English Botvinnik
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4!? d6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 c5 6.Nge2 Nc6 7.0-0 0-0
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| With both sides castling early, how would you assess the game? |
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The position, which is typical in the English Opening when White uses a Botvinnik setup (pawns at c4 and e4, hole at d4, knights at c3 and e2, fianchettoed king's bishop), occurs 6,105 times in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, and is level, according to Stockfish17 and Dragon1.
8.f4 Ne8!?
The knight heads for c7, from where it can support ...b5, and possibly go via e6 to d4.
9.d3 Bg4 10.h3 Bxe2!?
Black gives up the bishop-pair to secure control of d4.
11.Nxe2 Nc7 12.f5!? 12.Rb8 13.Rb1 b5 14.b3 bxc4 15.dxc4 a5!?
This apparent-novelty - known moves are 15...Na6 and 15...Na8!? - is the top choice of the engines. After pressing the clock, JD thought for a few seconds, and then offered a draw.
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| Objectively speaking, should the draw be accepted? |
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I was not very keen on my position, but I was even less enthused about taking a short draw. The engines reckon the game is equal.
16.a4!? Na6 17.Bd2 Nab4 18.Nc3!?
The engines do not like this. Stockfish17 suggests going for it on the kingside with 18.h4 or 18.g4, while Dragon1 prefers consolidation with 18.Be3!? or 18.Kh2.
18...Nd4 19.Nb5 Nbc6 20.Qe1 Nc2 21.Qd1 N2d4 22.Kh2 Qd7
The engines reckon 22...Be6!? leaves Black at least slightly better.
23.Nxd4!?
The engines do not like this.
23...Bxd4 24.Qe1 Nb4!?
The engines prefer keeping the b file clear for pressure from the black queen's rook, while at the same time leaving the knight nearer the centre.
25.Bh6 Rfe8!?
This is better than allowing an exchange of dark-square bishops, according to the engines.
26.h4 Be5 27.Qf2
The engines reckon 27.Bh3 equalises.
27...e6?!
Black is at least slightly better after 27...f6!?, according to the engines.
28.f6 Nc6 29.h5 Bd4 30.Qd2 Ne5 31.hxg6?!
The engines like 31.Kh3!?, but disagree as to whether White has the upper hand (Stockfish17) or the position is completely equal (Dragon1).
31...fxg6!
The only move not to lose instantly, eg 31...Ng4+ 32.Kh1 Nxf6 33.Qg5 etc.
32.Bg7
The engines prefer 32.Bh3 or 32.Kh1.
32...Kf7
Heading for the hills, but there is no need to panic, according to the engines, which give 32...Rb4!?, with ...Reb8 to come.
33.Rf4?
The engines give 33.Bf3, albeit with a slight edge for Black.
33...h5!?
The engines fluctuate between the text and 33...Nxc4!?, but also like 33...Rg8!?
34.Bf3!?
The engines prefer 34.Rh4 or 34.Bh3.
34...Rg8
Not 34...Nxc4? 35.Qe2 Ne5 36.Bxh5!, when 36...gxh5 loses to 37.Qxh5+ Kg8 (or 37...Ng6 38.Qh7 etc) 38.Rh4 with unstoppable mate. However even stronger than the text seems to be counterplay in the centre with 34...d5!?
35.Be2 Qd8!? 36.Qd1 Be3
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| How should White proceed? |
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37.Bxh5?
Best, according to the engines, is 37.Rf1, but they give Black at least the upper hand.
37...Bxf4 38.gxf4 Rxg7! 39.fxg7
Forced.
39...Qh4+ 40.Kg2 gxh5
Even stronger seems to be 40...Qxf4.
41.fxe5 Qxf4+?
Black is winning after 41...Kxg7, the point being White's king is too vulnerable to Black's heavy pieces.
42.Qf3+ Qxf3 43.Kxf3
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| How would you assess this rook-and-pawn ending? |
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Material is (temporarily) level, but the g pawn is weak and White's rook is passive. However the white king is more active, and the engines reckon this is enough to give complete equality.
43...d5 44.cxd5 exd5 45.Kf4 Kxg7 46.Rd1?
The engines agree 46.Kf5 keeps the game equal, but they disagree about 46.Rg1+!? Kf7 47.Kf5 (equal, according to Stockfish17; winning for Black, according to Dragon1).
46...Rf8+?
46...Rf8+?
Black is winning after 46...d4, according to the engines.
47.Kg5 Rd8 48.e6 d4 49.Kf5 Kf8?
The game is completely equal after 49...Rd5+ 50.Ke4 Rg5, according to the engines.
50.Kf6 Rd6 51.Rh1 Rd5 52.Rg1 Rd6
Otherwise 53.e7+ Ke8 54.Rg8+, and the pawn promotes.
53.Rg5 d3 54.Rxc5 Kg8
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| White to play and win ... or lose |
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55.Ke5??
The simplest win is 55.Rc8+ (55.Rg5+ also wins) Kh7 56.Rc7+ Kh6 57.Rd7.
55...d2 56.Rc8+ Kg7 57.e7 d1=Q 58.Rg8+!?
If 58.e8=Q then 58...Qd4+ 59.Kf5 Rf6+ 60.Kg5 Qg4#.
58...Kx8 59.e8=Q+ Kg7 60.Qe7+ Kg6 61.Qe8+
Or 61.Qxd6+ Qxd6+ 62.Kxd6 h4 etc.
61...Kg5 62.Qe7+ Kg4 63.Qg7+ Kh3
The game finished:
64.Qb7 Qd4+ 65.Kf5 Rf6+ 66.Kg5 Qf4+ 67.Kxh5 Rf6#
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