French Exchange
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Nc6!?
The main moves are 4...Nf6 and 4...Bd6, but the text is also popular - more so than the aggressive 4...Bg4.
5.Bd3 Bg4 6.c3 Bd6 7.0-0 Qd7 8.Re1+ Nge7 9.Nbd2
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| Which way should Black castle? |
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9...0-0
A common recommendation for higher-rated blacks, seeking to avoid the drawish tendencies of the Exchange Variation of the French Defence, is to castle on the opposite side from White. Indeed, in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database, there are 187 examples of the text, but 623 of 9...0-0-0. Not only that, but with the latter Black scores an amazing 61%, compared with a lower, but still very good, 53% for the former. However, Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 much prefer the text, and certainly White's play on the queenside after 9...0-0-0 looks more promising than Black's on the kingside.
10.Qc2
A common-enough move, but the engines prefer 10.Nf1.
10...Bf5 11.Nf1 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 Ng6 13.Ng3 Rfe8 14.Bd2 a6!?
This was also Ukrainian grandmaster Vladimir Tukmakov's choice in the 2000 Slovenian team championship against Croatian international master Boris Golubovic.
15.Qf5 Qxf5 16.Nxf5
15.Qf5 Qxf5 16.Nxf5
The Golubovic (2466) - Tukmakov (2582) game was agreed drawn at this point.
16...Bf8 17.h4 Nge7 18.Nxe7+ Nxe7 19.Re2 Nf5 20.Rae1 Nd6 21.Rxe8 Rxe8 22.Rxe8 Nxe8 23.Bf4 c6 24.a4 f6 25.Kf1 Nd6 26.Bxd6 Bxd6 27.Ke2 Kf7 28.Ne1 Ke6 ½–½
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