Philidor
1.Nc3 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.e4
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| This position is usually reached via the move-order 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Nc3, although in that case 4.Bc4 is more popular |
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4...Ngf6 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0
Slightly favouring Black, according to Stockfish16.1, is 6.Ng5 0-0 7.Bxf7+!? Rxf7 8.Ne6 Qe8 9.Nxc7 Qd8 10.Nxa8, although Dragon1 reckons the chances are equal.
6...0-0 7.h3!?
This is Dragon1's top choice; Stockfish16.1 prefers 7.a4 or 7.Re1.
7...c6 8.a4
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| There are 2,338 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database - how should Black continue? |
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8...Nxe4!?
Most popular in Mega24 is 8...b6, while the engines like the relatively obscure 8...Re8!?
9.Nxe4 d5 10.Nxe5
This seems best. The problem with 10.Bd3 is that, after 10...dxe4 11.Bxe4, Black has a pleasant choice between the apparent-novelty 11...f5 and the known 11...Nf6.
10...Nxe5 11.dxe5 dxe4
The engines slightly prefer winning the bishop-pair with 11...dxc4.
12.Qe2 Qd4?!
This may be new. The engines prefer the known 12...Bf5.
13.Bf4 Bf5
The engines reckon 13...Qxb2?! 14.Rab1!?, with Qxe4 to come, is very good for White.
14.c3 Qd7 15.Rfd1 Qc8 16.Rd2 Rd8 17.Rad1 a5?!
The engines strongly dislike this, albeit they concede their suggested 17...Rxd2 18.Qxd2 h6 leaves White with at least the upper hand after 19.Qe2 or 19.Be3.
18.Bb3
Preparing to win the black e pawn, but even stronger, according to the engines, is 18.Rxd8+ Bxd8 19.g4!?, and if 19...Bg6 then 20.Qd2, eg 20...Bc7 21.Qd7 Kf8 22.e6!? with a huge attack.
18...g5?!
Probably better is the engines' 18...Rxd2 19.Rxd2 b5.
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| How should White proceed? |
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19.Bg3?!
White is much better after this, but winning is 19.Bxg5! Bxg5 20.Qh5, eg 20...Bxd2? 21.Qxh7+ Kh8 22.Qf6#, or 20...h6 21.Qxf7+ Kh8 22.Rxd8+ etc, or 20...Bg6 (probably best) 21.Qxg5 Rxd2 22.Rxd2 with a pawn-plus and a big positional advantage.
19...Rxd2 20.Rxd2 Qe8 21.Bc2
Even stronger, according to the engines, is 21.e6!? fxe6 22.Be5.
21...Rd8 22.Rxd8 Qxd8 23.Bxe4 Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Qd1+ 25.Kh2 Qb3
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| How would you assess this queen-and-bishop ending? |
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White is, at least temporarily, a pawn up, but the key to the position seems to be the relative safety of the two kings. The engines reckon White is winning.
26.Qf5!
The engines agree this is best.
26...Qxb2 27.Qc8+?!
Almost certainly better is 27.e6. I rejected it because of 27...f6?! (27...fxe6 is probably better), but after 28.Qxa5 the engines give White a huge advantage, eg 28...Qb3 29.Qa8+ Kg7 30.Qc8 Qxa4 31.Qe8 Qa3 32.Qf7+ Kh6 33.h4 Qc5 34.hxg5+ fxg5 35.f4 etc.
27...Kg6 28.e6?
White has the upper hand after 28.Qc7 or 28.Qd7, according to the engines.
28...Qxc3 29.Qc7 Kf6 30.exf7 Kxf7 31.Qxb7 Qc5 32.Qb3+ Qd5?!
Probably moving the king is better.
33.Qb1?!
The engines reckon the bishop ending after 33.Qxd5+ cxd5 34.Bc7 Bb4 35.Bb6 is much better for White.
33...Kg7 34.Qb7 Kf7 35.h4 h6 36.Qb1!?
Or 36.h5 g4 (other moves also hold the balance).
36...gxh4 ½–½
The position is completely equal, according to the engines.
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