The full game can be seen at B8 but here I want to concentrate on the key moment in the opening.
The game began 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Bd3!? Ngf6 6.Re1 g6 7.c3 Bg7 8.Bc2 0-0 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 b5
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| There are 34 games with this position in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database |
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I tried to seize the initiative with 11.e5!? dxe5 12.dxe5 Ng4 13.e6, but after 13...fxe6 14.Rxe6 Black's superior development gave her the initiative, which she could have capitalised on with 14...Nc5 or 14...Bb7.
Filip Pancevski (1519) - Ciprian-Costica Nanu (2514), Fide World Cup Hybrid Qualifier 2021, went 11.a3 Bb7 12.Nc3 Nb6 13.Qe2 Rc8 with equality, according to Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 (½–½, 51 moves).
Daniel Gormally has twice faced 11.Nc3, replying 11...Bb7 (11...b4 should be met by 12.Na4, giving White a slight edge, according to the engines). Both games continued with 12.a3, transposing to Pancevski-Nanu.
The thought arises that if a3 is not necessary at move 11, perhaps it is not necessary at move 12, and indeed Peter Svidler (2475) - Ioannis Papaioannou (2638), European Team Championship (Reykjavik) 2015, saw 12.h3, when the engines again reckon ...b4 is well-met by Na4. Instead the game went 12...Nb6 13.a3 Rc8 14.Qe2 e6 with a position the engines reckon is roughly equal (but 1-0, 38 moves).
The engines suggest White's best chance lies with queenside play, eg 11.a4 Bb7 12.Bd2, a position international master Leon Livaic has had twice as black, winning both games, albeit against opposition rated about 150 elo lower. The engines reckon White should have a tiny pull, but basically call the position equal.
CONCLUSION: there is no quick route to an advantage for White in the diagrammed position. White does have more space in the centre, but Black is solid and has pressure against the centre, making for an interesting and unbalanced game but one without the immediate prospect of fireworks.
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