Bad Neuenahr Round Seven

Spanton (1911) - Michael Negele (2149)

French Winawer

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.Bd2

This is second in popularity to the mainline 5.a3.

5...Ne7

This is a normal way to the develop the black king's knight in the Winawer Variation of the French Defence, but here it has the added point that, in the event of Nb5, Black can castle before White continues with Nd6+

6.a3

Even so, the commonest continuation in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database is 6.Nb5, when 6...Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 0-0 8.f4 a6!? (8...cxd4 is also popular) 9.Nd6 cxd4 10.Nd4, gives a game with equal chances, according to Stockfish18 and Dragon1.

6...Bxc3

How should White recapture?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

7.Bxc3

This is overwhelmingly most popular, but the engines fluctuate between it and 7.bxc3!?, which was played by Lajos Steiner in a win against Aron Nimzowitsch  in the 1928 stem game.

7...cxd4

The engines suggest 7...Nbc6 or 7...b6.

8.Bxd4

The engines prefer the much more successful 8.Qxd4, meeting 8...Nbc6 with 9.Qg4!?, claiming the upper hand for White, one point being 9...d4?! can be met by 10.0-0-0, and, if 10...Nf5, then 11.Nf3.

8...Nbc6 9.Nf3 0-0 10.Bd3

Preserving the bishop-pair with 10.Bc3 is recommended by the engines.

10...Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Ng6

The engines suggest 11...Nc6, or David Howell's 11...Qb6.

12.Bxg6!

Apparently a novelty, and much liked by the engines. Carles Díaz Camallonga (2467) - George Stoleriu (2349), Chess.com Blitz 2020, went 12.Nf3 Nf4!? 13.0-0 Bd7 14.Re1, with a slight edge for White, according to the engines (but 0-1, 80 moves).

How should Black recapture?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

12...fxg6!

The engines agree this is one of those rare occasions when capturing away from the centre is better, even though here it weakens e6.

13.0-0

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White has an unchallengeable knight on d4, and fewer pawn-islands, which combine to give the upper hand, according to Stockfish18, although Dragon1 only awards White a slight edge.

13...Bd7 14.Qd2 Rc8 15.c3 g5!?

The engines like this.

16.h3 h6 17.Rfe1 Qe8 18.Re3 Qg6 19.Qd3 Qxd3 20.Rxd3 Rf4 21.Re1 Rcf8 22.Rf3 Rxf3 23.Nxf3

How would you assess this ending?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White has the better pawn-structure, and has good-knight-v-bad-bishop. But rook-and-bishop is nearly always a stronger partnership than rook-and-knight, especially with play over the whole board, so any opening up of the game could work in Black's favour, at least as long as rooks stay on the board. However, both engines give White the upper hand.

23...Kf7 24.Nd4 Ke7 25.Re3 a6!? 26.Kf1 Rf4 27.g3

Not 27.Rf3?, as both 27...Re4 28.Re3 Rxe3 29.fxe3, and 27...Bb5+!? 28.Ke1 Re4+ 29.Re3 Rxe3+ 30.fxe3, leave the game equal, according to the engines.

27...Rf8 28.Rf3 Rc8

The engines reckon White is only slightly better after 28...Rxf3!? 29.Nxf3, but it looks an unpleasant position for a human to defend.

29.Ke2 Be8 30.Re3 Bh5+ 31.f3 Rf8 32.Nb3 Be8 33.Nd4 h5!?

This is the engines' top choice.

34.Kf2 Bg6

On 34...g4 I intended 35.h4, with what the engines agree is a slight edge.

35.Ke2 Bb1 36.Nb3

The engines suggest 36.g4!?

36...b6 37.Nd4 Kd7 38.Kf2 a5!?

This is not liked by the engines. They prefer 38...g4 or 38...Bf5.

39.Ke2

White is much better after 39.Re1, according to the engines, one of their lines running 39...Bf5 40.g4 hxg4 41.hxg4 Bg6 42.Ne2!? Rh8 43.Kg3 Kc6 44.Rd1 Kc5 45.Nd4 Re8, although there is a lot of play left in the position, and there were many reasonable alternatives for both sides along the way.

39...a4!?

The engines are happy with this, even though it puts another pawn on a light square. I suppose the point is it restrains White's queenside, and anyway the pawn is hard for Black to get at.

40.Kf2 Ba2?!

MN strongly criticised this afterwards, saying the bishop was "so powerful" on the b1-h7 diagonal; the engines agree.

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

41.Re1

Keeping the bishop off b1-h7, and freeing e3 for the white king.

41...Bc4 42.Ke3 Rh8 43.h4!?

With Black unable to create counterplay on the queenside (or in the centre), it is a good time to try to make gains on the kingside, especially with the bishop somewhat out of play.

43...gxh4

Not 43...g4? 44.fxg4 hxg4 45.Kf4!, eg 45...Rf8+ 46.Kxg4 Rf2 47.Re3 Rxb2 48.Kg5 Ra2 49.Rf3, when White's kingside play is much quicker than Black's on the queenside.

44.gxh4 Ke7 45.Rg1 Rg8?

Black had to play 45...Kf7, when the engines give White the upper hand, or at least a slight edge (Stockfish18 is less enthused than Dragon1). However, it is far from clear White can make progress, although White can keep probing, without much risk of losing.

46.Rg6

Winning a pawn, and the game.

46...Kf7 47.Rxe6 g5 48.Rf6+ Ke7 49.hxg5 Rxg5 50.Rf5 Rg2 51.Rxh5 Rxb2

Black is 'only' one pawn down, but White's e pawn wins easily

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

52.Rh7+ Ke8 53.e6 Rb1 54.Kf4 Re1 55.Nf5!? 1-0

Bad Neuenahr Round Two

FACED a Fide master.

Kuno Thiel (2095) - Spanton (1911)

QGD Semi-Tarrasch

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4!? 6.Nxd4!?

More popular are 6.Qa4+ and especially 6.Qxd4.

6...exd5!?

After this the game soon transposes into a main tabiya of the pure Tarrasch, whereas Stockfish18 and Dragon1 prefer keeping the game in independent Semi-Tarrasch lines with 6...Nxd5.

7.g3 Nc6 8.Bg2

This position, which occurs 1,817 times in ChessBase's 2026 Maga database, more normally arises from the move-order 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 cxd4 8.Nxd4

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

8...Bc5 9.Nxc6!?

More popular is 9.Nb3, when Black can hold on to the d pawn with 9...Bb4, albeit probably having to give up the bishop-pair, or can offer the d pawn with 9...Bb6!?, eg 10.Nxd5 Be6 11.e4 Bg4 12.f3 Be6 13.Nxb6 Qxb6, with an unclear game.

9...bxc6 10.0-0 0-0

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Black has more space in the centre, but Black's extra pawn island, and the vulnerability of the c and d pawns on half-open files, are probably more significant, which is presumably why the engines give White at least the better part of equality.

11.Na4 Bd6

Stockfish18 marginally prefers 11...Bb6!?, which Keres used to draw with Smyslov at the 1956 Candidates; Dragon1 disagrees.

12.Be3 Qe7 13.Qc2!? Bd7 14.Nc5 Rfe8 15.Rfe1

The engines like grabbing the bishop-pair with 15.Nxd7!?

15...Rab8 16.Rac1 Rec8!?

The engines suggest 16...Bg4!?

17.b3 Rb5!? 18.Bd4 Bg4!?

Here the engines prefer 18...Bxc5!? or 18...Be6.

19.e4 dxe4?

Possibly best is 19...Bxc5 20.Bxc5 Qd8, albeit White is on top.

20.Nxe4 Nd5?

Better, but still very good for White, is 20...Nxe4.

21.Nf6+!? 1-0

Premature resignation? Possibly, although after 21...Nxf6 22.Rxe7 Bxe7 the engines assess White's advantage as worth more than a piece.

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

8...e5 9.0-0 0-0

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

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?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

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!

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

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?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

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

White to play and win

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

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

World Team 65+ Round Four

Bo.	46	England - 5	Rtg	-	15	Sweden - 1	Rtg	0 : 0
11.1		Freeman, Richard C P	1897	-	GM	Akesson, Ralf	2316
11.2	CM	Stokes, Michael	1861	-	CM	Wengholm, Anders	2165
11.3		Spanton, Tim R	1908	-	FM	Hammar, Bengt	2099
11.4		Marshall, Michael	1859	-	CM	Soderberg, Per	2050

Spanton (1908) - Bengt Hammar (2099)

Sicilian Bb5(+)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7

This is second in popularity to 3...Bd7, but scores six percentage points more in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.

4.c3

White obviously has a wide choice after 3...Nd7, but I was surprised to find 22 different continuations in Mega26, although admittedly they include 4.Nd4?? in a rapid game.

4...Nf6 5.Qe2 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 Bb7 8.0-0 e5

This position, which is somewhat reminiscent of a Spanish, occurs 142 times in Mega26

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

9.d4 Be7

This is the commonest continuation, but Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer capturing twice on d4.

10.d5!?

A very committal move, but it is the engines' top choice. More popular in Mega26 are 10.a4 and especially 10.Rd1.

10...c4!? 11.b3 cxb3 12.axb3 0-0

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

The engines award White the upper hand, presumably largely because of White's extra space in the centre, and, perhaps, the fact of having all pawns connected, whereas Black's are split into two islands.

13.Nbd2 Rc8 14.Bb2 Nb6 15.Rfc1 Nh5 16.g3 g6

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

17.c4!?

An important move as White's centre is about to come under pressure.

17...b4!?

The engines fluctuate between the text, 17...f5 and 17...Qd7.

18.Nf1

A typical Spanish move, but the engines prefer going after Black's queenside with 18.Ra2, or 18.Ne1!?, intending 19.Nd3.

18...Nd7 19.Ne3

The engines still like Ne1 and Ra2, but reckon 19.Ra4 allows immediate equality with 19...a5.

19...Nc5 20.Rf1 Rc7?!

Black is also equal after ...a5 here, according to the engines.

How can White exploit Black's last move?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

21.Qd2

The b4 pawn cannot be successfully defended, although Black gets time to play on the kingside.

21...a5?!

This distracts a white rook from the back rank, but is probably not best. Black can keep material equality with 21...Nf6!? 22.Qxb4 N(either)xe4, but the engines reckon 23.Qe1!? gives White at least the upper hand. They recommend 21...Bc8 22.Qxb4 Bh3 23.Ng2 Qc8, but agree White has the upper hand after 24.Qe1!? or 24.Qc3.

22.Rxc5 Bc8 23.Kg2

The engines reckon 23.Qxb4!? is good, but then they would, wouldn't they?

23...f5 24.exf5 gxf5 25.h3?

Giving the white queen's knight a protected square (g4) in the event of ...f4, but the engines much prefer 25.Kh1!? or 25.Ra8.

How should Black proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

25...Rb7?

Protecting b4 and hitting a5, but White has a strong reply. The engines reckon Black equalises with both 25...e4!? 26.Nd4 f4, and the sharp 25...Bg5 26.Qe2 Bxe3 27.Nxe5! (27.fxe3? Rg7), when 27...dxe5 28.Qxe3 Ne4!? 29.Bxe4 Fxe4 30.Bxe5 Rcf7 leaves Black with a knight for three pawns in a position the engines evaluate as completely equal.

White to play and gain a winning advantage

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

26.Rxc5!

One of the easier exchange sacrifices to play. Also strong is 26.Ra8.

26...dxc5 27.Nxe5 f4?

The engines suggest 27...Bd6 or 27...Qd6, but agree White is winning.

White's winning combination is not hard to find

*****

*****

*****

*****

28.Bxh7+! Kxh7

Moving the king to a dark square loses at least the queen to 29.Nc6+.

29.Qd3+ Kg8 30.Qg6+ Ng7 31.Nc6

Hitting the queen anyway.

31...Rf7

31...Bxh3+ can be simply met by 32.Kh2, and the engines show 32.Kxh3!? also wins.

32.Nxd8 Bxd8 33.Bxg7 1-0

After 33...Rxg7 34.Qe8+ Kh7 35.Qxd8 Bxh3+ 36.Kxh3 fxe3 37.fxe3 White has queen and three pawns for rook.

Team Result

Freeman 0-1 Akesson

Stokes 0-1 Wengholm

Spanton 1-0 Hammar

Marshall 0-1 Soderberg

England 5 1-3 Sweden

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?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

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?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

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 Nine

Spanton (1919) - Hans Marzik (2042)

Caro-Kann Bronstein-Larsen

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6!?

This recapture has very much played second fiddle to 5...exf6 in recent years, and the latter is much preferred by Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

6.c3

This consolidating move is the main continuation in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database. The engines suggest 6.Nf3.

6...Bf5 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.Bf4 Bg7 9.Qe2!?

Stockfish17.1 prefers 9.Be3!? or 9.a4; Dragon1 gives 9.Bd3 or 9.Be2.

How should Black respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

9...Qa5

The engines like 9...e5!?, the very move 9.Qe2 was supposedly stopping. A possible continuation runs 10.dxe5 fxe5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5!? 12.Bxe5 0-0 13.0-0-0 Qa5, with an unclear position in which the engines reckon White should play 14.g4!?, or offer the exchange with 14.Rxd7!? After the latter, Black has to decline the offer as 14...Bxd7?? loses to 15.Qh5. However, Black has 14...Qxa2, when 15.Rd3!? Qa1+ 16.Kc2 f6 17.Bd4 Rad8 is still not clear. After 14.g4!?, Black is obliged to play 14...Bg6!?, when 15.Rxd7 Qxa2 is again sharp and unclear.

10.Nd2!? Qd5 11.Qe3
White is slightly better after 11.Nc4, according to the engines.

11...Qe6 12.Bc4 Qxe3+ 13.fxe3 e5 14.e4!? Bg6 15.Be3 f5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.0-0 Bg6 18.Rae1 0-0

Now both sides have castled (kingside - unusual in the Bronstein-Larsen), how would you assess the position?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White is ahead on development, and has two pawn islands against Black's three, but Black has pressure against d4. The engines call the game equal, although for quite some time Dragon1 prefers White.

19.Nb3
The engines suggest 19.d5!?

19...Rfe8 20.Be2

The engines prefer 20.Na5 or 20.Nc5!?

20...a5 21.Bg4?!

The bishop hits the knight, but in return the knight hits the bishop ...

21...Nf6

... gaining time to relocate to d5.

22.Be2?

It was necessary to play 22.Bd1 or 22.Bf3, but in each case with the upper hand for Black, according to the engines.

22...Nd5 23.Bf2 Nf4

Even stronger, according to the engines, is 23...a4 24.Nc1 exd4 25.Bxd4 Ne3! 26.Bxe3 Rxe3, eg 27.Bf3 Bh6! 28.a3 (28.Rxe3 Bxe3+ 29.Kh1 Rd8) Ra5!? 29.Kf2 Rxe1 30.Rxe1 Rb5.

24.Nc1 exd4 25.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 26.exd4 Ne6

White cannot save the d pawn

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

27.Rd1 Rad8 28.d5!? cxd5 29.Rd2 Re7 30.Rfd1 Be4 31.Nb3 b6 32.Nd4!? Nxd4 33.Rxd4 f5 34.Bc4!? Kg7 35.Kf2?!

The engines much prefer 35.Bd3!?, but agree Black is winning.

35...Kf6 36.g3 Ke5 37.Bb3 Rc7 38.Ke3 b5 39.a3 Rc5 40.R4d2 Rd6!?

Preparing to open a second front.

41.h4!? Rg6 42.Rg1 Rxg3+!? 43.Rxg3 f4+ 44.Kf2 fxg3+ 45.Kxg3 Rc1 46.Bd1 d4 47.Kf2 Rc6!? 48.Be2 b4 49.axb4 axb4 50.Bd3?!

This loses a pawn, but White was already down the equivalent of about a rook, according to the engines.

50...Bxd3 51.Rxd3 Rc2+ 52.Kg3 Rxb2

Not all rook-and-pawn endings are drawn

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

53.Rf3 Rc2 54.Kg4 Rc6 55.Rf5+ Ke4 56.Rb5 d3!? 57.Rxb4+ Ke3 58.Rb7 Rd6 59.Re7+ Kf2 60.Rxh7 d2 61.Rf7+ Kg2 0-1

Easter determines when the Bad Wörishofen congress is held, and, with Easter being a week earlier next year, the chess starts on Friday March 5

Cracovia 60+ Round Two

FACED a Lithuanian.

Spanton (1913) - Rimandas Šakinis (1757)

Old Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 c6!?

This is fifth-most popular in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, behind ...Bf5, ...e5, and especially ...g6 and ...Nbd7.

4.e4 Qa5!?

More popular are ...Qc7 (marginally), ...g6, ...Nbd7 and ...e5.

5.Bd3 e5 6.Ne2 Nbd7 7.0-0 Be7 8.a3!? Qc7 9.b4 exd4 10.Nxd4 Ne5 11.Be2!?

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 agree it is worth spending a tempo to save White's bad bishop.

11...0-0

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Whites' extra space gives the upper hand, according to the engines.

12.Bb2 Be6!?

This is Stockfish17.1's second choice, but both engines prefer 12...a5.

13.Nxe6

Stockfish17.1 suggests 13.Qb3!?, but Dragon1 likes the text.

13...fxe6

White has gained the bishop-pair, but has strengthened Black's centre and given Black a half-open f file

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

14.Rc1 Nfd7!?

The engines suggest 14...a5 or 14...Kh8!?

15.Qd2 Nb6 16.Nd1 Nbd7!?

The engines agree this is best, albeit reckoning White is still better.

17.f4 Nf7

This is almost certainly better than 17...Ng6?! 18.Bg4 e5 19.Be6+ Kh8, and either 20.f5 or 20.Bxd7 Qxd7 21.f5.

18.Bg4 e5 19.Bxd7!?

This comes to be Stockfish17.1's top choice, but Dragon1 marginally prefers 19.g3!?

19...Qxd7

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

20.fxe5?

This throws away White's advantage. White is still better after 20.Ne3 or 20.Qc3.

20...Qg4

Also equal is 20...Bg5 21.Ne3.

21.Nf2 Qg5 22.Qxg5 Bxg5 23.Rcd1 Nxe5 24.Bxe5!?

Otherwise Black is better, according to the engines.

24...dxe5 25.Ng4 Rf4!? 26.Rxf4 exf4

How would you assess this rook-and-minor-piece ending?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White has the open file, and a passed pawn, but Black has fewer pawn islands, and the better piece for cooperating with a rook. Equal chances, according to the engines.

27.Kf2

27.Rd7 Rd8?! 28.Rxb7 is good for White, but the engines reckon Black is fine after 27...a5!?, eg 28.Rxb7 axb4 29.axb4 Bh4!? 30.Kf1 Re8, and if 31.e5, then 31...Ra8!?

27...Rd8?!

The engines suggest 27...a5, or 27...h5!? 28.Ne5 and then 28...a5.

28.Rxd8+ Bxd8

How would you assess this bishop-v-knight ending?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White's more-active king and the vulnerability of f4 give White at least a slight edge, according to the engines, despite the bishop being better than the knight when there is play on both wings.

29.Kf3 h5?!

Probably the wrong idea. Black should be activating the king, either immediately with 29...Kf7!?, or after first protecting f4 with 29...Bc7. The point, after 29...Kf7!?, is that 30.Kxf4 Bc7+ 31.Kf3 can be met by 31...h5 and 32...Bxh2. However, the engines give 30.Ne5+!? Ke6 31.Nd3 b5! (White threatened 32.Nc5+ as well as 32.Nxf4+), eg 32.Nxf4+ Ke5 33.cxb5 cxb5, after which Black's king is very active.

30.Ne5 g5 31.h3?!

The engines reckon White is winning after 31.Nd7 or 31.Nd3.

31...Bf6?

Again Black should be activating the king, this time with 31...Kg7.

32.Nd7 Bd4 33.h4! Bb2 34.a4 Kf7 35.hxg5 Bc1 36.Ne5+ Kg7 37.b5!?

This may be marginally better than 37.Nd3 Bd2.

37...cxb5 38.axb5!?

This is fine, but White has to take care against Black creating a passed a pawn.

38...Bd2 39.Nd3 Kg6 40.Nxf4+ Kxg5 41.Ne6+ Kf6 42.Nd8 a5!?

How should White respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

43.Nxb7?

Black also gets drawing chances after 43.bxa6? bxa6. Correct is gaining a tempo with 43.Ke2, bringing White's king within the queening box of the a pawn (the a pawn is four squares from a1, so the queening box runs from a5-a1-e1-e5-a5).

43...Bb4?

Black had to play 43...a4.

44.c5?

Again White wins by bringing the king within the queening box.

44...a4

White to play and draw

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

45.e5+!

The engines reckon 45.b6 also draws, but only if, after 45...a3, White finds the same idea and plays 46.e5+! However, 45.c6? loses trivially to 45...Ke7 etc. Probably also losing is 45.Nd6?! a3 46.b6 a2 47.b7 a1=Q 48.b8=Q, although this may be one of those positions where the engines have one side winning (Black is almost +5.00, according to Stockfish17.1; almost +6.00, according to Dragon1), but they cannot finish it off, eg 48...Qd1+ 49.Kg3 Qg4+ 50.Kf2 Bxc5+ 51.Ke1 Qh4+ 52.Kd2 Qf4+ 53.Kc2 Bxd6 (Black now has queen, bishop and pawn versus queen and two pawns) 54.Qd8+ Kg6 55.Qg8+ Kh6 56.Qd5!? Be5 57.Kb3 Kg5 58.Kc4 Kh4 59.Qd3 Qg4 60.Qd5 Bf4 61.Qd3 Qxg2, finally reaching a position that the Syzygy endgame tablebase can give a definitive verdict on: Black is winning. Naturally, there were lots of plausible alternatives along the way, so 45.Nd6?! may draw, with best play, but it would in practice be very hard for White to do so.

45...Ke7

Or 45...Kxe5 46.c6 Ke6 47.Nd8+ Ke7 48.c7 Kd7 49.b6 Ba5 (not 49...a3? 50.Nc6! a2 51.b7 Kxc7 52.b8=Q+ Kxc6 53.Qa8+ and 54.Qxa2) 50.c8=Q+! Kxc8 51.b7+ Kc7 52.Nc6! Kxb7 53.Nxa5+ Kb6, with a tablebase draw.

46.Nd6 a3 47.Nf5+ Kd8!?

47...Ke6 also draws.

48.Nd4 Bxc5??

48...a2 draws.

49.Nb3??

Winning is 49.Ne6+ followed by 50.Nxc5(+).

49...a2 50.Ke4 Kc7 51.Kd5 Kb6 52.Kc4 h4 53.e6 Be7 54.Na1 Bf6 55.Nc2 Kc7 56.Kd5 Be7 57.Kc4 Kd6 58.Kb3 Kxd6 59.Kxa2 Bc5 60.Ne1 Kf5 61.Kb3 Kg4 62.Kc4 Bf2 63.Nd3 Bb6 64.Ne5+ Kg3 65.Ng6 Bf2 66.Kd5 Kxg2 67.Nxh4 ½–½

Benidorm Round One

Spanton (1941) - Arturo Pérez Pascual (1717)

1.Nc3

1.Nc3 e5 2.Nf3 d6!?

The main move is 2...Nc6, but the text has also been played by grandmasters, and scores three percentage points better in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.

3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 d5?!

It is doubtful if Black can afford a non-developing move at this point. Normal is 4...Nf6.

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

5.Bf4

Stronger, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1, is 5.e4.

5...c6?!

The c7 square looked vulnerable, but this is another non-developing move. Black should probably play 5...Nf6, relying on ...Na6 to protect c7 if the need arises.

6.e4

The only game to reach the position in Mega25 saw the much less convincing 6.e3?!, after which 6...Nf6 gave Black a reasonable game.

6...Bb4!?

This is Stockfish17.1's top choice; Dragon1 prefers 6...dxe4.
7.exd5 Qxd5

The engines suggest offering a pawn with 7...Ne7!?, albeit agreeing White the upper hand after 8.dxc6 Nbxc6 9.Nxc6 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Qxd1+ 11.Kxd1 Nxc6.

If 7...cxd5, then 8.Ndb5!? Na6 9.Qd4 seems strong.

8.Qd2 Bxc3 9.Qxc3 Qe4+ 10.Be3 Nf6 11.Bd3!?

Offering a pawn.

How should Black respond

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

11...Qe7

This is best, according to the engines, which reckon 11...Qxg2?! 12.0-0-0 gives White a huge attack.

12.0-0-0 Nd5!? 13.Qd2 Nxe3 14.Rhe1!

Black is fine after either immediate capture on e3.

14...0-0 15.Rxe3 Qc7 16.Nf5?!

It was probably better to build up slowly with 16.Rg3 or 16.Rde1.

16...Bxf5 17.Bxf5 g6 18.Rh3!? Qe5!

The only move to keep the game going, according to the engines, and certainly not 18...gxf5?? 19.Qg5+ etc.

19.Bd3 Qg7

How would you assess this middlegame?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Black has beaten off White's mating attack, but White remains with a large lead in development - enough for a winning advantage, according to the engines.

20.Qb4!? Nd7!?

The engines fluctuate between this and 20...b5.

Should White grab the b pawn?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

21.Qxb7!

The only move to keep a winning advantage, according to the engines.

21...Ne5!?

Not 21...Rfb8? as 22.Qxd7 Qxb2+ 23.Kd2 leaves Black with nowhere near enough for a bishop.

22.Qb3?!

Stronger is 22.Qb4, as will soon become clear.

22...Ng4

Even better seems to be the engines' 22...Qf6!?, after which Black wins back the sacrificed pawn as the queen threatens 23...Qg5+, followed by ...Qxg2, as well as 23...Qxf2. White's best, according to the engines, is 23.Be2!? Qxf2 24.Qe3, when White has at least a slight edge thanks to Black's isolated queenside pawns and the fact White has the better minor piece for playing on a relatively open board.

23.Rf3 Ne5?!

23...Nxh2!? looks very risky after 24.Rf4, but 23...Qh6+ 24.Kb1 Qxh2 leaves White only slightly better (Stockfish17.1) or at best with the upper hand (Dragon1).

24.Re3

Maybe even stronger is 24.Rf4.

24...Ng4 25.Re2 Rab8

The engines prefer 25...Qh6+ 26.Kb1 Qxh2, but agree White has at least the upper hand.

26.Qa3

The engines reckon 26.Qc3!? Qxc3 27.bxc3 also gives White a winning advantage.

26...Qh6+ 27.Kb1 Qf4?

White is also winning after 27...Qxh2 28.g3, according to the engines, but less clearly so.

28.Re4 Qg5 29.h4!? Qf5

If 29...Qxh4, then 30.f3.

30.Ra4

Best is 30.Re8!, which wins the black queen as White threatens 31.Qxf8#.

30...Qe6 31.Re4 Qc8!

There was no way I would have accepted a draw by repetition after 31...Qf5, and the engines agree the text is Black's best move.

32.Re2 Re8?!

APP was presumably worried about an invasion on the seventh rank, but the engines much prefer 32...Nf6, when 33.Re7 can be met by, among other moves, 33...Nd5, with counterplay, and if 33.Qxa7!?, then 33...Qg4, or possibly again 33...Nd5, making life a little uncomfortable for White.

33.Rde1

Even stronger is 33.Qxa7!?, eg 33...Ra8 34.Rxe8+ Qxe8 35.Qd4, when White is two pawns up and not under threat.

33...Rxe2 34.Rxe2 Qc7 35.g3 Qb6 36.Qb3 Qc7 37.Qc3 Qd6 38.b3 Nf6 39.Qe5 Qxe5 40.Rxe5

How would you assess this rook-and-minor-piece ending?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White is a pawn up, has fewer pawn islands and has the better minor piece, all of which add up to what the engines reckon is a winning advantage.

40...Kf8 41.Rc5 Rb6 42.a4 Nd7 43.Ra5 Rb7 44.Be4 Rc7

Black had no choice but to defend the weak pawns, which helps explain why the engines reckon White is winning, rather than just having the upper hand

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

45.Ra6 Nb8

Not 45...Nc5??, forking rook and bishop, as Black replies 46.Rxc6.

46.Ra5 Nd7 47.Kb2 Ke7 48.Kb2 Kd6 49.f4!?

This is Stockfish17.1's top choice, although Dragon1 prefers 49.b4!?

49...Nf6 50.Bf3 Nd7 51.g4 f6 52.Kd3 Rb7 53.Kc4 Nb6+ 54.Kc3 Nd7 55.b4 Rc7 56.Kd4 Rb7

Perhaps Black should try  56...c5+ 57.bxc5+ Nxc5, but the engines reckon White is still winning after, for example, 58.f5 gxf5 59.gxf5.

57.b5 c5+ 58.Kd3 Rc7 59.Ra6+ Ke7 60.Rc6 Rb7 61.Re6+ Kxe6 62.Bxb7

The minor-piece ending is easily won for White.

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

62...Kd6 63.a5 Kc7 64.Be4 Kd6 65.Kc4 Nb8 66.Bd5 h6 67.g5 fxg5 68.fxg5 hxg5 69.hxg5 Nd7 70.Be4

Not 70.Bf7?? Ne5+.

The game finished:

70...Ke5 71.Bc6 Nb8 72.Kxc5 Kf5 73.b6 axb6+ 74.Kxb6 Kxg5 75.Kb7 Nxc6 76.Kxc6 Kf4 77.a6 g5 78.a7 g4 79.a8=Q g3 80.Kd6 1-0