London System
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 Bd6 4.e3!? Nf6
The mainline in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database runs 4...Bxf4 5.exf4 Qd6 6.Qd2 Nf6 7.Nc3, with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish16, although Komodo14.1 reckons the position is equal.
5.c3 0-0 6.Bd3 c5 7.Bxd6!? Qxd6 8.dxc5!?
The engines are happy enough with this, but giving up the centre makes a strange impression. However, White will gain a tempo on the black queen.
8...Qxc5 9.0-0
 |
| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
Black has more space in the centre, but White has the better bishop. Komodo14.1 gives Black a slight edge, but Stockfish16 calls the game equal.
9...Nc6 10.Nbd2
The engines like this and 10.b4!?
10...e5 11.Bc2 Bg4 12.h3 Bh5 13.Nb3!?
Moving the queen to break the pin on the king's knight may be better.
13...Qe7 14.g4!?
The engines reckon this and 14.Qe1!? are of roughly equal value.
*****
 |
| How should Black proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
14...Nxg4!?
This gives a slight edge, according to the engines, but they prefer the prosaic 14...Bg6.
15.hxg4 Bxg4 16.Qxd5 Rad8 17.Qe4 f5 18.Qc4+ Kh8
 |
| How would you assess this imbalanced middlegame? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
Materially, Black only has a pawn for a knight, but the exposed white king gives good attacking chances. The engines reckon Black is slightly better.
19.Nh2 Bh3
An intriguing line given by the engines runs 19,,,e4!? 20.Nxg4 Qg5 21.Qe2 Ne5 22.f4 exf3 23.Qh2 Qxg4+ (23...fxg4?? 24.Qxh7#) 24.Kh1 Rf6 25.Rg1 Qc4 26.Rxg7! Kxg7 27.Qxe5, with an unclear position that they reckon is roughly equal.
20.Kh1 Bxf1 21.Rxf1 e4 22.Qe2 Rf6 23.f4 exf3 24.Rxf3 g6
If 24...f4?! then 25.Ng4.
25.Qf2 Ne5 26.Rf4 Nd3 27.Bxd3 Rxd3 28.e4?
After 28.Nf1 or 28.Rf3 White at worst has a slight disadvantage, according to the engines.
28...Rd1+
Even stronger is 28...g5!, the point being 29.Rxf5? fails to 29...Qxe4+ 30.Rf3 Rd1+ 31.Kg2 g4.
29.Kg2
Or 29.Nf1 g5 30.Rf3 Qxe4, when 31.Nbd2 Qg4 32.Qd4!? Qxd4 33.cxd4 leaves Black with a large advantage, according to the engines.
29...Re6 30.Qxa7?
The engines give 30.Qc5!? Qg5+ 31.Rg4! Qd8 32.Rf4 b6 33.Qb4!?, but agree Black is winning, eg 33...Qg5 34.Rg4! Qe7!? 35.Qxe7 Rxe7 36.Rf4 Rxe4 37.Rf2 Kg7, although there is a lot of play left.
30...Qg5+ 31.Kf3 fxe4+
Other moves also win.
32.Ke2
Not 32.Ke3? Qg1+.
32...Qxf4 33.Qa8+ Kg7 34.Qxb7+ Kh6 35.Kxd1 Qxh2
 |
| Black is 'only' the exchange up, but White's exposed king is the most significant factor |
*****
*****
*****
*****
36.Nd4 Rf6 37.Qb5 Rf2 38.Qe8?
The only move to keep the game going, for a while, is 38.Ne2, but 38...Rf1+ 39.Kd2 Qf2 40.Qc4 Qd1+ 41.Ke3 Rf3+ 42.Kxe4 Qh4+ 43.Kd5 Rf5+ etc wins.
38...Rf1#
No comments:
Post a Comment