1.Nc3/Scotch
1.Nc3 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5!?
This is second in popularity to 4...Nf6 in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database.
5.Nf5!?
The text, 5.Nxc6 and 5.Be3!? are the top choices of Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02.
5...Qf6 6.e4
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| There are 365 examples of this position in Mega23, normally being reached via a Scotch move-order: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nf5!? Qf6 6.Nc3 |
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6...Nge7 7.Be3 Bb4!? 8.Nxe7 Bxc3+!? 9.bxc3 Qxe7
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| Now the flurry of tactics is over, how would you assess the result of the opening? |
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White has the bishop-pair on a board with an open centre but lots of pawns. White also has more space in the centre, but three isolated pawns, two of which are doubled. The engines reckon chances are even.
10.Bd3 d6 11.0-0 Ne5!?
This may be a novelty. The engines slightly prefer castling.
12.Rb1
The engines reckon 12.f4!? Nxd3 13.cxd3 gives White an edge.
12...Nxd3 13.cxd3 b6 14.Rb5!?
The rook embarks on an interesting excursion, but perhaps developing with 14.Re1 or 14.Qd2 is better.
14...Bd7 15.Rg5 f6 16.Rg3 0-0-0!?
More or less committing to castling long.
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| How should White respond? |
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17.f4
The engines give 17.h4!? 0-0-0 18.c4 with an unclear position, but one they reckon is equal.
17...0-0-0
Black is better after 17...h4, according to the engines.
18.f5 Be8!?
The engines still like ...h4.
19.Qb3 h4 20.Rgf3?
Necessary seems to be 20.Rh3 or 20.Rg4.
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| How can Black exploit White's last move? |
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20...Bh5?!
Missing the strength of 20...d5, when 21.exd5? loses to 21...Bh5. The engines flick between several moves, but eventually more or less settle on 21.d4, when 21...dxe4 is good, but best seems to be 21...h3!?, eg 22.exd5 hxg2 23.Re1 Qe4 with strong play.
21.R3f2 d5 22.Qa4?!
Probably better is 22.c4!?, and if 22...dxe4 then 23.d4!?
22...Kb7 23.Re1 Be8 24.Qb3 Bf7 25.exd5?!
This helps Black's play in the centre, but White has major problems in any case.
25...Rxd5 26.c4 Re5 27.d4 Re4
Also strong is winning a pawn by 27...Bxc4 etc.
28.Rff1 Qd7?
This lets White off the hook. The engines like 28...h3, but even more 28...Bxc4.
29.Qd3?
Both 29.d5 and 29.Bf2 leave Black with a much smaller advantage, according to the engines.
29...Rhe8 30.Bf2 Qc6
This is probably enough for an edge, but Black can grab a pawn with 30...Qxf5, and if 31.Bxh4 then the engines point out 31...Qg6! is very good, for example 32.Bg3? loses to 32...Rxe1, while 32.Rxe4 Qxe4 33.Qxe4+ Rxe4 34.Bf2 is met by 34...Bxc4, when White has nothing better than the passive 35.Ra1.
31.Rxe4 Rxe4?!
Probably better is 31...Qxe4, when White seems to have too many weaknesses to defend.
32.Rc1 Qe8 33.Qf3 Kb8 34.h3!?
The engines like this safety-first move - White's back rank is more vulnerable than it might appear at first glance.
34...Bh5 35.Qa3 Re2 36.c5 Bf7 37.cxb6 axb6 38.Qc3 Qd7 39.a3!?
The engines prefer grabbing the h4 pawn, or protecting the a pawn with 39.Rxc2.
39...Bd5 40.Qd3?
It was necessary to defend the second rank with 40.Rc2.
40..Ra2
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| Opposite-coloured bishops are well known for their drawing tendencies in endings, but in middlegames that is rarely the case, and here it could not be more obvious who has the better bishop |
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41.Qc3 Qd6 42.Ra1 Rxa1+ 43.Qxa1 Qf4 44.Qe1 Qg5
White cannot prevent mate and defend all the weak white pawns.
45.Qe8+ Kb7 46.Qg6 Qc1+ 47.Kh2
Now 47...Qxa3 wins, eg 48.Bxh4 Qe7 followed by pushing the b pawn. Instead the game saw:
47...Qf4+ ½–½
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