1.Nc3/Philidor
1.Nc3 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.e4
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| The game has transposed to the Hanham Variation in the Philidor, the normal move-order being 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Nc3 |
4...c6 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0 Ngf6 7.Re1 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled. how would you assess the position? |
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There are 6,865 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database. White has more space in the centre, and the white minor pieces are more harmoniously placed, but Black has no weaknesses and has maintained e5 as a strongpoint. The engines give White a slight edge.
8.a4 Nxe4?
Playing a well-known equalising combination, except it does not work here. The mainline in Mega24 runs 8...b6 9.d5 cxd5 10.Nxd5 Bb7 11.b3!? Rc8 12.Re2!?, by which point Black has equalised, according to the engines, but there are many attractive alternatives for both sides along the way.
9.Rxe4 d5 10.Bxd5 exd4!?
This apparent-novelty is Komodo14.1's top choice, but Stockfish16 prefers the known 10...cxd5, after which 11.Nxd5 f5 12.Re1 e4 13.Bf4! Nf6 14.Nxe7+ Qxe7 15.Ne5 left Black without compensation for a pawn in Jan Timman (2549) - Ib Skovgaard (1911), Helsingør Xtracon, Denmark (1-0, 27 moves). Also known is 10...Nf6?, but 11.Bb3 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 is winning for White.
11.Nxd4 cxd5 12.Nxd5
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| Black's bishop-pair is not enough compensation for being a pawn down and behind in development |
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12...Bc5?!
Almost certainly better are the engines' 12...Bf6 and 12...Bh4!?
13.b4
Even stronger seems to be the blunt 13.Qh5, when the simple 14.Rh4 is a big threat.
13...Bd6?!
The engines reckon Black should give back the bishop-pair by 13...Nb6, when 14.bxc5 Nxd5 15.Bb2 is winning, according to the engines, but there is a lot of play left.
14.Nf5 Be5?!
And here the engines again suggest giving back the bishop-pair, for the sake of getting on with development, eg 14...Ne5 15.Nxd6 Qxd6, but White seems to have several strong moves, including 16.b5, 16.Bf4 and 16.f4!?
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| Can you find a winning combination for White? |
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The position looks like some sort of sacrifice must work, but it seems not.
15.Ra3
This is winning, but the engines like 15.Nfe7+ Kh8 16.Qh5 Nf6 17.Qxe5 Nxe4 18.Bb2!? f6 19.Qxe4, and 15.Qh5 Nf6 (15...Kh8 16.Nfe7+ is a transposition to the previous line) 16.Nfe7+ Kh8, which is also a transposition. Other moves win too.
15...g6 16.Rh3 Re8 17.Nh6+ Kf8
Or 17...Kg7 18.Nxf7!? (18.Ng4 is also very strong) Kxf7 19.Rxh7+ Kg8 20.Qd2 Nf8 21.Ne7+ Rxe7 22.Qxd8 Rxh7 23.Qd5+ etc.
18.f4?
This throws away much of White's advantage. Again 18.Nxf7!? is strong, as is 18.Rf3 since 18...Bxh2+?! 19.Kxh2 Rxe4 fails to 20.Rxf7+ Ke8 21.Rxh7, while 18...Nf6 loses to both 19.Bg5 and 19.Rxf6, among other moves.
18...Nf6 19.Rxe5
The engines slightly prefer 19.Rd3!?
19...Rxe5?
White has the upper hand after 19...Bxh3 20.Rxe8+ Kxe8 (worse is 20...Qxe8? 21.Nxf6 Qe7 22.Nxh7+ Kg7 23.Ng5 etc) 21.Nxf6+ Qxf6 22.gxh3 Qxb6+ 23.Kf1 Qxb4 24.Qd5, according to the engines, but neither king is safe.
20.fxe5 Qxd5
Also losing are 20...Nxd5 21.Rd3 (or 21.Rf3!?) and 20...Bxh3 exf6.
21.Rd3 Qxe5
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| The material balance has been restored, but Black is lost |
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22.Re3
Possibly even stronger is 22.Rd8+ Ne8 23.Qd2!? with the threat of Ng4!, when ...Bxg4 loses the exchange (at least).
22...Qc7 23.Bb2 Ne8
There is no defence, eg 23...Nh5 24.Be5 Qb6 25.Bd6+ Kg7 26.Bc5 Qc6 27.Nxf7! Kxf7 28.Re7+ and mate follows.
24.Qd4 f6 25.Qd5 Kg7
Or 25...Qg7?! 26.Qc5+ etc.
26.Rxe8 Kxh6 27.Bxf6 Qb6+
Or 27...Qf4 28.Bc3 Qc1+ Re1 etc.
28.Bd4 Be6 29.Bxb6 1-0
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