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| How should White respond to the black plan of playing ...Bb5, the idea being to swop the bad black light-square bishop for its good white counterpart? |
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The game saw 6.Qb3!?, which cuts across Black's plan of exchanging bishops. However, after 6...Qxb3!? 7.axb3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Be3 Bxd4!? 10.Bxd4 Nc6 Black has equalised, according to Stockfish15.1 and Komodo14.1.
The engines reckon even more convincing for Black is 6...f6!?, which does not appear in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, a sample line running 7.exf6 Nxf6 8.Na3!? Qc7!? 10.Nb5 Qd8!?, after which Stockfish15.1 gives Black a slight edge, although Komodo14.1 reckons the position is equal.
Going back to the diagram, the most-popular move in Mega23 is 6.Be2!?, effectively ignoring Black's exchanging-bishops plan, or at least not being worried about it.
The mainline continues 6...Bb5 7.0-0 Bxe2 8.Qxe2.
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| Position after 8.Qxe2 |
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Black has carried out the plan, but it has cost time, leaving White ahead on development. Komdodo14.1 reckons White is slightly better, although Stockfish15.1 flips between agreeing with that verdict and calling the position equal.
LESSON: just because an opponent's plan is transparently obvious, it does not follow that the plan should be foiled. It may be natural to do so, but most strong players who have reached the position after 5...Qb6!? have decided (rightly, according to the engines) Black should be allowed to get on with it.
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