Sicilian Accelerated Dragon
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Nxc6!? bxc6 7.Bc4 Nf6!?
The main moves in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database are 7...e6 and especially 7...d6.
8.e5
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| How should Black proceed? |
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8...Ng4!
This is best. Commonest in Mega24 is 8...Ng8, but White is clearly better, whereas 8...Nd5?? loses to 9.Nxd5 cxd5 10.Qxd5, threatening mate and the rook on a8.
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| How should White respond? |
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9.Bxf7+
This is tempting, but possibly better is 9.Qxg4!?, when Maurice Staples (1994) - Rob Hoogland (1813), Guernsey 2016, continued 9...d5 10.Qf3 dxc4 11.Qxc6+ Bd7 12.Qe4, although Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon White has at best a slight edge (½–½, 68 moves).
9...Kxf7 10.Qxg4
Black also seems fine after 10.e6+!? Kxe6!? 11.Qxg4+ Kf7.
10....Bxe5 11.0-0 d5 12.Qf3+ Bf6
This is better than 12...Kg7?! 13.Bh6+! etc.
13.Bg5 Bf514.Bxf6 exf6 15.Rfe1!?
The engines suggest 15.Ne2!?, claiming White has enough for a pawn after 15...Bxc2 16.Rac1 Be4 17.Qa3.
15...Qd6
After 15...Bxc2 16.Re2 Bf5 17.Rae1 the engines reckon White has at least enough for a pawn.
16.Re2 Rhe8 17.Rae1 Bxc2!?
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| What should White play? |
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18.g4!?
Other moves leave Black with at least the upper hand.
18...Qd7 19.Rc1?!
The engines' 19.Kf1 may give White a tiny pull.
19...Rxe2 20.Qxe2 Re8! 21.Qxc2
Or 21.Qf3 Be4 22.Nxe4 Rxe4, after which Black is a pawn up and has the safer king.
21...Qxg4+ 22.Kf1 Qh3+ 23.Kg1 Qg4+ 24.Kf1 Qf3
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| Has White a defence? |
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25.Ne2?
Correct is 25.Kg1, but the forcing sequence 25...Re5 26.Qd1 (only move) Rg5+ 27.Kf1 Qg2+ 28.Ke1 Re5+ 29.Ne2 Qg1+ 30.Kd2 Qxf2 leaves Black with much more than enough for a knight, according to the engines, eg 31.Rxc6 Re4 32.Rc7+ Kf8 33.Rc8+ Ke7!? 34.Rc7+ Ke8 35.Rc8+ Kd7 36.Rc3 f5! Nevertheless the game goes on, while after the text there followed:
25...Rxe2! 26.Qc5 Re5 27.Kg1 Rg5+ 28.Kf1 Qd3+ 0-1
9.e6 looks interesting
ReplyDeleteYes, that looks an interesting twist.
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