Queen's Pawn Irregular
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.a3!?
This is more popular than you might think. There are 189 examples of the move in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database, including being played four times by Éric Prié. Some of the ideas will become clear as the game progresses.
3...c5 4.e3
This is the main move, but Prié preferred 4.c3 the only time in Mega22 he faced 3...c5.
4...Nc6 5.dxc5!?
Both Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1 like this, which is preparation for fianchettoing the dark-square bishop.
5...Bxc5 6.c4
The immediate b4 is more popular.
6...Nf6!?
The engines are not keen on this natural-looking developing move, preferring 6...a5 or 6...Be7!? The latter is not in Mega22, but the idea is to meet 7.b4 with 7...Bf6.
7.b4
This was the choice of Magus Carlsen and other strong grandmasters when they reached the position after 6...Nf6!? by transposition.
7...Bd6 8.Bb2 0-0 9.Be2!?
Possibly a novelty. Normal is 9.Nbd2.
9...Qe7
The engines strongly prefer 9...dxc4!? 10.Bxc4, reaching a position that occurs once in Mega22, but with White to move.
10.0-0 Rd8 11.Qc2 Bd7
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| Black has connected rooks, and the opening can be thought of as being over. How would you assess the position? |
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Black's position looks a little cramped, to me, and the black light-square bishop is not very impressive, but Black has a lead in development. White's dark-square bishop is powerful, and White is threatening to grab more space on the queenside at a suitable moment (but White has to be careful this does not give Black a free hand in the centre). The engines reckon White has at least a slight edge.
12.Rd1
But they are not keen on this, preferring 12.Nbd2 or 12.c5!?
12...Rac8 13.Nc3?!
This allows a simple combination, although the resulting position is not completely clear-cut. Probably better is 13.Nbd2 or 13.c5!?
13...dxc4 14.Bxc4 Nxb4 15.axb4 Rxc4 16.Qd3 Rc6 17.b5 Rb6 18.Qe2?
The obvious 18.Rxa7 is best, according to the engines, although they reckon Black has a slight edge.
18...Bb4 19.Rxa7 Bxc3 20.Bxc3 Bxb5 21.Rxd8+ Qxd8 22.Qc2!?
This is best, according to the engines.
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| How should Black proceed? |
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22...Rc6?
22...Rc6?
This lets White equalise. The engines reckon 22...h6!? is enough for at least a slight edge.
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23.h3??
Apparently oblivious to the danger down the c file. The simple 23.Rxb7 Ba6 28.Rb3 is equal.
23...Qc8
Also very strong is 23...Nd5.
24.Qb2?
Better is 24.Qa2 Ba6 25.Be5, but Black is effectively the exchange up.
24...Rxc3 25.Qxb5 Rc1+ 26.Kh2 Qb8+ 27.g3 Qxa7 28.Qd3 Rc8 29.g4 h6 0-1
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