Sicilian Bb5(+)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 Bg7 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 0-0!?
Provocative. White usually plays 7...d5.
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| How should White proceed? |
*****
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*****
*****
8.d5
This has been played by Mateusz Bartel (2653) and Levon Aronian (2773), easily the strongest players to reach the position in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, but Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 prefer 8.0-0 and 8.Nc3.
8...Nb8
The engines slightly prefer 8...a6, when they reckon only 9.Bd3 keeps the game equal.
9.Nc3 d6 10.0-0 a6 11.Bd3 b5!?
Expanding, but without the tempo that would have been gained if the white light-square bishop were on a4 or c4.
12.Be3 Nbd7 13.Nd4 Ne5 14.Nc6!? Nxc6 15.dxc6
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| Is the c pawn strong or weak? |
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It is hard to tell. Even the engines cannot agree - Komodo14.1 gives White a slight edge; Stockfish16 calls the position equal.
15...Be6 16.Rfc1 Rc8
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| What should White play? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
17.Bxb5??
Completely misevaluating White's compensation. The engines give 17.a4 Rxc6 (not 17...b4? 18.Nd1 a5 19.Ba6) 18.axb5 axb5 19.Bxb5. disagreeing, as before, over whether White stands better or the position is equal.
17...axb5 18.Qxb5 Qc7 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 Rb8 21.Qc4 Qa5
The engines point out 21...Nxd5!? 22.Qxd5 Bxb2.
22.Rd1?
The position is a lot trickier after 22.c7 Rbc8 23.b4!?, eg 23...Qxd5 24.b5 is equal, according to the engines. They give 23...Qa8, reckoning Black is on top.
22...Rxb2 23.Bd4 Rb4 24.Qc2 Nxd5 25.Bxg7+ Kxg7 26.Rab1 Rxb1 27.Rxb1 Qc3 (0-1, 35 moves)
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