European 65+ Team: Game Nine

Awaiting a new arrival in the family?

England 3 v England 4

Spanton (2003) - Stephen Williams (1870)

Scandinavian

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Nxd5 4.c4 Nb6 5.Nf3 Bg4

How should White proceed?

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6.h3

The main line in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database runs 6.c5!? N6d7 7.Bc4 e6 8.h3 Bh5 9.Nc3, with the upper hand for White, according to Stockfish18 and Dragon1, but they reckon 8...Bxf3!? is a major improvement for Black.

6...Bh5?!

The engines also prefer ...Bxf3 here.

7.Be3

After 7.g4!? Bg6 8.Qb3!? the engines reckon White has a positionally won game (Stockfish18) or at least the upper hand (Dragon1).

7...e6 8.g4!? Bg6 9.Ne5

The engines suggest 9.Nc3 or 9.a3!?

9...Be4!?

This apparent-novelty is the engines' top choice, ahead of the known moves 9...N8d7 and 9...Be7. However, my opponent was playing quickly here, so although the text is not in Mega26, it is probably a published idea, and the game does soon transpose into known lines.

10.f3!?

Dragon1, but not Stockfish18, marginally prefers 10.Rg1.

10...Bxb1

9...Be4!? turns out to have been a zwischenzug that led to White weakening the h4-e1 diagonal. 

11.Rxb1 Bb4+

This looks very natural, but the engines prefer 11...N8d7 or 11...Be7. The reason is probably that the bishop proves vulnerable on b4, despite forcing White to move the king, as 12.Bd2? runs into 12...Qh4+!? (the engines reckon this is even stronger than 12...Qxd4) 13.Ke2 Bxd2 14.Kxd2 f6 15.Nd3 Nc6, with good attacking chances for Black.

After 11...Bb4+, where should White's king go?

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12.Ke2

The engines slightly prefer 12.Kf2, when Sergio Duran Vega (2304) - Edison Ruge (2205), Latin Cup (Cali, Colombia) 2012, continued 12...Be7!? 13.Qb3 Bh4+ 14.Kg2 0-0 15. f4, with the upper hand for White, according to the engines, although the game was eventually drawn.

12...N8d7 13.Qb3

The engines suggest 13.Nd3 or 13.f4.

13...Nxe5 14.dxe5

Black to play and obtain seemingly equal chances

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14...c5?

Better than the text, but probably still good for White, is 14...Be7?! 15.Rd1, but Black is fine after 14...Qe7, according to the engines.

15.a3 Ba5 16.Rd1 Nd7 17.Bxc5

The engines prefer slow build-up with 17.Bg2!?, or consolidation with 17.f4!?

17...Bc7?

After 17...Rc8 18.Bd6 Bc7, White has at least the upper hand, but that is much better than the text, according to the engines.

18.f4

The engines reckon the pin down the d file, combined with Black's inability to castle, makes for an advantage worth more than a minor piece.

18...b6 19.Bb4 a5 20.Bd6 Bxd6 21.Rxd6 0-0

The black king has found safety, and indeed looks safer than White's king, but Black is losing material 

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22.Bg2 Qc7!?

Giving up the exchange, but after 22...Ra7 23.Rhd1 Qe7 (23...Nc5 24.Qxb6) 24.Qb5 Nb8 (24...Rd8 25.Qxb6!) 25.Rxb6, White is two pawns up and with a continuing initiative.

23.Bxa8 Rxa8 24.Rhd1 Nf8

There is nothing better, but ...

25.Rxb6

... leaves White up two pawns as well as the exchange.

25...Ng6 26.Kf3 Nxe5!?

This is objectively bad, but at least exposes the white king to harassment.

27.fxe5 Qxe5 28.Kg2 Rf8

If 28...Qe2+, then 29.Kg1 ends the checks immediately.

29.Qd3 f5!? 30.Rb5 Qc7 31.gxf5 Qc6+ 32.Kh2 Qc7+ 33.Qd6

The checks are effectively over, with White up a rook and a pawn

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33...Qa7 34.Qxe6+ Kh8 35.c5 Qc7+ 36.Qd6 Qc8 37.Qd7 Qa8 38.Rb7 Rg8 39.f6 k6 40.fxg7+ Kh7 41.Qf5#

TEAM RESULT

Bo.	13	England 3	Rtg	-	17	England 4	Rtg	3 : 1
8.1		Spanton, Tim R	2003	-		Williams, Stephen M	1870	1 - 0
8.2		Freeman, Jon A	1950	-		Kane, Robert	1791	½ - ½
8.3		Guilfoyle, John M	1921	-	AFM	Winter, Kevin	1722	½ - ½
8.4		Wilson, Edgar	1903	-		Cox, Kevin	1637	1 - 0

League Chess

GOT home yesterday afternoon in time to play last night on board five (of eight) for Battersea against Kings Head in London League Division Two.

Spanton (1954) - Andrew Gilfillan (2080)

Sicilian Bb5(+)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Qe2!?

The commonest moves in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database are 4.e5, 4.Bxc6 and especially 4.Nc3.

4...g6 5.c3 Bg7 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 0-0 8.Nc3 d6 9.0-0

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

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White has more space in the centre, and that is enough for a slight edge, according to Dragon1, although Stockfish18 is less sure.

9...Bg4 10.Be3 Nd7!?

The engines like this.

11.Rfd1

11.Rad1!? is marginally preferred by the engines.

11...e5!?

Grandmasters have played 11...a6 or 11...Rc8, but the text is the engines' choice.

12.Bxc6!? bxc6 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 f5!

This looks bad at first glance, but after ...

15.exf5

... Black has a zwischenzug that grabs space in the centre.

15...d5 16.dxe5 Rxf5 17.Qe2 Nxe5

How should White proceed?

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18.f4?

The position is equal after 18.Qa6!? or 18.Rac1, according to the engines.

18...Nc4 19.Bd4

Perhaps the engines' 19.Bc5!? is best, but 19...Qe8!? seems a strong reply, eg 20.Qf2 can be met by 20...g5 or 20...Qb8.

19...Bxd4+ 20.Rxd4 Qb6 21.Qf2 Qxb2 22.Qxb2 Nxb2

How would you assess this queenless late-middlegame?

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Black has more pawn islands, but Black's extra pawn and connected passers add up to a winning advantage, according to the engines.

23.Re1 Nc4 24.Re6 Rc8 25.g4!? Rf7

The engines reckon 25...Rff8 is better.

26.Kg2 Rb7?!

The engines like 26...Kf8, intending ...Re7.

27.f5 Rb2+ 28.Kg3 Rc2 29.Ne2!?

Perhaps 29.Rd3 is better.

29...Kf7?!

The engines reckon Black has at least a slight edge after 29...Nd2!?

30.Rf4?

30.Rd3!? equalises, according to the engines, eg 30...Rxa2 31.Nd4 gxf5 32.gxf5 Re8!? 39.Rxe8 Kxe8 40.Nxc6 Ra6 41.Nb4 Ra3 42.Rxa3 Nxa3 43.Nxd5.

30...g5!? 31.Rf3 Nd2

Even stronger may be 31...c5!?

32.Ra3 Ne4+ 33.Kf3 Rc7 34.Ra6??

Black is only slightly better after 34.Nd4 or 34.Ke3, according to the engines.

34...Nc5

White is lost. The game finished:

35.Raxc6 Nxe6 36.fxe6+ Ke7 0-1

Kings Head won the match 6.5-1.5.

My Battersea Season 2025-6

Date       Event  Colour  Rating  Opp's Rating  Score  Season's Perf

16/9/25   CLL       W       1936         1952             0           1552

18/9/25   CLL       W       1936         1797             =           1675

16/10/25 CLL       W       1889         2047             0           1665

23/10/25 CLL       B        1889         1823             1           1805

18/11/25  LL         W       1891         1980             =           1840

20/11/25  CLL      W       1891         1866             1            1911

25/11/25  BCC     B        1891         1817             1            1955

9/12/25    LL         W       1904         1982             1            2008

16/12/25  LL         B        1904         2046             0            1968

18/12/25  CLL      B        1904         2066             1            2018

6/1/26      CLL      W       1929         2150             =            2066

7/1/26      LL         W       1929         1971             =            2058

8/1/26      CLL      B        1929         1800?           =            2038

13/1/26    LL         B        1929         2035             1            2067

27/1/26    LL         B        1929         2089             0            2041

29/1/26    CLL      B        1929         1882             =            2031

3/2/26      BCC     W       1928         1836             1            2043     

12/2/26    CDL      B        1928        1890              1            2057

25/2/26    LL         B        1928        1863              =            2047

26/2/26    CLL      B         1928        2015             0            2025

3/3/26      CDL      B        1914        1976              1            2043

24/3/26    BCC     W        1921        1780             1            2049

26/3/26    CLL      B         1921        1942             =            2045

31/3/26    CDL      B        1921         2091             0            2030

7/4/26      BCC     B         1938        1505*            1            2030

9/4/26      CLL      W        1938        2012              =           2029

30/4/26    CLL      W        1938        2285              0           2023

7/5/26      CLL      W        1939        2007              1           2037

9/6/26      LL         B         1954        2059              0           2024

23/6/26    LL         W        1954        2080              0           2012  

CLL: Central London League

LL: London League

BCC: Battersea club championship

CDL: Croydon & District League

I also have a win-by-default in the Central London League

*A win against a 1505 counts as a 1905 performance, so I have excluded this game from calculating my season's performance as it would lower my average despite me winning.

Miniatures 38

IN this occasional series I am going through my decisive games of 20 moves or fewer.

M Wadud (136 BCF) - Spanton (147 BCF)

Upminster Major 1991

Bishop's Opening/King's Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.f4!?

This move goes back at least to a game of Frank Marshall's in 1925. The position can also arise from a King's Gambit via the move-order 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Bc4!?

How should Black respond?

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3...Bxg1

Marshall's opponent played 3...d6, but Stockfish17 and Dragon1 suggest a novelty in 3...d5!?

4.Rxg1

The zwischenzug 4.Qh5! is preferable.

4...Qh4+ 5.g3?

Better is 5.Kf1, when 5...Qxh2?! 6.Nc3 leaves Black dangerously behind in development. However, Black can instead get on with development, eg 5...Nf6, with what the engines reckon is the upper hand.

5...Qxh2 6.Kf1?!

The unpalatable 6.Rf1!? is probably better.

6...d5! 7.f5!?

The threat of 7...Bh3+ with a quick mate means White does not seem to have anything better, but White is losing a piece, to go with an already lost pawn.

7...dxc4 8.d4 cxd3 9.Qxd3 Bd7 10.Na3 Nf6 11.Bg5 Ng4 12.Qf3?! Qh5 13.Ke2!?

The second bishop cannot be saved, emphasising the desperateness of White's position.

13...Qxg5 14.Nb5? 0-1

LESSON: White in the King's Gambit needs to constantly be aware of the danger of allowing ...Qh4+.

World Team 65+ Round Nine

Bo.	46	England - 5	Rtg	-	40	Brazil	Rtg	0 : 0
18.1		Freeman, Richard C P	1897	-		Okamura, Milton Kasuo	1979
18.2	CM	Stokes, Michael	1861	-		Gambale, Eduardo De Aquino	1944
18.3		Spanton, Tim R	1908	-		Moyses Sobrinho, Elias	1896
18.4		Marshall, Michael	1859	-		Vieira, Alexandre Letizio	1826

Spanton (1908) - Elias Moysés Sobrinho (1896)

Scandinavian

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Nxd5 4.c4 Nb6 5.Nf3 Bf5

The main continuations in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database are 5...Bg4 and especially 5...g6, although the text is the second choice of Dragon1, at least for a while. However, it and Stockfish17.1 come to agree 5...g6 is best.

How should White respond?

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6.c5!?

The main move is 6.Nc3, but the text has some interesting points.

6...Nd5 7.Qb3 Bc8!?

The engines suggest an apparent-novelty in 7...Nc6!?, when their main line runs 8.Bb5 e6 9.Ne5 Ne7, with a sharp position that they reckon gives White the upper hand, but they do not agree on how White should continue.

8.Nc3

The engines slightly prefer the relatively rare 8.Bg5!?

8...e6 9.Bc4 c6 10.0-0 Be7 11.Re1 0-0

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

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Black has an outpost at d5, but White has more space and development. The engines reckon White has at least the upper hand.

12.Bd3!? Nd7

Varying from Vitor Luis de Jesus Silverio (2016) - Moysés Sobrinho (1948), Manaus (Brazil) 2024, which went 12...b6 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Qc2 g6 15.Bh6 Re8 16.b4, with a positionally won game for White, according to the engines (1-0, 21 moves).
13.Qc2 N7f6 14.a3 b6 15.Nxd5!? Qxd5 16.Re5!? Qd7 17.b4

Almost certainly much stronger is 17.Rg5!?, when the rook, despite being off the back rank early in the game, is in little danger of being embarrassed as it has both g3 and h3 as safe squares, at least in the medium term.

17...bxc5

How should White recapture

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18.dxc5

Getting rid of the backward pawn, but allowing Black counterplay down the a and d files. Stockfish17.1  much prefers 18.bxc5, but Dragon1 for quite some time is less sure.

18...Rd8 19.Bf1?!

Probably better is 19.Re3, as Black cannot play 19...Ng4? or 19...Nd5? as White has 20.Bxh7+.

19...a5 20.Bb2 axb4 21.axb4 Rxa1 22.Bxa1 Qd1!? 23.Qxd1 Rxd1 24.Re1 Rxe1 25.Nxe1 Nd5

How would you assess this minor-piece ending?

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White's queenside majority is held up a single pawn, so the position is equal, according to the engines.

26.Nc2

Not 26.Nd3? Ba6.

26...Bf6?!

This lets White seize the initiative. The engines suggest 26...f6, 26...Bd7 or 26...Bg5.

27.Bxf6 Nxf6

Stockfish17.1 fluctuates between the text and 27...gxf6, but Dragon1 prefers the former.

28.Nd4 Bd7?

Correct is 28...Bb7, and if, as in the game, 29.b5 cxb5 30.c6, then 30...Ba6, eg 31.Bxb5 Bc8, when White has no way of promoting the pawn. However, the engines recommend 29.Bc4 or 29.g3, claiming at least a slight edge.

29.b5! cxb5 30.c6

This zwischenzug gives White a winning position.

30...Be8

Or 30...Bc8 31.Nxb5 Ba6 32.Nc7 Bc8 33.Na8 Nd5 34.Bc4 Ne7 35.Nb6.

White to play and win

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31.Bxb5?

Winning is 31.c7 Bd7 32.Bxb5! Bc8 33.Nc6 Nd5, and now the move I missed, 34.Bc4, which is easy to see on reaching the position, but not so easy from the diagram.

31...Nd5 32.f4!?

Preventing ...e5, and opening a diagonal for the white king.

32...Kf8 33.Ba4!?

Dragon1 strongly dislikes this, preferring 33.Bc4 or 33.Kf2, but it may hold.

33...Ke7 34.Kf2 Nb6!?

The immediate 34...Kd6 may be better, one line running 35.Nf3!? h6!? (35...Nxf4 36.c7! Bd7 37.Ne5 Bc8 38.Nxf7+ Kxc7 39.Bc2 gives White excellent drawing chances, according to the engines) 36.g3 Ne7 37.Ke3 Bxc6 38.Bxc6 Nxc6, although with pawns on only one side of the board, it will be difficult to win.

35.Bc2 h6

If 35...Kd6 36.Bxh7 g6, White rescues the bishop with 37.h4 etc.

36.Be4 Kd6 37.Nb5+ Kc5 38.Na7 Kd6

How should White proceed?

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39.Ke3!?

Keeping the game going, whereas 39.Nb5+ Kc5 is likely to lead to a quick draw.

39...Nd5+ 40.Kd4 Bxc6 41.Nxc6 Kxc6

Black has won a pawn, but the active White king ensures equal chances

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42.Ke5 Kc5 43.f5 Nc7 44.f6!? gxf6+

Not 44...g6? or 44...g5?, as both are answered by 45.B(x)g6!.

45.Kxf6 Kd4 46.Bf3 e5 47.Kxf7 e4 48.Bxe4!?

There is nothing better.

48...Kxe4 49.Kg6 Kf4 50.h4 Kg4 51.h5 Nd5 52.Kxh6 Nf4 ½–½

Team Result

Freeman 1-0 Okamura

Stokes 0-1 Gambale

Spanton = Moyses Sobrinho

Marshall = Vieira

England 5 2-2 Brazil

Championship Chess

PLAYED last night in the Battersea club championship.

Michael Krautzberger (1505) - Spanton (1938)

Sicilian Alapin

1.e4 c5 2.c3 e6!? 3.d4 d5 4.exd5!?

There are 6,208 games with this continuation in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, keeping the game in independent Alapin lines, whereas there are 3,928 games with 4.e5, transposing into the Advance Variation of the French.

4...exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Be3 cxd4!? 7.Nxd4 Bd6

Black has felt obliged to spend a tempo (6...cxd4!?) in accepting an isolated queen's pawn, but in compensation the white dark-square bishop is not particularly actively placed and the white queen's knight will take two tempi to reach the active f3 square, now that c3 is occupied 

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8.Bd3 Nf6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Nd2

How should Black proceed?

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10...Ng4!

This was probably also good at move nine, which is why Stockfish171.1 and Dragon1 recommended h3 on the last two moves.

11.Nxc6?

Allowing a simple zwischenzug, although 11.N2f3 Nxe3 also favours Black.

11...Bxh2+ 12.Kh1 bxc6 13.g3?

This only makes matters worse.

13...Nxe3 14.Qh5 g6 15.Qxh2 Nxf1 16.Rxf1

Black is 'only' up the exchange and a pawn, but Black's advantage is close to the equivalent of a whole rook, according to the engines

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16...Qf6 17.Kg2 Kg7 18.Be2 Rh8 19.Nf3 Bg4 20.Rh1 Bxf3+ 21.Bxf3 h6 22.Qh3 Rab8 23.Qxd7 Rxb2 24.Qxa7 Qxc3 25.Rh4 Rhb8 26.Rf4 R8b7 27.Qa4 Qc2 28.Qd4+ Kg8 29.Bh5? gxh5 30.Qf6 Qg6 31.Qd8+ Kg7 32.Ra4 Rxf2+! 33.Kxf2 Qc2+ 0-1

My Battersea Season 2025-6

Date       Event  Colour  Rating  Opp's Rating  Score  Season's Perf

16/9/25   CLL       W       1936         1952             0           1552

18/9/25   CLL       W       1936         1797             =           1675

16/10/25 CLL       W       1889         2047             0           1665

23/10/25 CLL       B        1889         1823             1           1805

18/11/25  LL         W       1891         1980             =           1840

20/11/25  CLL      W       1891         1866             1            1911

25/11/25  BCC     B        1891         1817             1            1955

9/12/25    LL         W       1904         1982             1            2008

16/12/25  LL         B        1904         2046             0            1968

18/12/25  CLL      B        1904         2066             1            2018

6/1/26      CLL      W       1929         2150             =            2066

7/1/26      LL         W       1929         1971             =            2058

8/1/26      CLL      B        1929         1800?           =            2038

13/1/26    LL         B        1929         2035             1            2067

27/1/26    LL         B        1929         2089             0            2041

29/1/26    CLL      B        1929         1882             =            2031

3/2/26      BCC     W       1928         1836             1            2043     

12/2/26    CDL      B        1928        1890              1            2057

25/2/26    LL         B        1928        1863              =            2047

26/2/26    CLL      B         1928        2015             0            2025

3/3/26      CDL      B        1914        1976              1            2043

24/3/26    BCC     W        1921        1780             1            2049

26/3/26    CLL      B         1921        1942             =            2045

31/3/26    CDL      B        1921         2091             0            2030

7/4/26      BCC     B         1938        1505*            1            2030  

CLL: Central London League

LL: London League

BCC: Battersea club championship

CDL: Croydon & District League

I also have a win-by-default in the Central London League

*A win against a 1505 counts as a 1905 performance, so I have excluded this game from calculating my season's performance as it would lower my average despite me winning.

4NCL Easter Round Three

AFTER taking a halfpoint bye in round two, I faced a junior (born 2016).

Spanton (1944 ECF/1908 Fide) - Tara Tamilselvan (1879 ECF/1820 Fide)

King's Indian Defence

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Qc2!?

White can get away with moves like this early in the opening, but it can hardly be the best continuation.

3...Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.d4 e5 7.d5

Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer 7.dxe5, albeit giving Black at least equality after the reply 7...dxe5.

How should Black proceed?

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7...Nd4!

A typical idea in the King's Indian, and here almost a necessity, according to the engines, as they reckon White is doing well after 7...Ne7.

8.Nxd4!?

Dragon1 is quite happy with this, but Stockfish17.1 prefers playing around the knight.

8...exd4 9.Ne2 0-0 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 c5 12.dxc6?

The engines suggest 12.f3 or 12.Bxf6!?, but reckon Black has at least the upper hand.

12...Qa5+!

This zwischenzug gives White a major headache.

13.Kd1

Also deeply unpleasant is 13.Qd2 Qxd2+ 14.Kxd2 Nxe4.

13...bxc6 14.f3 Qb6 15.Qd2 c5

The engines prefer 15...Rb8, and if 16.Bf2!?, then 16...c5.

16.Rb1 Ba6

Stockfish17.1 likes 16...d5!?, the idea being to meet 17.exd5 with 17...Bf5 18.Rc1 Rae8. giving pressure, and 17.cxd5 with 17...Ba6, again enjoying a strong initiative for a pawn.

17.Nc1

The engines much prefer 17.Bxf6!? Bxf6 18.Nf4, but certainly not 17.b3? g5!? 18.Bg3 Bxc4!

17...Nd7 18.Bd3 Ne5 19.b3 Rfe8 20.Bg3 Nxd3!?

An odd decision, at first sight, giving up a well-placed knight for a hemmed-in bishop, but the engines agree it is clearly the best move.

21.Qxd3 Rad8

Almost certainly even stronger is the positional pawn sacrifice 21...d5!? 22.exd5 Re3.

22.Re1 d5 23.exd5 Rxe1+ 24.Kxe1 Rd8 25.Qc2

Probably not 25.Qe4?! Rd8.

25...Rd8 26.Nd3 Qa5+ 27.Kf1 Kh7?!

The engines reckon this gives away almost all of Black's advantage, whereas 27...Bc8 maintains the upper hand.

28.Re1

But they agree the best response is 28.Bh4, and if 28...Re8, then 29.Re1 with what they reckon is complete equality.

28...Bc8 29.Bh4 Rd6

29...g5!? looks very risky, but White has nothing better than retreating the bishop, according to the engines, after which 30...Bf5 is good.

30.Be7 Rc6 31.Re2 Qc7 32.Kg1

The position of the white king at last looks normal

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32...Bf5 33.Bh4!? Re6 34.Rxe6 fxe6!? 35.Bg3?

This drives the black queen to a good square, whereas after 35.Be1!?, or 35.g4 Bxd3 36.Qxd3, the engines agree the game is equal.

35...Qa5 36.a4?

After 36.Kf1!? Bxd3 (36...Qc3? 37.Qxc3 bxc3 38.Ke2=) 37.Qxd3 Qxa2 38.Bd6 Black is a pawn up but, at best, only slightly better, according to the engines.

36...Qc3 37.Qxc3

Forced.

37...bxc3 38.Nc1 Bd4+ 39.Bf2

39.Kf1? Be3.

39...Bc2 40.Kf1 Kg7 41.a5 Kf7?

This almost certainly should not win, whereas certainly winning is 41...e5,  the idea being to meet 42.Bxd4 with 42...exd4.

42.b4??

Also losing, according to Dragon1 for quite some time, is 42.Bxd4 cxd4 43.Ke2, but Stockfish17.1 reckons Black is only slightly better. At first 43...Ke7 is Dragon1's top choice, but eventually it comes to see 44.b4 as more-or-less equalising, so it switches to 43...e5 44.b4 e4!? 45.fxe4 Bxe4, but after 46.Nd3 Ke6 47.Nc5+ Ke5 48.b5 it agrees with Stockfish17.1 that White holds.

42...Bxf2 43.b5

The point behind 42.b4??, but it is easily parried.

Black has three winning moves

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43...Bd4

Also winning are 43...Be3 and 43...Bh4.

44.f4 Be4 45.Ke2 Ke7 46.Nb3 Kd7 47.g3 Kc7 48.h3 c2 49.Kd2 Bb2 50.Ke3 Bf5 0-1

Benidorm Bali Round Two

Spanton (1896) - Enrique Martínez Pérez (1726)

Modern/Pirc

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

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

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

7...a5!?

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

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

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

How should White proceed?

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15.h3

The engines much prefer 15.e5.

15...dxe4!

This equalises, according to the engines.

16.Nxe4 Nf6 17.Nc5 Bc8

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

18.c3 Nbd5 19.f5!?

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

How should Black respond?

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19...b6!?

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

20.Bh2 Qd8 21.Nd3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

31...cxd5 32.cxd5?

Capturing on b4 is best.

Black to play and win

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32...Bf7?

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

33.Rfc1 Qd7 34.Rxb4 Ra5

There seems nothing wrong with 34...Rxa4.

35.Qd2 Rc8?!

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

36.Rxc8+

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

36...Qxc8 37.Rxb6 Rxa4

How would you assess this late-middlegame?

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The engines reckon the position is completely equal.

38.Rc6

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

38...Qb8 39.Qc3?

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

Black to play and win

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39...Kg7?

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

40.g5 Qd8?

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

White to play and win

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41.gxf6+

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

41...Qxf6 42.Rxd6 Qd4!

There is no win after this.

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

EMP offered a draw in my time.

50.Bc2 Rxd5!?

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

51.Rxd5 Bxd5 52.b4

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

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

EMP offered a draw.

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

Munich 60+ Round One

Spanton (1954) - Hans-Georg Kleinhenz (1827)

Caro-Kann Tartakower

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0

This position has become something of a tabiya, with 7,406 examples in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database

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8.Ne2 Nd7 9.Qc2 h6!?

Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon this is quite a bit better than the more popular 9...g6.

10.Be3 Qa5

Apparently a novelty - the idea presumably being to discourage queenside castling. Known moves are 10...Re8, 10...Qc7, 10...c5 and 10...Nb6.

11.Ng3 Re8 12.Nf5

What should Black do with the dark-square bishop?

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12...Bf8?!

The engines give 12...Bc7 or 12...Bb8!?

How can White exploit Black's last move?

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13.0-0

White may have a slight edge after this, but it misses the strength of 13.Bc4!, eg 13...Nb6 14.Nxh6+! gxh6 15.Qg6+ Kh8 16.Qxf7. Best, according to the engines, is 13...b5, but 14.Bb3 renews White's threats, eg 14...Nb6 is met by 15.Nxh6+! etc, so the engines reckon Black should either give up the exchange by 14...Re6!? or 14...Rxe3!?, or protect the king's rook with 14...Qd8, when 15.Nxh6+!? is playable but even stronger seems to be castling (long or short).

13...Qc7?!

White is only slightly better after 13...Nb6!?, according to the engines.

14.Rae1

14.Bc4! gives variations very similar to 13.Bc4!

14...Nb6 15.Bf4!? Qd8

Not 15...Qxf4? 16.Rxde8 Bxf5 17.Rxa8 Bxd3 as White wins the exchange thanks to the zwischenzug 18.Rxf8+.

16.Rxe8 Qxe8 17.Qd2 Bxf5!?

Giving up the bishop-pair but getting rid of a powerful knight.

18.Bxf5 Nxd5

How would you assess this middlegame?

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White has the bishop-pair and better pawn-majority, but Black has a well-placed knight. The engines reckon White has the better part of equality, but no more.

19.Re1 Qd8 20.Bg3 a5 21.Qe2 b5 22.h4 a4 23.a3 Nb6?

The knight was good where it was. The engines give 23...g6 and 24...h5 with equality.

24.Bd3

Even stronger, according to the engines, are 24.h5 and 24.Qf3.
24...Qd5 25.Bc7

Here the engines prefer 25.Be4.

25...Nc4 26.Bxc4!?

The engines prefer keeping the bishop-pair.

26...bxc4 27.Qe4 Qb5 28.Re2 Ra7!?

Black has three isolanis, but they hold up White's pawn-majority, and it is not easy for White to get at them, which is why the engines reckon the position is completely equal

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29.Qf4 Qd5 30.Re8!? Qd7

The only move, but it maintains equality.

31.Bb8 Rb7 32.Re2??
White has to play 32.Qe3!?, after which 32...Rxb2 33.Bf4 leaves White a pawn down but still equal.

32...Qd8

The white bishop is trapped

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33.Qf3 Qxb8 34.Qxc6 Rxb2 35.Rxb2

Black threatened 35...Rb1+ followed by mate.

35...Qxb2 36.Qxc4 Qxa3 37.d5 Bd6 38.g3 Qc5 39.Qxa4 Bxg3 40.Qe8+ Kh7 41.Qe2 Bc7

Even 41...Bxh4?! 42.Qe4+ f5!? 43.Qxh4 Qxd5 is plenty good enough for a win, according to the engines.

42.c4 Qd6 43.Qe4+ Kg8 44.Qe8+ Kh7 45.Qxf7!?

This speeds the end, but White's position is hopeless anyway.

45...Qh2+ 46.Kf1 Bb6 47.Ke1 Qxf2+ 48.Kd1 Be3 0-1

Mariánské Lázně Round Eight

FACED my first Czech of the tournament.
 
Jiří Chmelik (1875) - Spanton (1946)

Queen's Gambit Declined 4...c5

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 c5!? 5.cxd5

In the same tournament last year JC played the less-critical, but still interesting, 5.e3, our game being drawn in 32 moves.

5...cxd4 6.Qa4+!?

For the main continuation, 6.Qxd4, see my round-four game.

6...Qd7!

Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon this somewhat counterintuitive move gives Black a slight edge.

7.Qxd4 Nc6 8.Qd1 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5!

The engines agree this is better than the 'freeing' 9...Qxd5.

10.Nf3

Not 10.e3? Bb4+.

10...h6 11.Be3

How should Black proceed?

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11...d4!?

This pawn sacrifice is probably a novelty. The engines prefer the known 11...Be7.

12.Bxd4

Not 12.Nxd4?? Bb4+ 13.Bd2 Qxd4.

12...Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Qxd4 14.Nxd4 Bb4+ 15.Kd1

How would you assess this queenless middlegame?

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White is a pawn up, but cannot castle, while Black has the bishop-pair. The engines reckon Black has full compensation for the pawn, but no more.

15...Be6!?

The engines prefer 15...Bc5 or 15...0-0.

16.e3!

This is better than the tempting 16.Nxe6, according to the engines.

16...0-0-0 17.Bd3 Rhe8?!

This prevents 18.Ke2?, thanks to the reply 18...Rxd4!, but the engines prefer 17...Kb8 or 17...Bd5.

18.a3 Ba5 19.Kc2?!

The engines much prefer 19.b4 and then Kc2.

19...Kb8 20.Rad1

This was a good time for Nxe6, according to the engines, eg 20.Nxe6 Rxe6 21.Rad1, one point being the zwischenzug 20...Rc8+? can be met by 21.Kd1! Rxe6 22.Ke2, when Black's pressure has dissipated, and White remains a pawn up.

20...Bd5 21.Rhg1 g6!?

The immediate ...Bc7 is possibly better.

22.Kb1 Bc7 23.h3?!

White has at least a slight edge after 23.g3.

23...Bh2 24.Rh1 Be5 25.Nf3

This would also have been a good answer to 24...Bc7.

25...Bf6 26.Rhe1 Re6 27.Rd2 Rb6 28.Ree2?!

The game is equal after 28.e4, according to the engines.

What should Black play?

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28...Bxf3!?

28...Bxb2!? transposes, but possibly better is 28...Bc3!?, when 29.Rc2?? loses to 29...Bxf3 30.gxf3 Rxd3, so White must play 29.Rd1, when 29...Bc6 threatens ...Ba4. White can take the sting out this, at least temporarily, with 30.Ka2, but then 30...Bg7 leaves Black on top, eg 31.Ne1 Bb5 32.Red2 Ba4 33.Rc1 Bb3+ 34.Kb1 Rbd6, after which Black has not won material, but continuing pressure gives a winning position, according to the engines.

29.gxf3 Bxb2 30.Rxb2 Rxb2+ 31.Kxb2 Rxd3 32.Rc2

Immediately after pressing the clock, JC offered a draw.

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

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Black has much the better pawn-structure, but Stockfish17 reckons that is only enough for a slight edge, although Dragon1 gives Black the upper hand.

32...Rd5 33.h4 Rf5 34.f4 Rh5

Better, according to the engines, is 34...Rb5+!?, driving the white king away, and then 35...Rh5. If White tries 35.Kc3? then 35...Rc5+ 36.Kd3 Rxc2 37.Kxc2 is a winning pawn-ending for Black, eg 37...Kc7 38.Kc3 b5 39.e4 Kc6, when it is clear White's 4-3 kingside majority cannot create a passed pawn, whereas Black's 2-1 queenside majority can.

35.Kc3?

The engines give 35.Rc4, claiming Black has only a slight edge.

35...Rxh4?!

This is winning, but 35...Rc5+ etc is simpler and much clearer.

36.Kd4 g5?

Black wins after 36...Rh5, according to the engines.

37.Ke5 gxf4 38.exf4 Rg4 39.Kf5 Rg6 40.Re2 Ra6 41.Re8+ Kc7 42.Re7+ Kc6 43.Kf6?

A cardinal rule for rook-endings, according to first world correspondence champion Cecil Purdy, is to take, because taking frees a rook for other duties. So here 43.Rxf7 Rxa3 44.Rf6+ etc is completely equal, according to the engines.

43...Rxa3 44.f5 Rf3 45.Rxf7

Black has one only one move that gives an advantage, but that advantage leaves Black with at least the upper hand, according to the engines 

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45...a5! 46.Re7 Rxf2?

There was no need to spend a tempo on this. Correct is 46...a4, and Black is also better after 46...b5!?, according to the engines.

47.Re3?

Too defensive. White should harass the black king, eg 47.Re6+ Kb5 48.Re5+ Kb4 49.Re4+ Kb3 50.Re3+ Kb2 51.Re7 b5 52.Re5, with complete equality, according to the engines.

47...b5 48.Ke6 b4 49.f6 a4 50.Re4 Kc5

This is good enough, but simpler is 50...Rxf6+! 51.Kxf6 Kc5 etc.

51.Re5+ Kc4 52.Rf5

The only chance.

52...Rxf5 53.Kxf5 a3??

Winning is 53...b3 54.f7 b2 55.f8=Q b1=Q+, after which both sides have queened, but Black's pieces can protect the pawns, and so Black wins.

54.f7 a2 55.f8=Q a1=Q

Here too both sides have queened, but with White to move the position is drawn as White can force the win of the b pawn (or check perpetually), after which the h pawn cannot be saved

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56.Qc8+

The Syzygy endgame tablebase shows 56.Qg8+ also draws.

56...Kb3 57.Qe6+ Ka3 58.Qa6+ Kb2 59.Qe2+ Kb1 60.Qe1+ Ka2 61.Qxb4

I played on, but soon conceded the inevitable.

½–½ (71 moves)