Sicilian Bb5(+)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.0-0 Bd7 5.c3
The mainline in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database runs 5.Re1 Nf6 6.c3 a6 7.Bf1!? Bg4!? 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3, giving White a slight edge, according to Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02.
5...Nf6 6.Qe2
The engines prefer transposing to the mainline with 6.Re1.
6...a6 7.Ba4 b5 8.Bc2 Bg4!?
This is the chief continuation in Mega22. The idea, I believe, is to prevent, or at least seriously delay, White establishing a classic centre with d4.
9.h3 Bxf3
The engines reckon 9...Bh5 is well-met by 10.g4 Bg6 11.a4.
10.Qxf3 g6
Black has given up his good bishop, based on the central pawn-structure, but his technically bad bishop will be active on g7. Meanwhile White's bishop-pair will have trouble getting active if White cannot expand in the centre.
11.Rd1 Rc8
Again aimed at delaying d4.
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| How should White proceed? |
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12.a4
Komodo13.02 likes this and 12..d3, but Stockfish15 prefers 12.d4!?, the point being 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Nxd4 14.Rxd4 Rxc2 can be met by 15.Nc3. Then 15...Bg7 16.Qd1 Nd7 17.Bh6!? Bxd4 18.Qxc2 gives White full compensation for a pawn, according to both engines. Mohamed Henni (2337) - Imad Hakki (2471), Arab Championship (Dubai) 2005, went 12.Qe2 Bh6!? 13.a4 Qb6 14.Na3 Rb8 15.axb5 axb5 16.Nxb5 (1-0, 44 moves).
12...Qb6 13.Na3 Bg7 14.axb5 axb5 15.Qe2 Rb8 16.d3 0-0 17.Be3 Nd7
Still playing against the move d4.
18.Qd2 Re8?!
It is not clear what the rook is doing here. The engines suggest 18...Qb7 or 18...Ra8.
19.d4 b4 20.Nc4 Qc7
Also seemingly playable is 20....Qb5 as 21.Ba4? Qxc4 22.Bxa6 runs into 22...cxd4 23.Bxd7 dxe3 24.Qxe3 Red8 25.Bg4 bxc3. However, better is 21.d5 with a sharp position the engines reckon slightly favours White.
21.dxc5
Possibly better is 21.Ba4, with maybe a slight pull.
21...Nxc5 22.Bxc5 dxc5 23.Qe3 bxc3
The engines reckon ...b3 is dubious.
24.bxc3 Ne5 25.Nxe5 Qxe5 26.Ra5 Rec8 27.Rd5 Qxc3 28.Qxc3 Bxc3 29.Raxc5 Rxc5 30.Rxc5
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| How would you assess this ending? |
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The presence of rooks makes this a lot less drawish than it would be without them. Black will try to operate on the dark squares, initially targeting f2, while White should defend carefully and look for an opportunity to attack Black's corresponding vulnerable point, f7. The initiative is important in such positions, but all the pawns being on one side of the board increases the chances of a draw.
30...Bd4 31.Rc4 Rd8
Presumably avoiding ...e5 for the present because it exposes f7.
32.Kf1 Kg7 33.Ke2
Probably not 33.d3?! True it means the f pawn is no longer a target for the black bishop, but white's kingside dark-squares are badly weakened.
33...Be5 34.Bd3 Ra8 35.Rc2 h5 36.h4!?
Making another pawn a potential target for the black bishop, but White's position starts to get a little cramped if Black is allowed to expand further with ...h4.
36...Rb8 37.Rc5 Bd4 38.Rc4 Rb2+ 39.Rc2 Rb6 40.Rc4 e5
The black bishop is supported on its best square, but at the expense of making f7 more vulnerable.
41.Rc7 Rb2+ 42.Bc2
Also possible is 42.Rc2 as 42...Rb1 43.Rc7 Rh1 44.Bc4 Rxh4 45.Rxf7+ Kh6 46.Bd5 holds.
42...Ra2 43.Kf3
43.Rxf7+?? is a gross blunder as after 43...Kxf7 the move 44.Bb3+ is illegal.
43...Ra3+ 44.Ke2 Ra2 ½–½
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