Catalan
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Nbd2!?
This scores four percentage points better than the main move in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, 5.Bd2, after which the mainline runs 5...Be7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Qc2 with a slight edge for White, according to Komodo14.1, although Stockfish15.1 reckons Black has equalised.
5...dxc4!?
Castling is more popular but the engines narrowly prefer the text.
6.Bg2 Nc6?!
This has been played by grandmasters, but may be a mistake. The mainline runs 6...b5 7.0-0 0-0 8.a4 with good compensation for a pawn, according to the engines.
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| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
7.0-0!
7.0-0!
Ignoring the threat to the d pawn as 7...Nxd4?? loses to 8.Nxd4 Qxd4 9.Qa4+ etc.
7...0-0
The main moves are 7...c3 and 7...Bxd2, although the engines reckon White is better after both.
8.Nxc4 Re8
This may be a novelty. Nine other moves have been tried, but none seems satisfactory.
9.Qd3 Bf8!? 10.Rd1
On 10.e4 I intended 10...e5, when White cannot capture on e5 because the d pawn is pinned. After 11.d5 the engines give 11...b5!?, although they reckon 12.Ncd2 gives White a slight edge.
10...Nb4 11.Qb1!?
This is best, according to the engines.
11...c5 12.Bg5
Also strong, as JM pointed out in the postmortem, is 12.Bf4.
12...cxd4 13.Rxd4 Qe7
The engines prefer 13...Qc7!?, reckoning Black can survive 14.Bxf6 gxf6.
14.Nfe5 h6 15.Bd2?!
Almost certainly better is 15.Nd6!?, eg 15...hxg5 16.Ndxf7, when the threat of Qg6 more-or-less forces 16...Qxf7 17.Nxf7 Kxf7, after which Black has three pieces for queen and pawn, but a shattered a kingside - the engines reckon White is winning. And if 15...Rd8 the engines give 16.Ndxf7! Rxd4 17.Qg6 hxg5 18.Nh6+ Kh8 19.Nef7+ Qxf7 20.Nxf7+ Kg8 21.Nxg5, after which Black has rook and two minor pieces for queen and two pawns, but again the black king is vulnerable and the engines reckon White is winning.
15...Qc7 16.a3 Nbd5
JM offered a draw.
17.a4
Preventing 17...b5.
17...Qc5!?
The engines dislike this, preferring, for example, 17...Bc5, after which they reckon White only has a slight edge.
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| What should White play? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
18.e4??
Both 18.e3 and 18.Qd3 leave White much better, according to the engines.
18...Qxd4 19.exd5 Nxd5
JM expected 19...exd5??, after which 20.Be3 wins the queen. Even stronger than the text, as he pointed out in the postmortem, is 19...Ng4. After the text White should probably play 20.Be4, threatening mate in two, although both 20...Nf6 and 20...Re7!? are adequate answers.
20.b4? 0-1
JM resigned because of the reply 20...Bxb4, but also winning easily is 20...f6.
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