French Exchange
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Bd3 c5!?
The commonest continuations in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database are 4...Nf6, 4...Nc6 and especially 4...Bd6.
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| How should White respond? |
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5.Qe2+!?
The mainline in Mega24 runs 5.dxc5!? Bxc5 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.0-0 0-0 8.Bg5, with an imbalanced but equal game, according to Stockfish16.1 and Dragon1.
The mainline in Mega24 runs 5.dxc5!? Bxc5 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.0-0 0-0 8.Bg5, with an imbalanced but equal game, according to Stockfish16.1 and Dragon1.
5...Be6 6.Nf3 Nc6
Black does not win a piece with 6...c4 as the white bishop cannot be captured after 7.Bf5.
7.c3 c4!?
The engines prefer 7...cxd4 or 7...Nf6.
8.Bc2 Be7 9.Nbd2!?
This may be a novelty. The only move in Mega24 is 9.h3!?
9...Nf6 10.Nf1 0-0 11.h3!?
This seems to have been part of a plan for a kingside attack, but White is falling behind in development.
11...Re8 12.Be3 b5
The engines are not keen on this, claiming Black is slightly better after 12...Qc7 or 12...Bd6!?
13.g4?!
They are even less fond of this, reckoning the game is equal after 13.Ng3.
13...b4 14.Ng3
Not 14.g5? Ne4, after which White cannot defend both g5 and c3.
14...Qa5
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| How should White proceed? |
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15.0-0?!
Going for it, but probably too optimistically. The engines give 15.Qd2, although awarding Black the upper hand.
15...bxc3 16.bxc3 Qxc3 17.Ba4 Bd7
The engines prefer 17...Rac8!?
18.Rfd1?!
Almost certainly too slow. The engines suggest 18.g5 Ne4 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Bxc6!? Bxc6 21.Ne5, albeit giving Black the upper hand.
18...Rab8 19.Qf1?!
The engines again prefer g5, or immediately exchanging on c6 and following up with Ne5.
19...Qa3 20.Bxc6 Bxc6 21.Ne5 Ba4 22.Re1 Bb4
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| The bishop-pair makes a powerful impression |
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23.Re2 Bc3 24.Rc1 Bb2 25.g5 Nd7 26.Nh5?
Probably played more out of desperation than conviction.
26...Bxc1 27.Bxc1 Qc3 28.Re3!? Qxd4 29.Nxf7!?
Unsound, but White's game can only be saved by a swindle.
29...Kxf7 30.Rf3+ Kg8 31.Qg2!? Re1+ 32.Kh2 Rxc1 33.Nf6+!? Nxf6 34.gxf6 Qe5+ 35.Rg3 Qxf6 36.Qxd5+ Qf7 37.Qg5 Bc6!? 0-1
I was struggling to work out how "Black does not win a piece with 6...c4 as the white bishop cannot be captured after 7.Bf4." avoided losing a piece until I realised you meant 7.Bf5.
ReplyDeleteCorrected. Thanks.
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