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| Alicante's tram system runs through Altea on its way to the mountains |
QGD 4...c5
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qxd4 Be7 7.e3!?
7.e4 is the main move, at least in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, but the text scores four percentage points better at 59%.
7...exd5 8.Nf3 0-0 9.Be2 Nc6 10.Qd2 h6!?
Provocative. It was played by Jonny Hector (2465) in a 1990 Spanish championship game, but normal is 10...Be6.
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| How should White respond? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
11.Bh4!?
After 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nxd5 (12.Qxd5?? Bxc3+ etc) Bxb2 13.Qxb2 Qxd5, the game is equal, according to Stockfish16, but Komodo14.1 gives White a tiny edge.
11...Be6 12.0-0 Ne4!?
11...Be6 12.0-0 Ne4!?
This is a thematic move in IQP positions in which White has not fianchettoed the king's bishop.
13.Nxe4 Bxh4 14.Nc5 Be7 15.Nb3
Not 15.Nxb7?? as 15...Qb6 traps the knight.
15...Qb6 16.Nfd4!?
The engines like this somewhat counter-intuitive move.
16...Bb4 17.Qd1 a5 18.a3 Bd6 19.Nxc6?!
There is a general rule in IQP positions that the player fighting the isolani should be particularly happy at swopping off knights, but here 19.Nxe6 is probably better.
19...bxc6 20.Qc2 c5 21.a4!? Rfd8 22.Rfd1 Rac8 23.Bb5 g6 24.Qd2
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| Black to play and win (well, get a positionally winning advantage, according to the engines) |
*****
*****
*****
*****
24...Bc7?
Black has several better moves, but perhaps the most surprising, at least at first sight, is 24...d4!? The point is 25.Nxa5 runs into 25...dxe3, when 26.fxe3 loses to 26...Bxh2+ etc.
25.Rac1 Bd7?
Black still has a slight edge, according to the engines, after 25...Bd6!?
26.Rac5 Bxh2+ 27.Kxh2 Rxc5 28.Nxc5 Bxb5 29.axb5 Qxc5 30.Qxa5 Rb8 31.b4 Qxb5 32.Qxb5 Rxb5 33.Rd4 f5 34.Kg3 Kf7 35.Kf4 Ke6
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| This rook-and-pawn ending is completely equal, according to the engines |
*****
*****
*****
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36.g4!?
An interesting decision as Black now gets a protectable passed pawn, but the position remains completely equal, according to the engines.
36...fxg4 37.Kxg4 Rb7 38.f4 Rc7 39.e4 dxe4 40.Rxe4+ Kf6 41.b5 Rc3 42.Rb4 h5+ 43.Kh4 Kf5?
Black holds the draw with 43...Rc7.
44.b6 Rc8 45.b7 Rb8 46.Kg3 Ke6
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| White to play and win |
*****
*****
*****
*****
47.Kh4
This does not spoil anything, but the correct plan starts with 47.Rb6+, eg 47...Kf5 48.Kf3 leaves Black in zugzwang, but 47...Kd5 48.Kh4 Ke5 49.Kg5 Kf3 50.Rb4 Kg3 51.Rb3+ Kg2 52.Kh4 Kf2 53.f5! gxf5 54.Kxh5 f4 55.Kg4 also wins for White.
47...Kf5 48.Kg3 ½–½
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