Sicilian Accelerated Dragon
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Nxc6!? bxc6 7.Bc4 Qc7!?
There are four more-popular moves in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database, but the text is the top choice, albeit by a tiny margin, of Stockfish16, and the equal-top choice, along with 7...Qa5, of Komodo14.1.
8.0-0 Nf6 9.Re1 d6 10.f3 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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White has more space in the centre, but Black has a central pawn-majority. Komodo14.1 calls the game equal, but Stockfish16 gives Black a slight edge.
11.Be3 Nd7!?
Possibly a novelty. Known moves are 11...Bb7 and 11...a5.
12.f4!? Nf6!? 13.h3 Nxe4!?
A well-known equalising combination, although here it gives chances of an advantage.
14.Nxe4 d5
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| How should White proceed? |
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15.Bd4!?
This may be best. Komodo14.1 reckons so, but Stockfish16 fluctuates between the text, 15.Nc5 and 15.c3.
The problem with 15.Bxd5?! is that after 15...cxd5 16.Qxd5 Be6 Black gets an initiative to go along with the bishop-pair - more than enough compensation for being, at least temporarily, a pawn down, according to the engines.
15...Bxd4+ 16.Qxd4 Qxf4 17.Bxd5 cxd5 18.Qxd5 Bf5!?
After 18...Be6 19.Qg5 White may have a small pull.
19.Qd2 Qe5 20.Nc3 Qc5+ 21.Qf2 Rfc8 22.Qxc5 Rxc5 23.Rxe7 Bxc2
Not 23...Rb8 24.Rxa7 Rxb2?? 25.Na4.
24.Rf1 Bf5 25.g4 Be6 26.Ne4 Rc2 27.Ng5
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| Black to play and get a slight edge |
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27...Bxa2
More promising is 27...Bd5, eg 28.Rd1 Bxa2 29.Rdd7 Rf8 30.Rxa7 Rxb2. The game should probably end in a draw, but only Black has winning chances.
28.Nxf7 Bxf7 29.Rfxf7 Rd8 30.Rg7+ ½–½
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