Réti
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 d4!?
Stockfish15.1 and Komodo14.1 approve of this space grab. A theoretical objection is that Black will often want to follow up at some point with ...e5, having already spent a tempo on e6.
5.e3!?
The engines prefer this over castling, which is the main move in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database.
5...Nc6!?
And they prefer this over the main Mega23 move of 5...c5.
6.exd4 Nxd4 7.Nxd4!?
Tamás Bánusz (2608) - Jan Krejčí (2538), Slovakian Team Championship 2018, went 7.0-0 Bc5 8.Nxd4!? Bxd4 9.Na3!? with a completely equal position, according to the engines, and a draw was agreed four moves later.7...Qxd4
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| What should White do about the attack on c4? |
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8.0-0!?
An interesting positional pawn sacrifice.
Josef Ager (2223) - Udo Goy (2232), European Seniors Team Championship 2010, saw 8.d3 Bb4+ 9.Bd2?!, when 9...Qxb2 is good for Black. Instead the engines give 9.Nd2, one point being 9...Qxd3?? loses to 10.Qa4+ etc. Black can instead reply 9...0-0, when 10.a3 Bxd2+ 11.Qxd2 is equal, according to the engines.
8...Qxc4
Naturally this is the critical test of the sacrifice, although the only game in Mega23 to reach the position after 8.0-0!? saw 8...Bc5, when the engines want White to sac a rook with 9.b4!? Qxa1, claiming the upper hand. A sample line runs 10.Nc3 Bd4 11.Qc2 0-0 (or 11...Bxc3 12.dxc3 etc) 12.Bb2 Qxf1+ 13.Kxf1, when White has a queen and a slight lead in development for two rooks.
9.b3 Qd3 10.Nc3 Be7 11.Re1 0-0 12.Re3 Qd8 13.d4 Nd5
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| How should White proceed? |
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14.Nxd5
The engines suggest 14.Bxd5!? exd5 15.Nxd5 Qxd5 16.Rxe7, albeit preferring Black.
14...exd5 15.Qh5
14...exd5 15.Qh5
Not 15.Bxd5? Bf6, eg 16.Qf3 c6 17.Be4 Bxd4 18.Rd3 Qf6.
15...Be6 16.f4 Bf6 17.Bb2 Qd7 18.Rae1 c6 19.Qe2
Black threatened 19...Bg4. After the game DM said he would have been fine if he had here sacrificed the exchange and followed up with Bh3, but the engines are not impressed.
19...Bg4 20.Qf1!? c5!? 21.Qd3 Bf5 22.Qd2 Rac8 23.dxc5!?
This is Komodo14.1's top choice, although Stockfish15.1 prefers 23.Bf3.
23...d4 24.Re5!?
The engines quite like this exchange sacrifice, although preferring 24.R3e2. Either way, Black is on top.
24...Bxe5 25.Rxe5 Rfe8 26.Rd5 Qe6 27.Re5 Qg6 28.Bxd4 Rxe5 29.Bxe5
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| White has a pawn and the bishop-pair for an exchange, which is often sufficient compensation, at least when another pair of rooks is on the board |
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29...h5 30.Qe3 b6?! 31.c6
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| How should Black proceed? |
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31...f6
Komodo14.1 likes returning the exchange with 31...Rxc6!? 32.Bxc6 Qxc6, after which the white king is more vulnerable than its black counterpart. I rejected the line because I feared the opposite-coloured bishops and general openness of the position would make it hard to avoid a draw. Nevertheless, after the text the c pawn gives White counterplay.
32.Bc3 Re8 33.Qd2 Be4 34.c7 Bxg2 35.Kxg2 Qe4+ 36.Kf2
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| White threatens Qd7, which would be enough for a draw, according to the engines |
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36...h4!?
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| How should White respond? |
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37.Qd8??
This loses in short order, as now does 37.Qd7?, eg 37...Qe2+ 38.Kg1 h3 39.Qxh3 Qe3+ etc. However 37.gxh4 keeps the game going, although after 37...Qe7 38.Qd5+ Kf8 Black is winning, eg 39.Qc4 b5! 40.Qb4!? Rc8 (40...Qxb4? 41.Bxb4+ Kf7 42.Kf3 gives drawing chances) 41.Qxe7+ Kxe7 42.Ba5 Kd7, when the exchange should tell.
37...h3 38.Qd2 Qg2#
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