Scotch
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qf6!? 5.Be3 Bc5 6.c3 Nge7
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| By a slightly unusual move-order the game has reached a mainline tabiya of the Scotch |
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7.Be2!?
Most popular are 7.Bc4 and 7.g3, but there are 1,562 examples of the text in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database.
7...0-0 8.0-0 b6?!
Rather as in many lines of the Sicilian, if Black can get in ...d5 in the Scotch without suffering immediate punishment then Black has probably at least equalised, and that is the case here (and on the previous move). After 8...d5 my main analysis engines, Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02, give 9.Nxc6 Qxc6 10.Bxc5 Qxc5 11.Nd2 Be6 with what they reckon is equality.
9.Qd2 Bb7 10.Nb5?!
This lets Black off the hook. Almost certainly better is 10.b4, which is not in Mega23 but causes Black huge problems as 10...Bd6 runs into 11.f4 with a strong initiative.
10...Bxe3 11.Qxe3 Rac8 12.Nd2 a6 13.Nd4 d5
At last. Now the tension in the centre makes each move more critical.
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| What should White play? |
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14.Bf3?!
The game is equal, according to the engines, after both 14.Rfe1 and 14.Nxc6 Qxc6 15.Bf3.
14...Rfe8 15.g3?!
The white bishop will look good on g2 but the procedure probably takes too much time. One line given by the engines runs 15.exd5!? Ne5!? 16.Be4 Nxd5 with what they reckon is a slight edge for Black.
15...Ne5?!
Black is much better, according to the engines, after 15...Nxd4!? 16.Qxd4 Qxd4 17.cxd4 Nc6!?
16.Bg2 c5 17.Ne2
The knight is placed more actively with 17.N4f3, but the engines prefer Black after 17...Rcd8.
17...Rcd8
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| Black is fully developed and generally more active |
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18.f4?
Trying for counter-activity, but White's position is not ready for this. The engines suggest 18.Nf4, but give Black at least a slight edge.
18...Ng4 19.Qf3 dxe4 20.Nxe4 Bxe4 21.Qxe4 Nf5 22.Qf3 Nge3 23.Rf2 Nxg2 24.Kxg2!?
This is best, according to the engines, although they reckon all three recaptures lose.
24...Qg6 25.Qb7?!
Best may be 25.Kh1, but 25...h5 adds to the pressure, as does 25...Re3.
25...Rd2 26.Ng1?
This speeds the end, but White's game cannot be saved, eg 26.Qxa6 Ne3+ 27.Kg1 Qe4 28.Re1 Rd1 29.Rxd1 Nxd1 30.Rg2 Ne3 31.Rf2 Qb1+ etc.
26...Ne3+ 0-1
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