European 65+ Team: Game One

Playing hall

England 3 v Finland

Spanton (2003) - Heikki Westerinen (GM 2205)

Spanish Exchange

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Nc3 0-0-0 9.Be3 Bd6 10.0-0-0

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

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As usual in the Exchange Variation of the Spanish, especially in lines with an early d4, the battle has quickly become a queenless-middlegame clash between Black's bishop-pair and White's better pawn-structure. Stockfish18 and Dragon1 reckon Black has the better part of equality, which is more-or-less borne out by the score from this position in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database of +13=38-17, ie Black scores 53% over 68 games.

10....Ne7 11.Nb3!? Ng6

Three games in Mega26 saw 11...b6?, when 12.Bxb6 wins a pawn, but possibly even better is 12.Rxd6!? cxd6 13.Bxb6, when Wilhelm Schönmann - Josef Lokvenc, German Chess Federation Congress (Frankfurt) 1923, continued 13...Rde8 14.Rd1 f5 15.Rxd6 fxe4 16.Nc5 Bf5 17.a4, with much more than enough for the exchange, according to the engines (1-0, 34 moves).

12.Nc5

How should Black proceed?

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12...Rhe8!?

Euwe preserved the bishop-pair with 12...Be8 in a 1920 game, but the engines reckon White is fine after both 13.h4 and 13.Nd3. The text is Dragon1's top choice, at least for a while, and Stockfish18 also comes to rate it highly, but the engines also like 12...h5 and 12...Nh4, and Dragon1 eventually rates Euwe's move and 12...Nh4 as equally good.

13.Nxd7 Rxd7 14.a3!?

An apparent-novelty, played to prevent 14...Bb4, but the engines prefer 14.f3, or another apparent-novelty in 14.h4!?

14...Ne5 15.f3?!

This is probably a mistake. The engines suggest 15.Bf4.

15...Nc4 16.Bf2 Bf4+ 17.Kb1

Black to play and gain at least the upper hand

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17...Bd2?!

Much better, according to the engines, is 17...Red8, when one of their main line runs 18.Bh4!? Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 20.Nxd1 Bxh2, netting Black a pawn, while they agree 18.Rxd7 Rxd7 19.Nd1 Rd2 20.g3 Bh6 leaves White positionally lost.

18.Na4

Not 18.Be1? Red8, when 19.Bxd2 Rxd2 20.Rxd2 Rxd2 21.Rg1 Ne3 leaves Black winning the g2 or c2 pawn.

18...b6

White seems fine after 18...Red8 19.Nc5.

19.Ka2 Red8 20.Kb3?!

Probably better is 20.b3. I was worried that 20...Nxa3!? 21.Kxa3 Bb4+ 22.Kxb2 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Rxd1 was strong, but the engines give Black at best a slight edge.

20...Be3!? 21.Rxd7 Rxd7 22.Bxe3?!

Almost certainly better is 22.Kxc4, eg 22...b5+ 23.Kb4 Bxf2 24.Nc3, although the engines give Black the upper hand after, for example, 24...Bd4. Black could try the immediate 22...Bxf2, but 23.Nc3 b5+ 24.Kb3 c5 is, according to the engines, only slightly better for Black.

22...Nxe3 23.Kc3

What should Black play?

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23...g6

Possibly best is 23...Nd1+ 24.Kb3 Rd2 25.Re1, and now either 25...g6 or 25...a5, slowly increasing the pressure. The engines also like 23...Rd6, and they agree the text leaves Black positionally winning.

24.g3 c5 25.Re1 Nd1+ 26.Kb3 c4+?!

'Clever', but premature, whereas the engines' 26...Rd2 27.h4 c4+! 28.Ka2 c3! is very strong, eg 29.Nxc3 Nxc3+ 30.bxc3 Rxc2+ 31.Kb3 Rg2 32.g4 Rf2 33.Re3 Rh2, or 29.bxc3 b5 30.Kb1!? bxa4 31.Kc1 Rg2 32.Kxd1 Rxg3.

27.Ka2 g5?!

The engines give 27...b5 and 27...Rd2, in both cases claiming complete equality.

White to play and gain at least a slight edge

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28.g4?!

The engines suggest 28.Kb1, eg 28...Rd6 29.Kc1 Nf2 30.Nc3, when Black's initiative is spent, and White remains with the better pawn-structure.

28...Nf2 29.Re2?!

And here the engines much prefer 29.Nc3.

29...Nh3 30.Nc3 Nf4 31.Rf2 b5 32.Kb1 c5

Perhaps best is 32...Rd6 33.Kc1 Rh6, but White seems fine after 34.Ne2.

33.Kc1 Kc7 34.Rd2?!

The engines strongly dislike this, claiming 34.Ne2 and 34.h4!? give complete equality.

34...Rd4?!

Black has an edge after this, but the engines prefer 34...Rxd2!? 35.Kxd2 b4, eg 36.Nb1 Kc6!? 37.Ke3 Ne6!? 38.h3 Kb5 39.e5!? Ka4 (threatens 40...c3!) 40.axb4 cxb4 41.Ke4 h6!? 42.Kd5 Kb5, when White does not seem to have a good move, eg 43.Nd2 c3 44.bxc3 bxc3 45.Nb3 a5 46.Nc1 Nf4+ 47.Kd4 Nxh3 48.Kxc3 Ng1, after which f3 drops, and White has to contend with a passed a pawn. That is a very long line, with many alternatives along the way, but it illustrates White's difficulties.

35.Nd1

White comes close to equalising with 35.e5!?, according to the engines.

35...Kd6 36.Ne3 Ke5

The engines suggest 36...Ke6!?, and if, as in the game, 37.Nf5, then 37...Rxd2 38.Kxd2 Ng6!?, with what they claim is the upper hand for Black.

37.Nf5 Rxd2 38.Kxd2 h5

Here too the engines suggest 38...Ng6!?, but claim only a slight edge for Black, at best, the difference between the two lines presumably being due to the black king, in the second line, blocking the black knight's access to the e5 square.

39.gxh5 Nxh5 40.Ke3 Nf4 41.Ne7 Kd6 42.Nf5+

Not 42.Nc8+?? as 42...Kd7 traps the white knight.

42...Ke5 43.Ne7 f6 44.Nf5 b4!?

How should White respond?

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45.axb4!?

Also holding is 45.a4, but 45.c3? loses to 45...b3 as Black has ...Nd3 to come.

45...cxb4

Black's queenside pawns are straightened out, but White has enough threats to neutralise them

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46.Ne7 Kd6 47.Ng8

Not 47.Nf5+? as 47...Kc5 is very strong, eg 48.Kd2 Ng6 49.Kc1!? a5 (49...Ne5?! runs into 50.h4! gxh4 51.Nxh4) 50.b3 c3 51.Kd1 Kc6!? 52.Ke2 Nf4+ 53.Kd1 Kb5 54.Nd6+ Kc5 55.Nf5 Ng2 56.Ke2 a4!? 57.bxa4 Kb6 58.Kd1 Ka5 59.Nd4 Kxa4 60.Kc1 Ka3 61.Kb1 Ne3 62.Nb5+ Ka4 63.Nd4 Nf1 64.h3 Nd2+ 65.Ka2 Ka5 66.e5!? fxe5 67.Nc6+ Kb5 68.Nxe5 Ka4, when, at the end of another long engine-generated line, White is suddenly in zugzwang. Again there were lots of alternatives along the way, but Black was having all the fun.

47...Ke5 48.Ne7 Kd6 ½–½

TEAM RESULT

Bo.	13	England 3	Rtg	-	4	Finland	Rtg	2 : 2
4.1		Spanton, Tim R	2003	-	GM	Westerinen, Heikki M.J.	2205	½ - ½
4.2		Freeman, Jon A	1950	-	FM	Henttinen, Markku I.O.	2176	½ - ½
4.3		Guilfoyle, John M	1921	-		Joentausta, Hannu	2092	½ - ½
4.4		Wilson, Edgar	1903	-	FM	Vinke, Dietmar	2042	½ - ½

Mariánské Lázně 50+ Round Four

FACED a German.

Achim Heller (2038) - Spanton (1915)

QGD

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3!?

This somewhat innocuous-looking move could be said to be the continuation of champions in that it has been tried by Steinitz, Alekhine, Tal, Karpov, Kasparov, Anand, Carlsen and other very strong players.

The position occurs 20,770 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database

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4...b6!?

This is fifth-most popular, behind 4...Nbd7, 4...c5, 4...c6 and especially 4...Be7.

5.b3 Bb7

Possible is 5...Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 Bc3!?, but the minor inconvenience caused to White is probably not worth it.

6.Bd3!?

Holding back on developing the queen's bishop, for a reason that will soon become clear.

6...Nbd7 7.0-0 Be7 8.Ba3!?

This is the point. White wants to swop his bad bishop (hemmed in by the white centre pawns) for Black's good bishop, but only after Black has spent a tempo developing the dark-square bishop.

8...0-0

With both sides having castled, how would you assess the position?

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White has two pawns on the fourth rank against Black's one, but Black has a slight lead in development, a lead that will grow after an exchange on e7. After that exchange, White will be left with the technically better bishop, but the pawn-structure is by no means fixed, so it is not possible to say whether that will be a significant factor. Chances are equal, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

9.Bxe7

Dragon1, but not Stockfish17.1, prefers 9.Bb2!?

9...Qxe7 10.Ne5

The engines do not like this, preferring development with 10.Nc3 or 10.Nbd2.

10...Nxe5 11.dxe5 Nd7 12.f4 f6 13.exf6 Rxf6

The engines prefer 13...Nxf6.

14.Nd2 Raf8 15.g3?!

This is slow, and weakens the long light-square diagonal. The engines suggest developing the queen to c2, or to e2, either immediately or after 15.Qh5 g6.

15...e5 16.Re1?!

The engines suggest 16.cxd5 exf4 17.Ne4, but reckon Black gets an advantage by sacrificing the exchange: 17...fxg3! 18.Nxf6+ Rxf6, after which the white king is very exposed, eg 19.Qe2 (19.hxg3?? Qxe3+)  gxh2+ 20.Kh1 (forced) Bxd5+ 21.e4 Bb7, when Black has three pawns for the exchange.

16...exf4 17.exf4

Even worse is 17.gxf4?, eg 17...dxc4 18.Bxc4+ Kh8 19.Bd3 (covering g6) Rxf4! (other moves also win) 20.exf4 Qc5+ 21.Kf1 Rxf4+.

17...Qc5+ 18.Kg2!?

Now 18...dxc4+ can be answered by 19.Be4.

How should Black proceed?

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18...Rh6?

Black has a large advantage after 18...Rd6, eg 19.Qc2 (this is best, according to the engines) dxc4+ 20.Be4 c3! 21.Nf3 Bxe4 22.Rxe4 Nf6.

19.Qf3?

The engines reckon the game is equal after 19.cxd5.

How can Black exploit White's last move?

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19...Qd4!

A relatively quiet move, but it introduces the threat of 20...Ne5, and the even stronger 20...Nc5.

20.Qe3

Probably best is 20.Rad1, but 20...Nc5 simultaneously attacks d3 and protects b7.

20...dxc4+

Even stronger is 20...Qxe3! 21.Rxe3 d4+ 22.Rf3 Re8, when the engines point out that threats include 23...Re3 and 23...Nc5, as well as simply taking the exchange.

21.Be4 Bxe4+?!

This loses much of Black's advantage. Instead the engines give 21...Qxe3! 22.Rxe3 Re8 23.Rae1 Rhe6 24.bxc4 Nf6 25.Kf3 Nxe4 26.Nxe4, when material is equal, but they reckon Black is winning, eg 26...h6 27.f5!? Rc6! 28.Ke2 Rf8 (28...Rxc4?? 28.Nf6+) 29.Nd2 Rxf5 gains a pawn. White could try 27.h4, but then 27...Rxe4! 28.Rxe4 h5 leaves White hopeless, eg 29.R1e3 Kf7 30.a4 Kf6 with ...Kf5 to come. Another try is 27.g4, covering the f5 square, but the engines give 27...g5!, when there comes 28.f5 Re5 29.a3 Kf7 30.R1e2 (30.a4 Bc6 31.R1e2 a5 32.Re1 R5e7 33.R1e2 Bxa4 wins an important pawn) Bc6 31.Re1 a6 32.R1e2 b5 33.cxb5 axb5 34.h3 Bd5 35.Re1 Rxe4!? 36.Rxe4 c5 37.Re2 c4 38.Re1 Rxe4!? 39.Rxe4 c3 etc.

22.Nxe4 Qxe3 23.Rxe3 cxb3 24.axb3

How would you assess this late-middlegame position?

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Black is a pawn up, and has a 3-1 farside majority, but White's pieces are better coordinated, and it is hard to mobilise the black majority. The engines for quite some time give Black a slight edge, but Stockfish17.1 comes to view the game as equal.

24...a5 25.Rd1 Nf6

Threatening 26...Rxh2+!

26.Nf2?!

The engines prefer exchanging on f6, or allowing Black to exchange on e4 after, for example, 26.h4.

26...Re8 27.Rxe8+ Nxe8 28.Ng4?!

The engines prefer 27.Ne4, preventing 27...Rd6.

28...Rd6 29.Re1

Exchanging rooks makes Black's task easier.

29...Kf8 30.Ne5 Rd2+ 31.Kf3!? Nf6

31...Rxh2? lets White force a draw with 32.Nd7+ Kf7 33.Ne5+ Kf8 34.Nd7+ etc, as 33...Kg8?? loses to 34.Ng4.

32.h3 Nd7!?

Going for a rook-and-pawn ending seems the best way to make progress, despite the well-known drawing potential of such endings.

33.Ke4?!

This is almost certainly the wrong way to enter the ending.

33...Nxe5!?

Also strong is 33...Nc5+ 34.Ke3 Rb2.

34.fxe5

Or 34.Kxe5 Rd3.

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

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White's passed pawn is probably more of a weakness than an asset, and meanwhile Black has 3-1 on the queenside. The engines reckon Black is roughly the equivalent of a rook up.

34...Ke7 35.h4 Ke6 36.Re3 Rd5 37.Kf4 b5 38.h5 b4 39.g4 Rc5 40.Re1 Rc3 41.Ra1 Rxb3 42.Rxa5 Rc3 43.Ra6+ Ke7 44.Ra7 Ke6 45.Ra6+

AH offered a draw.

45...Kd7 46.h6 Rc4+?

Much better is 46...g6, or even, according to the engines, 46...g5+!? After the latter, play might continue 47.Kxg5 b3 48.Ra7 Rc6, when the only way to stop the b pawn is with 49.Ra1, but then comes 49...Ke6 etc.

White to play and draw

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47.Kg5?

After 47.Kf5 the position is completely equal, according to the engines, eg 47...g6+ 48.Kf6 Rf4+ (only move as White threatens 49.e6+) 49.Kg7 b3 50.Ra1 (not 50.Kxh7?? b2) Rxg4 51.Kxh7 c5 52.Kg7 Rh4 53.h7 c4 54.Kf6! (54.h8=Q? Rxh8 55.Kxh8 c3 wins for Black) b2 55.e6+ Kc7 56.Rb1 c3 57.e7 c2 58.e8=Q cxb1=Q, after which Black is a rook up, but the black king cannot escape checks from the white queen. Black could try 47...gxh6, but 48.Rxh6 draws easily enough, eg 48...b3 49.Rxh7+ Kc6 50.Rh1 b2 51.Rb1 Rb4 52.Kf6 Kd7 53.e6+ Ke8 54.g5 Rf4+ 55.Ke5 Rb4 56.g6 Ke7 57.g7 Rg4 58.Rxb2.

Black to play and win

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47...gxh6+!

The only winning move, whereas 47...g6 transposes to the previous note after 48.Kf6.

48.Rxh6 b3 49.Rxh7+ Ke6

If the white king were on f5 instead of g5, 49...Ke6 would not be possible, and the game would be drawn.

50.Rh3 Rb4 51.Rh1 b2 52.Rb1 c5 53.Kh5

I cannot read my writing here - it is possible 53.Kh6 was played.

53...c4 54.g5 c3 55.g6 Rb7 0-1

Bad Bertrich Round Two

FACED a Fide master.

Peter Dittmar (2128) - Spanton (1946)

QGD Exchange

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 Be7 7.Bd3 h6 8.Bh4 0-0 9.Qc2 Nbd7 10.Nf3 Re8 11.0-0

This position occurs 3,916 times in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, but who stands better?

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The main features of the position are that White leads in development, and there is an imbalancing Carlsbad pawn-structure. Stockfish17 and Dragon1 prefer White, but not by much.

11...Nf8 12.Rae1

Most popular is 12.Rab1, planning a Minority Attack with b4 etc.

12...Ne4 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Bxe4!? dxe4 15.Nd2 f5

Not 15...Bf5? 16.f3 etc.

16.f3 exf3 17.Nxf3 Be6 18.e4 Qd7!?

The engines suggest 18...fxe4, claiming equality.

19.d5!

This seems to be a novelty, improving on the known 19.e5, when the engines reckon several moves are fine for Black, including 19...Rad8 and 19...Ng6.

How should Black respond?

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19...cxd5?!

The engines prefer 19...Bf7, and if 20.dxc6 Qxc6 21.exf5, then 21...Qc5+ 22.Kh1 Nd7 (not 22...Bxa2?? 23.Rxe8 Rxe8 24.b4 etc), when Black has good compensation for a pawn. A sample continuation runs 23.a3 Nf6 24.Rxe8+ Rxe8 25.Qf2!? Qxf2 (25...Qxf2 26.Qxa7) 26.Rxf2 Nd5 27.Nxd5 Bxd5 28.h3 Re3, when the engines reckon Black's activity, and better minor piece for working with a rook, give full compensation.

20.exd5 Bf7

Not 20...Bxd5??  21.Rxe8 Rxe8 22.Rd1.

21.Ne5 Qc7 22.Nxf7 Qxf7 23.Rxe8 Rxe8 24.Qxf5

White has won a good pawn

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24...Qe7 25.Qf2!?

Threatening both 26.Qxa7 and 26.d6!?

25...Qe3?!

Nevertheless it was probably better to play 25...a6, or 25...b6, meeting 26.d6!? with 26...Qe6.

26.Qxe3 Rxe3 27.Rd1

The passed pawn is a powerful endgame weapon

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27...Nd7 28.Kf2 Re5 29.Rd4!?

A strong move, allowing the rook active play against the black queenside. Also good is 29.Re1!?, either getting rooks off or allowing, after 29...Rf5+, the white king to gain access to the centre with 30.Ke3.

29...Kf8!? 30.Rc4 Nb6 31.Rc5 g6?!

Probably better is 31...Ke8.

32.a4 Re7 33.a5 Nd7 34.Rc8+ Kf7 35.Rc7

The engines prefer 35.b4 or 35.d6!?

35...Nf6?

The more-active 35...Ne5 is better, although the engines reckon 36.Rxe7+ Kxe7 37.Ke2 gives White a winning knight-and-pawn ending.

36.Rc4?!

White is still winning after this, but much better, according to the engines, is 36.Rxe7+ Kxe7 37.Ke3.

36...Rd7 37.Rb4

How should Black proceed?

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37...Nxd5?

The rook-and-pawn ending is a simple win, so Black should try something else, perhaps my other main thought of 37...b6!?

38.Nxd5 Rxd5 39.Rxb7+ Kf6 40.b4

Black gets drawing chances after 40.Rxa7? as the b pawn falls.

40...Kf5 41.a6 Rd2+ 42.Ke3!?

This is best, according to the engines.

42...Rxg2 43.Rxa7 Rxh2 44.Rb7 Ra2 45.Rb5+ 1-0

After 46.Ra5 the a6 pawn will queen.

Bad Wörishofen Round Three

Karola Hörhold (1719) - Spanton (1911)

QGD Normal

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e3!? c5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8.0-0 c4!?

More popular in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database are 8...Bd6 and 8...Be7, but Stockfish17 and Dragon1 prefer the text.

9.Nc3 Bd6
Pavel Tregubov (2642) - Varuzhan Akobian (2624), Fide World Cup (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia) 2009, went 9...Bb4 10.Ne2!? 0-0 11.a3 Bd6 12.Nc3 a6, with a slight edge for Black, according to the engines (but 1-0, 60 moves).

10.Re1 0-0

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

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Black has the better bishop and a farside pawn-majority, but White cannot be be stopped from either breaking in the centre or attacking the lead pawn with b3. The engines reckon equal chances.

11.Qc2

The immediate 11.e4 is possible, with the idea of 11...dxe4 12.Nd2!?

11...Rfe8 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Bb4?

Black is marginally for choice after 13...Nxe4 14.Rxe4 Qa5!?, according to the engines.

14.Bd2?

Missing the win of a pawn by 14.Nxf6+, 15.Rxe8+ and 16.Qxc4.

14...Bxd2 15.Nexd2 b5 16.Rxe8+ Qxe8 17.Re1 Qb8!?

The engines prefer 17...Qc8 or 17...Qd8.

18.Qf5 Qb6 19.g4!? g6!? 20.Qg5 Qd6?!

Unguarding b5, whereas after 20...Rc8 the engines give Black the upper hand.

21.Ne4?!

White can probably take the pawn and emerge with the better game, eg 21.Qxb5 Rb8 22.Qg5 Rc8!? (not 22.Rxb2?? 23.Nxc4 etc) 23.Rc1, but the lines are not completely clear.

21...Qe6?!

The engines give 21...Nxe4 22.Rxe4 b4 with at least the upper hand for Black.

22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 23.Qxf6?!

The rook-and-knight ending is good for Black. Instead 23.Qxb5 Qxf3 24.Qxd7 wins a pawn, albeit the engines reckon Black has enough play for it.

23...Nxf6 24.g5 Nd5 25.Re5 Rd8 26.Kf1 Kf8 27.h4 a6

This consolidating move is the engines' top choice.

28.a3?!

Now White's queenside pawns are fixed. The engines suggest 28.c3, although they give Black at least a slight edge.

28...Nf4 29.Re4 Nd3 30.Re2 a5 31.Rd2 b4 32.axb4 axb4 33.Rc2?!

The engines prefer 33.Ke2, but agree Black is winning.

Black to play and win

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33...Rc8

Black has an edge after this, but winning is 33...c3! as 34.bxc3 runs into 34...b3!?

34.Nd2

White has good drawing chances after 34.b3! c3 35.Ke2, according to the engines.

34...Nxb2?

White has an easy draw after this. Almost certainly winning is 34...c3 35.bxc3 Rxc3 36.Ra2 Ra3 37.Rc2 Nf4! (threatening a quick back-rank mate) 38. f3 Rd3 39.Kf2 Nd5 with ...Rxd4 to come.

35.Rxb2 b3

No better is 35...c3 as 36.Rc2 pins the c pawn, although White is not winning as Black has 36...Ra8. Also drawing is 36...Rxb4, and White is even for choice after 37.c2?! Nb3.

36.Nxc4

Also sufficient is 36.Nxb3.

36...Rxc4 37.Rxb3 Rxd4 38.Rh3

White's rook is passive, but there is no way for Black to exploit this

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The position is completely equal, according to the engines. I played on for another 30 moves, hoping to induce an error, but eventually had to accept half a point.

World Senior Team Championship 65+ Round One

FACED a Norwegian Fide master.

Spanton (1896) - Ole Christian Moen (2201)

Spanish Exchange

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

7...Bd6!? is fifth-most popular in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, a long way behind 7...Bd7

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8.Be3 Ne7 9.Nc3 0-0 10.0-0-0

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

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White has the better pawn-structure and a lead in development; Black has the bishop-pair. Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon the game is completely equal.

10...f6 11.h3!?

This seems to be a novelty. Known moves are 11.f3, 11.Nb3 and 11.f4.

11...c5 12.Nde2 b6 13.Bf4 Be5!?

The engines agree this is Black's best move.

14.Bxe5 fxe5 15.f3 Be6 16.Nd5 Bxd5!?

White has the upper hand after 16...Nxd5?! 17.exd5, according to the engines.

17.exd5 Rad8 18.c4?!

White has a slight edge after 18.Nc3, according to the engines.

18...Nf5 19.b3 Ne3 20.Rdg1 b5 21.Kd2 Nf5 22.Kc3 b4+ 23.Kc2 Rf6 24.Kc1?!

The engines reckon 24.Kb1!? is equal.

24...c6

Black is at least slightly better after 24...a5!?, according to the engines, one line running 25.Re1 a4 26.Kb1 c6 27.dxc6 Rxc6 28.bxa4!? Ne3 29.Ng3 Nxc4 30.Rd1 Ra8 31.Ne4 Ne3 32.Rd3!? (32.Rd2? c4) Nxg2, when Black's objective advantage may be small, but White's position looks much harder to play.

25.dxc6 Rxc6 26.Rd1 Rcd6 27.Rxd6 Rxd6

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

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Black has an isolated pawn, but has pressure thanks to being more active and having more space. The engines reckon the position is completely equal.

28.Re1 Nh4 29.Ng1!? Nxg2 30.Rxe5 Nf4!? 31.Kc2

Not 31.Rxc5?? Nd3+.

31...Rg6 32.Ne2 Rg2 33.Kd2

Possibly slightly better is 33.Kd1!?

33...Nxh3

The engines suggest 33...g6 or 33...Rh2, in each case claiming a slight edge.

How should White proceed?

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34.Ke3

Not 34.Rxc5? Ng1 35.Re5? Nxf3+.

34...Rg5 35.Rxg5 Nxg5

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

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The best piece on the board is the white king, and its activity gives White sufficient compensation for a pawn.

36.Kf4 Ne6+ 37.Ke5 Kf7 38.Ng3 g6 39.f4 a5 40.f5 gxf5 41.Nxf5 h5 42.Nd6+ Ke7 43.Nf5+ Kd7!?

Black could take a simple draw with 43...Kf7.

44.Kd5

Can Black save the game?

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Incredibly, at least it seems so to me, the engines reckon Black as at least five drawing lines, including 44...Nd4!? 45.Nxd4 cxd4 46.Kxd4 Kd6! 47.Ke4 Ke6 48.Kf4 Kf6 49.Kg3 Kg5, and 44...a4!? 45.bxa4 Nd8 46.Kxc5 Kc7 47.Kxb4 Kb6. Also apparently drawing are 44...Nd8!? and 44...Ng5!?, and the game continuation.

44...Nf4+ 45.Kxc5 Nd3+

The engines reckon 45...Kc7, 45...Ke6 and 45...a4!? also hold the balance.

46.Kb5 Nc1 47.Kxa5 Nxa2 48.Kb5 Kc7 49.Kc5 Kb7 50.Kd6 Nc3

Not 50...Nc1?? 52.c5 Nxb3 53.c6+ as, after 53...Kc8, White has time for 54.Ne7+ etc.

51.c5 Ne4+ 52.Kd5 Nd2 53.Nd6+ Kb8 54.c6 Nxb3 55.Kc4 Kc7 56.Nf5 Kxc6 ½–½

TEAM RESULT

Brian Hewson (2039) 1-0 Leif Øgaard (GM 2358)

Anthony Ashby (2049) 0-1 Sverre Heim (FM 2312)

Tim Spanton (1896) = Ole Christian Moen (FM 2201)

Charles Higgie (1945) = Richard Bjerke (FM 2037)

ENGLAND 3 2-2 NORWAY

Playing hall

League Chess

PLAYED on board one (of eight) for Battersea 2 against Charlton 2 in London League Division Four last night,

Daniel Douglas (1766) - Spanton (1958)

Queen's Gambit Declined Normal Variation

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e3!? Nf6 4.Nf3 c5 5.d4 Nc6

Aron Nimzowitsch recommended playing the Normal Variation of the QGD as White

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His idea was to sometimes leave Black with an isolated queen's pawn, sometimes to accept an IQP oneself (the latter requiring assistance from Black, although Nimzowitsch did not mention this in My System, if memory serves me correctly). Nimzowitsch argued that exploring the fine details of such a position would awaken positional understanding.

6.cxd5 exd5 7.dxc5!? Bxc5

I suspect Nimzowitsch did not seriously entertain my opponent's next move

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8.e4?

Probably a novelty; definitely not a good one.

How should Black respond?

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8...dxe4

Stockfish17 and Dragon1 prefer not capturing. Their top choice is 8...0-0!?, one line running 9.exd5 Ng4! 10.Be2!? (10.dxc6?? allows mate, starting with 10...Bxf2+ 11.Ke2 Re8+) Nxf2 11.Qa4 Nd4!? 12.Nxd4 Nxh1, with a sharp position that the engines reckon is winning for Black.

Stockfish17's second choice, 8...Qb6!?, also leads to sharp play, as does Dragon1's second choice, 8...Ng4!?

The text may not objectively be as strong, but has the merit of being straightforward, and so less likely to lead to accidents.

9.Qxd8+ Nxd8

The engines prefer 9...Kxd8!?, meeting 10.Ng5 with 10...Nb4 (Stockfish17) or 10...Re8 (Dragon1).

10.Bb5+ Bd7

Not 10...Nc6? 11.Ne5.

11.Bxd7+ Kxd7 12.Ng5 h6!

Judging by body language, DD had missed this.

13.Nh3

Not 13.Nxe4?? Nxe4 14.Nxe4 Re8 15.f3 f5.

13...Ne6 14.Bf4!? Rhd8!?

This is Stockfish17's top choice. Dragon1 prefers 14...Nxf4, but I felt that helped White by bringing the h3 knight back into play.

15.0-0-0+ Ke8

Now both sides have effectively castled - either normally or 'by hand' - how would you assess the position?

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Black's extra pawn is reasonably secure for the moment, but may be vulnerable in the long run. The other main feature of the position, in my opinion, is the offside white knight at h3. The engines reckon Black's advantage is worth about 2.5 pawns.

16.Be5?!

The engines like moving the bishop, but not here, preferring Bg3 or Bd2.

16...Ng4 17.Bg3 f5 18.Rd5 Rxd5 19.Nxd5 Rc8 20.Kb1 Kf7 21.Rc1

DD offered a draw.

21...Rd8 22.Nc7 Bd6!? 23.Nxe6 Kxe6 24.Bxd6 Rxd6 25.f3 Nf6 26.Re1 g5 27.fxe4 fxe4

How big is Black's advantage in this rook-and-knight ending?

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White has no serious opportunity of counterplay. The engines reckon Black is roughly the equivalent of a minor piece and a pawn ahead, Dragon1 being the more fulsome in its assessment.

28.Nf2 Ke5 29.Kc2 h5 30.a3!? g4 31.Nd1 Rc6+ 32.Kd2 Nd5 33.Ne3 Nf4 34.g3 Nd5 35.Nxd5 Kxd5 36.Re3 Kd4 37.Re1 e3+!? 38.Rxe3 0-1 (Time)

White's flag fell as he made his 38th move, but he is lost anyway as after 38...Rc2+ 39.Kxc2 Kxe3 Black queens a kingside pawn.

Battersea 2 won the match 5-3.

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*

*My season's performance is slightly better than this, the point being my win against a 1578 counts as a 1978 performance, which lowers my average despite me winning the game.

Central London League

FACED a junior (born 2009) on board one (of five) for Battersea against HMC in division one last night.

Stanley Badacsonyi (2329) - Spanton (1924)

Jobava-Prié

1.d4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 Bd6 4.Bxd6!?

More popular is 4.e3.

4...cxd6

And here blacks have generally preferred to recapture with the queen.

5.e3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0

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

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White has developed one more piece and has the better bishop. But Black has a pawn-majority on the central two files and is about to solve the problem of the bad bishop in a way that menaces White's setup. Stockfish16 gives Black a slight edge; Komodo14.1 reckons Black has the upper hand.

8...e5 9.dxe5!?

This may be a novelty. Known moves are 9.Be2 and 9.Re1?? The engines suggest 9.Nd2.
9...dxe5 10.e4 d4 11.Nd5!?

Perhaps White should have settled for 11.Ne2.

How should Black proceed?

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11...Nxe4!

The engines agree this is best, but also good is 11...Nxd5 12.exd5 Qxd5 as 13.Bxh7+?? fails to 13...Kxh7 14.Ng5+ Kg8 15.Qh5 Bf5.

12.Bxe4 f5 13.Nc3 fxe4 14.Nxe4 Bg4 15.Qd3 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Rf4 17.Qb3+ Kh8 18.Kh1

The engines reckon White should plunge in with 18.Qxb7!?, although after 18...Rc8 they agree Black's development and safer king more than compensate for being a pawn down.

18...Ne7 19.Rg1 Qd5?!

Black probably should not be encouraging an exchange of queens. The engines give 19...Qd7, claiming Black has the upper hand.

20.Nd2?

White should exchange queens.

20...Qxb3?

Black shouldn't! After 20...Qc6 the engines give Black at least the upper hand, eg 21.Rg5 Ng6 22.Rag1 Rc8 with what they reckon is a positionally won game.

21.axb3 Ng6 22.Rg4 a6 23.Rxf4 Nxf4 24.Re1?!

This may look natural but the engines much prefer 24.c4 or 24.Ne4.

What should Black play?

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24...Re8?!

What could be more natural than developing the rook and protecting the attacked pawn? But the move is passive, and what can be thought of as a golden rule in endings is to avoid passive rook moves. That is why the engines give 24...Rc8!, eg 25.Rxe5 h6, after which Black penetrates down the c file, and White's pawn-structure is further damaged.

25.Re4?!

Probably better is immediately activating the knight with 25.Nc4.

25...Kg8

The engines suggest 25...b5.

26.Nc4 d3

Black has a slight edge after 26...Ng6, according to the engines.

27.cxd3 Nxd3 28.Re3 e4!? 29.Kg1 b5 30.Nd6 Re6

The engines reckon Black is a tad better after 30...Rd8.

31.Nxe4 Nxb2 32.Rc3

Threatens 33.Rc8+ Kf7 34.Ng5+ etc.

32...h6 33.Kf1 b4?

The game is completely equal after 33...a5 or 33...Re8, according to the engines.

34.Rc8+ Kh7 35.Ke2

The black knight cannot be saved.

The game finished:

35...Re5 36.Rc2 Rh5 37.Rxb2 Rxh2 38.Ra2 Rh5 39.Rxa6 Rb5 40.f4 g5 41.fxg5 hxg5 42.Rc6 Re5 43.Ke3 1-0

HMC won the match 4-1.

MY BATTERSEA SEASON 2023-4

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

24/10/23 London League               B      1870         2102                   =            2102

26/10/23 Central London League  W     1870         2118                    =            2110

21/11/23 Eastman Cup                  W     1882         2118                    =            2113

14/12/23 Central London League  B      1882         2152                    0            2023

10/1/24   London League               B      1884         2130                    0           1964

11/1/24   Central London League   B      1884        2278                    1            2083

25/1/24   Central London League  W      1884        2205                    =            2100

30/1/24   Club Championship         B      1884        1809                    1            2114

1/2/24     Central London League  W      1916        2072                    0            2065

7/2/24     London League               B       1916        2298                    0            2048

8/2/24     Central London League  B       1916        1960                    0            2004

15/2/24   Central London League  B       1916        1951                    =            1999

29/2/24   Central London League  B       1916        2014                    0            1970

5/3/24     Club Championship        W      1910        1990                    1            2000

2/4/24     Club Championship        B       1924        1927                    0            1968

4/4/24     Central London League  B       1924        2123                    =            1978

16/4/24   London League               B       1924        2393                    0            1979

18/4/24   Central London League  B       1924        2329                    0            1976

Cambridge Round Two

James Cole (2116 ECF/1940 Fide) - Spanton (1916 ECF/1766 Fide)

Catalan

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7!?

Black's well-known manoeuvre with the dark-square bishop loses a tempo but is generally considered to misplace White's dark-square bishop, which otherwise would probably be fianchettoed

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6.Bg2 0-0 7.Qc2 c6 8.0-0 b6 9.Rd1 Bb7

9...Ba6!? 10.Ne5 marginally favours White, according to Stockfish16, although Komodo14.1 disagrees.

10.Bf4 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Nxe5

The engines suggest 11...Nh5 12.Bd2 Nhf6!?, a popular continuation in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database.

12.dxe5 Nd7 13.e4?!

The engines much-prefer 13.cxd5, followed by 14.e4.

13...g5?!

Probably a novelty, and probably not a good one. The engines reckon Black is at least slightly better after 13...dxc4, the main points being, presumably, White's bishops are badly restricted, and Black has the better-structured pawn-majority.

How should White proceed?

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14.Be3

This looks normal, but the engines like 14.exd5!?, eg 14...gxf4? 15.dxc6, or 14...cxd5 15.cxd5 gxf4 16.dxe6, with a complicated position that slightly favours White, according to the engines.

14...Nxe5?!

The position is completely equal after 14...dxc4, according to the engines. The problem with the text is it helps open lines to Black's weakened kingside.

15.exd5 cxd5 16.cxd5 Bxd5 17.Nc3 Qc7?!

White has a winning position after this, according to the engines, which reckon necessary is 17...Qc8!?, keeping a watch on what turns out to a very vulnerable f5 square. Nevertheless the engines reckon their suggestion leaves White with the upper hand.

18.Bxd5 exd5 19.Qf5

The black position is collapsing

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19...Ng6

The engines suggest 19...Rae8, 19...d4 or 19...f6, but reckon White is winning.

20.Nxd5 Qb7 21.Bxg5 Bxg5 22.Qxg5 f5 23.Nf4

Even stronger seems to be the engines' 23.Nf6+, and if 23...Kh8 then 24.Rd7.

23...Qe7!? 24.Qxe7 Nxe7 25.Rd7 Ng6 26.Ne6 Rf7 27.Rad1 Rxd7

Not 27...Ne5?? 28.Rd8+ etc.

28.Rxd7 Re8

What should White play?

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29.Rd8!?

Getting rooks off the board is usually commendable in a pawn-up ending as their presence often increases drawing chances, but here the resulting knight-and-pawn ending seems not very favourable for White.

29...Rxd8 30.Nxd8 Ne5

Both black pieces are a little better-placed than the white ones

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31.b4

The engines suggest 31.f4, 31.b3 or 31.Kf1, claiming a winning advantage for White.

31...b5!?

Possibly better is 31...Nf3+ and 32...Nd4.

32.Ne6 Nc6 33.Nc7 Nxb4 34.Nxb5 Nxa2 35.Nxa7 Kf7

White remains a pawn up, but that is probably not enough with all pawns being on one side of the board

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36.f4 Ke6 37.Nc6 Nc3 38.Nd4+ Kf6 39.Kg2 Nd5 40.Kf3 h5 41.Ke2 Kg6

A possibly simpler way to draw is 41...h4, and if 42.Kf3 hxg3 43.Kxg3 White's passed h pawn is not going anywhere, fast or slow, it would seem.

42.Nf3 Kf6 43.Kd3 Ke6 44.Nd4+ Kf6 45.Nc2 h4 46.Kc4 hxg3 47.hxg3

Not 47.Kxd5?? gxh2.

47...Ne7 48.Kc5 Ng8 49.Ne3 Ke6 50.Nc2 Nh6 51.Nd4+ Kf6 52.Kd6 Ng4 53.Nc2 Nf3 54.Ne3 ½–½

Brno Game Eight

Nataša Richterová (2170) - Spanton (1771)

Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6!?

The main moves in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database are 5...0-0 and especially 5...d6. The text is usually part of a plan, also quite popular, to remove the black dark-square bishop from where it can be hit by advancing white pawns. It may appear slow but practice has shown it is perfectly playable.

6.Bb3!?

This is White's commonest response, giving the king's bishop a retreat square (c2) in case of a later ...Na5 and also stopping ...b5 coming with tempo. Another point is the c4 square is cleared for possible occupation by the white queen's knight.

6...Ba7 7.0-0 d6 8.Re1

More common is 8.Nbd2, but the text is also popular.

8...Bg4!?

A rare move that is not much liked by Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02. Normal are castling and 8...h6.

9.Nbd2 0-0 10.Nf1 Qd7

The engines suggest 10...h6.

11.h3 Be6

This position is normally reached with Black to move

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12.Bc2 d5!?

This is Komodo13.02's top choice, at least for a while, before becoming second to 12...h6. It is also Stockfish15's second choice for a while, behind 12...Rae8. I tend to think of ...d5 in the Giuoco Piano in a similar way to how ...d5 is often looked at in the Open Sicilian. If it can be safely played, Black usually has at least a good game and may well be better. But it has to be well-timed, as otherwise Black can get into major difficulties.
13.exd5 Qxd5 14.Bb3 Qd6 15.Bxe6 Qxe6?!

The queen is dragged onto the same file as the white king's rook. I rejected 15...fxe6 for obvious structural reasons, but the engines reckon it is the better continuation, albeit giving White a slight edge.

16.d4 Rad8

The engines prefer 16...Rae8 or 16...e4, but with a large advantage for White.

17.Qc2?!

Almost certainly better is 17.Bf4 as 17...Nd7?? allows 18.d5.

17...Nd7 18.Be3!?

This slightly counter-intuitive move - it obstructs the action of the king's rook - is Stockfish15's top choice. Komodo13.02 suggests 18.Ng3.

18...Rfe8?!

Komodo13.02 gives 18...exd4, but Stockfish15's reply 19.Bg5!? is hard to meet, eg 19...d3 20.Qa4 Nce5 21.Nxe5 Nxe5 22.Bxd8 Rxd8 23.Rad1 seems to leave Black with inadequate compensation for the exchange. Stockfish15 suggests 18...Bb6!?, and if, as in the game, 19.Rad1, then 19...Qxa2 is possible, which, as will be seen, is not possible after the text. Even so the continuation 20.dxe5 gives White's better coordinated pieces a slight edge, according to the engines. Note that 18...e4? loses the pawn to 19.Ng5.

19.Rad1!?

This is Komodo13.02's top choice for quite some time, but capturing on e5 (either way) may be stronger.

What should Black play?

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19...Nf8!

The only move to keep realistic hopes of equalising, eg 19...Qxa2? loses to 20.d5, while 19...exd4? 20.Bg5 is much worse for Black than in the note to Black's 18th move, and 19...Qg6? fails to 20.Qxg6 hxg6 21.d5.

20.Qb1

Giving extra support to the back rank, although the immediate 20.Bf4!? may be slightly stronger, and the engines also like getting the a pawn off prise, as grandmaster Nigel Davies likes to say, with 20.a4!?

20...h6

Possibly a better way to cover the g5 square is 20...f6, as it also bolsters e5. The engines also suggest 20...Ng6 and 20...Qg6, but in each case preferring White. If instead 20...e4?! then 21.Bf4 pins the pawn and hits c7.

21.Bf4 f6 22.dxe5 Rxd1 23.Qxd1 Qf5?

This is definitely bad, as is 23...Qxa2? 24.exf6. Probably best is 23...fxe5, after which the engines reckon White should save the a pawn, eg with 24.a3, when they reckon White has the upper hand, but material is level.

24.Be3 fxe5

There is no defence, eg 24...Bxe3 25.Nxe3 Qe6 26.exf6 Qxf6 27.Qb3+ and Qxb7, or 24...Bb6 25.Bxb6 cxb6 26.Ne3 Qe6 27.exf6 etc.

25.Bxa7 Nxa7 26.Qd5+ Qf7 27.Qxb7 e4 28.N3d2 Nb5 29.Qxa6 Nd6 30.Qa4 Nd7 31.Qb3

Not 31.Nxe4?? Nc5.

31...Nc5 32.Qxf7+ Kxf7 33.Ne3 Nd3 34.Rb1

How would you assess this ending?

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Black has a strong knight on d3, but White is two pawns up and is winning, according to the engines.

34...Ke6 35.b3 Rf8 36.Rf1 c5 37.f3 exf3 38.Nxf3 Ra8 39.Ra1 Ne4 40.Nd1?

This passive move gives up quite a chunk of White's advantage. Better is 40.c4, and if 40...Nc3 41.a4 Rb8, then 42.a5!? seems strong as Black does not have time for 42...Rxb3 as 43.a6 Rb8 47.a7 Ra8 48.Ra6+ is very strong.

40...Nf4?

Better is keeping White restricted with 40...Ra3, and if, as in the game 41.c4, then 41...Nb4.

41.c4 g5 42.Kh2?

The king is no better here than on g1. The engines like 42.a4 and 42.Ne3.

42...h5

Black has equalised, according to the engines, despite still being two pawns down.

43.g3

This loses a pawn, but the engines agree that is better than allowing 43...g4.

43...Ne2

Possibly even stronger is 43...Nxh3!, eg 44.Kxh3 g4+ 45.Kg2 gxf3+ 46.Kxf3 Nd2+ and 46...Nxb3.

44.h4 g4 45.Ng5+ Nxg5 46.hxg5 Kf5 47.Kg2 Kxg5 48.Kf2 Nd4 49.Nc3 Nxb3 50.Re1 Rf8+ 51.Kg2 Nd2 52.Re5+ Rf5 53.Ne4+ Nxe4 54.Rxe4

Is this rook-and-pawn ending completely equal?

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Yes, according to the engines, but I believe it is easier for Black to play.

54...h4 55.gxh4 Kxh4 56.Re3 Rf4

White to play and draw

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57.Rc3

Passivity in rook-and-pawn endings is often fatal. White should play 57.a4! Rxc4 58.Ra3, the passed a pawn giving sufficient counterplay to hold the draw,.

57...Rd4 58.Rc2 Rd3 59.Kh2 Ra3 60.Kg2

NR offered a draw in my time.

60...Ra4 61.Kh2 g3+ 62.Kg2 Kg4 63.Kg1 Kf3 64.Rc3+

Black to play and win

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64...Kf4?

The engines reckon 64...Ke2 65.Rxg3 Rxc4 is a clear win, eg 66.Rg2+ Kd1 67.Rg5 Rc2 68.a4 c4 69.a5 c3 70.Rc5 Kd2 71.Rd5+ Ke3 72.Rc5 Kd3 73.Kf1 Ra2 etc.

65.a3

The position is completely equal again.

The game finished:

65...Ke4 66.Rxg3 Rxc4 67.Kf2 Rc2+ 68.Ke1 Ra2 69.Kd1 Kd4 70.Kc1 c4 71.Rg4+ Kc5 72.Rg5+ Kb6 73.Rg3 Ka5 74.Rf3 Ka4 75.Rc3 Kb5 76.Rg3 Rh2 77.Kb1 Ka4 78.Rc3 ½–½