Coulsdon Autumn Daytime Round 11

THIS game was played on December 1.

David J Howes (1433 ECF/1343 Fide) - Spanton (2043 ECF/1829 Fide)

QGD Exchnage

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.cxd5 exd5 4.d4

This line of the Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined poses few theoretical problems for Black as White cannot prevent ...Bf5 coming smoothly.

4...c6

The commonest move in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database is 4...Nf6!?, which is a transposition to the mainline starting position of the QGD Exchange. I guess it is most popular because blacks are more familiar with the resulting positions, but the move reinstates all White's dangerous options with the move Bd3.

5.Nf3

White cannot stop ...Bf5 with 5.Qc2 as Black can reply 5...g6, although then 6.e4!? is an interesting independent try.

5...Nf6!?

The immediate 5...Bf5 makes a lot of sense

6.a3!?

The move a3 is often useful in the QGD Exchange, not least for starting a minority attack, but playing it at move six may be premature.

6.Qc2 g6 7.Bg5 Bf5?! runs into 8.Qb3, but Black can instead play 7...Be7 8.e3 Bf5.

6...Bf5 7.Bg5 Nbd7 8.e3 Bd6 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3

Position after 10.Qxd3

It is true White has developed his queen for free, as it were, but exchanging light-square bishops in the QGD Exchange nearly always eases Black's game. Komodo12.1.1 reckons the position is equal, while Stockfish14.1 gives Black a tiny edge.

10...0-0 11.0-0 Re8 12.Qd1?!

A baffling undeveloping move, although the engines do not particularly mind it.

12...Nf8

Apparently threatening ...Ng6 followed by ...h6, forcing White to give up bishop for knight and leaving Black with an unopposed and strong-looking dark-square bishop.

13.Bf4?!

The cure is almost certainly worse than the disease. The engines prefer 13.Qb3 or 13.Re1, eg 13.Qb3 Rb8 14.Rae1, when 14...Ng6?! runs into 15.e4.

13...Bxf4 14.exf4

The doubled pawns are probably not much of a problem for White, but the isolated d pawn is potentially a long-term liability. However, Black's advantage is small, according to the engines.

14...Qd6 15.g3 Ne4 16.Kg2 Re6 17.Nh4 Rae8 18.Nf5 Qd7

How should White proceed?

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

19.Ne3?

The engines give 19.Rc1, but prefer Black. The text overlooks a black combination.

19...Nxf2 20.Rxf2 Rxe3 21.h3 Qe7 22.Qd2 Nd7 0-1

Resignation may seem premature - it certainly caught me by surprise - but Stockfish14.1 reckons Black's advantage is worth more than a rook, although Komodo12.1.1 is less effusive.