Modern Defence
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 a6 5.a4
Investing a tempo in stopping, or at least delaying, ...b5. The mainline in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database runs 5.Nf3 b5 6.Bd3 Nd7 7.e5!? with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02.
5...b6 6.Nf3 Bb7 7.Bd3
The engines like 7.Bc4!?, with Stockfish15 claiming, at least for a while, White has a positionally won game.
7...Nd7 8.0-0 c5 9.Be3!?
The engines much prefer 9.d5.
9...Nf6
The engines reckon Black should take the chance to play 9...cxd4.
10.h3
Again the engines like d5.
10...Qc7 11.e5!?
The engines again prefer d5.
11...Nd5?!
There is a tactical problem with this move. The engines give 11...Nh5!?
12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.c4?!
Almost certainly better is winning a pawn by 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Bxg6.
13...Bb7
The engines prefer 13...Bxf3 14.Qxf3 0-0.
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| How should White proceed? |
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14.e6!?
A standard pawn sacrifice in this type of position, although Stockfish15 prefers 14.d5, as does Komodo13.02 if given plenty of time to consider the position.
14...fxe6 15.Ng5 Nf8
Stockfish15, but not Komodo13.02 unless again given quite a bit of time, prefers 15...cxd4!?, eg 16.Nxe6 Qc6 17.Nxg7+ Kf7 18.Qg4 Qxg2+!? 19.Qxg2 Bxg2 20.Bxd4 Bxf1.
16.d5!? exd5 17.cxd5 Bc8?
Not 17...Bxd5? 18.Bxg6+, but better is 17...Bxb2, eg 18.Rb1 Bf6!?, when Komodo13.01 reckons the position is equal but Stockfish15 gives White the upper hand.
18.f5 h6 19.Ne6 Nxe6
Also horrible is 19...Bxe6 20.fxe6.
20.fxe6 Bb7
Not 20...g5 21.Qh5+ Kd8 22.Qf7 Bf6 (22...Bxb2? 23.Qf8+ Rxf8 24.Rxf8#) 23.Rxf6.
21.Bxg6+ Kd8 22.Qf3 Kc8 23.Qf7?
The simple 23.Rab1 is better.
23...Bxb2 24.Rad1 Kb8 25.Bxh6!? Ka7
Not 25...Rxh6 26.Qf8+ and 26.Qxg6.
26.Bg5
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| What should Black play? |
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26...Rae8?
Black equalises with 26...Rag8, according to the engines, although there is plenty of play left in the position.
27.Qf2 Bd4 28.Rxd4 cxd4 29.Bxe8 Rxe8 30.Rc1 Qd8 31.Qxd4
White has won a pawn and is much more active.
31...Rf8 32.Be3 Rf5 33.a5 Kb8 34.axb6 Rxd5 35.Qa4?!
Almost certainly stronger is 35.Qg7 with Rc7 to come.
35...Qg8 36.g4 Rb5
Stockfish15 gives 36...Qxe6 37.Qe8+ Bc8 38.Kf1 Rd1+!? 39.Rxd1 Qxe3 40.Qc6! (the only move to stop a perpetual) Qxh3+ 41.Kf2 Qh2+ 42.Ke3 Qe5+ 43.Kd3, after which Black has run out of useful checks. Komodo13.02 gives 36...Re5 37.Rc2 Qh8 38.Qc4 Rb5 39.Rc1 Rb2 40.Qf4, claiming White 'only' has the upper hand (Stockfish15 reckons White is winning).
37.Qc4 Qf8?
Better is the engines' 37...Re5, but they agree 38.Qc7+ Ka8 39.Rc3 Rxe6 40.Ra3 Qb8 41.g5 wins for White.
38.Rf1
Even stronger is 38.Qc7+ Ka8 39.Rf1, eg 39...Qe8 40.Qd7.
38...Rb1??
38...Qd8 keeps the game going, but 39.Bd4 is comfortably winning.
39.Rxb1 Qf3 40.Qc7+ 1-0
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