 Be7??

Black has a positionally won game after several moves, including 17...c5 and 17...Rhe8, according to the engines.

18.Qxe7

I had somehow missed that the bishop was hanging.

18...Bxh3 19.Bxe4 dxe4 20.Qg5 ½–½

RM had again offered a draw after pressing his clock, but this time I was less inclined to be sniffy about it.

League Chess

PLAYED on board four (of eight) for Battersea against Athenaeum in London League Division Two last night.

Spanton (1929) - Tony Wells (1971)

Spanish Cozio

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 4.Nc3

More popular in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database are 4.c3 and especially 4.0-0, but the text is the top choice of Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1, although they do fluctuate between it and castling.

4...Ng6

The main move in Mega26 is still 4...g6, but that has fallen out of favour since the strength of 5.d4 exd4 6.Nd5!? was more widely realised.

5.0-0 Nd4!?

This is apparently a novelty. The engines are OK with it, but they prefer 5...a6 or 5...Bc5.

How should White proceed?

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6.Nxd4 exd4

The position resembles a Bird, but one with the extra moves Nc3 and 0-0 for White, ...Ne7-g6 for Black. The engines reckon this is an improvement for Black.

7.Ne2 a6!?

The engines do not like this, preferring 7...c6 or 7...Bc5, but not 7...Qg5?, when both 8.Nxd4 and 8.Bc4 are good for White.

8.Ba4 b5 9.Bb3 Bb7 10.d3 Qf6!?

The engines suggest 10..c5, but give White the upper hand.

11.c3 0-0-0?!

Opposite-side castling makes the game trickier for both players, but the main effect here is to lose a pawn.

12.Nxd4 d5? 13.Qg4+ Kb8 14.Bg5 Qd6 15.Bxd8 Qxd8 16.exd5 h5 17.Qe4 h4 18.Rfe1 Bd6 19.Nc6+ Bxc6 20.bxc6 Qg5

Black is the exchange and two pawns down, but has some practical chances thanks to the black pieces being more active, and the presence of opposite-coloured bishops

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21.Re3

There was nothing wrong with 21.Bxf7, eg 21...Nf4 22.a4 b4, and now 23.Re3.

21...f5 22.Qf3 f4 23.Re6 h3 24.Rxg6?

Giving back the exchange throws away much of White's advantage.

24...Qxg6 25.g3?

And now Black has complete equality, according to the engines, which suggest 25.Bd5!? or 25.Re1.

25...fxg3 26.fxg3

The engines reckon both recaptures leave the position completely equal.

26...Qe8?!

A strange retreat. It is hard to understand why 26...Rf8 was not played.

27.Qf7?

Now Black gets at least the upper hand, while 27.Bf7 and 27.Qe4 give White at least a slight edge, according to the engines.

27...Qe3+ 28.Qf2 Qxd3

This is not just a pawn - it also stops White closing the g1-a7 diagonal with d4.

29.Rd1 Qg6 30.Bc2?!

The bishop should probably stay on the a2-g8 diagonal, with 30.Bd5 or 30.Bf7.

30...Qe6 31.Bb3 Qh6?!

Rightly rejecting the chance to repeat, but much stronger is 31...Qe7 or 31...Qe5, according to the engines.

32.Qd2?!

The engines prefer 32.Bd5, 32.Rd5 or 32.Bf7.

32...Bc5+ 33.Kh1 Qf6 34.Qf4!?

This is best, according to the engines, but inadequate.

Black to play and win

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34...Qxc6+

Even stronger is 34...Qxf4 35.gxf4 Re8, with ...Re2 to come, and an advantage worth about a minor piece, according to the engines.

35.Bd5 Qe8

Black still has at least the upper hand after the engines' 35...Rd8!

36.Qg4?!

It was time to offer an exchange of queens, with 36.Qe4 or 36.Qf7, according to the engines.
36...Qe3

Activating the rook with 36...Rf8! gives a slight edge, according to the engines, one point being 37.Qxh3? loses to 37...Qe2.

37.Qf3 Rd8 38.Qxe3 Bxe3 39.Bf3 Rxd1+ 40.Bxd1

How would you assess this bishops-of-opposite-colour ending?

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White can win the h3 pawn, but the ending remains drawn.

40...a5 41.Bg4 Kb7 42.Bxh3 a4 43.Kg2 Bc1 44.b3 axb3 45.axb3 Bb2 46.c4 gxc4 47.bxc4 Kc6 48.Kf3 Kd6 49.Ke4 c5 50.Bc8 Ke7 51.h4 Kf6 52.g4 Bd4 53.Bf5 Kf7 54.h5 Kf6 55.Bh7 Kg5 56.Bf5 Kf6 57.Kd5 Kg5 58.Ke6 Bf6 59.Kf7 Bd4 60.Be6 Be5 ½–½

Battersea won the match 6.5-1.5 (Athenaeum defaulted on bottom board).

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            

CLL: Central London League

LL: London League

BCC: Battersea club championship

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

Correspondence Chess

I PLAY correspondence chess at the Fide-approved International Correspondence Chess Federation.

Most games are drawn, thanks to the strength of modern engines, but occasionally a game escapes that fate, or is interesting for some other reason.

Héctor Pupo Pérez (2317) - Spanton (2330)

Philippine 5th Year Anniversary Invitational Section 3

Spanish Berlin

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6!?

This modern-looking continuation dates back to at least 1851, but has been taken up by Carlsen, Caruana, Ding, Nakamura and other of today's greats.

5...dxc6 6.0-0 Qe7 7.Nbd2 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.a3 Nd7 10.b4 Bd6 11.Nc4 f6!? 12.Na5 0-0-0!?

This seems to be a novelty. The known move 12...Rb8 may be more prudent, but I like to play adventurously at correspondence, within reason, as a learning exercise.

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

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The consequences of opposite-side castling are often hard to judge because there are so many variables. However, Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 give White a slight edge.

13.Rb1 g5!?

Stockfish17.1 dislikes this, but I felt Black has to try something on the kingside, and Dragon1 is less unfavourable.

14.c4 Qe8 15.c5 Be7 16.Be3 g4 17.Nh4 gxh3 18.Qa4!? Nb8

18...gxh2? gives the white king shelter.

19.b5!? cxb5 20.Rxb5 Be2 21.Rc1 Bxd3 22.c6 b6 23.Rb2

Black is two pawns up, but White has at least sufficient compensation, according to the engines

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23...Ba6 24.Nf5 Bf8!?

Stockfish17.1 dislikes this, but Dragon1 is fine with it.

25.g3 h5 26.Nc4 Rd4!

A necessary exchange sacrifice to prevent White blasting through to Black's king by sacrificing on b6.

27.Bxd4 exd4 28.f3

Black has two bishops and two pawns for rook and knight

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The engines give White the upper hand, but the position is imbalanced and unclear.

28...h4!? 29.gxh4 Bc5 30.Na5!?

This is Stockfish17.1's top choice, but Drgaon1 much prefers 20.Kh1!?

30...Qe5 31.Qb3

Black is lost, according to Stockfish17.1, but Dragon1 for quite some time reckons the game is completely equal, although eventually comes to give White a slight edge

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31...d3+ 32.Kh1 Re8 33.h5!?

Suddenly the game is not about mutual attacks on the enemy's king, but a matter of a passed pawn rushing to queen.

33...Bf8 34.Nc4!?

This is best, according to Dragon1, but Stockfish17.1 much prefers 34.Qf7!?

34...Bxc4 35.Rxc4 Bc5

The game has, to a certain extent, stabilised to a more-easily understandable one of Black having a pawn for the exchange

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36.Rb1 d2!? 37.Rc2 Nxc6 38.Rxd2 Qf4 39.Rbd1 Kb7 40.h6

After a brief flurry of intermediate moves, it's back to White's dangerous passer

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40...Ne5 41.Re2 Qxf3+ 42.Qxf3 Nxf3 43.a4!?

The engines agree this pawn needs to be saved, but reckon it is better to push the a pawn after 43.Rd3 Ng5.

43...Ne5 44.Rf1 Rh8 45.Rf4 Ka6 46.Ra2 Nf7

Bizarrely, Stockfish17.1 now gives White only a slight edge, while Dragon1 reckons White is winning.

47.Rh4 Bf8 48.Rxh3 c5 49.Rg2

Dragon1 has lost some of its enthusiasm for White's position, but for quite a while prefers 49.Rah2, before settling on the text, albeit while at first not believing White is winning. Given time, however, it again comes to rate White's position as winning.

49...c4!?

This dampens Dragon1's enthusiasm.

50.Rg6

Dragon1 suggests 50.h7, but the distracting 50...c3!? seems to hold, eg 51.Rh5 (51.Rxc3 Rxh7+ 52.Rh2 Rxh2 53.Kxh2 Bc5 may even marginally favour Black) Bh6 52.Nd4 Rxh7 53.Nb5 Ne5 54.Rc2 Ng4 55.Nxc3 Rg7 56.Nd5 Be3, after which Black does not appear to be in trouble.

50...Ne5 51.Rg2

If 51.Rxf6, then 51...Ng4 forces 52.Rxf8 Rxf8, with equality.

51...Nf7 52.Rg6 Ne5 ½–½

Dragon1 reckons White has an edge in the final position, but Stockfish17.1 calls the position completely equal.

The game is an interesting example of how strong engines can radically differ in their assessments of imbalanced middlegames.

All About That Bass II

MOST of us have an opponent against whom nothing seems to work.

When the opponent is considerably stronger, this is not surprising, but when ratings are not so different, the results are harder to explain.

My biggest bogeyman is probably John Bass, whose record against me is +6=1-0.

Seven games is not a huge sample, but such a poor performance on my part must signify something.

So in this mini-series I am looking at my games against JB to try to discover what is going on.

Our second game was at a rapidplay event.

Bass (159) - Spanton (unrated)

London University Rapid 1989

1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.d4?!

This is much less popular than 4.Nc3, 4.Bc4 and especially 4.c3, but was a favourite of Emanuel Lasker in simuls.

4...exd4 5.Nxd4

Lasker liked 5.Bd3.

5...Nf6 6.Nc3 Qe7

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 reckon there is little to choose between this and the commoner 6...0-0.

7.Qd3!? 0-0 8.Nb3?!

This seems to be a novelty, and is still not in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database; White should probably get on with development.

How should Black respond?

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8...Bb4?!

The engines reckon Black should also develop, with either 8...Na6 or 8...Nc6.

9.Bd2 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 Nxe4 11.Qe3 Re8 12.0-0-0 Nxc3 13.Qxc3

How would you assess this middlegame?

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Black is a pawn up, and the engines reckon Black has a winning advantage, but positions with opposite-side castling are tricky to evaluate and tricky to play.

13...Bg4 14.Bb5!?

This is the engines' top choice.

14...Bxd1 15.Bxe8 Qxe8?!

Much better, according to the engines, is 15...Bxc2.

16.Re1 Qd7?

How should White proceed?

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17.Rxd1

Missing 17.Qxc7!

17...Nc6 18.Nd2 Re8 19.Nf3 h6 20.h3?

Possibly best is 20.g3, defending f4.

20...Re6

Even stronger is 20...Qf5.

21.g4 Qe8 22.Rd3?!

The engines much prefer contesting the open file with 22.Re1.

22...Re7

The active 22...Re4 is probably best.

23.b3 Qd7 24.Kb2 Qe6 25.f5 Qd7 26.Nh4!? Ne5 27.Rd1 f6?

This is very weakening.

How can White exploit Black's weak light squares?

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28.Ng2

The engines' 28.Qa5! seems to equalise as either a7 or b7 falls.

28...Qc6 29.Qd2 Qd7?

Too passive.

30.Nf4?!

Almost certainly better is 30.Qd5+ and 31.Qxb7.

30...Nc6?

The knight was fine where it was, whereas the queen's position could have been improved with 30...Qc6 or 30...Qb5.

31.Qd5+ Kh7 32.Ne6 Qe8 33.h4 b6?!

The engines suggest 33...Nd8 or 33...Ne5.

34.Re1 Ne5 35.g5 fxg5?!

Probably better is 35...Kh8 or 35...b5!?
36.hxg5 h5?

36...Kh8 is better, but still losing.

37.g6+ Nxg6

Or 37...Kh8 38.Qh1.

38.fxg6+ Qxg6 39.Nf8+ Kh6 40.Nxg6 Rxe1 41.Qd2+ 1-0

LESSON: once again JB showed better tactical control, helped by my weakening of the black king's position, and by my passive middlegame play.

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

York Round Three

I TOOK a half-point bye in the second round.

Spanton (1936) - Nick Shakhlevich (1932)

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Nc3

This is third in popularity, behind 5.c4 and especially 5.Bd3, scoring just 30% in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.

5...c6 6.Bd3 Bg4 7.0-0 Ne7 8. Re1 Nd7 9.Qe2 f6!?

Apparently a novelty, and not liked by Stockfish17 or Dragon1. Known moves are 9...h6, 9...Bh5!?, 9...Bxf3!? and 9...Qc7. The engines, as well as liking 9...h6, suggest 9...Nf8!?

10.h3 Bh5 11.Nd1 Qc7

Believe it or not, this loses material, which is why the engines suggest 11...Nb6 or 11...Bg6.

White to play and win

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12.Ne3

Missing 12.Bf4!!, when 12...Bxf4?? 13.Qxe7# is obvious, while 12....0-0-0? loses to 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Qxe7. By no means so obvious are 12...Nb6 13.Qxe7+! Qxe7 14.Bxd6 Qxe1+ 15.Nxe1, when White has two pieces for a rook, and also has the bishop-pair, and 12...Nf8 13.Qxe7+! Qxe7 14.Bxd6 Qxe1+ 15.Nxe1, when White again has two pieces for a rook, and the bishop-pair.

12...0-0-0

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

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As usual, positions with opposite-side castling are very difficult to judge, but, for what it is worth, the engines reckon chances are equal.

13.c4!?

The engines prefer 13.c3 or 13.a4.

13...dxc4 14.Bxc4 Kb8 15.Bd2 Rhe8!?

Opposite-side castling might suggest rival pawn-storms, but fighting for control of the open centre is probably a better plan.

16.Qd1 Nb6 17.Ba5 Bf4 18.Be2?!

Almost certainly a mistake. The engines give 18.g4!? Bg6 19.Ng2!?, albeit preferring Black.

18...Bxe3 19.fxe3 Ned5 20.e4!? Rxe4 21.Bd3? Rxe1+

Even stronger is 21...Rxd4! as 22.g4? loses to 22...Qg3+ 23.Kh1 Nf4!

22.Qxe1 Bxf3!

The engines agree this is best.

23.gxf3 Nf4 24.Bf1 Rxd4 25.Qf2 Rd5 26.Bd2 Nh5!? 27.f4!? Rf5 28.Bd3 Rd5 29.Be4 Rd8 30.Re1

Now the last white piece has got into play, how would you assess this middlegame?

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Black is two pawns up, has the safer king and has fewer pawn islands. White's only advantage is having the better minor pieces, but they do not change the verdict that Black is winning. However, NS was now down to two minutes, and about to play on the 10-second increment.

30...Nc4 31.Bc1 Qb6?

Getting queens off, but that will make the bishops even stronger, and anyway the move loses a pawn. Best is 31...g6.

32.Bxh7 Qxf2+?!

Now White is better. The engines give 32...Nd2!? 33.Qxb6 axb6 34.Re2 Nf3+ 35.Kf2, although they agree White has enough for a pawn.

33.Kxf2 Rd4?

The h5 knight is in danger of being trapped, but this is not the solution, although 33...Rh8 34.Bg6 is good for White, eg 34...Nd6 (the engines suggest sacrificing a pawn with 34...f5!? 35.Bxf5, so the knight can go to f6, while 34...Rh6? 35.f5 is very good for White) 35.f5, and the knight will eventually fall. However the engines' 33...Nxb2! 34.Bxb2 Rd2+ 35.Re2 Rxe2+ 36.Kxe2 Nxf4+ and 37...Nxh3 gives good drawing chances.

34.b3?!

Almost certainly stronger is 34.Kf3.

34...Nb6 35.Be3 Rd5?

Better is 35...Rb4, maintaining the threat to f4 and preparing to meet 36.Kf3? with 36...Nd5. Best play may be 36.Bg6!? Nxf4 37.Bc5!? a5!? (37...Rb5? 38.Bd6+ etc) 38.Re8+ Ka7 39.Bxb4 axb4 40.Bf5, with at least a slight edge for White, according to the engines.

36.Rg1?

Much stronger is 36.Bg6 as the h5 knight cannot be saved.

36...g5?!

Probably better is 36...Nc8!? or 36...Ra5, although White is definitely for choice.

37.fxg5 fxg5 38.Rxg5

Now pawns are level, but White retains the bishops and has a dangerous passer on the h file

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38...Nf6 39.Bf4+ Kc8 40.Rg7?!

It was probably better to preserve the bishop-pair with 40.Bf5+, or swop rooks, eg 40.Rxd5 Nbxd5 41.Bf5+ Kd8 42.Kf3, and if 42...Nxf4 43.Kxf4 White has the more-active king, the better minor piece and the only passed pawn.

40...Rh5?!

Black probably had better drawing chances with 40...Nxh7 41.Rxh7 Rf5 42.Kg3 Nd5.

41.Rc7+?

Best is 41.Bg6 as 41...Rxh3?? loses to 42.Bf5+ etc.

41...Kd8 42.Bg6 Rxh3

With pawns on only one side of the board, the position is rather drawish

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43.Rxb7 Nbd5 44.Rb8+ Ke7 45.Bg5 Ke6!?

Black is equal after this, but simpler is 45...Rh2+ and 46...Rxa2.

46.Kg2 Rc3

The only safe square available to the rook, but it is good enough.

47.Rb7 Ne3+ 48.Bxe3 Rxe3 49.Rxa7 Ne4 50.Bxe4 Rxe4

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

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The engines reckon the position is completely equal, and the Syzygy endgame tablebase confirms the position is a draw. However it is clearly worth playing out, at least at club level.

51.Kf3 Rb4

NS offered a draw in my time.

52.Ke3 Kd5 53.Ra5+ c5 54.Kd3 Rh4 55.Kc3 Rh3+ 56.Kb2 Rh2+ 57.Ka3 Rh4 58.Ra4 Rh3 59.Rg4 Rh8 60.Rc4 Rh3 61.Kb2 Rh2+ 62.Rc2 Rh8 63.a4 Rb8 64.Kc3 Rb4 65.Rd2+ Kc6 66.Rh2 Rg4 67.Rd2 Kc7 68.Kb2 Kc6 69.Rc2 Kb6 70.Rc4 Rg2+ 71.Ka3 Rg7 72.Rh4 Ka5 73.Rh5 Kb6 74.Rh6+ Ka5 75.Rc6 Rg5 76.Kb2 Kb4?

Black had five drawing moves: 76...Rg2+, and any rook move along the fifth rank.

77.Rb6+ Ka5 78.Rb5+ Ka6 79.Kc3 Rg3+ 80.Kc4 Rg4+ 81.Kd5

This does not throw away the win, but there is nothing wrong with the straightforward 81.Kxc5.

81...Rg5+ 82.Ke4 Rh5 83.Kf4?

The only winning move is 83.Kd3.

83...Rh3 84.Ke5

Black to play and draw

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84...Rh5+?

Cutting off the white king from the queenside with 84...Rd3 draws, and so does 84...c4!? as 85.bxc4 brings about an example of the famous drawn ending of rook against rook with pawns on the bishop and rook files.

85.Kd6 Rh6+ 86.Kxc5 Rh5+ 87.Kb4 Rxb5+?!

Black is lost anyway, but keeping rooks on the board gives more chances of, for example, pulling off a stalemate swindle.

88.axb5+ Kb6 89.Kc4 Kb7 90.Kc5 Kc7 91.b6+ Kb7 92.Kb5 Kc8 93.Ka6 Kb8 94.b7 1-0

Miniatures 11

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

J Barrett (ungraded) - Spanton (151 BCF)

Barbican (London) Rapidplay 1989

Veresov

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5 Bf5 4.f3 Nc6!?

This is Dragon1's second choice, at least for a while, behind the commonest continuation 4...Nbd7, but the text is not liked by Stockfish17.

5.e3!?

The thematic 5.e4 is, perhaps surprisingly, less popular in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, and scores nine percentage points lower.

5...e6 6.Bd3 Be7!?

Apparently a novelty, and still not in Mega25. Known moves are 6...Bxd3, 6...Bg6 and 6...h6!?

How should White respond?

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7.Nge2

The engines marginally prefer capturing on f5.

7...0-0 8.g4!? Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Rc8 10.0-0-0!?

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

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I think these positions are very hard to judge, and are very dependant on who understands the ideas better. For what it is worth, Stockfish17 gives Black a slight edge, but Dragon1 is less sure.

10...Nb4 11.Qd2 c5 12.h4 Qa5 13.a3?!

This creates a target. Probably better is 13.Kb1.

13...Nc6 14.h5?!

In opposite-side castling, one of the trickiest decisions can be knowing when to proceed with your attack and when to react to the opponent's threats. Here the engines much prefer the latter, in the shape of 14.Kb1.

14...b5

The engines reckon even stronger is the prophylactic 14...h6, preventing White from playing 15.h6.

15.dxc5?!

Probably better is 15.h6.

15...Bxc5??

This turns a winning position, according to the engines, into a losing one. Both 15...h6 and 15...b4 are much better.

16.Bxf6??

Returning the compliment. Instead, 16.h6 leaves Black without a good answer, eg 16...b4 (16...gxh7? 17.Bxf6) 17.hxg7 Kxg7 18.Qe1! etc, or 16...Bxa3!? 17.bxa3 Qxa3+ 18.Kb1 Qb4+ 19.Ka1 Qa3+ 20.Na2, or 16...Ne5 17.hxg7 Kxg7 18.Bxf6+ Kxf6 19.Nxd5+!

16...gxf6 17.Nd4 b4 18.axb4?

Better, but still losing, is 18.Na2 bxa3 19.b3.

18...Nxd4??

An inexplicable blunder. Every capture on b4 wins, but most straightforward is 18...Qa1+ 19.Nb1 Nxb4 20.c3 Na2+ 21.Kc2 Rb8 22.b3 Rfc8 etc.

19.bxa5 20.Nxf3 Qe2 1-0

LESSON: if you play like Black did in this game, consider taking up draughts.

British 65+ Championship Round Two

FACED a Welsh Fide master.

Spanton (1982) - Peter Varley (2117)

Caro-Kann Classical

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5

This has almost become a sideline since the rise of 4...Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6.

5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Bg6 7.h4 h6 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6

This tabiya occurs 15,337 times in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database

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11.Bd2

11.Bf4 has been touted as more accurate, although I have never understood why.

11...Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Ne4!?

Slightly more popular in Mega25 is 13.Kb1.

13...Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qe2 Qd5 16.c4 Qe4 17.Qxe4 Nxe4 18.Be3 Nd6!?

The main line in Mega25 runs 18...0-0 19.Ne5 Rfd8 20.g4, when Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon White has at least a slight edge.

The engines suggest 18...f5!?, when the main line runs 19.Nd2 Nxd2 20.Rxd2, the engines claiming Black is equal.

19.b3 b5!? 20.c5 Nf5 21.g4!? Nxe3 22.fxe3 0-0

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

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Black has the minor piece that usually cooperates better with rooks, but there is a lot of pawns on the board, restricting the action of long-range pieces. In particular the white pawn-chain e3-c5, although a target for the bishop, for the moment at least blocks the bishop's freedom of play, and c6 is weaker than e3. The engines give White the upper hand.

23.Ne5 Rac8

The engines suggest 23...Rfc8!?, and if 24.Rhf1 then 24...Bf6!?, the point being 25.Nd7?! runs into 25...Bg5, when Black is at least equal, not least because 26.Rde1?? loses to 26...f6, trapping the knight.

24.Rhf1

Possibly stronger is 24.a4!? with queenside play.

24...Bg5 25.Rde1 Rc7 26.Kc2 Bf6 27.Nd3

The engines suggest 27.Nf3 or 27.Rd1.

27...Rd8 28.Rf3 a5 29.a3 Rcd7 30.Ref1 e5!?

How should White respond?

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31.Nxe5

On 31.dxe5 there seem to be several equalising lines, eg 31...Bg5 32.Rd1 Rd5 33.b4 axb4 34.axb4 Ra8 35.Kb3, when the engines reckon Black has full compensation for a pawn.

31...Bxe5 32.dxe5 Rd2+ 33.Kc1 Ra2 34.Rxf7 Rdd2 35.e6 Rac2+ ½–½