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.

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

Benidorm Bali Round Five

FACED a junior (born 2012).

Spanton (1896) - Tarek Kaji Senas (1711)

Spanish Exchange

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bd6

This is fifth-most popular in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.

How should White respond?

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8.Nc3

Capablanca played the aggressive 8.f4 in what seems to have been an exhibition game in 1911, but the move is not liked by Stockfish17.1 or Dragon1, and the game was drawn.

8...Ne7 9.Be3 0-0!?

Black often castles long in the Exchange Variation of the Spanish, but the text has a specific idea, namely to speedily fully open the centre for the benefit of Black's bishop-pair.

10.f3

10.f4 has been tried, intending to meet 10...f5 with 11.e5, but the engines reckon Black is slightly better after 10...f6 or 10...Re8.

10...f5 11.exf5

The engines suggest 11.0-0-0, 11.Bf2!? or 11.Bg5!?
11...Nxf5 12.Nxf5 Bxf5 13.0-0-0

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

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We have the usual battle in the Exchange Variation of the Spanish between White's superior pawn-structure and Black's bishop-pair. The engines reckon Black is slightly better, or at least has the better part of equality.

13...Rae8 14.Bd2 Rf7

The engines like 14...b5, eg 15.Rde1 Rxe1+ 16.Bxe1 Re8, with a slight edge for Black (Stockfish17.1) or even the upper hand (Dragon1).

15.Rde1 Rxe1+ 16.Bxe1 Re7 17.Bd2

The engines suggest 17.Bg3.

17...Bg6 18.h3

And here they prefer pushing the h pawn two squares.

18...Bg3 19.Rf1 b5 20.a3

The engines suggest 20.Kd1 or 20.b3!?

20...a5 21.Kd1 b4 22.axb4 axb4 23.Na4

How should Black proceed?

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23...b3!?

A pawn sacrifice to give the light-square bishop more activity.

24.cxb3 Bd3 25.Rg1 Re2 26.Nc3

Probably not 26.Nc5?!, which works fine after 26...Bf2?? 27.Nxd3, but Black instead has 26...Bb5, when 27.b4 Bh2 28.Re1 Rxg2 wins back the sacrificed pawn, and leaves White with four isolanis, two of which are doubled (and Black still has the bishop-pair). Similarly 27.Ne4 Bh2 28.Rf1 Rxg2 29.Rf2 Rg1+ 30.Kc2 also leaves White in a mess.

26...Rf2

How should White proceed?

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27.Ne4

Not 27.Be1?? Bc2+ 28.Kc1 Bf4+.

27...Bxe4 28.fxe4 Bh2 29.Re1 Rxg2

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

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White has four isolanis - two more than Black - but has the only passer. Black has a 2-1 flank majority on the kingside, which could prove powerful in a pawn ending. The engines reckon the game is completely equal.

30.Re2

Passed pawns should be pushed? Not always, even here where the passer is supported by a rook. After 30.e5?! Kf7 31.e6+ Ke7 the pawn is firmly blockaded, and 32.Bb4+? only makes matters worse after 32...Bd6.

30...Rxe2 31.Kxe2 Be5

What should White play?

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32.Kf3!?

The engines reckon 32.Bc1!? also draws, but I was afraid of getting into zugzwang. Definitely bad is 32.Bc3? as 32...Bxc3 33.bxc3 leaves Black with an easily won pawn ending - the white king would have to abandon the centre (and the queenside) to deal with Black's coming kingside passer.

32...Kf7

Or 32...Bxb2 33.Bf4 etc.

33.Kg4 Ke6 34.Bf4!?

The pawn ending is drawn as long as Black cannot exchange bishops and immediately occupy e5 with the king, as would be the case after 34.Bc3?

34...Bxf4 35.Kxf4 c5 36.h4 g6

All reasonable moves leave the position completely equal, according to the engines.
37.Kg5 Kxe5 38.Kh6 Kxe4 39.Kxh7 Kf5 40.Kg7 g5 41.hxg5

After 41.h5, White queens first, but Black queens with check, and the position remains drawn.

41...Kxg5 42.Kf7 Kf5 43.Ke7 Ke4 44.Kd7 Kd3 45.Kc6 Kc2 46.Kxc5 Kxb3 ½–½

Benidorm Bali Round Two

Spanton (1896) - Enrique Martínez Pérez (1726)

Modern/Pirc

1.Nc3 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.d4 c6 4.f4 d6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0

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

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White has more space and a slight lead in development, which together give the upper hand, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

7...a5!?

This is Stockfish17.1's top choice, for a while, and is anyway preferred over the much more popular 7...b5, which the engines agree is well-met by 8.e5. Dragon1 also prefers the text over 7...b5, but to a lesser degree, and eventually both engines settle on 7...Nbd7!? as best.

8.a4 Qb6 9.Kh1 Na6 10.Ra3!? Bd7 11.Rb3 Qc7 12.Be3 Ng4 13.Bf1 Nb4 14.Qd2 d5

The engines dislike this, preferring 14...Rad8 or 14...Nf6.

How should White proceed?

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15.h3

The engines much prefer 15.e5.

15...dxe4!

This equalises, according to the engines.

16.Nxe4 Nf6 17.Nc5 Bc8

The engines give 17...Bf5!, the point being 18.g4 can be met by 18...Ne4 (not 18...Bxc2?? 19.Rxb4 etc) 19.Nxe4 Bxe4, when they reckon Black is at least slightly better. White should probably play 18.c3, when 18...b6 19.cxb4 bxc5 seems equal.

18.c3 Nbd5 19.f5!?

White gets reasonable compensation for this pawn sac, but I probably should have gone for my other main thought of 19.c4!?, and after 19...Nb4, best may be 20.Ne3.

How should Black respond?

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19...b6!?

This zwischenzug is Black's best chance for an edge.

20.Bh2 Qd8 21.Nd3

21.fxg6!? is probably asking too much of the position after 21...bxc5, eg 22.gxh7+ (the engines reckon this is is better than taking on f7) Nxh7 (22...Kh8!?) 23.dxc5 Bf5!? 24.Ne5 Be4!?, with a complicated position that the engines reckon favours Black.

21...Bxf5 22.Nfe5 Ne4!? 23.Qc1 Qc8?!

The engines suggest 23...Rc8 or 23...f6, claiming a slight edge for Black.

24.c4 Nb4 25.Nxb4 axb4 26.g4!? Be6 27.Bf3 Bxe5!?

This looks risky, but Dragon1 reckons it is best. Stockfish17.1 also likes the text, but reckons 27...f6 is as good.

28.Bxe5 Nd6 29.Qh6 f6 30.Bxd6 exd6 31.d5!?

31.Rxb4 regains the pawn and gives complete equality, according to the engines.

31...cxd5 32.cxd5?

Capturing on b4 is best.

Black to play and win

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32...Bf7?

Missing 32...Qc4!, forking the white rooks.

33.Rfc1 Qd7 34.Rxb4 Ra5

There seems nothing wrong with 34...Rxa4.

35.Qd2 Rc8?!

Capturing on  a4 is still playable, and is better than the text.

36.Rxc8+

Possibly stronger is 36.Rc6!?, with a slight edge, according to Dragon1, although Stockfish17.1 reckons the position is equal.

36...Qxc8 37.Rxb6 Rxa4

How would you assess this late-middlegame?

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The engines reckon the position is completely equal.

38.Rc6

Not 38.Rxd6? Ra1+, eg 39.Kg2 Qc5 40.Rd8+ Kg7 41.Qf2 Qc7, and White's rook drops, or 39.Bd1 Qb8! 40.Rxf6 Qb3 etc.

38...Qb8 39.Qc3?

Probably best is 39.Kg2, with equality, according to the engines.

Black to play and win

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39...Kg7?

Missing 39...Ra1+, followed by 40...Qa7, eg 40.Kg2 Qa7 41.Kg3 Qg1+ 42.Bg2 Re1 etc.

40.g5 Qd8?

Black has to play 40...Rf4, according to the engines, and after 41.gxf6+ probably has to continue with 41...Kh6!?, as 41...Rxf6 42.b4 gives White a dangerous queenside initiative.

White to play and win

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41.gxf6+

This wins a pawn, but not the game, whereas 41.b4! wins comfortably, according to the engines, as Black cannot cope with pressure against f6 and d6 as well as the advancing passed pawn.

41...Qxf6 42.Rxd6 Qd4!

There is no win after this.

43.Kg2 Rb4 44.Kg3 Rc4 45.Qxd4 Rxd4 46.Rd7 Kf6 47.b3 h5 48.h4 Rb4 49.Bd1 Rd4

EMP offered a draw in my time.

50.Bc2 Rxd5!?

The engines do not like this because they do not understand the coming bishop-and-pawn ending. Stockfish17.1 reckons the move gives White the upper hand, while Dragon1 reckons White's advantage after the text is worth more than a rook, but they are both wrong.

51.Rxd5 Bxd5 52.b4

This allows complete equality, but so does 52.Kf4 as Black has 52...Bxb3!, which the Syzygy endgame tablebase confirms is a draw (White's bishop is on the wrong colour complex for promoting an h pawn).

52...g5 53.b5 Bb7 54.Bd1 Kg6 55.Bf3 gxh4+ 56.Kf2 Bc8 57.b6 Kg5 58.Kg2 h3+ 59.Kh2 h4 60.Bd5

EMP offered a draw.

60...Kf5 61.Bc6 Ke5 62.Bd7 Bb7 63.Bxh3 Kd6 64.Bg2 ½–½

Cap Negret Round Eight

FACED a fellow Battersea Chess Club member.

Spanton (1896) - Paul Stokes (1807)

QGD Exchange

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 c6 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.Qc2 h6!?

Magnus Carlsen has helped make ...h6 a fashionable move in the Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined.

9.Bh4 0-0

Levon Aronian (2777) - Carlsen (2685), Grenke Classic (Baden-Baden) 2015, went 9...Nh5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.0-0-0!? Nb6 12.Nf3 Bg4 13.Kb1 Nf6 14.Rc1 Nfd7 15.Ka1!? 0-0-0, when White is slightly better, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 (½–½, 64 moves).

10.Nf3 Ne8 11.Bg3 Bd6 12.0-0 Bxg3 13.hxg3

With the opening over and the middlegame underway, how would you assess the position?

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It is largely typical of one arising from the Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit, with White ahead on development and ready to start a Minority Attack on the queenside. Perhaps the main difference from such typical positions is White's damaged kingside. Stockfish17.1 reckons the game is equal, but Dragon1 hovers between equality and giving White a slight edge.

13...Nd6 14.b4 Nf6 15.b5

The engines prefer preparing this with 15.a4, as in Jacobo Bolbochán - Carlos Enrique Guimard, Mar del Plata (Argentina) 1943, which continued 15...Be6 16.Rfc1 Rc8 17.Qb1 Qe7 18.b5 c5!? 19.dxc5 Rxc5 20.Nd4 Rfc8, with equal chances, according to the engines (½–½, 44 moves).

15...cxb5 16.Nxb5 Nxb5 17.Bxb5 Be6 18.Rfc1 Rc8 19.Qb3 Qb6 20.Ne5 Rc7 21.Rxc7 Qxc7 22.Bd3 Nd7!?

22...Nd7!? is Stockfish17.1's top choice, but Dragon1 is less keen for quite some time, until eventually agreeing the text is best (I thought it strange to offer to swop off the better of Black's two minor pieces, but the engines presumably take the view that the exchange is worth it to get rid of White's well-placed knight)

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23.Nxd7 Qxd7 24.Rb1 b6 25.Ba6!? Qc6 26.Qa3 Rd8 27.Rc1 Qd6!?

The engines prefer 27...Qd7.

28.Qa4

After 28.Qxd6 Rxd6 29.Bb5!? Black is slightly better, according to the engines.

28...Bd7 29.Qb3 Bf5 30.Qc3 Be6 31.a4 g6 32.Rb1 Rd7 33.Rc1 Re7 34.a5 bxa5 35.Qxa5 Kg7 36.Be2 Rb7 37.Ra1 Rc7 38.Bf3 Qb6!?

The engines are fine with this move - Stockfish17.1 reckons the game is completely equal, although Dragon1 is less sure - but after queens come off, White has new probing chances to explore.

39.Qxb6 axb6 40.Rb1

How should Black proceed?

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40...Rc6

Black does not need to immediately defend the b pawn, so the engines suggest 40...h5!? or 40...Rc8!? After, for example, 40...h5!? 41.Rxb6 Rc1+ 42.Kh2 Rc2, they reckon the game is completely equal.

41.g4!?

The engines at first rate this move quite highly, but given plenty of time they come to view it as not giving much of an edge at all, although agreeing it is the best try in the position.

41...g5!?

41...Kf6 is preferred by the engines.

42.Rb5 Rd6 43.Kh2!?

The king is headed for g2, which makes the text a complete waste of a tempo, but that is not serious in a position where the opponent has no counterplay.

43...Kf8 44.g3 Ke7 45.Kg2 Kd8 46.Be2 Kc7 47.f4!?

The point of White's manoeuvres - to open a second front.

47...f6 48.f5!? Bd7 49.Rb1

White now has more pawns than Black on light squares, but space has been gained, although the engines reckon the position is completely equal

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49...h5?

Several moves maintain equality, according to the engines, including 49...Rc6 and 49...Ba4. Their point is White cannot gain an advantage going after the h pawn as the b pawn is too fast.

50.Rc1+ Kb7 51.gxh5 Bxf5 52.g4

Even stronger, according to the engines, is 52.Rf1 or 52.Kf3.

52...Bh7 53.Rf1 Kc6 54.Rc1+ Kd7

If 54...Kb7, the engines reckon both 55.Kf2 and 55.Bf3 are winning.

55.Bb5+ Ke6 56.Rc7 Be4+ 57.Kg3 Rd8 58.Rc6+?!

White is still better after this, but 58.Rb7 wins a pawn as 58...Rd6? can be met by 59.h6 Rd8 60.h7! (60.Rxb6+ Ke7! holds, according to the engines) Rh8 61.Bd7+ Kd6 62.Bf5, winning.

58...Rd6?

58...Ke7 and 58...Kf7 seem to give fair drawing chances, although the engines disagree as to which move is better.

59.Rc8 Kf7 60.Rc7+ Kg8 61.Bd7!?

Black's rook is imprisoned, but it seems 61.Rb7 is even stronger

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61...Kh8

The engines much prefer 61...b5!, giving up the b pawn to get counterplay, eg 62.Rb7!? Ra6 63.Rxb5 Ra2 64.Be6+ Kg7 65.Bxd5 Rg2+ 66.Kh3 Re2 67.Rb7+ Kh8 68.Rb8+ Kg7 69.Rg8+ Kh7 70.Rd8 Rxe3+ 71.Kh2 Bc2, at the end of which White has a slight edge (Stockfish17.1) or at best the upper hand (Dragon1), although the line is very hard to visualise from the diagram.

62.Kf2?!

Almost certainly better is 62.Rb7 or 62.Bf5!?

62...Kg8

The engines reckon ...b5 is still the best try.

63.Ke1?!

Again the engines much prefer Rb7 or Bf5.

63...b5!

White has just a slight edge after this sacrifice, according to the engines

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64.Bxb5 Rb6 65.Rc5 Bf3?

The engines reckon Black holds with both 65...Kh7 and 65...Kg7.

White to play and win

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66.Bd7! Rb1+

Or 66...Be4 67.Bc6 Rb1+ 68.Kf2 Rb2+ 69.Kg3 Rg2+ 70.Kh3 Re2 71.Bxd5+ Bxd5 72.Rxd5 Rxe3+ 73.Kg2, after which White is 'only' a pawn up in a rook-and-pawn ending, but White has two passers, and the black pawns are held up by a solitary white one.

67.Kf2 1-0

After 67...Be4 68.Be6+ Kg7 69.Bxd5, White has an even better version of the line given in the previous note.

Cap Negret Round One

Manuel Lozano Marqués (1635) - Spanton (1896)

Bird

1.f4 c5 2.Nf3 d5 3.d4!?

A rare continuation. The main move is 3.e3.

How should Black respond?

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3...cxd4

Also popular is 3...e6, but Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer the text.

4.Nxd4

Stockfish17.1 suggests the apparently unplayed gambit 4.c3!?

4...Nc6 5.Nc3 e5!?

Probably a novelty. The known move is 5...Nf6.

6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.fxe5 d4!?

Major alternatives are 7...Bc5 and 7...Bb4.

8.Ne4 Qd5

Perhaps 8...Qa5+ is better, when the engines fluctuate between 9.Qd2!? and 9.c3!?

9.Nd6+ Bxd6 10.cxd6 Nf6!? 11.e3 Bg4?

The engines suggest 11...0-0 12.Qxd4 Qxd4 13.exd4 Re8+, albeit agreeing Black does not have enough for two pawns.

12.Qxd4 Qxd4 13.exd4 0-0 14.Bd3 Rfe8+

How would you assess this queenless middlegame?

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Black has a large lead in development, and one of White's extra pawns is doubled and almost certain to fall. However, White will have little difficulty getting his pieces into play, thus catching up on development, and should emerge a sound pawn up, and with a 4-2 farside pawn-majority. The engines reckon White is winning.

15.Kf2

Even stronger, according to the engines, is 15.Kf1!?

15...Ne4+ 16.Bxe4 Rxe4 17.Be3

The engines cannot agree on the best continuation, but one interesting line given by Stockfish17.1 runs 17.c4!? Rxd4 18.c5.

17...Rd8 18.Rhe1 Rxd6 19.c3 f5?!

White is at best only slightly better after 19...Rf6+ 20.Kg1 Rfe6, according to the engines.

20.Rde6 21.Rxe4 fxe4!?

The engines prefer 21...Rxe4, but agree 22.Re1!? wins, despite Black being able to swop off into an opposite-coloured bishops ending.

22.Re1 Kf7 23.b4

The engines prefer 23.c4.

23...Ke7

The engines reckon 23...Rf6+!? gives good drawing chances, eg 24.Ke3 Be6!? 25.a4 a6!? 26.Kxe4 Bc4!?, although White's two extra pawns are always going to be threatening.

24.a4 a6 25.c4 Kd7

How should White proceed?

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26.b5?!

This may be premature. The engines suggest a consolidating move such as 26.Ke3 or 26.Rb1.

26...axb5 27.axb5 cxb5 28.cxb5 Bf5 29.Ke3

Not 29.Rb1?? e3+ etc.

29...Rb6 30.Rb1 Kd6?!

The engines give 30...Be6!?, the point being 31.Kxe4 Bc4 should be fine for Black. Instead, the engines suggest 31.Ba5 Rb7 32.b6, claiming at least the upper hand for White.

31.Bb4+ Kd5 32.Bc5 Rb7 33.Rb4

Even stronger is 33.b6 or 33.Rf1, according to the engines.

33...g5?!

Best seems to be 33...Bd7 34.b6 Bc6, when the engines agree White has a large advantage - winning, according to Dragon1 - but the position may well be drawn (Dragon1's top two moves, 35.Rb1 and 35.Rb3, have for a long time an identical evaluation of +1.52, changing later to +1.46, often a sign that a position, although claimed to be winning, is really drawn ... with correct play).

34.b6 Bc8 35.Ra4 Rf7 36.Ra7?!

Best may be 36.Ra8 Bb7 37.Rg8, when Black is losing another pawn.

36...Bb7 37.Ra2 Ke6 38.Ra7 h5 39.Ra2 g4 40.Rf2!?

The win has gone, anyway, and this confirms that, but it may be my opponent wanted to exchange rooks out of worry I might be able to conjure up winning chances for Black on the kingside.

40...Rxf2 41.Kxf2 e3+ 42.Kxe3 Bxg2 43.Kf2 Bc6 44.Kg3 Kf5 45.Kh4 Bf3!? 46.Bd6

Not 46.Kxh4?? g3+ etc.

46...Ke6 47.Be5

MLM offered a draw in my time.

47...Kd7

Not 47...Kd5?? 48.b7 etc.

48.Kg3 Kc6 49.Bc7 Kb7 ½–½

British 65+ Championship Round Four

Spanton (1947 ECF/1982 Fide) - Brian Hewson (2097 ECF/2062 Fide)

Caro-Kann Tartakower

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.Be3!?

There are 821 examples of this move in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database. One of the ideas is to possibly dispense with the move c3.

How should Black respond?

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6...Be6

The main continuation in Mega25 is 6...Bd6, which is also liked by Stockfish17 and Dragon1. They also like 6...Na6!?

7.Bd3 Bd6 8.Ne2!? Nd7 9.Nf4!?

This involves a positional pawn sacrifice. The engines prefer 9.0-0 or 9.c4.

9...Bxf4 10.Bxf4 Qb6

How should White proceed?

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11.0-0!?

Effectively making it a double-pawn sacrifice. This is a slight improvement, according to the engines, on Alejandro Pablo Marin (2455) - Salvador Armengol Navrro (2260), Catalonia Team Championship 1999, which went 11.c3!? Qxb2 12.Bd2 Nb6 13.0-0 0-0, when White did not seem to have enough for a pawn, although the game was drawn in 61 moves.

However, best, according to the engines, is 11.Be3!?, eg 11...Qxb2 12.0-0 Qa3!?, with an unclear position but one in which they reckon White has decent compensation for a pawn.

11...Qxd4 12.Qd2

The engines suggest 12.Qc1!?, and if, as in the game, 12...Ne5, then 13.Rd1 0-0-0!?, when Stockfish17 reckons White has enough for a pawn, but Dragon1 disagrees.

12...Ne5!

Grabbing the b pawn is possible, but the engines agree the text is best.

13.Be3 Qd6

The engines prefer either taking on b2, or 13...Qh4!?

14.Rad1?!

The wrong rook, according to the engines, whereas after 14.Rfd1 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 Qxd3 16.Rxd3 White has enough for a pawn (Stockfish17) or is only slightly worse (Dragon1).

14...Nxd3 15.Qc3?

Not 15.Qxd3?! Qxd3 16.Rxd3? as, in contrast to the previous note, Black has the skewer 16...Bc4. However the engines' 15.Rfe1 is an improvement.

After 15...Qc3? it is Black to play and gain a winning advantage

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15...Nf4!

Black also has at least a slight edge after 15...Bf5, but the text is much stronger.

16.Rxd6

Forced.

16...Ne2+ 17.Kh1 Nxc3 18.bxc3 Bxa2 19.Bc5!?

The engines fluctuate between the text and 19.Ra1 Bd5 20.Bc5 a5!? 21.Re1+ Be6 22.Rb1 0-0 23.Rxb7 a4 24.Ba3 Rfe8, which they also assess as winning for Black.

19...Be6 20.Ra1 0-0

20...a5 21.Rb1 is a transposition to the previous note.

21.Rxa7!? Rxa7 22.Bxa7 Ra8 23.h3 h6

Not 23...Rxa7?? 24.Rd8#.

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

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Black is a pawn up, but the extra pawn is doubled and part of a majority that cannot create a passer by normal means. There are also opposite-coloured bishops, which means Black must be careful to only allow an exchange of rooks if the resulting bishop ending is clearly winning. However, White's c2 pawn is chronically weak and cannot be defended in the long run. The engines agree Black is winning, but reckon Black's advantage is worth less than a minor piece.

24.Bb6 Ra6 25.Rd8+ Kh7 26.Bd4 Ra4 27.Bb6 Rc4 28.Ba5 Bd5 29.Rd7 b6!? 30.Bb4

Or 30.Bxb6 Rxc3 and 31...Rxc2.

30...Re4 31.Rd6

Black also wins after 31.Re7 c5!? 32.Rxe4 Bxe4 33.Ba3 Kg6, with ...Bxc2 to come, according to the engines.

31...Re2?

Better first is 31...b5.

32.c4 Bxc4 33.Rxc6 b5 34.Bxc5 Rxc2

Despite the slip at move 31, the engines reckon Black is still winning

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35.Rb6 Kg6 36.Bf8??

This 'only' loses a pawn, but the loss of f2 turns the assessment from a little over +2.00 in Black's favour to more than +4.50.

36...Rxf2 37.Kg1 Rb2 38.g3 h5 39.h4 Bd5 40.Kf1 Rb3 41.Kf2!? Rf3+ 42.Ke1 Rxg3 43.Rxb5 Bc4 44.Rb2 Rh3?!

Black is winning comfortably after this, according to the engines, but the text makes the ending less straightforward than it should be.

45.Rg2+ Kf5 46.Bxg7 Rh1+!? 47.Kd2 Rxh4 48.Ke3?

Better is 48.Rf2+ as 48...Rf4? 49.Rxf4+ Kxf4 50.Bxf6 is drawn, eg 50...Kg3 51.Be5+ Kg2 Bf6 etc. However the engines reckon 48...Kg4 49.Bxf6 Rh3! wins.

48...Re4+ 49.Kd2 h4 50.Rf2+ Rf4 51.Ke3 Rxf2 52.Kxf2 Kg5

This is the only winning move, according to the Syzygy endgame tablebase, but it is obvious enough.

53.Kg2 Bd5+ 54.Kh3 Be6+ 55.Kg2 f5 56.Be5 f4 57.Bc7 Kg4 58.Bb6 Bd5+ 59.Kh2 h3 60.Bc5 Bg2 61.Kg1 Kf3 62.Bf2!? Ke2

Not 62...h2+?? 63.Kxh2 Kxf2 stalemate.

63.Bg3!? Kf3 64.Bf2 Kg4 65.Kh2 Bd5 66.Bg1 Be6 67.Bc5 Kf3 68.Kg1 Ke2 69.Bd6 f3 70.Bg3 f2+ 71.Bxf2 h2+ 0-1

League Chess

PLAYED on board one (of five) for Battersea against Pimlico 3 in Central London League Division Two last night.

Spanton (1985) - Simon Wilks (2127)

French Defence

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bd3 c5!?

The main move is 5...Bd6, but Stockfish17 and Dragon1 also like the text.

6.0-0!? c4 7.Re1+ Be7 8.Bf1 0-0

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

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Black has more space on the queenside, but that is easily challengeable in a way that is likely to leave Black with an IQP, albeit not on a semi-open file, and White with a half-open a file. The engines reckon the position is equal.

9.b3!?

Kasparov played 9.Bg5 in a win over Korchnoi at Tilburg (Netherlands) 1991, but the engines prefer the text.

9...cxb3 10.axb3 Nc6 11.c4!?

The main line in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database runs 11.Ne5!? Bf5 12.Nxc6 bxc6, when Dragon1 gives White a slight edge, but Stockfish17 is less convinced.

11...Bg4 12.Be3?

Correct is 12.Bb2, and if, as in the game, 12...Bb4!?, then 13.Re3.

12...Bb4! 13.Nbd2
Duško Pavasovič (2546) - Steve Berger (2435), Chess.com Rapid 1991, went 13.Re2 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Re8, with at least a slight edge for Black, according to the engines (0-1, 56 moves).

The engines suggest 13.Bd2!? Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Nxd4 15.Qd1 Bxd2 16.Nxd2 dxc4, again with at least a slight edge for Black.

13...Bc3

The engines reckon 13...Ne4!? is even stronger.

14.Rc1 Bxd4

The engines prefer maintaining the pressure with 14...Bb4!?

15.Bxd4 Nxd4 16.h3 Nxf3+ 17.Nxf3 Bh5!? 18.g4 Bg6 19.g5 Ne4 20.Qxd5 Qxd5 21.cxd5 Rfd8

Equal, according to the engines

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22.Bd3?

But not anymore.

22...Nxg5 23.Nxg5 Rxd5!

This is much better than 23...Bxd3 24.Rc7.

24.Be4?

After 24.Nxf7 Rxd3 25.Ne5 Rxh3 26.Nxg6 hxg6 White is two pawns down, but Black has 'only' the upper hand, according to the engines.

24...Rxg5+ 25.Bg2 Rb5?!

It was almost certainly better to activate the queen's rook or king.

26.Re3?

Better is the engines' 26.Rc7 Rxb3 27.Ra1!
26...h6 27.Rc7 a5?

For once a passive rook move, 27...Rb8!?, is best.

28.Rxb7 Rxb7 29.Bbx7 Rb8 30.Bd5

The engines prefer 30.Bg2!?

30...Kf8 31.Rc3 Rb4?

Black still has at least the upper hand after 31...Bf5, according to the engines, eg 32.Kg2?! Rd8 33.Bc4 a4! 34.bxa4 Rc8 etc. Better is 32.Rc7!? Be6 33.Bxe6 fxe6, but the engines reckon the rook-and-pawn ending is winning for Black.

32.Rc5 a4!? 33.bxa4 Rxa4 34.Rc7

The engines prefer immediately activating the king with 34.Kg2.

34...Rd4 35.Bg2 Bf5 36.Kh2 g5 37.Ra7 Be6 38.Bf3 Rf4 39.Ra3 Kg7 40.Kg3 Kg6 41.Re3?!

The rook is probably better kept at a distance.

41...h5 42.Be4+ Kg7 43.Bf3?!

And here the engines prefer removing the bishop from the crowded kingside with 43.Bc6.

43...Kh6 44.Kg2?

After 44.Bc6 White probably holds.

Black to play and win

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44...Bxh3+! 45.Kxh3 Rxf3+! 46.Rxf3 g4+ 47.Kg3 gxf3 48.Kxf3

The pawn-ending is a simple win for Black

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48...Kg5 49.Kg3 h4+ 50.Kh3 f6 51.f3 f5 52.Kg2 Kf4 53.Kh3 Kxf3 54.Kxh4 f4 55.Kh3 Ke2 0-1
Pimlico 3 won the match 3-2.
MY BATTERSEA SEASON 2024-5

DATE.....EVENT...........................COL..RATING..OPP'S RATING..SCORE..SEASON PERF

12/9/24..Central London League....W......1933..........1886................1............2286

26/9/24..Central London League....B.......1933..........2112................1............2399

15/10/24.Club Championship.........W......1968..........1578................1............2259*

31/10/24.Central London League...B.......1968..........1867................0...........2061*

19/11/24.London League...............W.......1957..........1991................1............2127*

21/11/24.Central London League...B.......1957..........2035................=............2112*

27/11/24.London League...............W.......1957..........1723................=............2056*

12/12/24.Central London League...B.......1965..........2153................0............2018*

7/1/25.....Club Championship.........B.......1958..........1785................1............2037*

9/1/25.....Central London League...B.......1958..........1851................0............1978

14/1/25....Eastman Cup.................B........1958..........2052................1............2021*

28/1/25....London League..............B........1958..........1766................1............2033*

4/2/25......London League..............B........1980..........1757................1............2043*

6/2/25......Central London League..W.......1980..........1932................0............2006*

11/2/25....Central London League..B........1986..........2178................=............2018*

13/2/25....Central London League.W........1986..........1998................1............2042*

27/2/25....Central London League..B........1986..........1996................0............2015*

13/3/25....Central London League..B........1984..........2286................0............2008*

17/3/25....London League..............W........1984..........1870................0............1980*

3/4/25......Central London League..W.......1985...........2127...............0............1967

*My season's performance is slightly better than this as my win against a 1578 was a 1978 performance, lowering my average despite me winning.

I also scored a default win in a Croydon & District League match.

Bad Wörishofen Round Six

Spanton (1911) - Bernhard Vonach (1836)

Spanish Exchange

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 bxc6!?

The other recapture is much more popular, but the text has been played by grandmasters

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5.Nc3!?

This is fourth-most popular in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, behind 5.d4, 5.Nxe5!? and especially 5.0-0.

5...d6

Stockfish17 and Dragon1 like the rare 5...Qf6!?, albeit reckoning White is slightly better.

6.d4 exd4

How should White recapture?

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7.Nxd4

The engines prefer the less popular 7.Qxd4!?

7...c5!?

One of first-world-correspondence-champion Cecil Purdy's aphorisms - I do not have the reference to hand - is that it usually pays to advance the front member of a pawn-duo, and here the move is the top choice of Stockfish17, although Dragon1 prefers 7...Ne7!?

8.Nf3

The engines suggest an apparent-novelty, 8.Nc6!? meeting 8...Qd7 with 9.Na5 (not 9.Qd5?? Nf6).

8...Bg4!?

The position after 8.Nf3 is reached six times in Mega25, with six different moves played. The engines do not like the text. 

9.h3 Bh5?

The bishop should retreat along the h3-c8 diagonal (even 9...Bxf3?! is better than the text).

10.0-0?!

White has at least the upper hand after this, according to the engines, but stronger is 10.Qd5 Nf6 (10...Bxf3? 11.Qc6+ Ke7 12.Nd5+ Ke6 13.Nxc7+ etc) 11.Qc6+ Nd7 (11...Ke7? 12.Bg5, with Nd5+ to come) 12.g4 (other moves are also good) Bg6 13.Nd5 Ra7 14.Bg6 f6 15.e5!? fxg5 16.e6, with a large advantage, according to the engines.

10...Bxf3?!

The engines suggest 10...Be7 or 10...Ne7!?

11.Qxf3 Qf6?

Hoping to relieve pressure by getting queens off, but the black queen becomes a target on f6 in a way that the white queen does not on f3.

12.Qe2

The engines reckon even stronger is 12.Bf4, with Nd5 or e5 to come.

12...Qd8?!

Black should probably cover the d5 square with ...Ne7 or ...c6.

13.Rd1!?

This seems best as it makes the pawn-push e5 strong.

13...Ne7 14.Be3

Despite Black's last move, 14.e5!? is still best, the idea being to meet 14...d5 by 15.Nxd5! Nxd5 16.c4 c6 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.e6, with a large advantage, according to the engines.

14...Qb8 15.Qd2

The text threatens 16.Bxc5! as 16...dxc5?? allows mate in one, but the engines still like pushing the e pawn.

15...Qb6 16.Bg5 f6 17.Nd5 Qc6

This is probably better than 17...Nxd5 18.Qxd5.

18.Bh4 Nxd5

The engines fluctuate between the text, 18...Ng6 and 18...Kf7!?

19.cxd5 Qd7 20.Re1+ Be7 21.Qe3

21.Re6 allows time for 21...0-0.

21...Kf7!? 22.Re2 Rae8 23.Qd3

How should Black proceed?

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23...Bd8!

The best move in a difficult position, according to the engines. After 23...Qb5?! (protecting the a6 pawn) 24.c4 Qd7 24.Rae1 Black is in big trouble, eg 24...g6 25.Re6 Bd8 26.Qe3 Rhf8 27.g4 with continuing intense pressure.

24.Qxa6 Rxe2!?

Possibly better is activating the queen with 24...Qf5.
25.Qxe2 Re8 26.Qd3 Qa4 27.Qxh7!?

This is good but perhaps 27.c4, protecting d5 and cutting the black queen off from the kingside, is simpler.

27...Re4!?

This wins back a pawn since White cannot save both the bishop and c2.

28.Bg3 Qxc2 29.Kh2!?

This is best (Black threatened, among other things, to win the white queen with 29...Re1+ etc).

29...Re2

White to play and maintain a winning advantage

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30.Qxc2?

This throws away almost all of White's advantage, whereas 30.Qh5+ Kg8 31.a4 Qxb2 32.Rb1! Qxb1 (forced) 33.Qxe2 wins easily, eg 33...Kf8 34.a5 Qa1 35.Qb5 c4 36.a6 c3 37.Bf4 c2 38.Qc6 leaves Black helpless.

30...Rxc2

BV thought for a few seconds after making this move, and then offered a draw.

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

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White is, at least temporarily, a pawn up, and has the better bishop, but Black's rook is very active, and Black will be able to free his queenside pawns by playing ...Ke7-d7 and ...c6. The engines at first reckon White has the better part of equality, but Dragon1 comes to call the position completely equal, and Stockfish17 very nearly does.

31.a4!? Rxb2 32.a5 Rb7 33.f4!?

The engines at first do not like this, but Stockfich17 comes to regard it as fine. Dragon1 slightly prefers 33.a6 Ra7 and 34.Bf4 or 34.h4.

33...Ke7 34.Be1!?

Again a move that the engines do not like at first, but it comes to be Dragon1's top choice, at least for a while.

34...Kd7 35.f5?

But the engines strongly dislike this, preferring 35.g4 or 35.h4!?, eg 35.g4 c6 36.dxc6+ Kxc6 37.h4 d5 38.g5 fxg5 39.fxg5 d4 40.a6 Ra7 41.Kg3, reckoning the position is equal, although it would still be difficult (for humans) to play.

The difference between the text and the engines' suggestions at move 35 is, I believe, that the text leaves White needing an extra tempo to create a kingside passed pawn.

35...c6 36.dxc6+ Kxc6 37.g4 d5 38.Kg2 d4 39.Kf3 Kd5!?

This allows the black rook to be trapped, but the resulting position is still winning for Black.

40.a6 Ra7 41.Bg3!?

This seems to be objectively inferior to, for example, 41.h4, but it complicates matters, whereas after 41.h4 c4 Black's winning plan is a lot more straightforward.

41...c4 42.Bb8 Ra8 43.a7

Black is effectively the exchange down, but Black's advantage is roughly the equivalent of being a rook up, according to the engines

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43...Bb6 44.h4 d3 45.g5 c3 46.gxf6 gxf6 47.h5 Kc4 48.h6 Bxa7!

This piece sacrifice is the only way to win as 48...d2 is met by 49.Ke2, and 48...c2 by 49.Bf4.

49.Bxa7

Black to play and win

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49...d2?

White has no answer to 49...c2.

50.Ke2 Re8+ 51.Be3 Kb3 52.h7 Kc2 53.Rd1

Black to play and draw

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53...Rh8?

Three moves draw: 53...Rd8, 53...Kb3 and 53...Rxe3+!?

54.Bxd2!?

Another bishop sacrifice, but there is nothing difficult about this one.

54...Rxh7

Or 54...cxd2 55.Rxd2+ Kc3 56.Rd7 etc.

55.Rc1+ Kb2 56.Rxc3 Rh2+ 57.Kd3 Rh3+ 58.Kc4 Rh4+ 59.Kd5 Rh2 60.Rd3 Kc2 61.Rd4!? 1-0