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1.c4 e6 2.e4!? d5 3.cxd5 exd5 4.exd5
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| There are 2,128 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database, which often arises via a French Defence move-order, ie 1.e4 e6 2.c4!? |
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4...Nf6 5.Nc3
Slightly more popular in Mega24 is 5.Bb5+, after which the mainline runs 5...Nbd7!? 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Nf3 0-0 8.0-0 Nb6, with complete equality, according to Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1.
5...Nxd5 6.Bc4 Nb6 7.Bb3 Nc6 8.Nf3
The engines prefer 8.Nge2.
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| How can Black exploit White's last move? |
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8...Bg4
This is the commonest move in Mega24, albeit from a small sample, but the engines prefer 8...Qe7+ 9.Qe2, and now 9...Bg4, claiming Black has at least a slight edge.
9.d4!?
Contrary to first impressions, this is possible, but the engines prefer castling. Note 9.Bxf7+?? fails because after 9...Kxf7 the white king's knight cannot go to g5 or e5 (without being captured).
9...Bxf3?
Probably a novelty, and not a good one. The engines suggest another probable novelty, 9...Qf6!?, claiming a slight edge.
10.Qxf3 Qe7+ 11.Be3 0-0-0
11...Nxd4?! 12.Qxb7 looks good for White.
12.Qxf7?!
In the postmortem, long castling seemed strong, but the engines reckon even stronger is short castling.
12...Nxd4 13.Qxe7!?
Castling - either way - may be a tad better, but the engines are happy enough with the text.
13...Bxe7 14.Bxd4
White can keep the bishop-pair with 14.Bd1!? Nc4 15.Bc1, but it is hard to believe White can get any advantage that way.
14...Rxd4 15.0-0 Rd2 16.Rab1 Rf8 17.Ne4 Rd4 18.Nc3
Other moves also maintain equality, including 18.Rfe1 and 18.f3.
18...Rdf4 19.Rbe1 Bc5?!
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| How can White exploit Black's last move? |
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20.Re2
The black bishop seems to have no good square after 20.Ne4!?. eg 20...Be7? runs into 21.g3, and if 21...Rf3 then 22.Nd2. Black could try 20...Bd4?!, but 21.g3 Rf3 22.Re2 sets up 23.Ng5, and if 22...h6 then 23.Rd2, eg 23...Be5 24.Re1 a5 25.Ng5!? Best may be 20...Bb4, but 21.Re2 gives White the upper hand, according to the engines.
20...a6?
This lets Ne4 come with even stronger effect.
21.Nd5?
Missing 21.Ne4, with similar lines to the note at White's 20th move, except that the white queen's rook is on the superior e2 square.
21...Nxd5 22.Bxd5 c6 23.Bf3 Bd4 24.b3 g5 25.Re4 Rxe4 26.Bxe4 h5 27.g3 h4 28.Kg2 Kc7 29.f3 Re8 30.g4?
This greatly devalues White's pawn-majority, and leaves an exploitable hole at f4.
30...Kd6
Black has a large advantage after 30...Be5!, according to the engines, eg 31.Rf2 Rd8 32.Re2 Bf4 33.Bf5 Kb6 with what they reckon is a positionally won game, although there is a lot of play left.
31.Rc1 Ke5?
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| How can White exploit Black's last move? |
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32.Kf1?!
White wins a pawn with 32.Bxc6! as 32...bxc6?? loses to 33.Re1+ etc, and 32...Rc8 can be countered by 33.Re1+. Other moves also seem better than the text.
32...Rd8 33.Rd1 Rd6 34.Kg2 b6
This is enough for an advantage, but much stronger, according to the engines, is 34...b5!?
35.Rc1?!
The engines want White to start restraining, or at least slowing, Black's queenside pawns with 35.a4.
35...c5
Even better, according to the engines, is 35...Be3!, the point being 36.Rxc6? runs into 36...Rd2+ 37.Kh3 Rxa2.
36.Rc2?
White may hold with 36.Re1.
36...Be3 37.Re2 Kf4 38.Rc2 Rd1 39.h3 b5 40.Bb7 0-1 (Time)
The engines reckon Black is winning, eg 40...Rd6 41.Be4 a5 42.Bb7 a4! 43.bxa4 bxa4 44.Rb4+ Bd4 45.Rxa4 Rb6 46.Bd5 Rb2+ 47.Kf1 (47.Kh1? Kg3 and mates) Rf2+ 48.Ke1 Rh2 49.Kf1 Rh1+ (49...Rxh3?? 50.Kg2) 50.Ke2 Rxh3 etc, although we have come a long way from the point where White's flag fell (the time control was 90 minutes with a 30-second increment).
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