Sicilian Bb5(+)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.0-0 Nc6 6.c3 Nf6 7.Qe2 e5!?
I faced 7...e6 in round six.
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| How should White respond? |
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8.d4!?
The mainline in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database runs 8.Rd1 Be7 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 exd4 11.Nxd4 with at least a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish15.1 and Komodo14.1. However Black can put a spoke in this with the engine-approved 8...Qg4!?, after which the mainline runs 9.d3 Be7 with an unclear position - Black has more space, but White has the better bishop.
8...cxd4 9.cxd4 exd4 10.Rd1
Probably not 10.e5?! dxe5 11.Nxe5 Qe6.
10...Rc8
This sets a trap, but the engines prefer 10...Qg4, when Komodo14.1 continues 11.Nxd4 Qxe2 12.Nxe2 Nxe4 13.Nbc3 Nxc3 14.Nxc3, claiming good compensation for a pawn. Stockfish15.1 gives 11.Nbd2 (it also likes 11.Qb5) Be7 12.h3 Qe6 13.b4!?, claiming compensation for a pawn, but no more.
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| How should White proceed? |
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11.Na3
Not 11.Nxd4?? Nxd4 12.Rxd4 Rxc1+, but the engines prefer 11.Bg5, and if, as in the game, 11...Qg4, then 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Nxd4 regains the pawn and leaves Black with multiple weaknesses.
11...Qg4!?
This move has, to an extent, dominated the notes, and it is also interesting here.
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| How should White reply? |
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12.Bg5
Komodo14.1 gives 12.Nxd4!? Qxe2 13.Nxe2 Nxe4 14.Be3, awarding White a slight edge, presumably rating White's lead in development as more significant than Black's extra pawn. Stockfish15.1 gives 12.Nb5, and if 12...Qxe4 then 13.Qf1!? Be7 14.Nxd6+ Bxd6 15.Re1 0-0 16.Rxe4 Nxe4, when White has queen for rook, knight and pawn, and, according to the engine, a slight edge. However, neither engine is very sure of the position, for example for a long time it is Stockfish15.1 that recommends 12.Nxd4!? and Komodo14.1 that gives 12.Nb5.
12...Qxe4?!
Black at least equalises with 12...Nxe4 13.h3 Qe6, according to the engines.
13.Qb5
Black is two pawns up, but the queen-and-king line-up on the e file means Black is worse.
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| What should Black play? |
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13...a6?
Best, according to the engines, is 13...Be7 14.Bxf6 gxf6, although White immediately regains one pawn and has more than enough compensation for the other one.
14.Qxb7 Rb8?
The engines recommend 14...Ne7, but Black's position is horrible.
15.Qxb8+??
Plenty good enough is 15.Qxa6 as 15...Rxb2? fails to 16.Re1, the point being White has two pieces covering e2. But even stronger seems to be the engines' 15.Qc7, eg 15...Be7 16.Re1 Qd5 17.Rxe7+.
15...Nxb8 16.Re1 Kd7 17.Rxe4 Nxe4 18.Bf4 Nc6
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| After the flurry of (misplayed) tactics, how would you assess the position? |
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Equal, according to the engines, but not easy for either side to play.
19.Rd1 g5!?
This positional pawn sacrifice is the engines' top choice for a while, although they later come to also like 19...d5 and 19...Nc5.
20.Nxg5 Nxg5 21.Bxg5 Bg7 22.Nc2
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| Material is level in this ending, but is the position? |
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The engines reckon the game is equal, but clearly it is one of those positions in which there are imbalances, a concept popularised by international master Jeremy Silman. All of Black's pawns are isolated, and two of them are doubled, but Black has more space. and the White pieces are not well-coordinated. Black's king is also more active. I suspect the position is easier for Black to play, but both sides have things to worry about.
22...Re8 23.Kf1 Re5 24.Bf4 Rc5 25.Ne1 Be5 26.Bc1 Nb4
Not 26...Bxh2? 27.g3 etc.
27.a3 Nc2?
The knight has no way out from this square.
28.Nd3 Rc8 29.Bd2
This takes away the knight's escape via a1.
29...Ke6?!
Unprotecting the rook does not help matters.
30.Rc1 Kf5 31.Nb4 d3!? 32.Nxd3 Rc4?!
A better try is 32...Rc6, but 33.Bc3 Nd4 34.Re1, threatening 35.g4+, wins, according to the engines.
The game finished:
33.Ne1 Ke4 34.f3+ Kd4 35.Bc3+ Kc5 36.Rxc2 Rh4? 37.Bxe5+ 1-0
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