Giuoco Piano
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.c3 d6 6.0-0 Be6!?
This is a common idea in the Giuoco Piano, but it is unusual to see it this early.
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| How should White respond? |
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7.Nbd2
The main move in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database is 7.Bb3, while Stockfish17 and Dragon1 like 7.Bxe6 fxe6 8.b4!? Bb6 and either 9.a4 or 9.Qb3. Note that 8.Qb3 can be met by 8...Qc8!?, and if 9.Ng5 then 9...Nd8!? or 9...d5, but the engines strongly dislike the gambit move 8...Qd7?!
7...0-0
7...0-0
This is the commonest move in Mega25, but the engines prefer 7...a6 or 7...a5.
8.b4!?
The engines marginally prefer this over 8.Bxe6.
8...Bb6 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.Nc4!? Ne7?
The engines suggest 10...a6!?, but agree 11.Nxb6 cxb6 leaves White better.
11.Qb3!?
This may be a novelty. The engines prefer it over the known 11.a4.
11...Qc8!?
The engines prefer 11...Qd7, but either way Black is in trouble.
12.a4 a6 13.Ng5 d5?
Correct is 13...Ba7, albeit White is better.
14.Nxb6!?
This is enough for an advantage, but the engines reckon 14.Nxe5 is winning.
14...cxb6 15.f4?!
Black gets interesting counterplay after 15.Be3, eg 15...h6 16.Nf3 Ng6 17.Bxb6 Qc6, although White seems to be better. However the engines like attacking d5 with 15.c4!?
15...h6?!
Black is at least equal after 15...exf4 16.Bxf4 h6, according to the engines.
16.fxe5 Ng4 17.Rxf8+ Qxf8 18.Nf3 Ng6 19.Bd2!?
The engines reckon this quiet developing move is best.
19...N6xe5 20.Rf1 Qd8!? 21.h3 Nxf3+ 22.Rxf3 Nf6 23.e5 Nd7 24.d4 Rc8
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| How would you assess this late-middlegame? |
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White's bishop is technically bad, because so many white pawns are on dark squares, but quite active, and White has the open file. The engines give White a slight edge.
25.Qd1 Qe8 26.Rg3 Kh8 27.Qg4 Qf7 28.Rf3 Qe8
Not 28...Qg8? as 29.Qh4 is strong, eg 29...Rf8 30.Rg3 Rf7 31.Bxh6! Qh7 32.Qd8+.
29.Qh4
The engines prefer 29.Rg3.
29...Kh7 30.g4 Nf8 31.Qf2
The engines recommend 31.Qh5!? Qxh5 32.gxh5, claiming equality.
31...Kg8 32.g5?! Qg6
Possibly slightly stronger is 32...h5.
33.Kh2 h5 34.Qe2 Nh7 35.Kg2?
White should probably play 35.h4, although the exposed state of the white king means Black is better.
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| How can Black exploit White's last move? |
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35...Nxg5! 36.Bxg5
Not 36.Rg3? Qe4+.
36...Qxg5 37.Rg3 Qf5 38.Rf3 Qg6+ 39.Rg3 Qf7 40.Rf3 Qe8!?
The engines reckon the black queen should be kept active, eg 40...Qg6+ 41.Rg3 Qh6 42.Rf3 Rf8 43.Rxf8+ Kxf8, claiming Black is winning.
41.Rg3?
Better is the engines' 41.Qc2.
41...Kh7?!
Black is still better after this, but it seems ...Qxa4 is good, either immediately or after ...h4.
42.Qd3+ g6?
This throws away Black's advantage by weakening f6. Instead 42...Kg8!? gives at least the upper hand, according to the engines.
43.Rf3 Qg8 44.Rf6 Rf8 45.Qf3 Kg7 46.h4 Rf7 47.Qf4 Qf8 48.Rxf7+ Qxf7 49.Qg5 Qf5
There is nothing better, but now White can swop off into a drawn pawn-ending, despite being a pawn down and giving Black a protected passer.
50.Qxf5!? gxf5 51.Kg3 Kh6 52.Kf3 b5 53.a5
Not 53.axb5? as after 53...axb5 Black wins thanks to the b pawn giving a reserve tempo, eg 54.Kf4 Kg7! 55.Kf3 f4! 56.Kxf4 Kg6 57.Ke3 Kf5 58.Kf3 b6 59.Kg3 Ke4 60.Kh3 Kf3 etc.
53...f4!?
One last try.
54.Kxf4 Kg6 55.Kg3
But not 55.Kf3? Kf5 etc.
55...Kf5 ½–½
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