Evans' Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bd6!?
This is the Stone-Ware Defence, which goes back to at least 1834.
6.d4 Nf6 7.Ng5!?
The mainline runs 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 h6 9.Nbd2 Re8, after which Stockfish15 reckons White has at least a slight edge, although Komodo13.02 reckons White only has enough compensation for a pawn. The aggressive text was played by Adolf Anderssen and Henry Bird, but is not liked by the engines.
7...0-0
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| How should White proceed? |
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8.Qd3?!
Anderssen - Lionel Kieseritzky, Match Game Eight (London) 1851, went 8.f4 exf4?! (8...exd4!?) 9.e5 Bxe5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Bb3 h6 12.Nh3, when 12...d5 would have been strong, according to the engines (1-0, 37 moves). Bird - Harry Pillsbury, Hastings 1895, saw 8.Nxf7!? Rxf7 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.f4 exd4 11.e5 Be7 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.0-0 d5, when Black had more than enough for the exchange, according to the engines (0-1, 39 moves). The position is messy, but the text, apparently a novelty, seems dubious.
8...h6 9.Nf3 exd4 10.0-0 Re8 11.Re1 dxc3 12.Nxc3 Ne5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.Bd2 d6
Even stronger, according to the engines, is 14...b5!? 15.Bxb5 c6, eg 16.Ba4 Ng4 17.g3 Qf6 with an initiative as well as an extra pawn.
15.f4 Bxc3 16.Bxc3
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| White has the bishop-pair - not enough for two pawns, but enough to give practical chances |
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16....Be6 17.Bb5 c6 18.Ba4 b5 19.Bc2 Bc4 20.Qg3
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| How should Black defend? |
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20...g6?
Weakening. The engines like 20...a5, but cannot agree on how to meet 21.a3.
21.Qh4?!
Probably better is 21.Rad1!?, when grabbing a third pawn by 21...Bxa2!? may be playable but the engines prefer 21...b4 22.Bb2 (22.Bxb4?? Qb6 etc) Nh5 23.Qf2 Qb6 24.Bd4 c5 25.Ba1, after which Stockfish15 gives White the upper hand but Komodo13.02 reckons, if anyone is better it is Black.
21...Nh5 22.Qg4?
Necessary is 22.Qf2, although the engines much prefer Black after 22...Qb6 23.Bd4 c5.
22...Kh7?
22...Qb6+ 23.Kh1 Qf2 wins more material.
23.e5?
Better is 23.Rad1, allowing 23...Qb6+ to be met by 24.Bd4.
23...dxe5??
Again the engines reckon ...Qb6+, Kh1 Qf2 is winning.
24.Qxh5 Bd3?!
Probably better is 24...Qb6+ 25.Kh1 Qf2 26.Be4 exf4 (Stockfish15) or 24...exf4 25.Rxe8 Qb6+!? 26.Kh1 Rxe8 (Komodo13.02).
25.Bxd3?
The engines strongly favour keeping queens on the board with 25.Qd1.
25...Qxd3 26.Qf3
JG offered a draw in my time.
26...Qxf3 27.gxf3 exf4
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| How would you assess this position? |
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Black has four pawns for a bishop, but the f pawns are doubled and none of the pawns is close to promoting. Meanwhile the absence of queens means mating attacks are unlikely. Stockfish15 reckons the position is completely equal, but Komodo13.02 gives White a slight edge.
28.Kf2 Rad8 29.Rac2 g5
This makes another pawn a potential target for the bishop, but is necessary to develop the king and at least makes f4 less vulnerable.
30.Rxe8 Rxe8 31.Bd4 Rd8!? 32.Bxa7 Ra8 33.Bb6 Rxa2+ 34.Kg2 Re2!? 35.Rxc6!?
This lets Black force rooks off and undouble the f pawns. White is equal after 35.h4!?, according to Stockfish15, or 35.Ba5, according to Komodo13.02. However it is not clear the text is a mistake as after ...
35...Re6 36.Rxe6 fxe6
... Komodo13.02 reckons the position is equal, while Stockfish15 gives Black only a slight edge.
37.Kf2 Kg6 38.Ke2 Kf5 39.Bc5 h5 40.h3 e5 41.Be7 g4 42.fxg4+ hxg4 43.hxg4+
Not 43.h4?? as White cannot cope with the black pawn-phalanx, eg 43...g3 44.h5 e4 45.h6 f3+ 46.Ke3 g2 47.Kf2 e3+ 48.Kg1 Kg6 49.Bf8 e2 etc.
43...Kxg4
With all the white pawns off the board, only Black can realistically hope to win, but the position is drawn.
44.Bd6 e4 45.Bc5 Kg3 46.Bf2+??
Pinning the f pawn with 46.Bd6 draws.
46...Kg3 47.Bc5 f3+ 48.Ke1 b4 0-1
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