But Black has a major alternative in 3...c6, which covers the b5 square and opens the d8-a5 diagonal for the black queen to later pressurise the white queenside from b6 or a5.
The downside is White has fewer concerns with his centre.
Jens Ove Fries-Nielsen (IM 2365) - Erik Blomqvist (IM 2451)
Swedish Championship 2012-13
4.f3!?
As in the Veresov, trying to build a classical centre with pawns on d4 and e4 becomes a serious option when Black does not play ...c5.
4...Bf5
Stopping 5.e4, but now White gets to expand on the kingside.
Stockfish10 and Komodo10 like the little-played 4...Nh5!? Jonny Hector (GM 2509) - Kassa Korley (FM 2343), Copenhagen 2013, continued 5.Bg5 Qc7!? (the engines much-prefer 5...Qb6) 6.Qd2 h6 7.Be3 Nd7 8.Bf2, when the active 8...e5!? looks promising. The game saw 8...e6 9.e4 Nhf6 10.e5 Ng8 11.f4 with a position that somewhat resembles a French in which Black has played the passive ...c6 (1-0, 25 moves).
5.g4 Bg6 6.h4 h5!?
Top-level players have favoured this over 6...h6.
7.g5 Nfd7 8.e4!?
8.e3 is more popular, but the text is consistent with White's strategy and is preferred by the engines.
8...dxe4 9.fxe4
But here the engines prefer 9.Nxe4!?
9...Qa5 10.e5 e6 11.a3 Qb6 12.Rb1 Be7 13.Bd3!? Qxd4!?
 |
| Who stands better? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
Both IMs are playing enterprisingly in a difficult position where one slip could easily be fatal. The difficulty of the position can be gauged from the fact that Stockfish10 reckons White is winning, while Komodo10 reckons the position is equal.
14.Nge2 Qb6 15.Bxg6 fxg6 16.Qd3 Nf8
Stockfish10 loves the dynamism of White's set-up. Komodo10, usually the more positional of the two engines in my experience, has been generally happy with Black's play, but now concedes White a slight edge.
17.b4 Nbd7 18.Ne4
The engines prefer 18.Bg3!? or 18.Nd4, with their usual difference of opinion.
18...Rd8!?
The engines prefer 18...0-0-0, or 18...Qb5 to get the queens off.
19.Qb3 c5 20.Rf1
20.0-0!? is possible as 20...c4+ can be met by 21.Qe3.
20...Qc6 21.Qf3 Nh7 22.b5 Qb6 23.Nd6+?!
White is better after 23.Bg3 Rf8 24.Qc3, according to both engines.
23...Bxd6 24.exd6 0-0 25.Qe4 e5!
Now Black gets an initiative.
26.Qd5+
26.Bxe5? Nxe5 27.Qxe5 Rxd6 leaves White's king suddenly looking very vulnerable stuck in the centre.
26...Kh8 27.Be3?
27.Bd2 keeps White in the game.
27...Qa5+ 28.c3
Or 28.Bd2 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 Qa4, when White's position is collapsing.
Similarly bad for White is 28.Qd2 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 Qa4.
28...Qxa3?!
Again 28...Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 Qa4 is strong, eg 30.Bf2 Rf8 31.c4 Nb6 32.Qxc5 Nxc4, when Black remains a pawn up and attacking.
29.Rxf8+?!
The engines prefer 29.Qb3, now trying to get the queens off for White.
29...Nhxf8 30.Kf2 Qa4 31.c4 Nb6 32.Qxc5 Nfd7
Black has managed to mobilise his forces, and there is no doubt who has the more-endangered king.
33.Qb4 Qc2 34.Rc1 Qe4 35.Qb3 Qxh4+ 36.Kg2 Qg4+ 37.Ng3 Rf8 38.Bf2 Rxf2+! 0-1
39.Kxf2 Qf4+ picks up the white rook. I imagine the last few moves, at least, were played in a time scramble.
No comments:
Post a Comment