French Rubinstein
1.Nc3 e6 2.e4 d5 3.d4 dxe4 4.Nxe4 b6!?
This unusual continuation - it is seventh-most popular in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database - has been played by Magnus Carlsen.
5.Bd3
5.Qf3 can be met by 5...Qd5, although Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 slightly prefer White.
5...f6?
KB could not explain in the postmortem why he played this, except for vaguely fearing something might happen on the kingside (and 5...f6? makes such an event more likely).
6.Qf3 c6
The engines suggest giving up a pawn by 6...Nc6!? 7.Nxf6+ and 8.Qxc6+. Also possible is 6...Qd5, as 7.c4?! runs into 7...Bb4+, but 7.Ne2 is strong.
7.Ne2 Ne7?!
Black, already well behind in development, is not helped by this leisurely move.
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| How should White continue? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
8.Bf4!?
This is almost certainly better than 8.Nxf6+?! gxf6 9.Qxf6 Rg8 10.Bxh7, when the position is unclear - Stockfish15 gives White the upper hand; Komodo13.02 declares the position equal. However, even better than the text seem to be 8.Qh5+ and 8.Nf4.
8...Nf5?!
Probably better is 8...Nd5.
9.0-0-0 Bd6??
Not 9...Nxd4?? 10.Nxd4 Qxd4 11.Ba6, but 9...Be7 is better.
10.Nxd6+ Nxd6 11.Qg3 Nf5 12.Bxf5 Ba6 13.Bd3
Even stronger seem to be 13.Bxe6 and 13.Qxg7.
13...Bxd3 14.Rxd3 0-0 15.Bd6 Re8 16.Nc3 Qd7 17.Ne4 f5?? 18.Nf6+ 1-0
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