Czech 65+ Round Two

Sand sculpture of Mozart, who apparently composed his sixth symphony while visiting Olomouc as an 11-year-old

I faced a Swede in the first of today's two rounds.

Jan Bohlin (1928) - Spanton (2003)

Catalan

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

The point of Black's well-known bishop manoeuvre is to misplace White's dark-square bishop, the argument being that the bishop is best-placed on b2, with the white queen's knight going to d2. That being the case, it might be thought White should play 5.Nbd2, but then 5...dxc4, among other moves, is considered fine for Black.

6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Dragon1 gives White a slight edge, presumably based on White's pressure against Black's centre from the pawn on c4 and the fianchettoed bishop, but Stockfish18 is less sure. In ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, White scores 52% from the diagram.

7...c6 8.Qc2 Nbd7 9.Rd1

This is second in popularity to 9.Bf4.

9...b6 10.b3

Again Bf4 is more common, but the text is also popular.

10...Bb7

And this is second in popularity to 10...Ba6.

11.Bf4

But here 11.Nc3 is much more popular, taking advantage of Black not having put pressure on c4.

11...Rc8 12.Nbd2!?

The engines prefer 12.Nc3, although only Dragon1 gives White any advantage. Stockfish18 calls the game completely equal.

12...c5 13.dxc5!?

More prudent is 13.Qb2.

13...Bxc5

White to play and lose

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

14.Ne5??

Better are the known-move 14.Qb2 and the engines' suggestion, 14.h3, but in each case the engines award Black the upper hand.

14...Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Ng4 0-1

White can save the bishop, eg with 16.Bc3, but 16...Nxf2 17.Rf1 Ng4+ 18.Kh1 Ne3 is devastating, eg 19.Qb2 Nxg2!? 20.Kxg2 d4+.

Bregenz Seniors Round Five

FACED a Swiss.

Erich Kampenhuber (1675) - Spanton (1911)

English

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.g3?!

There are 188 examples of this move in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, including by a player rated over 2600, albeit at blitz, but letting Black gain space with tempo is at least questionable.

3...d4

This is better than 3..Nf6, although the latter is almost three times more common.

4.Nb5

Not 4.Ne4?? f5.

4...a6 5.Na3 Bc5!?

Stockfish18 and Dragon1 like 5...c5 and 5...e5, but the text, which is apparently a novelty, was played with the following sequence in mind.

6.b3!? d3!?

White to play and lose

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****
7.exd3??

Black is better, but not winning, after 7.Bb2 or 7.Nf3.

7...Qf6 0-1

World Team 65+ Round Eight

Bo.	37	Norway - Golden Oldies	Rtg	-	46	England - 5	Rtg	0 : 0
27.1		Esbensen, Arnt	2169	-		Freeman, Richard C P	1897
27.2		Taksrud, Vidar	1931	-	CM	Stokes, Michael	1861
27.3		Johnsen, Oystein	1949	-		Spanton, Tim R	1908
27.4		Bjorgvik, Jan Arne	1818	-		Marshall, Michael	1859

Øystein Johnsen (1949) - Spanton (1908)

London System

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 Bd6 4.Bg3 Nf6 5.e3 b6 6.Nbd2 0-0 7.Bd3 Bb7

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

8.Bh4!?

Presumably ØJ did not fancy 8.0-0 Bxg3. The main move in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database is 8.Ne5, when 8...c5 9.c3 Nc6 is equal, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

8...Nbd7 9.0-0

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

The position is largely symmetrical, with the notable exception of the queens' bishops, but the engines award Black at least the better part of equality, perhaps because having the move in such a position confers a small initiative.

9...Re8

But this is not the way to pursue it, according to the engines. They suggest 9...c5 or 9...Qb8!?

10.c3 h6!?

Anticipating 11.Qc2.

11.Qc2 c5 12.b3 Rc8 13.Rac1 Qc7 14.Bg3!?

The engines fluctuate between the text, 14.Qb1 and 14.Qb2.

14...Bxg3 15.hxg3

So White has allowed ...Bxg3 anyway

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

15...Ng4 16.e4!?

This is the classic pawn break in this sort of position, but the engines are not keen on it here.

16...dxe4

Possibly stronger is 16...cxd4, eg 17.cxd4 Qxc2 18.Bxc2!? Ndf6!?, when 19.e5 Ne4 favours Black, according to the engines, but so does 19.exd5 Nxd5.

17.Bxe4!?

The engines reckon this is better than 17.Nxe4 cxd4 18.cxd4 (18.Nxd4?! Qe5! 19.Nf3 Qh5 is risky for White) Qxc2 19.Rxc2 Rxc2 20.Bxc2 Rc8.

17...Ndf6 18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.Rfe1 Red8 20.dxc5 Rxc5 21.Ne4 Nxe4 22.Qxe4 Qxe4 23.Rxe4 Nf6

Where should the rook go?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

24.Rd4!?

This is the engines' top choice.

24...Rdc8 25.c4 b5 26.Kf1 Kf8

The game is completely equal after 26...bxc4 27.Rdxc4 Rxc4 28.bxc4, according to the engines.

27.Ne1!?

This seems playable, but probably better is 27.Nd2.

27...e5 28.Rd2?!

The active 28.Rd6!? is better, according to the engines, eg 28...bxc4 29.Ra6!? cxb3 30.Rxc5 Rxc5 31.Rxa7 bxa2 32.Rxa2, when Black is a pawn up, but all the pawns are on one side of the board, and the engines reckon Black has only a slight edge.

28...cxb4 29.Rdc2

The engines prefer 29.bxc4 Rxc4 30.Rd8+!? Rxd8 31.Rxc4, when Black is again a pawn up, but with pawns on both sides of the board, giving Black at least the upper hand, according to the engines.

29...Ne4 30.b4 R5c7?!

Probably better is taking the open file with 30...Rd5!?, one point being 31.Rxc4?? Rxc4 32.Rxc4 loses to 32...Nd2+ and 33...Nxc4.

31.Ke2?

Black has at best a slight edge after 31.Re2, according to the engines.

31...Ke7 32.Ke3 f5 33.g4 g6 34.gxf5 gxf5 35.g4?!

The engines much prefer 35.Nd3!?, eg 35...Kd6 36.Nb2 Kd5 37.Rd1+ Ke6 38.Rh1 c3!? 39.Rxh6+ Kd5 40.Nd1, although after 40...f4+ Black has pressure.

35...Kf6

The engines suggest 35...c3 or 35...Nd6.

36.f3

And here they like 36.Nf3 or 36.Rd1.

36...Nd6 37.Rh2 f4+ 38.Kf2 Nf7 39.Rc3 Rd8 40.Kf1 Kg6 41.Rhc2 Rd4 42.Ra3!? Rd6 43.Rac3 Rdc6?!

The engines give 43...Rd4, and if 44.Ra3, then 44...Nd6, claiming a large advantage for Black.

44.Nd3!? a6 45.Nc5 Nd6 46.Re2 Kf6 47.Ne4+!?

Forcing a double-rook-and-pawn ending, but the engines reckon White is better off keeping knights on, challenging Black to find a way to make progress after 47.Rc1 or 47.a3.

47...Nxe4 48.Rxe4

How would you assess this ending?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****
Dragon1 reckons Black is winning, but Stockfish17.1 gives Black only a slight edge. The practical point, however, is that unless Black gets careless and lets White create something with the 2-1 pawn-majority on the a-b files, there are only two likely outcomes - a draw or a black win.

48...Ke6 49.Re2?!

The rook is well-placed on e4. White should almost certainly be centralising the king, as far as is possible, with 49.Ke2 or 49.Ke1.

49...Rb7 50.a3 Rd7 51.Ke1?

Much better, but still losing, according to the engines, is going for counterplay with 51.Rh2.

51...Rd3 52.Rec2 Rd4?

This is probably still winning, but much stronger is 52...Rxc3 53.Rxc3 Kd5, eg 54.Kd2 Kd4 55.Kc2 Rg6!? 56.Kb2!? (56.Kd2 h5!) e4!? 57.fxe4 Rxg4.

53.Rd2 Kd5 54.Rdc2 Rc7 55.Rh2 Rc6 56.Rhc2 Re6 57.Kf2 e4 58.fxe4 Rexe4 59.Rh3 Rd3 60.Rh5+ Kd4 61.Rxh6

Black to play and win

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

61...Rxa3?

One of the few plausible moves that does not win, whereas 61...c3, 61...Ree3 and even 61...Kd5!? win comfortably.

62.Rd6+ Ke5 63.Rc6 c3 64.R2xc3 Rxc3 65.Rxc3 Rxb4

This is a tablebase draw

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

66.Ra3 Ke4 67.Ra6 Rb2+

White to play and draw

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

68.Ke1?

The Syzygy endgame tablebase shows only 68.Kg1! draws.

The problem with the text will soon become apparent, whereas 68.Kf1? loses to 68...f3! (only-move), and if, as in the game, 69.g5, then 69...Kf4 (another only-move), eg 70.g6 Kg3 (a third only-move, but the easiest of the lot to find) 71.Ra1 Rh2 (71...Rf2+ also wins) 72.Kg1 f2+ 73.Kf1 Rh1+ 74.Ke2 Rxa1.

After 68.Kg1, Black can again try 68...f3, but 69.Rf6! draws, eg 69...Ke3 70.g5 Rb1+ (70...f2+ 71.Kg2) 71.Kh2 f2 72.g6, when Black has to take a draw as 72...f1=Q?? loses to 73.Rxf1 Rxf1 74.g7 etc.

68...Kf3

White cannot prevent the black king from occupying g2, as 69.Kf1? allows 69...Rb1#.

69.g5 Kg2 70.g6 f3 71.Rf6

Black to play and and maintain the win

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****
71...Rb1+?

There are two winning lines: 71...Re2+ 72.Kd1 Re7, eg 73.Rf7 f2!? (73...Re8 also wins) 74.g7 Re8 75.Rf8 f1=Q+, and 71...Rb7 72.Rf5 Re7+ 73.Kd2 f2, eg 74.Rg5+ Kh3 75.Rf5 Kg3 76.Kd3 Kg2 77.Rg5+ Kf1 78.Kd2 Rd7+ 79.Kc2 Ke2 80.Re5+ Kf3 81.Rf5+ Kg3 82.Kc3 (82.Rg5+ Kf4) Rg7 83.Rf6 Kg2 etc.

72.Kd2 f2 73.g7 Rb2+ 74.Kc1 Rb8 75.Rg6+ Kf3 76.Rf6+ Ke2 77.Re6+ Kf1 78.Rg6 Rg8 79.Kd2 Rd8+ 80.Kc3 Rc8+ 81.Kd4 Rd8+ 82.Kc5 Rc8+ 83.Kb6 Rg8

White to play and lose

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

84.Kc7??

This loses because Black will be able to capture on g7 with check.

84...Ke2 85.Re6+ Kd3 86.Rd6+ Ke4 87.Rf6 Rxg7+ 88.Kd8 Ke3 89.Re6+ Kd2 90.Rd6+ Ke2 91.Re6+ Kf1 0-1

Team Result

Esbensen = Freeman

Taksrud 1-0 Stoke

Johnsen 0-1 Spanton

Bjorgvik = Marshall

Norway Golden Oldies 2-2 England 5

Weimar Round Six

Wilfried Adam (1828) - Spanton (1939)

King's Indian Attack/Sicilian Closed

1.e4 c5 2.d3!? Nc6 3.Nf3 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.c3!? d5 6.Nbd2 e5 7.Bg2 Nge7

Perhaps it is a matter of taste whether the opening is classified as a King's Indian Attack or  the Closed Variation of the Sicilian

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

If pressed to choose, I would pick the former, but would not be surprised to be called wrong. ChessBase muddies the water further by opting for "B30: Sicilian: 2...Nc6 3 Bb5, lines without ...g6," which is certainly not correct.
8.0-0 0-0

Getting the name right would be nice, but evaluating the position correctly is more important, so how would you assess matters now both sides have castled?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Black has more space, which may be why Stockfish17.1 gives Black the better part of equality. Dragon1 has the position as almost completely equal.

9.h3!?

This prevents the pinning ...Bg4, but that does not look dangerous, and also prepares an advance of the g pawn, but the engines prefer 9.exd5 or 9.a3!?

9...h6!?

But this h-pawn push, which prepares ...Be6 without allowing the reply Ng5, is the top choice of the engines.

10.Ne1!?

Probably a novelty. The engines prefer the known 10.Re1, which is more normal in the KIA.

10...Be6 11.f4 Qd7 12.Kh2 Rad8

The engines reckon Black has a positionally won game, but I was not expecting my opponent to resign and time soon

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

13.Qe2 Rfe8

Black has a large lead in development, but the position, while not closed, is not open either.

14.Nb3 b6 15.Be3 a5 16.Nc2 a4 17.Nd2

How should Black proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

17...d4

Gaining space, but closing the centre. The engines prefer 17...exf4 and especially 17...f5!?, both of which are likely to lead to more lines opening.

18.cxd4 cxd4 19.Bg1 b5 20.Nf3 f6

The engines still like ...exf4 and especially ...f5.

21.a3

White would surely have had to play this sooner or later as otherwise the white queen's rook could not move.

21...Rc8 22.g4 g5!?

This is Stockfish17.1's top choice (Drgaon1 prefers 22...exf4). The idea is to oblige White to push on with the f pawn, and so make it more difficult to open lines on the kingside.

23.f5 Bf7 24.Qd2 Qa7 25.h4 Na5 26.Rae1 Nb3 27.Qe2 Bf8 28.Na1 Rc6 29.Nxb3 Bxb3

Stockfish17.1 marginally prefers 29...axb3. Dragon1 fluctuates between the two moves, before coming down in favour of the text.

30.Rc1 Rec8 31.Rxc6 Rxc6 32.hxg5 Rc2 33.Qe1 hxg5 34.Rf2 Qc7 35.Rxc2 Qxc2 36.Qd2 Qc7?!

The engines much prefer 36...Nc6 or 36...Qxd2, although, even after the text, they still reckon Black has a positionally won game.

37.Nxg5!?

The engines suggest 37.Kh3!?, 37.Ne1, 37.Bf1 or 37.Bh3, but they do not out-and-out condemn the text either.

How should Black respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

37...Bh6!

This is best, although it leaves Black a pawn down. Also good is Stockfish17.1's second choice, 37...Nxf5, provided Black sees the same ...Bh6 idea. Dragon1's second choice, 37...Qc2, is also probably winning.

38.Ne6 Bxd2 39.Nxc7

Why is Black winning despite being a pawn down?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Black's bishops are more active than White's, and Black will be able to create an advanced passed pawn, against which White's pieces are not well-placed to contend, whereas Black's king is ideally situated to deal with White's extra kingside pawn.

39...Bc1?

But this is the wrong way to go about matters. After 39...b4 40.axb4 Bc1!, White is helpless, eg 41.Nb5 Bxb2 42.Bf2 a3 43.Nxa3 Bxa3, when Black's extra piece should prevail easily.

40.Nxb5 Bxb2 41.Bf2 Bd1!?

Possibly better is 41...Bc1 or 41...Kg7, in each case with full compensation for a pawn, according to the engines. They do not like the text when it is inputted, and for quite a few moves afterwards, but later judge that it is OK.

42.Bh4 Be2 43.Bxf6 Nc6

Not 43...Bxd3?? 44.Bxe7 Bxb5 45.g5, and if 45...d3, then simply 46.Bf3.

White has one move to maintain at least equality - everything else loses

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

44.Na7?

Also losing is 44.g5? Bxd3 45.Nc7 Bxa3, and 44.Bg5? Bxd3 45.Nc7 Bxa3, and 44.Kg3? Bxd3 45.Nc7 Bxa3.

But the engines' 44.Kg1! is another story, eg 44...Bxd3? 45.Bf1! Bxe4 46.Bc4+ Kf8 47.Bg5! Na5 48.Be6 Nb7 49.f6 Bg6 50.Bh6+ Ke8 51.Bd5 Nd8 52.Nd6+ Kd7 53.Nc4 Bc3 54.Nxe5+ Kd6 55.f7, when White wins a piece.

So 44.Kg1! should be met with 44...Bc1!, eg 45.Bf1 Be3+ 46.Kg2 Bxg4, when the engines reckon Black has enough activity to make up for a being a pawn down.

44...Nxa7 45.Bxe5 Bxd3 46.Bd6 Be2 47.e5

Black to play and win ... or lose

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

47...d3??

This turns an advantage worth +3.00, or possibly more, into a disadvantage worth more than -7.00. Instead, Black wins by attacking the white dark-square bishop with 47...Nb5 or 47..Nc8, or by taking control of the g8-a2 diagonal with 47...Bc4.

48.Bd5+ Kh7

Even worse is 48...Kg7? as that allows 49.f6+ with tempo.

White to play and win ... or lose

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

49.Bc4??

Both 49.f6 and 49.Be4 win without any trouble.

49...Nc8 50.Kg3?

This does not help, but White should lose anyway after the engines' top choice, 50.Bc7, eg 50...Bxa3 51.g5 Bc1 52.g6+ Kh6 53.Kg2 Bf4 54.Kf2 Bg4! 55.Bxd3 a3 56.Bb1 Bxf5! 57.Ba2 Kxg6, after which Black will win White's last pawn, and so be up knight and pawn. White will eventually have to give up a piece for the a pawn, although Black may have to show how to win with king, bishop and knight versus king.

50...Nxd6 51.exd6 Be5+ 52.Kf2 Bxd6 53.g5 Bxa3 54.Ke3!?

This is Stockfish17.1's top choice, which means White's position is completely hopeless.

54...Bc1+ 55.Kd4 Bxg5 0-1

Mariánské Lázně 50+ Round One

Spanton (1915) - Radek Zálešák (1611)

English Symmetrical

1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 Nf6 6.e4!?

Heading for a Botvinnik setup, which is regarded by some English Opening experts, for example Tony Kosten, as more effective when Black plays ...e5.

6...0-0 7.Nge2

This is what makes it a Botvinnik. The same pawn-formation was pioneered by Aron Nimzowitsch, but he played his king's knight to f3.

7...d6 8.0-0

Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position, which occurs 8,084 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

The position remains largely symmetrical, apart from the locations of the king's knights. The game is equal, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

8...Bd7 9.h3 Ne8!?

The start of a popular manoeuvre in the Botvinnik, in which the knight heads via c7 and e6 for the hole at d4.

10.f4 f5!?

This is the commonest continuation in Mega26, just ahead of 10...Nc7.

11.exf5 Bxf5!?

This seems to be a novelty. The engines prefer the known 11..gxf5.

12.Bd5+

The engines reckon this helps Black. They prefer an immediate g4, or Be3.

12...Kh8 13.g4 Bd7 14.Ng3 e6 15.Bg2 Qc7 16.Be3 Nd4 17.Qd2 Bc6 18.Nge4?!

Probably the wrong knight. After 18.Nce4 White has a slight edge, according to the engines, and if, as in the game, 18...d5, then 19.cxd5 is strong, eg 19...exd5 20.Nxc5, or 19...Bxd5 20.Rac1 with Nxc5 and/or b4 to come.

18...d5!

With the king's knight having occupied e4, the text gives Black hopes of an edge.

How should White respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

19.Nxc5!?

Possibly better is 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Ng3, when the engines reckon Black has the better part of equality. White might also be able to play 20.Nxc5!? - Stockfish17.1 reckons 20...Qd6 21.b4 b6 gives Black at best a slight edge, and possibly not that, although Dragon1 starts by claiming Black is winning, before eventually awarding Black a slight edge.

19...dxc4 20.dxc4?

This is definitely bad. Instead White should move the queen's knight to either e4 or e2, but with at least a slight edge for Black, according to the engines.

20...Bxg2 21.Bxd4 Bxd4+?!

Probably better is 21...Bxf1, the idea being to meet 22.Nxe6 with 22...Qxc4, when the engines' main line runs 23.Bxg7+ Nxg7 24.Nxf8 Bxh3 25.Nd7 Rd8 26.Qe3 Rxd7 27.Qxh3, after which material is level, but 27...Rd3 is very strong.

22.Qxd4+ e5! 23.fxe5 Rxf1+ 24.Rxf1 Bxf1 25.Kxf1

Now the fireworks have settled down, how would you assess the position?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Neither king is safe, and White has two pawns for the exchange, but Black is to play and there is a strong move available that gives at least the upper hand, according to the engines.

25...Ng7?!

White does not seem to have a good answer to 25...Rc8, eg 26.N3e4 b6 27.e6+ Kg8 28.Nd3 Rd8!? (this is even better than grabbing the c pawn, according to the engines) 29.Qc3 Qb7 30.Ndf2 Qc6 31.Ng5 Rc8 32.b3 h6!? 33.Nf7 Qxe6 34.Nxh6+ Kh7 35.g5 b5 36.c5 Qd5, after which both c5 and g5 hang.

26.Nd5 Qf7+

The engines prefer 26...Rf8+.

27.Kg2 Ne6?!

Again the engines prefer bringing the rook to f8.

28.Nxe6 Qxe6 29.Nf4 Qc6+!?

Dragon1 much prefers 29...Qb6, but Stockfish17.1 is fine with both moves.

30.Kg3 Qb6?!

The engines give 30...Rc8, which Stockfish17.1 reckons equalises, but Dragon1 claims leaves White winning. Best play would seem to go 31.e6+ Kg8 32.e7 Kf7 (if 32...Re8?, then 33.Nd5, threatening Nf6+, and if 33...Kf7, then 34.Qf4+ Kg7 35.g5!?, when one possible continuation is 35...Qc5 36.Kf3!? Qg1 37.Ke4 Qe1+ 38.Kd4 Rc8 39.Qe5+!? Qxe5 40.Kxe5 Kf7 41.Kd6 and wins) 33.Nd5 Qxc4!? 34.Qf6+ Kg8 35.Qe6+ Kg7 36.Qe5+ Kf7 37.Nc7!? Qd3+ (37...Qxc7+? 38.e8=Q+!) 38.Kh4 Qd7 39.e8=Q+ Rxe8 40.Nxe8 Qxe8 41.Qxe8+ Kxe8 42.Kg5 Kf7, and the pawn ending is drawn, but these are complicated lines with plenty of plausible alternatives along the way.

31.c5 Rd8 32.Qc3

Not 32.cxb6?? Rxd4 33.bxa7 Ra4, when probably Black, if anyone, is better.

32...Qc6 33.e6+ Kg8 34.e7 Re8 35.Qc4+ Kg7

White to play and win ... or lose

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

36.Ne6+??

This turns a win into a loss. Instead, 36.Nd5 leaves Black with tremendous problems, eg 36...Qe6 37.Qc3+ Kf7 38.Nc7 Qxe7 39.Qf3+ Kg8 40.Nxe8 Qxe8 41.Qd5+, when Black is a pawn down, admittedly in a queen-and-pawn ending, but the engines reckon White's advantage is roughly equivalent to being up a rook. Also winning, according to the engines, is 36.Qd4+ Kf7 37.Nd5.

36...Kf6!?

Everything else loses trivially.

37.Ng5!

The best try, but losing.

37...Qc7+

RZ offered a draw.

Naturally not 37...Kxg5?? 38.Qf4#, while 37...Kxe7? leaves White with a 'quiet' drawing move.

If Black had played 37...Kxe7?, how could White draw?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

The engines give 38.Qd4!, when White threatens to win with 39.Qg7+ and 40.Nf7+. Black can stop this easily enough with, for example, 38...Qf6, but 39.Qd5 threatens to win with 40.Qxb7+, so 39...Qc6, but then 40.Qd4 repeats, and neither side can improve, according to the engines. Note that 38.Qf7+? fails to 38...Kd8 as Black has the e6 square covered twice, preventing a successful Ne6, and 38.Nxh7? Qc7+ also loses for White, eg 39.Kf3 Qh2!?, after which White does not have a perpetual.

After the game's 37...Qc7+, should White accept the draw offer?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Yes, as subsequent play shows.

38.Kh4 Rxe7

Not 38...Qxe7?? 39.Qc3+! (39.Qd4+? loses to 39...Qe5) Qe5 40.Qf3+ (the availability of this check is the key difference between 39.Qc3+! and 29.Qd4+?) Ke7 41.Qxb7+ Kd8 42.Nf7#. Also inferior is 38...Kxe7? 39.Qf7+ Kd8 40.Ne6+ Rxe6 41.Qxe6, although Black has drawing chances in this queen-and-pawn ending after 41...Qxc5 42.Qg8+ Ke7! 43.Qxh7 Kf6.

39.Ne4+

Black to play and win

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

39...Rxe4??

Black has a simple win after 39...Kg7, eg 40.Nd6 (40.Qd4 Qe5) h6 (40...Re5 is also good enough), when they reckon Black's advantage is worth almost a rook.

40.Qxe4 g5+ 41.Kh5 Qf7+ 42.Kh6 Qf8+ 43.Qh5 Qf7+ ½–½

Cap Negret Round Three

Salvador Freijedo Álvarez (2123) - Spanton (1896)

QGD Semi-Tarrasch

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nc3 c5

This is fifth in popularity, behind 4...Nbd7, 4...Bb4, 4...c6 and especially 4...Be7.

5.e3

The main move is 5.cxd5, but there are 3,721 examples of the text in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.

5...Nc6 6.cxd5 exd5

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

7.Be2

This is the commonest continuation in Mega25, but Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 marginally prefer 7.Bb5, when the main line in Mega25 runs 7...Bd6 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.b3, with a slight edge for White (Dragon1), or at least the better part of equality (Stockfish17.1).

7...c4!?

This is Dragon1'a top choice by a small margin over the much more popular 7...cxd4, which is Stockfish17.1's recommendation.

8.0-0

This is the normal continuation, and the engines' preference. The problem with 8.b3!?, immediately attacking the advanced pawn, is that Black has the pinning 8...Bb4.

8...Bb4 9.Bd2 0-0

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White has a slight lead in development, but the game is probably going to hinge on how White deals with Black's space-gaining queenside pawn-majority. Stockfish17.1 gives White a slight edge; Dragon1 calls the game equal.

10.b3 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Ne4

Possibly 11...b5 is a little better.

12.Rc1

This seems to be a novelty. The engines like 12.Be1!?, while three queen moves have been tried - to e1, c1 and c2.

12...Nxc3 13.Rxc3 b5 14.bxc4 Qa5 15.Rc1 bxc4

The engines reckon 15...dxc4?! strongly favours White after 16.a4!

16.Nd2?!

The engines give 16.e4!? dxe4 17.Rxc4, claiming equal chances.

16...Re8?!

Black has at least a slight edge, according to the engines, after 16...Rb8, occupying the open file.

17.Bf3

How should Black respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

17...Bb7!?

Preparing a pawn sacrifice for active play.

Note that in the diagram, White threatens 18.Nxc4, when 18...dxc4? makes matters worse as 19.Bxc6 wins back the piece and forks the black rooks.

The aggressive 17...c3? leaves Black in trouble after the simple 18.Nb3, and even worse is 17...Qxa2?? 18.Bxd5.

The engines recommend 17...Bd7, with what they reckon is equality.

18.Rb1 Rab8!?

Not 18...Nd8? 19.Nxc4!, but the engines suggest 18...Ba6, again with equal chances.

19.Nxc4!

The engines agree White has to accept the sacrifice to gain an advantage.

19...dxc4 20.Rxb7! Rxb7

The engines' 20...Nb4!? may be slightly better.

21.Bxc6 Reb8 22.Bxb7 Rxb7

How would you assess this heavy-piece late-middlegame?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White is a pawn up, but Black's more-advanced passer is dangerous. Dragon1 reckons White is winning; Stockfish17.1 gives White only a slight edge. If the engines are given extra time to study the position, Stockfish17.1 comes for a while to give White the upper hand, but reverts to awarding only a slight edge. Dragon1, meanwhile, downgrades White's advantage to enjoying the upper hand.

23.Qc2
At first both engines reckon 23.Qf3 is best, but Dragon1 comes to prefer the text.

23...c3 24.Qe4

Dragon1 is convinced 24.Rc1 is much stronger; Stockfish17.1 is less sure. Note that 24.Rc1 does not threaten to immediately capture on c3 as White (as well as Black) has back-rank problems.

24...Rb8 25.g3 g6

This is good enough for equality, according to the engines, which reckon 25...Qxa2 also equalises.

White to play and lose

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

26.Qe5??

Various moves maintain complete equality, according to the engines, including 26.Qc6, 26.Rc1 and 26.h4.

26...Qxe5 27.dxe5 c2 0-1

Northumberland Round One

Spanton (1936 ECF/1977 Fide) - Oliver Graham (1829 ECF/1751 Fide)

Spanish Exchange

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5!?

This has been played by grandmasters, but trails 7...Nf6, 7...c5 and especially 7...Bd7 in popularity in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.

How should White respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

8.Be3

This beats 8.Nb3 for popularity, but Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon there is little to choose between the two moves.

8...Nf6

This was Capablanca's choice in a 1914 game, and it is the commonest continuation, but the engines suggest 8...Bd7 or 8...Ne7.

9.f3 Bb6!?

Capablanca preferred castling.

10.Nc3 Bd7 11.Kf2!? h6!?

Apparently a novelty. The engines suggest 11...h5, 11...0-0-0 or 11...Ba5.

12.Nb3!?

This allows White to force off Black's bishop-pair.

12...Be6!? 13.Bxb6 cxb6 14.Nd4 Ke7!?

Now both players have connected rooks, how would you assess the position?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White's superior pawn-majority gives the upper hand, according to the engines.

15.Nxe6 Kxe6 16.Rad1 Rhd8 17.Na4!?

This achieves nothing. The engines suggest starting to realise White's majority with 17.g4!?

17...Nd7 18.Rd2 b5 19.Nc3

Possible was 19.Rxd7!? as, whichever way Black captures, White regains the exchange with 20.Nb6(+).

19...Ne5 20.Rxd8 Rxd8 21.Rd1 Rxd1 22.Nxd1 b6

OG offered a draw.

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

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

White still has the superior pawn-majority, but the engines reckon it is not easy to make much of it. Dragon1 gives White a slight edge, but Stockfish17 is not even sure of that.

23.Ne3 Nc4?

Allowing a pawn ending is probably losing, and at any rate makes Black's defence very difficult.

24.Nxc4 bxc4 25.Ke3 c5 26.f4 h5 27.h3!?

This allows 27...h4, which Dragon1 reckons is good for Black, reducing White's advantage to a slight edge, but Stockfish17 agrees with me that 28.Kf3 wins, eg 28...f5!? (Dragon1's idea) can be met by both 29.g4 and 29.e5, which Dragon1 comes to realise win for White.

27...Kd6 28.Kf3 b5 29.g4 h4!?

This is Stockfish17's top choice. Dragon1 prefers 29...hxg4+, but both 30.hxg4 and my planned 30.Kxg4!? seem to win.

30.g5 b4 31.Kg4 a5

White to play and win ... or lose

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

32.Kxh4??

This allows Black a well-known breakthrough on the queenside, whereas that is prevented by 32.c3 (but not 32.a3?? c3).

32...a4

There is no defence against the threat of 33...b3

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

33.Kg4

If 33.b3 then 33...cxb3 34.axb3 axb3 35.axb3 c4 etc, while 33.c3 loses to 33...a3, and 33.a3 loses to 33...c3.

The game finished:

33...b3 34.cxb3 axb3 34.axb3 cxb3 36.e5+ Kd5 37.g6 fxg6 38.Kg5 c4 39.Kxg6 c3 40.bxc3 b2 41.Kf7 b1=Q 42.e6 Qf5+ 0-1

Czech 65+ Open Championship Round Six

Spanton (1982) - Vladimír Dvořák (1912)

French 3.Nc3 Be7

1.Nc3 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e4 Be7!?

The position after 3...Be7!? occurs 1,247 times in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database. Among those who have played it are Nigel Short and Fabiano Caruana, while it was a favourite of Oleg Romanishin's in the 1970s.

How should White respond?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

4.e5!?

Most popular is 4.Nf3, but Stockfish17 prefers the text, while Dragon1 suggests 4.Bd3!?

4...c5 5.Qg4 Kf8!?

Dragon1 prefers 5...g6, but Stockfish17 fluctuates between the two moves.

6.Nf3 h5!?

There is only one example of this move in Mega25, but it is Stockfish17's top choice; Dragon1 prefers 6...b6.

7.Qf4 cxd4!?

The engines agree this is an improvement over the known 7...Nh6.

8.Nxd4

This is OK, but better is the engines' 8.Nb5! Nc6 9.Nbxd4.

8...g5!? 9.Qe3

The engines reckon 9.Qd2!? gives White a slight edge.

9...Nc6 10.Bd3 Nh6 11.h3 Kg7?!

The engines strongly dislike this, suggesting 11...Qc7 or 11...Nf5!?

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

12.Bd2

The engines reckon 12.f4 gives the upper hand, and 12.Nce2 gives at least a slight edge.

12...f5!? 13.exf6+?!

Probably better is 13.f4. After the text Black's central pawns are free to advance.

13...Bxf6 14.Nce2?

Not 14.Nxe6+?? Bxe6 15.Qxe6? Re8 etc, but better is 14.Nxc6, although after 14...bxc6 Black's central dominance provides protection for the black king. Dragon1 reckons the resulting position is completely equal, but Stockfish17 marginally prefers Black.

14...Nxd4 15.Nxd4 e5!?

Black's hanging pawns are mobile and strong.

16.Nb3 e4 17.Be2 Nf5 18.Qc5 Be6

Probably even stronger is 18...Bxb2 19.Rd1 Bf6 20.0-0 Be6.

19.Bc3?

Better is 19.c3.

How should Black continue?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

19...Qc8?!

This largely lets White off the hook, whereas there is no good answer to 19...Rc8!, eg 20.Bxf6+ Qxf6 21.Qxa7 Rxc2! 22.Qxb7+ Bf7, after which Black is temporarily a pawn down, but has a very strong attack. Possibly better is 20.Qb4!?, but 20...Bxc3+ 21.bxc3 Qf6! is good for Black.

20.Bxf6+ Kxf6 21.Qxc8?!

There was no need to help Black develop the queen's rook.

21...Raxc8 22.0-0-0 Ke5 23.c3

Now 23...Rac8 leaves Black at least slightly better, according to the engines, but VD played ...

23...Bf7

... and offered a draw.

24.Nd4 Nxd4 25.Rxd4 h4!? 26.Re1 Bg6 27.f3 Rhf8 28.Bd3 Rf4

White has what looks like immense pressure against the hanging pawns, but it turns out there is no way to exploit this

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

29.Bc2 Rc4 30.Rxc4 dxc4 31.a4 a5

White to play and lose

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

32.b3?

White should 'do nothing', the position remaining completely equal

32...cxb3 33.Bxb3 Kf6!

There is no defence

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

34.Bd5

This (and 34.Bd1, which comes to the same thing) is best, according to the engines.

34...exf3 35.Bxf3 Rxa4 36.Bxb7?

Restoring material equality, but making the win simple. Better is keeping rooks on with 36.Kb2, but 36...b5 leaves Black up the equivalent of a minor piece, or maybe more, according to the engines.

36...Ra1+ 37.Kd2 Rxe1 38.Kxe1 Ke5

Other moves also win, including 38...a4.

39.Kf2

Or 39.Bc6 Be4.

39...a4 40.Ba6 Bf7 41.Bd3 a3 42.Bb1 Kf4 0-1

Summer Club: Round 10

AM playing in a summer daytime tournament organised by Surrey's Coulsdon Chess Fellowship. It takes place on 10 Wednesday afternoons, the time control being 90 minutes with a 30-second increment. This was the final round ( I was away for last week's ninth round).

Garry Wimble (1041 ECF/1471 Fide) - Spanton (1945 ECF/1946 Fide)

Colle

1.d4 e6!?

Offering a French (2.e4).

2.Nf3 c5!?

Offering a Sicilian (3.e4).

3.e3

But now we are surely in Colle territory, although after ...

3...Nc6 4.Bd2!?

... ChessBase labels the opening "A43: Schmid Benoni."

4...Qb6 5.Bc3!? Nf6

Perhaps surprisingly, all this has been played before

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

6.Nbd2!?

But this is new, whereas Mirjam Peglau (1055) - Hannes Hetzner (1361), German U10 Championship (Willingen) 2015, saw 6.Bc4!? d5 7.Bd3!?, when 7...c4 would have given Black the upper hand, according to Stockfish17 and Dragon1 (0-1, 30 moves).

6...d5 7.Ne5!?

The engines suggest 7.a3, 7.Be2 or 7.dxc5.

7...cxd4 8.exd4 Nxd4?!

The engines reckon 8...Bb4 gives Black an edge.

How can White gain an edge, or at least avoid being considerably worse?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

9.Nb3?

Correct is 9.Ndc4!

9...Nxb3 10.axb3 Bc5 11.Qf3 0-0 12.Ba5?

Better is continuing development with 12.Bd3.

12...Bb4+ 13.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 14.Qc3 Qe4+ 15.Kd2

White does not have a good continuation, eg 15.Qe3 loses a second pawn to 15...Qxc2.

15...d4 16.Qc5

Better is 16.Qg3!, meeting 16...Nh5 with 17.Bd3!, and if 17...Nxg3, then 18.hxg3!, although I am not sure many humans would find this line for White. Black does not have to go down this line (16...Qd5 is probably an improvement, and anyway after 18...Qxd3+ Black emerges a pawn up.

16...Qf4+ 17.Ke1 Ne4?

Black has a large advantage after 17...b6 or 17...Nd7.

18.Qxd4 f6

White to play and lose

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

19.Nd3??
Instead 19.f3, and possibly 19.Nc4, give White a slight edge, according to the engines.

19...Qd2#