Jobava-Prié
1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4 e6 4.Nb5!?
The main move in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database is 4.e3, but Stockfish15.1 prefers the text.
4...Bd6!?
Offering the bishop-pair ...
5.Nxd6 cxd6
... in return for a preponderance of pawns on the centre two files.
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| How would you assess the resulting position? |
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Stockfish15.1 gives White a slight edge; Komodo14.1 calls the game equal.
6.e3 Nc6 7.Nf3 0-0 8.c3 Re8 9.Be2 h6!?
The idea of this move is to prevent ...e5 being met by Bg5.
10.h3!?
This allows the bishop to retreat out of harm's way after ...e5.
10...e5 11.Bh2 Bf5 12.0-0 e4!?
10...e5 11.Bh2 Bf5 12.0-0 e4!?
This seems to be a novelty, and possibly not a good one. The move gains space, but makes d6 a target and will allow White to operate on the queenside without fear of the centre being opened. It might be fine if Black could quickly organise kingside play, but that does not prove simple (the black king's rook might be better placed on f8, supporting and advance by the f7 pawn).
13.Nd2 Qd7 14.Qb3 Rac8 15.Kh1 a6 16.Qb6 Re6!?
Defending d6 while at the same time hoping to create kingside threats, but the latter may be unduly optimistic, in which case 16...Red8 is simpler.
17.Rac1 Ne7 18.Qb3 Nc6 19.Qa3 Na7?!
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| Black's pieces make a bad impression |
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20.Qb3
White has a positionally won game after 20.c4!?, according to the engines, and if 20...dxc4 21.Nxc4 Nb5, then 22.Qa5 threatens Nb6 and a4.
20...Nc6 21.c4 Na5 22.Qa3 Nxc4 23.Bxc4!?
Forcing opposite-coloured bishops, which, contrary to the usual situation in an ending, gives the middlegame player with the initiative increased attacking chances.
23....dxc4 24.Nxc4 Ne8?!
Passive play. Black equalises (Stockfish15.1), or at least comes close to equalising (Komodo14.1), after 24...Rc6.
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| What should White play? |
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25.Rg1?
Correct is 25.Nb6, meeting 25...Rxc1 with 26.Rxc1, but not 26.Nxd7?? Rxf1+ 27.Bg1 Rg6 etc.
25...Qd8?!
Probably better is 26.d5, and if 26...Ne5 then 27.Qd8, after which the white knight can be evicted at will.
26.Na5 Rc7 27.Qb4 Ree7 28.Nc4 Re6?!
Still hoping for kingside play, but it was probably better to concentrate on defending the queenside and centre with 28...Red7.
29.d5 Rf6 30.Na5 Bc8 31.Bg3 Qe7?
Necessary was 31...Rf5, with just a slight edge for White, according to the engines.
32.Rxc7 Nxc7?
It is better to give up the e4 pawn with 32...Qxc7.
33.Rc1
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| What should Black play? |
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33...Bxh3!?
This is best, according to the engines, but clearly losing.
The game finished:
34.Qxb7 Nxd5 35.Qxd5 Be6 36.Qxe4 Rf5 37.Kg1!? Rxa5? 38.Rc8+ 1-0
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