Sicilian Bb5(+)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Nc3
This is the main move in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, the resulting position often arising via other move-orders, eg 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Nf3.
4...g6 5.0-0 Bg7 6.Re1 0-0 7.d3 a6!?
White often plays Bxc6 in Rossolimo lines without being provoked, so playing ...a6 arguably loses a tempo. Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 prefer 7...Nd4 or 7...d6, which are the chief continuations in Mega23.
8.Bxc6 dxc6
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| How would you assess the coming middlegame? |
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Black has the bishop-pair, but the black queenside pawn-structure is slightly damaged. Komodo14.1 reckons White is slightly better, while Stockfish16 gives White the upper hand.
9.h3 Qc7
Bearing in mind the next note, Black should perhaps prefer the prophylactic 9...b6!?
10.a4
I rejected 10.e5!? because of 10...Nd5, missing the strength of 11.Ne4, when 11...b6? runs into 12.c4, trapping the black knight. The engines give 11...a5!?, the idea being to meet 12.Nxc5 with 12...b6 13.Ne4 c5, but it is hard to believe Black has enough for a pawn. Alternatively 11...Bxe5 12.Nxe5 Qxe5 13.Nxc5 Qd4 14.Nb3 Qf6 avoids losing material, but is good for White, according to the engines. Moves instead of 10...Nd5, ie 10...Ne8 and 10...Nd7, do not seem to be an improvement.
10...a5 11.Be3
The pawn thrust e5 is no longer so strong, as 11...Nd5 12.Ne4 can be met by 12...b6, since 13.c4 does not win the knight.
11...b6 12.Qd2 e5 13.Bh6!?
This ensures White can get rid of the bishop-pair, but it is far from clear that swoping off Black's bad bishop is a good deal for White.
13...Be6 14.b3 Rad8 15.Qg5 Nd7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Qg3!? f6
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| How should White proceed? |
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18.Rad1
Superficially tempting is 18.d4?!, but after 18...cxd4 18.Nxd4 the engines reckon Black is better with both 18...Nc5 and 18...Bf7. Certainly Black's pawn-structure has been improved, and the black pieces are well-placed for play in the centre-kingside.
18...Rc8!?
Preventing d4, but unnecessarily, according to the engines.
19.Nh4 Rf7 20.Nf5+ Kh8 21.Nh6 Rff8!?
The engines slightly prefer this to 21...Rg7.
22.Rf1 Kg7 23.Qh4 Qd8 24.g4?
White is perhaps slightly better after 24.Ng4, according to the engines.
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| Black to play and win (or at least gain a large advantage) |
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24...g5?
The engines show the strength of 24...Qe8!, which threatens to win the knight with 25...g5. White can try 25.g5, but 25...fxg5 26.Qxg5 Bxh3 27.Rfe1 Qd8 is very strong, eg 28.Qg3 Be6 29.Ng4 Bxg4 30.Qxg4 Rf4 leaves Black a pawn up and with a powerful attack.
25.Qh5 Qe8 26.Nf5+ Bxf5 27.Qxe8 Rxe8 28.exf5 Rcd8 ½–½
I accepted TT's draw offer as I was worried about the black knight rerouting via b8 and a6 to b4, but it seems this plan is too slow, eg 29.Ne4 Nb8 30.Kg2 Na6 31.h4 h6 32.Rh1 Nb4 33.Rd2, after which the engines reckon White is at least slightly better. Instead of 29...Nb8, they reckon Black should immediately go for play on the h file with 29...h5!?, although they reckon 30.h4!? gives White an edge.
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