TCh-CAT Div Hon 2013 Rd11-GM Spraggett(CAN)

TWIC 965
Veteran GM Spraggett played the whole board in an attempt to massage black down after encountering a rare version of the French Defence-Steinitz Variation(5…Ng8).

More on the French Defence-Steinitz Variation



Here is the feature game.

Spraggett,K (2577) – Narciso Dublan,M (2549) 
French Steinitz 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Ng8 [C14] 
TCh-CAT Div Hon 2013 Catalonia ESP (11.1), 13.04.2013

Position 1
White has softened up the kingside sucessfully. What do you recommend for white now?

White to Play

36..fg

TCh-CAT Div Hon 2013 Rd6-GM Spraggett(CAN)

TWIC 957

GM Spraggett massaged down the kingside after black took some liberties with the dark squares in Rd6 of the TCh of Catalonia.

More on Catalonia

Interview with Rafael Nadal

(Spanish language)

History

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Here is the feature game.

Spraggett,K (2577) – Jerez Perez,A (2410) 
Caro-Kann Two Knights 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.h3 Bh5 [B11] 
TCh-CAT Div Hon 2013 Catalonia ESP (6.1), 23.02.2013

Position 1
Black tried to deflect Rg1 from the first rank with 36…Qg5. What do you recommend for white?

White to Play

36..Qg5

TCh-CAT Div Hon 2013 Rd2-GM Spraggett(CAN)

TWIC 953
Veteran GM Spraggett played the whole board and eventually broke through to the king on the queenside after undermining the pawn cover first and then thinning out the defense.

The game was played in the Catalan Team Championship.

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More on the Catalan Opening




Here is the feature game.

Spraggett,K (2577) – Cuartas,Ja (2504)
Sicilian 4…Qb6[B32]
TCh-CAT Div Hon 2013 Catalonia ESP (2.1), 26.01.2013

Position 1

Black has just attacked Qa6. What do you recommend for white?

White to Play

27…Rd6

TCh-CAT Div Hon 2013 Catalonia ESP Rd9-GM Spraggett(CAN)

TWIC 964

TCh-CAT Rd9

GM Spraggett defended with the topical small center(..d6/..e6) formation but missed a chance for an edge during a tricky defence but held the draw.

8…Be7

More on Catalonia
The game was played in the Team Ch of Catalonia. Here is some interesting background on this unique place in Europe.

Here is the feature game.

Alonso Garcia,R (2367) – Spraggett,K (2577)
Sicilian 2.c3 Nf6[B22]
TCh-CAT Div Hon 2013 Catalonia ESP (9.1), 16.03.2013

Position 1

White pushed ahead on the kingside with 23.h5 to justify the pawn deficit. What do you recommend for black?

• 23…b6(Takes the b-pawn out of Be4’s range)
• 23..Rxd1(simplifies a bit first to reduce white’s attacking potential)
• Something else

Black to Play

23.h5

TCh-CAT Div Hon 2013-GM Spraggett,K(CAN)

TWIC 959

GM Spraggett lost a tough R-R ending in Team Championship play.

Spraggett,K (2577) – Alsina Leal,D (2511) 
Sicilian Najdorf 6.h3[B90]
TCh-CAT Div Hon 2013 Catalonia ESP (8.1), 09.03.2013

Position 1

The R-R ending position after 44…d3 is sharp with both sides having passed pawns. What do you recommend for white?

• 45.Kb7(gaining a tempo in the race)
• 45.Re1(preparing to support the a-pawn from behind and stop the d-pawn from the first rank)
• Something else

White to Play

44…d3