Queen's Pawn Game
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Bg2 Nf6 6.0-0 Be7 7.b3 0-0
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| It is hard to say whether the game more resembles a Catalan or a Colle-Zukertort, but either way there are 266 examples of the position in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database |
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8.Re1!?
Normal is 8.Bb2, reaching a position occurring 535 times in Mega24.
8...b6 9.c4!? cxd4 10.exd4 Ba6!?
This seems to be a novelty.
11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Bb2
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| Who stands better in this IQP position? |
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Having all four pairs of minor pieces on the board usually favours the side with the isolani as that player has more space. However here White has fallen slightly behind in development - both players have castled and developed four pieces, but Black has got a knight to the fourth rank, and it is Black to move. Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 give Black a slight edge.
12...Rc8 13.Nbd2?!
This is Komodod14.1's second choice, but 13.a3, preventing Black's next move, is probably wiser.
13...Ncb4 14.Nc4!?
White has nothing better, according to the engines.
14...Bxc4
Even stronger than winning a pawn like this, according to the engines, is 14...b5!? 15.Na3 Qb6, eg 16.Ne5 Rfd8 17.Bh3!? g6!? 18.Qe2 Rc7 with what they reckon is at least a slight edge.
15.bxc4 Rxc4 16.Bf1!?
The engines prefer 16.Qb3 or 16.Rb1!?
16...Rc2 17.Re2 Nc3!?
Getting rid of the bishop-pair and maintaining control of the open file.
18.Bxc3 Rxc3 19.Rb2 Qc7 20.Rb2 Rc8 21.a3 Nd5 22.Ne5 Rxb3 23.Qxb3 Qc3 24.Qxc3 Rxc3 25.a4 f6!?
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| The e pawn has been weakened, but the white knight has to move from its good square, and the black king can move towards the centre |
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26.Nd7 Bd6 27.Bh3 Kf7 28.Re1 f5 29.Ne5+ Bxe5 30.Rxe5
The engines prefer 20.dxe5, but it is all unappetising for White.
30...g6
White was threatening 31.Bxf5!
31.Bf1 Rc1 32.Kg2 Rd1 33.Bb5
There appears nothing better.
33...Rxd4!? 34.Bc6
Or 34...Bd7 35.Nf4+ and 36.Rxd7.
34...Kf6 35.Re1 Nc3 36.Ra1 e5 37.Ra3 Rc4 38.Bb5 Nxb5 39.axb5 Rc7
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| How would you assess this rook-and-pawn ending - particularly, is it winning for Black? |
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Black is two pawns up and has the more-active king. White's b pawn is doing a sterling job holding up two black pawns, but Stockfish16 reckons Black's advantage is worth almost a rook, although Komodo14.1 has Black up the equivalent of 'only' 2.5 pawns.
40.Kh3!?
A strange choice as it is hard to see what the white king can achieve on the extreme kingside.
40...Ke6 41.Kh4 h6 42.f3 Rc2 43.h3 Rc7 44.Ra4 Rd7 45.Rc4?
This makes the win trivial.
45...Re4+ 0-1
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