 |
| The main playing area before the start of this evening's first round |
Challengers (U2000)
French Irregular
1.e4 e6 2.d4 a6!?
An anti-theoretical continuation that was a favourite of Michael Basman, but has also been tried by other strong players, including Veselin Topalov ... and Northumbria congress organiser Tim Wall.
3.c4 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4
This is not in ChessBase's 2021 Mega database but is a typical move in positions like this.
5.Bd3 dxc4 6.Bxc4
We have reached a known position - there are seven games in Mega21, but in each it is White to move. So Black has gained a tempo on those games, but the engines Stockfish14 and Komodo12.1.1 still slightly prefer White.
6...b5 7.Bb3
Also playable is 7.Bd3 as 7...Qxd4?? loses to 8.Bxb5+ etc.
7...Bb7 8.f3 Qh4+!?
This is easily countered, but it does slightly inconvenience White.
9.g3
The engines prefer 9.Kf1!?
9...Qh5
And they reckon the black queen should stay on the h4-d8 diagonal with 9...Qe7 or 9...Qf6.
10.Bf4 c5
Stockfish14 wants to offer the c pawn with 10...Nc6!?
11.a3 Ba5 12.g4 Qh4+ 13.Bg3 Qg5 14.Ne2 cxd4
14...Qe3?! is met by 15.Rf1, after which the black queen is in danger of getting trapped.
15.Qxd4 Nc6 16.Qd2?!
The engines prefer 16.Qf2 Rd8 17.0-0.
16...Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 Rd8+
Queens have come off, but the white king is still in danger.
 |
| Where should the white king go? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
18.Ke1?
I thought the queenside was dangerous for the king, but the engines like 18.Kc2, when 18...Bxc3 can be met by 19.Kxc3 or 19.bxc3 (but not 19.Nxc3?? Nd4+), and 18...b4 19.axb4 Nxb4+ 20.Kb1 also seems fine for White.
18...Nge7 19.Kf2?
White had to challenge on the d file with 19.Rd1, when Black is better but the white position is probably defendable.
19...Bb6+
This is good but the immediate 19...Rd2!? is stronger, according to the engines.
20.Kg2
The engines slightly prefer 10.Ke1!?, but White still has a horrible game. Their main line continues 10...Ng6 11.f4!? h5 12.gxh5 Rxh5 13.Rd1 Rxd1+ 14.Kxd1 Nh4, when Black has continuing pressure against a loose white position. If in this line White tries 11.Rd1, the engines give 11...Rxd1+ 12.Kxd1 Nge5 13.Rf1 Ke7, again with pressure.
20...Rd2 21.Rab1 Nd4 22.Bd1 Ng6
Even better, according to the engines, is to start opening the kingside with 22...f5!?
23.Be1 Nf4+ 24.Kf1
 |
| How should Black convert her advantage? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
24...Rd3??
Black has an edge, according to the engines, after 24...Nxf3 25.Nxf4 (not 25.Bxd2?? Nxd2+ 26.Ke1 Nxb1 27.Nxf4 Nxc3 28.bxc3 Bxe4) Nxh2+ 26.Rxh2 Rxh2, when Black has a rook and two pawns for a pair of knights, and White's pieces remain uncoordinated.
By no means so clear is 24...Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Nfxe2 26.Nxe2 Nxf3, although Black does have a pawn and the bishop-pair for an exchange.
25.Nxf4 1-0
No comments:
Post a Comment