Sicilian Bb5(+)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 Qb6!?
The mainline in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database runs 5...Bg7 6.0-0 0-0 7.d4 cxd4 8.cxd4 d5 9.e5 Ne4, with an unclear position that Komodo14.1 at first reckons is equal while Stockfish16 slightly prefers White. However, given more time, the engines somewhat reverse their verdicts, with Komodo14.1 marginally keener on the white position than Stockfish16. They continue to mildly fluctuate, the consensus verdict seeming to be that White is for choice.
6.Na3 a6 7.Ba4 Bg7
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| How should White proceed? |
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8.Nc4
This somewhat obvious continuation is not in Mega 24. Ilia Smirin (2592) - Isidro Gete Rodríguez (2070), Benalmádena (Spain) Rapid 2023, saw 8.e5 Ng4 9.Nc4 Qd8 10.h3 Nh6 11.Bxc6!? dxc6, after which the engines reckon 12.d3 gives White at least a slight edge. The game continued with 12.g4!?, which the engines do not like, but White won anyway.
8...Qd8 9.Bc2 b5 10.Ne3 d5 11.e5 Nh5 12.g3?
The natural 12.d4 is much better as 12...Nf4 can be safely met by 13.Qd1.
12...d4 13.Be4 Bb7 14.Ng2
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| How should Black meet White's threat to push the g3 pawn? |
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14...f5
According to the engines this is much better than 14...Bh6, when White seems fine after, for example, 15.d3.
15.Bxf5?!
Almost certainly better is 15.exf6, although Black is on top after 15...Nxf6.
15...gxf5 16.Ng5 Nxe5!?
Probably even stronger is 16...0-0 17.Qxh5 h6, as 18.Ne6 is strongly met by 18...Qd5.
17.Qxh5+ Kd7 18.0-0
There seems nothing better.
18...h6!?
The engines prefer 18...Qe8.
19.Nf7 Nxf7?!
Black should probably prefer 19...Nf3+, when 20.Qxf3 Bxf3 21.Nxd8 Rhxd8 leaves Black with the bishop-pair, more space and a large lead in development.
20.Qxf7 Qf8 21.Qxf8?!
Exchanging queens almost certainly favours Black, whose king is less safe.
21...Rhxf8
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| How would you assess this queenless middlegame? |
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Black is much better, for the same reasons as given in the note at move 19.
22.Nf4?!
Probably better is 22.cxd4 or 22.Re1. The text helps Black expand.
22...e5 23.Nd3 Kd6 24.cxd4 cxd4 25.b4!? Rfc8 26.Nc5 Bd5 27.Bb2 a5 28.a3 axb4 29.axb4 Rxa1 30.Rxa1 Ra8 31.Rxa8 Bxa8
The engines are not keen on this plan of exchanging rooks, but they reckon Black is still winning.
32.f4 e4 33.Kf2 Kd5 34.d3 Bc6 35.Ke2 Be8 36.Kd2 Bh5 37.Nb3 Bf3 38.Nc5 Bf6
Not 38...Be8? 39.Bxd4!
39.Ba3 Be7 40.Nd7 exd3 41.Kxd3?!
Almost certainly better is 41.Ne5 Be4 as long as White avoids 42.Nxd3?, when both 42...Kc4!? and 42...Bxd3 43.Kxd3 h5 win easily.
41...Be4+ 42.Kd2 Kc4 43.Nc5 Bf6
The ending with opposite-coloured bishops after 43...Bxc5 looks winning too.
44.Ne6
There is no defence.
44...Kb3 45.Bc1 Kxb4 46.Bb2 Kc4 47.Ke2? d3+ 0-1
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