QGD Normal
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e3!? c5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8.0-0 c4!?
More popular in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database are 8...Bd6 and 8...Be7, but Stockfish17 and Dragon1 prefer the text.
9.Nc3 Bd6
Pavel Tregubov (2642) - Varuzhan Akobian (2624), Fide World Cup (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia) 2009, went 9...Bb4 10.Ne2!? 0-0 11.a3 Bd6 12.Nc3 a6, with a slight edge for Black, according to the engines (but 1-0, 60 moves).
Pavel Tregubov (2642) - Varuzhan Akobian (2624), Fide World Cup (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia) 2009, went 9...Bb4 10.Ne2!? 0-0 11.a3 Bd6 12.Nc3 a6, with a slight edge for Black, according to the engines (but 1-0, 60 moves).
10.Re1 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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Black has the better bishop and a farside pawn-majority, but White cannot be be stopped from either breaking in the centre or attacking the lead pawn with b3. The engines reckon equal chances.
11.Qc2
The immediate 11.e4 is possible, with the idea of 11...dxe4 12.Nd2!?
11...Rfe8 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Bb4?
Black is marginally for choice after 13...Nxe4 14.Rxe4 Qa5!?, according to the engines.
14.Bd2?
Missing the win of a pawn by 14.Nxf6+, 15.Rxe8+ and 16.Qxc4.
14...Bxd2 15.Nexd2 b5 16.Rxe8+ Qxe8 17.Re1 Qb8!?
The engines prefer 17...Qc8 or 17...Qd8.
18.Qf5 Qb6 19.g4!? g6!? 20.Qg5 Qd6?!
Unguarding b5, whereas after 20...Rc8 the engines give Black the upper hand.
21.Ne4?!
White can probably take the pawn and emerge with the better game, eg 21.Qxb5 Rb8 22.Qg5 Rc8!? (not 22.Rxb2?? 23.Nxc4 etc) 23.Rc1, but the lines are not completely clear.
21...Qe6?!
The engines give 21...Nxe4 22.Rxe4 b4 with at least the upper hand for Black.
22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 23.Qxf6?!
The rook-and-knight ending is good for Black. Instead 23.Qxb5 Qxf3 24.Qxd7 wins a pawn, albeit the engines reckon Black has enough play for it.
23...Nxf6 24.g5 Nd5 25.Re5 Rd8 26.Kf1 Kf8 27.h4 a6
This consolidating move is the engines' top choice.
28.a3?!
Now White's queenside pawns are fixed. The engines suggest 28.c3, although they give Black at least a slight edge.
28...Nf4 29.Re4 Nd3 30.Re2 a5 31.Rd2 b4 32.axb4 axb4 33.Rc2?!
The engines prefer 33.Ke2, but agree Black is winning.
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| Black to play and win |
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33...Rc8
Black has an edge after this, but winning is 33...c3! as 34.bxc3 runs into 34...b3!?
34.Nd2
White has good drawing chances after 34.b3! c3 35.Ke2, according to the engines.
34...Nxb2?
White has an easy draw after this. Almost certainly winning is 34...c3 35.bxc3 Rxc3 36.Ra2 Ra3 37.Rc2 Nf4! (threatening a quick back-rank mate) 38. f3 Rd3 39.Kf2 Nd5 with ...Rxd4 to come.
35.Rxb2 b3
No better is 35...c3 as 36.Rc2 pins the c pawn, although White is not winning as Black has 36...Ra8. Also drawing is 36...Rxb4, and White is even for choice after 37.c2?! Nb3.
36.Nxc4
Also sufficient is 36.Nxb3.
36...Rxc4 37.Rxb3 Rxd4 38.Rh3
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| White's rook is passive, but there is no way for Black to exploit this |
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The position is completely equal, according to the engines. I played on for another 30 moves, hoping to induce an error, but eventually had to accept half a point.
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