Pirc
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bg4!?
There are 672 examples of this move in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, although it trails in popularity 5...c6, 5...c5 and especially 5...0-0.
6.h3!?
In the postmortem MS said this is unnecessary as Black is more-or-less obliged to play ...Bxf3 as soon as the white queen moves. However the text is the main continuation in Mega23 and is quite liked by Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1.
6...Bxf3 7.Qxf3
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| Black has to deal with the threat of 8.e5 |
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7...c6 8.Be3 a5
Aimed at discouraging 0-0-0.
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| How should White proceed? |
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9.Bd3
Six games in Mega23 reached the position in the second diagram. Three continued with the text, and three saw 9.0-0-0!?, which is preferred by the engines.
9...Na6 10.a3
The engines suggest 10.e5 or 10.0-0-0!?
10...0-0 11.0-0 Nd7!?
This is probably a novelty. The engines like the known-move 11...e6, albeit much preferring White.
12.Rad1 Qc8!? 13.f5 c5?!
The engines are not particularly concerned about this, but after ...
14.Nd5 Qd8 15.c3
... White's kingside play looks menacing, while the white queenside is not under pressure.
15...Nc7 16.g4!?
The engines prefer avoiding doubled pawns by 16.Nxc7 Qxc7 17.g4 (Stockfish16) or 16.Bc4!? Nxd5 17.Bxd5 (Komodo14.1).
16...Nxd5 17.exd5 cxd4 18.Bxd4 Ne5
The knight is a monster on e5, but the engines prefer 18...Bxd4+!?, claiming 19.cxd4 leaves White only slightly better.
19.Qe3 Qd7 20.Rf2 b5 21.Rdf1 b4!? 22.axb4 axb4
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| What should White play? |
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23.cxb4!?
The engines like the text and 23.c4 almost equally.
23...Nxd3 24.Qxd3 Bxd4+ 25.Qxd4 f6
Stockfish16 claims 25...Qa7!? equalises, while Komodo14.1 reckons it leaves White with the upper hand.
26.Qd3?!
Black is under more pressure after 26.fxg6 hxg6 27.Qe4.
26...g5 27.h4 h6 28.h5?
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| Too slow - Black now gets a strong initiative on the queenside |
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28...Rfb8 29.Qb3?
28...Rfb8 29.Qb3?
Now White is lost, according to the engines. Counterplay with 29.Qe4 is called for.
29...Ra4
The b4 pawn must fall, equalising material and leaving White with three weak pawns (b2, d5 and g4).
30.Rg2 Raxb4
Even stronger, according to the engines, is 30...Rbxb4.
31.Qc3 Qb7 32.Re1!?
This is probably better than passively defending d5 with 32.Rd1.
32...Rc8!?
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| Can you find a strong combination for White? |
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33.Rxe7??
The engines give 33.Qe3, but after 33...Kf8 Black has the safer king, can pick up the b pawn more-at-less at will and according to the engines, is positionally winning.
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| Black to play and win |
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33...Qb6+??
Winning is 33...Rxc3 34.Rxb7 Rc1+ etc.
34.Qe3 Rxb2 35.Rxb2 Rc1+ 36.Kg2 Qxb2+ 37.Qe2 Rc2 38.Re8+ ½–½
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