Veresov
1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 c6!?
More popular in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database are ...Bf5, ...e6 and especially ...Nbd7, but world champions Botvinnik, Karpov and Kramnik are among those who have played the text.
4.e3 Qb6 5.a3!?
Indirectly defending the b2 pawn as the black queen is trapped after 5...Qxb2?? 6.Na4.
5...Bf5 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Qxd3 Nbd7
Possible is 7...Qxb2!? 8.Rb1 Qxa3 as Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 do not believe 9.Rxb7 gives White full compensation.
8.Nf3 e6
Again ...Qxb2 is possible, although this time the engines reckon White does have enough for a pawn.
9.0-0 h6 10.Bxf6!? Nxf6 11.Ne5 Rc8 12.f4 Bd6 13.Kh1!? 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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Play is not particularly forcing, and there is a lot of play available, but, for what it is worth, the engines agree Black has a slight edge, or at least the better side of equality.
14.Rg1?!
Hoping to open lines on the kingside, but the plan is probably too slow. Among moves liked by the engines is 14.Nd1!?, the idea being to solidify the queenside with c3.
14...c5 15.Na4 Qa5 16.Nxc5 Bxc5 17.b4?
Black is only slightly better, according to the engines, after 17.dxc5 Qxc5 18.c3.
17...Bxb4 18.axb4 Qxb4
Even stronger is the engines' 18...Ne4!, eg 19.Qxe4 Qxa1 or 19.Rgf1 Nf2+. Best may be 19.Qe2, but after 19...Qxb4 Black can meet 20.Rxa7 with 20...Qb2.
19.Rxa7?
I originally intended the correct 19.Rgb1, but then I saw 19...Qc3, missing that 20.Rxa7 Qxc2 21.Qxc2 Rxc2 22.h3 is fine for White. However 19...Qe7 20.Rxa7 Ne4 21.Kg1 Nd6 gives Black the upper hand, according to the engines, presumably because c2 is weaker than b7, especially with White having the additional weakness of e3.
19...Ne4 20.Rf1 Qb2 21.Qb3
There is nothing better.
21...Rxc2 22.Qxb2
Not 22.Qxb7?? Nf2+ (the immediate 22...Rc1 23.Qa6 Nd2 also wins) 23.Kg1 Nh3+! 24.Kh1 Rc1 etc.
22...Rxb2 23.Rc1 g5?!
Black still has at least the upper hand after this, but calmer moves, eg 23...Nd6, were probably better.
24.fxg5 hxg5 25.h3!?
Perhaps 25.Kg1 is better.
25...Ng3+ 26.Kh2 Nf5 27.Ng4 Nh4 28.Rc7!?
The engines agree this is the best chance.
28...Rxg2+ 29.Kh1 Re2 30.Raxb7 Nf5 31.Rc3?
Better is 31.Kg1, meeting 31...Ra8 with 32.Ra7. However 32...Rxa7 33.Rxa7 Nxe3 34.Nh6 Kg7 35.Nxf7 Kf6 is winning, according to the engines.
31...Ra8 32.Rb1 Ng3+ 33.Raa2 0-1
the b4 , Na4 Nc5 plan ,slows up that counter play, only then Kg1 g4 maybe
ReplyDeleteYes, I think that's right. Basically White should snuff out Black's queenside counterplay and THEN go for it on the kingside.
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