They Don't Play Them Like That Anymore

HERE is a classic of British chess from 500 Master Games Of Chess by Savielly Tartakower and Julius du Mont.

I have algebraicised the notation; notes in italics are from the book.

Stuart Milner-Barry - Hugh Alexander

Cambridge 1932

Vienna Gambit

A feast for the eye and mind.

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6

More popular today is 2...Nf6. Both moves can be met by the gambit 3.f4, but in the line with 2...Nf6 it is generally regarded as largely disarmed by the reply 3...d5.

3.f4

Garry Kasparov preferred the more-common 3.Bc4 in a 2016 win over Fabiano Caruana, but the text was Magnus Carlsen's choice in a 2017 loss to Yangyi Yu (both games were at blitz time controls).

3...exf4 4.Nf3 g5

There is nothing better than this 'classic defence'.

5.d4!?

The Pierce Gambit offering the KN, as in the famous Muzio Gambit, is not to be taken lightly.

Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 prefer 5.g3!?, and if 5...g4 then 6.Nh4, although they reckon Black is better.

5...g4

Accepting the challenge, for after 5...Bg7 6.d5 Ne5 7.d6 etc White has the advantage. 5...d6 6.d5 is also in White's favour.

6.Bc4 gxf3 7.0-0

How should Black proceed?

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7...d5?!

Necessary emancipation. If 7...Bg7 8.Bxf4 Bxd4+ 9.Kh1, White has enduring chances.

This was tested in a 1993 game between two unrateds. White won, but the engines reckon 9...fxg2+ 10.Kxg2 Nf6 gives Black a winning advantage. The text is a mistake, according to the engines. Komodo13.02 gives 7...Nxd4!?, eg 8.Qxd4 Qg5 9.Rf2 Bc5 etc, while Stockfish15 prefers 7...Bg7 8.Qxf3 Bxd4+ 9.Kh1 Ne5 10.Qxf4 Qf6!?, claiming a large advantage for Black.

8.exd5 Bg4!? 9.Re1+

But 9.Qe1+ is better and affords equal opportunities. A bold but insufficient idea is the queen sacrifice: 9.dxc6 f2+ 10.Rxf2 Bxd1 11.cxb7 Bg4 12.Bb5+ Bd7 etc.

In this line the engines reckon 12.bxa8=Q!? Qxa8 13.Bxf4 equalises, even though White only has rook and two pawns for a queen.

9...Nge7!? 10.gxf3?!

More astute would be, first, 10.Ne4 Bg7 11.gxf3.

The engines strongly disagree with this analysis, preferring Milner-Barry's choice and, even more so, 10.Qd2!?

10...Bh3 11.Bxf4 Rg8+

The counter-pressure begins.

12.Bg3 Na5

At last the knight goes off prise.

White has little material compensation for being a piece down, but it is anyone's guess as to which king is safer

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13.Bn5+ c6 14.Ne4?!

Better, according to the engines, is 14.dxc6, although they prefer White after both 14...bxc6 and 14...Naxc6.

14...Bg7  15.Kh1?

If 15.dxc6 [then] 15...Qxd4+, and White, in view of the piece which has has given up, could not think of agreeing to an exchange of queens.

The engines continue this line with 16.Kh1, one point being 16...Qxd1?? loses to 17.cxb7+. Instead they give 16...0-0-0 17.cxb7+ Nxb7, albeit preferring Black. Nevertheless the text is a mistake, the engines reckoning 15.Bf1 or 15.d6 keeps White well in the game.

15...Qxd5

Now White has just a pawn for a knight, and has a bishop en prise

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16.c4 Qd7 17.d5!?

Seeking to obtain fresh resources.

White's only realistic hope is to get at the black king before Black's material preponderance determines matters.

17...Kf8!?

Also possible, but hair-raising, seems to be 17...cxb5!?, eg 18.d6 Bxb2!? (this appears stronger than 18...0-0-0?!) 19.Nc5 Qf5! 20.Rxe7+ Kf8!? 21.Nd7+ Kg7 22.Ne5 Bxe5 23.Rxe5 Qg6!, after which the engines reckon White's attack has run out of steam.

18.d6!?

Probably objectively better is 18.dxc6, but 18...Naxc6 leaves Black well on top.

18...Nf5 19.Nc5 Nxg3+ 20.hxg3 Qf5 21.d7

This looks very alarming.

21...Bd4!

An ingenious reply, fulfilling many functions: (i) masking the d file, (ii) unmasking the g file, (iii) deflecting the adverse queen eventually (22.Qxd4 Qxf3+), (iv) attacking the knight, (v) cutting off the king's flight as long as this bishop remains safe.

22.Nxb7!?

This allows a mating sequence, but White was lost anyway.

22...Qh5! 23.Re8+ Rxe8 24.dxe8=Q+ Kxe8 25.Qe2+ Kf8 26.Nxa5 Bg4+ 0-1

The young opponents have dared, in our scientific era, to play one of the most dangerous gambits in a masters' tournament, and it may well be said that the game does credit to winner and loser alike.

Championship Chess

PLAYED last night in the Battersea club championship.

Samuel Riggs (1602) - Spanton (1976)

Sicilian Bb5(+)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6!?

Most popular are 3...d6, 3...e6 and especially 3...g6. Magnus Carlsen has played all four moves.

4.e5 Nd5 5.0-0 g6 6.Re1 Bg7 7.Nc3

How should Black proceed?

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7...Nxc3?!

Overwhelmingly more popular in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database is 7...Nc7. SR in the postmortem said he planned to reply 8.Bxc6, when 8...dxc6 9.Ne4 Ne6 equalises, according to Komodo13.02, although Stockfish15 gives White a slight edge.

8.dxc3!?

The engines much prefer this over building a centre with 8.bxc3.
8...0-0 9.Qd5!? Qb6 10.a4!? a6 11.Bf1!?

This retreat is Stockfish15's top choice; Komodo13.02 likes 11.Bd3. White also seems better after 11.Bc4 Na5 12.Ba2.

11...d6!?

A pawn sacrifice to free Black's game. The engines prefer 11...Qc7 or 11...Nd8!?, in each case giving White at least the upper hand.

12.exd6 Rd8?!

The engines suggest 12...exd6 13.Qxd6 Bf5, but 14.a5 leaves White well on top.

13.a5 e6!?

This is best, according to the engines, but should lose.

White to play and win

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14.axb6?!

Much stronger is 14.d7. SR said he considered it, but thought 14...Qc7 was a good reply. However then 15.dxc8=Q wins a piece, as does 14...Bxd7 15.Qxd7.

14...exd5 15.Bg5 f6 16.Be3 d4?!

Another positional pawn sacrifice, but almost certainly better is 16...c4 or 16...Bf8.

17.cxd4 cxd4 18.Nxd4 Rxd6 19.Nb5!? Rd8 20.Bc4+ Kh8 21.Nc7 Rb8 22.Bc5 Ne5 23.Bb3 Bf5

Black has at last connected rooks, but White has a winning advantage, according to the engines

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24.Rad1 Bh6?

This loses a pawn, at least temporarily, so better is 24...Bf8.

25.Be7 Rxd1 26.Bxf6+ Bg7 27.Bxg7+ Kxg7 28.Rxd1 Nd7 29.Rd6?!

Probably better is 29.f3, and if 29...Nxb6 then 30.g4 Bd7 31.Rd6 Bc6 32.Nxa6!?

29...Nc5 30.Ne6+?

The engines give 30.Bc4!? Bxc2 31.b4, claiming White's initiative means he is winning, eg 31...Ne4 32.Rd7+ Kh6 33.f3 Ba4!? 34.Rd4 Nf6 35.Ne6 with pressure on both flanks.

What should Back play?

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30...Bxe6?

The correct capture is 30...Nxe6, after which 31.Bxe6 Re8 32.Bc4 (32.Rd7+? loses the white bishop to 32...Kf6) Re1+ 33.Bf1 Rb1 gets Black back into the game, although White remains better.

31.Bxe6 Re8 32.Bc4 Re1+ 33.Bf1 Ne4 34.Re6

Even stronger is 34.Rd7+ Kf6 35.f3 etc.

34...Kf7 35.Re5 Kf6 36.Re8 Kf7 37.Re5 Kf6 ½–½

What did both players miss in this final sequence?

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White wins with 36.f4 or 38.f4.

Central London League

PLAYED on board one (of five) for Battersea 2 against Pimlico 3 in division two of the Central London League last night.

Nick Faulks (1909) - Spanton (1976)

English/QGD Tarrasch

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e3!? Nf6 4.Nf3 c5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.d4

The opening began as an English but has reached a position more familiar from an old-fashioned response to the Tarrasch Defence to the Queen's Gambit, a typical move-order being 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.e3

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6...Nc6

This was a mainline position long before Siegbert Tarrasch was born - there are 4,556 examples of the position in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database.

7.Be2 Be6

This has been played by grandmasters, but is very much a sideline compared with the likes of 7...Be7, 7...cxd4, 7...Bd6 and 7...a6.

8.0-0 Ne4!?

The aim of this move is to make it awkward for White to complete his natural plan of development with b3 and Bb2 (or Ba3).

How should White respond?

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9.Nxe4?!

The text removes any advantage White has and may even leave Black a tad better. Possibly best is 9.Qc2, when Vincent McCambridge (2517) - Michael A Brooks (-), US Open (Chicago) 1979, continued 9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 Bd6 11.Rb1 Rb8 12.Ba3 with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 (1-0, 26 moves).

9...dxe4 10.Nd2 Bd5

Arguably more ambitious is 10...f5, while the engines give 10...cxd4 11.Nxe4 Be7 12.exd4 Qxd4 13.Ng5 Bf5!? with what they reckon is an equal position.

11.Nb3 cxd4

Not 11...Bxb3?! 12.Qxb3 cxd4? 13.Qxb7 Rc8 14.exd4 Rc7 15.Qa6, when White is winning, according to the engines.

12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Bc6 14.Rd1

White has more chance of an edge after 14.Qc3.

14...Qxd4 15.Rxd4 Rd8!? 16.Rxd8+ Kxd8 17.b3 Bd6 18.Bb2 f6 19.Rd1 ½–½

Pimlico 3 won the match 3-2.

Gambit Chess

PLAYED last night on board two (of eight) for Battersea 2 against Wimbledon in division two of the London League.

Neil Cannon (1986) - Spanton (1976)

Evans Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bd6!?

The Stone-Ware Defence - probably better than its reputation.

6.0-0

Much more common in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database is 6.d4, after which the mainline runs 6...Nf6 7.0-0, transposing to the game.

6...Nf6 7.d4 0-0

Not 7...Nxe4? 8.dxe5 Nxe5 9.Nxe5 Bxe5 10.Qd5 Qe7 11.Re1 etc (but not 11.Qxe4?? Bxh2+ and 12...Qxe4).

8.Bg5

The main move in Mega23 is 8.Re1, which Stockfish15 reckons gives White a slight edge, but Komodo13.02 calls equal.

8...h6 9.Bh4 Be7!? 10.Qe2 d6

How should White proceed?

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11.dxe5

Victor Nithander (2465) - Emil Hermansson (2469), Swedish Team Championship 2008-9, saw 11.Rd1 Bg4 12.h3 Bh5 13.d5 Na5 14.g4 Nxc4 with a large advantage for Black, according to the engines (0-1, 37 moves).

11...Nxe5 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.Rd1 Qe8 14.h3 Bd7 15.Nd2 Bc6

White leads in development but Black is a pawn to the good and with no weaknesses

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16.Bg3 Bd6 17.Bd3 Rd8 18.Bh4 Be7 19.Bg3 Bd6 20.Bh4 Be7 21.Bg3 Nd7

Declining threefold repetition - Black is better.

22.Nf3

I was more concerned about 22.Nc4 with Na5 to come, but the engines reckon 22...Bg5 23.Na5 Nc5 24.Nxc6 Qxc6 is good for Black.

22...Bf6 23.Nh4 g6!? 24.Qe3 Kg7

Can White equalise material by grabbing the a7 pawn?

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No, or, rather, yes, but he would regret it, eg 25.Qxa7? Qe7 26.Nf3 Nc5, after which White cannot save both the light-square bishop and the queen.

25.Nf3 b6 26.Bh4 Qe7 27.Bxf6+ Qxf6 28.Bc2 Nc5 29.a3 Ne6 30.Kh2 Rxd1 31.Rxd1 Rd8 32.Rxd8 Nxd8 33.Kg1

The king moves are to little effect, but it is difficult to suggest a constructive plan for White, who has the inferior bishop and pawn-structure as well as being a pawn down.

33...Qd6 34.c4 Ne6 35.Qc3 Nd4 36.Nxd4 Qxd4 37.Qd3 Qxd3

The engines prefer keeping queens on the board, but getting them off simplifies matters (at least for a human).

38.Bxd3 Kf6 39.Kf1 Ke6 40.Ke2 Kd6 41.Kd2

41.Ke3 Kc5 is no improvement.

41...Kc5 42.Kc3 b5 43.h4 f6 44.g3?!

Hoping to set up a blockade, but 44.cxb5 is almost certainly better, although losing.

44...bxc4 45.Bc2 a5 46.Bb1 Ba4 47.Ba2 Bb3! 48.Bxb3

White will end up in zugzwang after 48.Bb1.

48...cxb3 49.Kxb3 Kd4

The game finished:

50.Ka4 c5 51.Kxa5 c4 52.Kb6 c3 53.a4 c2 54.a5 c1=Q 0-1

Battersea 2 won the match 5.5-2.5.

Catastrophe In The Opening

IAKOV Neishtadt compiled Catastrophe In The Opening, which was translated by Kenneth Neat as a Pergamon book in 1980.

If a later edition were to be published, the following game, played on board three (of eight) in division one of the London League last night, could be a candidate for inclusion.

Spanton (1976 - Battersea) - Seny Denisov (1830 - Imperial College)

Sicilian Accelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3

From a Hyper-Accelerated move-order, the game has transposed to the main non-Maróczy Bind line of the Accelerated dragon.

5...Nc6 6.Nxc6!? bxc6 7.Bc4 Nf6?!

The mainline in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database runs 7...d6 8.0-0, and then 8...Nf6, with an equal game according to Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02.

8.e5 Ng8

The engines give 8...Ng4!? 9.Qxg4 d5, claiming White has only a slight edge.

9.Qf3 e6

9...f5 is, at best, a tiny improvement, according to the engines.

10.Bf4 Qa5 11.Qe2?

I rejected 11.0-0-0 because of 11...Bxe5 12.Bxe5 Qxe5 13.Rhe1, when Black, although massively behind in development, has an extra pawn and the only central pawns. However that is how a game of mine went at the 2019 South Wales Open in Bridgend, and the engines reckon White is well on top.

How should Black proceed?

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11...d5!

Only one of four games in Mega23 to reach the diagrammed position saw 11...d5!, but it gives Black the advantage.

12.0-0-0?

Not 12.exd6? Bxc3+ etc, but missing that 12.Bb3 d4? can be met by 13.Qe4 (or 13.Qc4), when the advantage has swung back to White. Instead the engines reckon 12...Ne7 gives Black at least a slight edge.

12...dxc4 13.Qxc4?!

The engines prefer 13.Ne4!? or 13.Qd2.

13...Ne7 14.Bg5 Ba6 15.Qd4 Nd5 16.Ne4 0-0 17.c4 Nb6 18.Nf6+ Bxf6 19.Bxf6

White is three tempi from delivering mate, but that is far too long

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19...Qxa2 20.b3 Qxb3 21.Qd2 Qxc4+ 22.Kb1 Nd5 23.Ka1 Qa4+ 0-1

Battersea won the match 4.5-3.5.

Bad Wörishofen Game Nine

Volodia Hrihorian* (1354) - Spanton (1835)

Spanish Berlin

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Bxc6

This is a reasonably popular alternative to 6.Nxe5, after which the commonest continuation in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database is 6...Be7 7.Bf1!? Nxe5 8.Rxe5 0-0 9.d4 Bf6 10.Re1 Nf5 11.c3 d5, which Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 reckon slightly favours White.

6...dxc6 7.Nxe5 Be7 8.d4 0-0 9.Nc3!? Nf5 10.d5 cxd5 11.Qxd5!?

All five games in Mega23 to reach the position after 10...cxd5 saw 11.Nxd5, including the only draw in the 1894 match between Carl Walbrodt and Siegbert Tarrasch (the other seven games were won by Tarrasch).

11...c6 12.Qxd8 Rxd8

The bishop-pair on an open board helps give Black at least a slight edge, according to the engines

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13.Nf3

This is the engines' top choice. Certainly not 13.Nxc6? as after 13...bxc6 14.g4 Nd4 15.Rxe7 Nxc2 16.Rb1 Bxg4 White emerges a pawn up.

13...Bb4 14.Bd2 Be6 15.a3 Ba5 16.Rad1 h6 17.Na4

How should Black proceed?

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17...Bxd2

The engines prefer preserving the bishop-pair with 17...Bc7!?, meeting 18.Nc5 with 18...Bd5, when 19.Nxb7?! Rdb8 20.Nc5 Rxb2 gives Black a strong game.

18.Nxd2 b6

VH offered a draw.

19.Nf3 Bd5 20.Ne5 c5 21.Nc3 Bb7 22.Rxd8+!? Rxd8 23.Rd1 Nd4 24.f3 Re8 25.Nc4 Ba6 26.Nd6 Re6 27.Nde4 Bb7

The engines reckon 27...f5 28.Ng3 Kf7 may maintain a slight edge for Black.

28.Kf2 Kf8 29.Rd2 Ke7 30.a4 f5 31.Ng3 g6 32.Nge2 Nxe2 33.Rxe2 Bc6 34.Rxe6+ kxe6 35.f4 a6 36.g3 b5 37.axb5 axb5 38.b3 b4 39.Nd1

Also completely equal, according to the engines, is 39.Na4!? Bxa4 40.bxa4 Kd5 41.Ke3.

39...Kd5 40.Ke2?!

A strange choice when 40.Ke3 is available.

40...Kd4 41.h4!?

Better may be 41.Ne3, but then both 41...Ke4 and 41...Be8!? give Black an edge, according to the engines. However, as should become apparent, the engines may not understand this position.

Black to play and win, according to the engines

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41...Be4

The engines reckon Black is winning after, for example, 41...Bd7, apparently playing for zugzwang, eg 41...Bd7 42.Kd2 Ke4 43.Ke2 Bb5+ 44.Kf2 c4 45.bxc4 Bxc4 46.Ne3 Bb5 47.Nd1 Ba4 48.Ne3 h5 49.Ke2 Bb5+ 50.Kf2 Kd4 51.Nd1 Ba4 52.Ne3 Bc6. However they continue in this vein ad nauseum without being able to make progress, eg 52...Kc3 is a draw after 53.Nd5+, eg 53...Kc4 54.Nb6+ Kb5 55.Nxa4 Kxa4 56.Ke3.

42.Kd2

VH offered a draw in my time.

42..Bf3 43.Nb2 Bc6 44.Nc4 Be8 45.Nd6 Bc6 46.h5?!

Apparently a winning attempt, but the resulting lines seem easier for Black to play.

How should Black respond?

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46...Kd5

Also completely equal, according to the engines, is 46...gxh5!? 47.Nxf5+ Ke4 48.Nxh6 Bd5.

47.Nf7

Not 47.hxg6?? Kxd6 48.g7 Bd5.

47...gxh5+

What should White play?

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48.c4+?

Also bad is 48.Nxh6? as the knight is trapped after 48...Ke6, eg 49.Ng8 Bd5 with ...Kf7 etc to come. However 48.Ne5 seems to hold, as does a king advance to e3 or d3, the point being Black's extra kingside pawn is largely meaningless.

Black to play and win

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48...Ke4?

Black wins by diverting the white king with 48...bxc3+, eg 49.Kxc3 Ke4 50.Nd6+ Kf3 51.Nxf5 Kg4 52.Nxh6+ Kxg3 53.f5 bd5 54.f6 Kf4! 55.f7 Bxf7 56.Nxf7 h4, the engines showing the knight cannot intercept the passed pawn.

49.Nd6+ Kf3 50.Nxf5 Bd7

Playing 50...Kg4, which worked in a similar position in the previous note, does not win here, eg 51.Nxh6+ Kxg3 52.f5 Be8 53.f6 h4 (53...Kf4?, a la the previous note, loses to 54.f7 Bxf7 55.Nxf7 as the white king can intercept the passed pawn) 54.Nf5+ reaches the same drawn position that is also reached in the game.

51.Nxh6 Kxg3 52.f5 h4 53.f6 Be8

53...Be6 makes no difference after 54.Nf5+!

54.Nf5+ Kg4 55.Nxh4 Kxh4 56.Ke3 Kg5 57.Ke4 Bf7 58.Ke5 Kg6

Not 58...Bxc4?? 59.bxc4 b3 60.f7 b2 61.f8=Q b1=Q with a tablebase win for White.

59.Kd6 Bxc4 ½–½

*Also transliterated as Grigorian.

Bad Wörishofen Game Eight

Spanton (1835) - Mathias Schädler (1843*)

Spanish Exchange

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

The main move in Chessbase's 2023 Mega database is 9.Nd2, but Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 narrowly prefer the text.

9...Ne7 10.f3 f6 11.Rd1!?

Planning to keep the king in the centre  - a favourite strategy of Emanuel Lasker.

11...Ng6 12.Kf2 h5 13.Nb3 b6 14.Nd4 Ne5 15.Rhe1 g6 16.Nce2 c5 17.Nb3 g5 18.Nc3 c6 19.Nc1!?

Accepting that Black can swop knight for bishop to bring about a battle of bishop-pair against knight-pair. The engines do not like this.

19...Nc4 20.Nd3 Bd6

Black has a large advantage after 20...Nxe3, according to the engines.

How should White proceed?

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21.Kg1

The engines reckon 21.e5!? equalises, eg 21...Nxe5 22.Ne4 Nxd3+ 23.Rxd3 Bxh2 24.Nxf6 (24.g3? h4) Be5 25.Bxg5 Bxb2 26.Kf1 with what the engines claim is enough activity to fully compensate for being a pawn down.

21...Nxe3 22.Rxe3 c4 23.Nf3 Bf4 24.Ree1 Be6!?

This is the top choice of Komodo13.02 (Stockfish15 prefers 24...Be5), but it is double-edged as allowing rooks to come off brings about an ending in which Black has the only long-range pieces, but White has the superior pawn-structure.

25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.Rd1 Rd2!? 27.Rxd2 Bxd2 28.Nfd1 Bf4 29.Ne2 Bd6 30.g3!?

The only realistic way for White to win is by advancing the kingside pawns, but this is not easy when the bishops can switch between pressurising each wing and even pressurise both wings at the same time.

30...Bc5+ 31.Kg2 Kc7 32.h3 b5 33.c3 Bd6 34.Nd4 Bd7 35.Ne3 Be5 36.Ne2 Kb6 37.f4 Bc7 38.fxg5!?

Creating a passed but isolated pawn.

38...fxg5 39.Nf5 Be5 40.Ned4 b4 41.Ne2 a5

The white passer is blockaded, and Black enjoys pressure against the white queenside

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42.Kf3 c5 43.h4?!

White should probably hold tight with 43.Ke3, or advance with 43.g4.

43...gxh4?!

Even stronger seems to be 43...g4+, or 43...bxc3 followed by 44...g4+.

44.gxh4 Kc7?!

The king should probably be adding to the queenside pressure by 44...Kb5.

45.Nf4?!

White is equal after 45.Ne3, according to the engines.

What should Black play?

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45...Bxf5!?

Giving up the bishop-pair is Komodo13.02's top choice for a while, but the engines come to agree that best is 45...a4!?, eg 46.Nd5+ Kc6 47.Nfe3 Bg4+ 48.Kf2 a3! 49.Nxc4 axb2 50.Nxb2 bxc3 51.Nd3 Bd4+ 52.Kg2 Bd1 53.Kg3 c2 54.a4 Bb2 etc.

46.exf5 Kd6

Black no longer has the bishop-pair, but the remaining bishop is stronger than the knight

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47.Nxh5?

The knight should not be decentralised like this. Best, according to the engines, is 47.f6!? Bxf6, and now 48.Nxh5, the point being the knight gains a tempo with which to recentralise. However after 48...Bxh4 the engines reckon Black is winning, eg 49.Nf4 Bf6 50.Ne2 Kd5 51.a3 Bg7 52.Nf4+ Kc6 53.axb4 cxb4 54.Ne2 Bxc3! 55.bxc3 b3 etc.

Black to play and win

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47...Bxc3??

The right idea, but bad timing turns a win into a loss. Probably simplest is 47...b3 48.a3 Bxc3! etc, but also winning is 47...a4, eg 48.Ke3 Bxc3! 49.bxc3 b3 50.axb3 a3 etc.
48.bxc3 b3 49.axb3 cxb3 50.Nf6

White wins thanks to having a possible check on e4

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50...Ke5

Or 50...b2 51.Ne4+ Ke5 52.Nd2 Kxf5 53.Nb1 etc.

51.Ne4 a4 52.f6 b2 53.Nd2 a3 54.f7!?

This wins easily enough, but simplest is 54.Nc4+ Kxf6 55.Nxa3, after which White will in due course promote either the h or c pawn.

54...a2 55.f8=Q a1=Q 56.Qxc5+ (1-0, 80 moves)
*German rating. MS does not have a Fide elo, and he told me before the game that this was his first tournament.

Bad Wörishofen Game Seven

Michael Steiger (1966) - Spanton (1835)

English Symmetrical

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.e3!?

White so often fianchettoes the king's bishop in the English that it can come as a surprise when White goes for central play instead.

4...Nf6

Most popular is 4...Bg7, one idea being to meet 5.d4 with 5...d6!?, and if 6.dxc5 then 6...Bxc3+!? 7.bxc3 dxc5.

5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bc4

How should Black meet this double-attack on d5?

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8...Nxc3

This is the commonest continuation in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, but Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 narrowly prefer 8...Nb6!? 9.Bb3 Bg7, and if 10.d5 then 10...Na5, but probably not 10...Ne5?! as 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.0-0 gives White an initiative.

9.Qb3!? Nd5!? 10.Bxd5 e6 11.Bxc6+

White can also gambit the d pawn, although Black should probably not accept.

11...bxc6 12.0-0

How should Black proceed?

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12...Ba6!?

The main move in Mega23 is 12...Qd5, which is also the engines' choice. They reply 13.Qc2, but without agreement on how Black should continue. Stockfish15 suggesting 13...f6!? or 13...Ba6, and Komodo13.02 liking 13...Be7 or 13...Bb7.

13.Re1 Rb8?!

Again the engines prefer...Qd5.

MS spent ages over his next move - what do you suppose he was thinking about?

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14.Qc3

MS explained in the postmortem he found it difficult to decide between the text and 14.Qc2. What he should have been mainly thinking about is 14.Rxe6!?, when 14...fxe6 15.Qxe6+ Be7 16.Qxc6+ Qd7 17.Qxa6 gives White three pawns (and the safer king) for the exchange. Black cannot play 14...Be7? as 15.Rxe7+ has to be met by 15...Kxe7, when 16.Bg5+ f6 17.Rd1+ gives a huge attack.

14...Qd5 15.Bf4 Rb7?!

Probably better is 15...Bb4, although the engines reckon 16.Qc2 leaves White with a large advantage.

16.Rec1 Bg7!?

Giving up the c pawn while defending the king's rook in case of a check along the back rank seems to be Black's best option.

17.Qa3?!

Probably over-elaborating. The simple 17.Qxc6+ Qxc6 18.Rxc6 wins a pawn, for which the bishop-pair is not sufficient compensation. The engines also like 17.Qd2.

17...Bb5?!

I thought 17...Bd2 might be too loosening, but the engines reckon it equalises.

18.Be5?! ½–½

A strange end to the game. White is positionally winning, according to the engines, after 18.Rc5, eg 18...Qd7 19.Qc3 0-0 20.a4 with strong pressure against the black queenside. After the text, according to the engines, Black has to play 18...f6, but 19.Bd6 leaves White with an edge.

Bad Wörishofen Game Six

Spanton (1835) - Gunnar Ahrens (1650)

Nimzowitsch Defence

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d5!?

Normal are 2...d6 and 2...e5, but ChessBase's 2023 Mega database has 2,310 examples of the text, which is strongly reminiscent of the Scandinavian.

3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3 Qd6!?

Most popular is 4...Qa5, but Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 prefer the text.

5.Nb5!?

The mainline in Mega23 runs 5.d4 Bg4?! (5...Nf6 is popular with strong players), after which the engines reckon 6.d5 and 6.Nb5 leave White better.

5...Qd8 6.d4 a6 7.Nc3 Bg4!?

The engines prefer 7...Nf6 or 7...Bf5.

8.Be2

Best, according to the engines, is 8.d5!?, eg 8...Nd5 9.Qe2!? Nxf3+ 10.gxf3 Bf5 12.Bf4 with what they reckon is the upper hand for White.

8...e6 9.0-0 Nf6 10.Be3 Be7 11.Re1 0-0 12.h3 Bh5 13.a3!?

The engines like this prevention of ...Bb4 and ...Nb4.

13...Rb8!? 14.Qd2 b5 15.Red1!?

Keeping the queen's rook on a1 to be ready for play down the a file in the event of ...b4. The engines prefer 15.Ne5 or 15.Rad1.

15...Qe8!?

This is Stockfish15's top choice; Komodo13.02 likes the text and 15...Nd5.

16.Bf4 Bd6 17.Bg5!? Nd7!? 18.Ne4 f6 19.Nxd6 cxd6 20.Bf4

The game has been quiet tactically but complicated positionally - how should Black proceed?

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20...Qe7?!

Probably best is 20...e5, and if 21.dxe5 then 21...Nde5!?, when the engines reckon 22.Qxd6 Nxf3+ 23.Bxf3 Bxf3 24.gxf3 Rc8 gives Black quite good compensation for a pawn.

21.d5 Bxf3?!

The engines give 21...Nce5 22.dxe5 dxe5 23.Bxh5 exf4 and either 24.dxe6 or 24.d6, in each case with a winning advantage for White.

22.Bxf3?!

This is enough for a large edge, but almost certainly better is 22.dxc6, unveiling the threat of 23.Bxd6.

22...Nce5 23.Be2 Ng6 24.dxe6 Nxf4 25.Qxf4 Ne5

White has emerged from the flurry of tactics a pawn up, at least temporarily, and with pressure against d6, but Black has a strong knight

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26.Qd4 Rfd8 27.Qd5 Rbc8 28.c3 Rc5 29.Qe4 d5

Not 29...Qxe6?? 30.f4.

30.Qe3?!

White keeps a large advantage with 30.Qd4, according to the engines.

30...Rc6 31.f4

Possibly best is attacking the black queenside with 31.a4!?

Black to play and more-or-less equalise

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31...Rxe6! 32.Qf2

Black has a large advantage after 32.fxe5? Rxe5.

32...Nc4 33.Bxc4

White maintains a slight edge with 33.Bf3 or 33.Ng4, according to the engines.

33...dxc4 34.Rxd8+ Qxd8 35.Re1 Rd6

In this completely equal position, GA offered a draw

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36.Kh2 Qd7 37.Qc5 Kf7?

Sensible is 37...h6 to give the black king more breathing room.

38.Qh5+ Kf8

Forced, but it loses a pawn, although Black has reasonable prospects of holding either a queen ending or a rook ending.

39.Qxh7 Re6 40.Qf5 Kf7??

This lets White swop off into an easily won pawn-ending. Correct is 40...Rd6, meeting 41.Qc5 with, say, 41...Kf7.

41.Qxe6+ Qxe6 42.Rxe6 Kxe6 43.Kg3 (1-0, 51 moves)

Bad Wörishofen Game Five

Luca Zeleny (1715) - Spanton (1835)

French Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 Bd6!?

Most popular in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database is breaking the pin with 6...Be7, although it is not much-liked by Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02.

7.Nc3 c6 8.Bd3 0-0 9.Qd2?!

Part of a plan to aggressively castle on opposite sides, but it is risky.

9...Re8+ 10.Ne2 Be6 11.0-0-0

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

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White has more pieces developed and has a target for a pawn-storm in that Black has played ...h6. However the engines reckon Black is at least slightly better. I do not dispute this, but I do not understand how the evaluation has been arrived at. Perhaps Black's pieces are better coordinated?

11...Nbd7 12.h3

12.g4?! seems inadvisable in that the white king's knight is hanging after 12...Bxg4.

12...Qc7 13.g4

The engines prefer 13.Bg3!?, but that puts paid to any idea of a quick kingside attack.

13...Ne4 14.Qe3

The queen does not have a good square. Even worse, according to the engines, is 14.Bxe4 as 14...dxe4 wins a pawn one way or another.

How can Black exploit the position of the white queen?

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14...f5!

This is best, according to the engines,  which also like 14...Nb6. The text threatens to win the white queen with ...f4, and so brings about an immediate crisis.
15.gxf5

Komodo13.02 prefers 15.Bxe4, but 15...dxe4 leaves Black well on top.

15...Bxf5 16.Rdg1 Ng3!?

Not 16...Nc3? 17.Qxh6.

17.Qd2?!

Probably better is 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Nxe2+ 19.Qe2, but both 19...Bxe5 and 19...Rxe5 leave Black in command, according to the engines.

17...Nxe2+ 18.Kb1

This is best, according to the engines, but that only shows how hopeless White's position is.

18...Nxg1 19.Rxg1 Bf4 20.Qd1 Be4 21.Rg4? Bxf3 0-1

Bad Wörishofen Game Four

Spanton (1835) - Frank Baensch (1663)

Modern Defence/Hippopotamus Defence

1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.f4 e6!? 5.Nf3 a6 6.a4 Nd7 7.Be3 Ne7

Black has set up a line of the Hippopotamus Defence, which is itself a specialised version of the Modern Defence

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8.Bd3 0-0 9.0-0 c5

Arguably 9...b6 is a purer form of the Hippo, but Stockfish15 and Komodod13.02 marginally prefer the text.

10.Qd2 Qb6!?

This may be a novelty. Bulgarian grandmaster Vasil Spasov (2578) played 10...cxd4 at the 2006 Olympiad in Turin, one point being 11.Bxd4!? runs into 11...Bxd4+!? 12.Nxd4 Qb6 13.Qf2 Qxb2, when it is not clear if White has enough for a pawn.

11.a5 Qc6

Not 11...Qxb2?? 12.Rfb1.

12.Qf2 c4!? 13.Be2 d5 14.e5

The fluid centre has suddenly closed - White's main chances generally lie on the kingside, while Black's lie on the queenside, but both players will need to take counter-measures on the opposite flank

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14...f6 15.Qh4!? Nf5 16.Qf2 b6

An obvious alternative is winning the bishop-pair with 16...Nxe3, but that would swop a (currently) well-placed knight for a bad bishop.

17.Bd2!?

Preserving the bishop-pair at the cost of a tempo so g4 will force the black king's knight to retreat.

17...Bb7 18.g4 Nh6!?

The engines prefer 18...Ne7.

How should White respond?

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19.Qh4

The engines like sacrificing the queen with 19.exf6!? Nxg4 20.fxg7 Nxf2 21.gxf8=Q+ Rxf8 22.Rxf2, claiming White is winning. Black can avoid this with 19...Nxf6!?, but then 20.Ne5 is even stronger for White, according to the engines.

19...f5?!

The engines reckon 19...Nf7 equalises.

20.g5

Even stronger may be the engines' 20.Ng5.

20...Nf7 21.Ne1 bxa5 22.Rf3 Rfe8 23.Rh3 Nf8 24.Rxa5 Qb6 25.Ra2

Possibly stronger is 25.Na4!?, when 25...Qxd4+?? 26.Be3 traps the black queen as 26...Qe4 is met by 27.Nc5.

25...Bc6

Again 25...Qxd4+?? is met by 26.Be3.

26.Nf3 Re7

In this position FB offered a draw

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27.Qe1 a5 28.Qe1 Rea7 29.Na4 Bxa4 30.Rxa4

White has won the bishop-pair, but neither prelate has much scope in this closed position

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30...Nd8 31.Kh1 Nc6 32.c3 Rb8 33.Bc1 Qb3 34.Ne1?!

Keeping the black queen out of c2, but White should probably play something like 34.Rg3, and if 34...Qc2 then 35.Rg2 or 35.Nd2.

Has Black a winning combination?

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Probably. The winning move seems to be 34...Nxd4!?, when 35.Be3 Nc2 36.Nxc2 Qxc2 37.Bxa7?! runs into 37...Rxb2. Better may be 37.Bd1, but 37...Qe4+ 38.Kg1 Rab7 39.Ra2 d4! is strong, one line being 40.Bd2 (40.Bxd4? Qe1+ 41.Kg2 Qd2+ 42.Kh1 Rxb2) a4! 41.Bf3 Qd3 42.Qc1 dxc3 43.Bxc3 Rb3 with the very nasty threat of ...Rxc3! This is long and sharp, and the engines point out White has an alternative in 35.Ra3!?, when they reckon Black should sacrifice the queen with 35...Nxe2!? 36.Rxb3, claiming 36...Rxb3 leaves Black on top.

34...Nd7 35.Ra3 Qb6 36.Bd1 Bf8 37.Ra2 Be7

One line suggested by the engines runs 37...a4!? 38.Rxa4 Rba8 39.Rxa7 Rxa7 40.Qb1 Qa5, after which White is a pawn up but most of the white pieces are cowering on the back rank.

38.Rg3 Kg7 39.Ba4 Rba8 40.Nc2?!

Probably better is 40.Qb1.

How can Black exploit White's last move?

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40...Bd8

The engines give 40...Nb4!? 41.cxb4 axb4 42.b3 Qb7, claiming Black has at least a slight edge despite being a-piece-for-a-pawn down, eg 43.Bd2 Nb6!? 44.Nxb4 Nxa4 45.bxa4 Bxb4 46.Bxb4 Qxb4, after which material equality has been restored and Black has the initiative.

41.Na3 Rb7 42.Be3 Qa6

How should White proceed?

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43.h4!

Virtually all the pieces (apart from the kings) are concentrated on the queenside, but White has more central space to facilitate switching flanks.

43...Nf8 44.Qg1 Rab8 45.Qh2 Ne7 46.Bc1 Ng8 47.h5 Kh8 48.hxg6 Nxg6 49.Be8!? Rg7 50.Rh3 Rbb7

Black's defence has held for the present, but White can still probe

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51.Qe2 Rbe7 52.Bxg6 Rxg6 53.b3!?

Switching back to queenside play now a black rook and knight are awkwardly placed on the kingside.

53...Rc7 54.bxc4 dxc4 55.Nc2 Qb7+ 56.Kh2 Qb1

For one horrible moment I thought I was losing a piece

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57.Ra1 Qb3?

White is much better, according to the engines, after the superior 57...Qb5 or 57...Qb7, but the text drops a pawn for no good reason.

58.Rxa5 Qb6 59.Ra1 Qb3?!

Probably better is 59...Ne7.

60.d5! exd5 61.Nd4 Qb7 62.Nxf5 Ne7 63.Nd6 Qb8 64.f5 Nxf5!?

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

The game finished:

65.Nxf5 Rf7 66.Nd6 Re7 67.Qh5 Rxd6!? 68.exd6 Qxd6+ 69.Kg2 Qe5 70.Re3 Qg7 71.Qe8+!? Rxe8 72.Rxe8+ Qg8 73.Rxg8+ Kxg8 74.Ra8 1-0

Bad Wörishofen Game Two

Spanton (1835) - Dieter Hilbig (1914)

Sicilian Bb5(+)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.c3 Bg7 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 a6!?

The main move in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database is 6...Qb6, which wins a pawn, but the engines prefer the text. After 6...Qb6 7.Nc3 Bxd4 (7...Nxd4?! 8.Nd5! Nxf3+ 9.Qxf3 leaves Black in big trouble) 8.Nxd4 Qxd4 9.0-0!? Qxd1 10.Rxd1 the engines reckon White has more than enough compensation.

7.Bc4!? e6

The engines prefer 7...b5 or 7...Nf6!?

8.Nc3

This position is normally reached with White to move, but even here the engines slightly prefer White

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8...Nge7 9.d5!? exd5

The engines suggest 9...b5!?

10.exd5 Na5 11.Be2 d6 12.Bd2

By protecting the c3 knight White threatens to trap the black queen's knight, but the engines prefer 12.Be3 or 12.Bg5.

12...b6

The engines much prefer 12...b5, the idea being to meet 13.b4 with 13...Nc4!?

13.b4 Nb7 14.Rc1 0-0 15.0-0 Bg4 16.Re1 b5

Protecting against Bxa6!?

17.Bg5

What should Black play?

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17...Re8?!

Best, according to the engines, is 17...h6, when one line runs 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Bxb5 Bxf3 20.Rxe7 Bxd1 21.Bc6 Bg4 22.Ne4!?, after which they reckon White has at least the upper hand.

18.Ne4 h6 19.Bf6 Bf5!?

This is best, according to the engines.
20.Bxg7 Bxe4

Not 20...Kxg7? 21.Qd4+.

21.Bxh6 f6

The engines give 21...Nf5 22.Bg5 f6 but agree White is winning.

How should White proceed?

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22.Bd3!

This is the engines' top choice, but they also like 22.Nd4 and 22.Nh4.

22...Bxd5 23.Bxg6 Bxf3
Perhaps 23...Nxg6 is an improvement, but 24.Qxd5+ Kh7 25.Rxe8 Qxe8 26.Rc7+! wins, eg 26...Kxh6 27.Qd2+ Kh5 28.Rh7+ Kg4 29.h3+ Kf5 30.Qd5+ Ne5 31.g4+ Kg6 32.Qe4+ f5 33.Qxf5#.

24.Qxf3 Nxg6 25.Qxb7 Ne7 26.Qe4 Qd7 27.Rc3 Kf7?

This loses instantly, but 27...Nf5 28.Qg4+ Ng7 (best) 29.Rxe8+!? Rxe8 30.Qd1 Qg4! 31.Qb3+ Qe6 31.Qxe6+ Nxe6 32.Kf1 should also win for White.

28.Qh7#

Bad Wörishofen Game One

Corbinian Volkmann (1570) - Spanton (1835)

Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6!? 6.0-0 Ba7!?

A main point of Black's last two slow-looking moves is so White cannot play d4 or b4 with tempo by hitting the black king's bishop

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7.Re1 d6 8.a4 Na5!?

This is not in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database.

9.Ba2 Be6 10.Nbd2 Bxa2 11.Rxa2 0-0

Black has swopped off the active white bishop, but the white queen's rook, although it may look a little strangely placed, can be used along the second rank to double up heavy pieces. Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 reckon White is at least slightly better.

12.b4 Nc6 13.Nc4 Ng4?

A waste of time that costs two tempi.

14...Nf6 15.Be3

The engines prefer pinning with 15.Bg5.

15...Bxe3 16.Nxe3 g6!? 17.Nf1 Qd7 18.Ng3 Rad8 19.Rd2 Kd7 20.h4!?

The engines prefer play in the centre or on the queenside.

20...Qg4 21.b5 axb5 22.axb5 Na5 23.d4!?

How should Black proceed?

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23...Nc4?

Correct, according to the engines, is 23...Rde8!?, with equality (Komodo13.02) or maybe slightly worse (Stockfish15).

24.dxe5! Nxd2?

Best play, according to the engines, runs 24...Nd7 25.exd6! Nxd2 26.dxc7 Nxf3+ 27.gxf3 Qxh4 28.Qd4+ Qf6 29.cxd8=Q Rxd8 30.e5, when White is a pawn up and, the engines reckon, has a large advantage.

25.exf6+ Kxf6 26.Qxd2 Kg7 27.Qd5 b6 28.h5 Qe6 29.Qd4+ Kh6!? 30.Qe3+ Kg7 31.h6+ Kg8 32.Qd4 f6 33.Nh4 Qe5 34.Qc4+ d5 35.Qb3

CV very nearly played 35.Qxc7??

35...Kh8 36.Nf3 Qf4 37.exd5 Qxh6 38.Nd4 Rfe8 39.Ne6 Rd7 40.c4 Kg8 41.Qc3 Rf7 42.Ne4 g5 43.Re3 g4 44.Ng3 Qg6 45.Re4 Ra8

Desperately trying for counterplay, but White's position is overwhelming.

46.Qd4 h5 47.Nxh5!?

The engines reckon this is not White's best continuation, but it is plenty good enough.

47...Ra1+?

Better is 47...Qxh5 48.Rxg4+ Kh8 49.Rh4 Ra1+ 50.Qxa1 Qxh4 51.Qa8+ Kh7 52.Qe8, when Stockfish15 reckons White is the equivalent of more than two rooks ahead (as usual, Komodo13.02 is less expansive in its evaluation).

48.Qxa1 Qxe4 49.Nxf6+ Rxf6 50.Qxf6 Qb1+ 51.Kh2 Qh7+ 52.Kg3 Qd3+ 53.f3 1-0