London System
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 e6 3.Bf4 Bd6 4.Bg3 Nf6 5.Nbd2 c5 6.c3 0-0 7.Qc2 Nc6 8.e3 b6 9.Bb5!?
This may be a novelty. Known moves are 9.Be2, 9.b3 and 9.Bd3!?
9...Bb7 10.Ne5 Rc8 11.Ndf3 Ne4 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.Bxc6 Rxc6 14.Qa4 Rc7
Stockfish17 suggests 14...b5!?, one line running 15.Qxb5 Rb6 16.Qe2 Bxg3!? 17.hxg3 Qb8 18.b3!? c4!? (18...Nxc3 19.Qd3 Ne4 20.dxc5) 19.Ne5 Qb7, when Dragon1 agrees with Stockfish17 that Black has more than enough compensation for a pawn.
15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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Black has a lead in development and a little more space on the queenside. Dragon1 gives Black a slight edge, but Stockfish17 is less sure.
16...Rb8 17.Qd1 c4 18.Ne5!? f6
16...Rb8 17.Qd1 c4 18.Ne5!? f6
The engines suggest getting on with it on the queenside by playing 18...b5.
19.Nf3
The engines suggest 19.Ng4!?, the idea being to meet 19...h5 with 19.f3, when they reckon 19...Ng3!? 20.hxg3 hxg4 21.Kf2 is equal.
19...b5 20.Nd2 Nxd2 21.Qxd2
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| How would you assess this heavy-piece middlegame? |
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Black's lead in development and extra queenside space add up to a slight edge, according to Dragon1, but again Stockfish17 is less sure..
21...b4 22.Qc2
This is Dragon1's top choice for a while, but the move then drops a little behind 22.Rae1 in the evaluations. Stockfish17 also likes 22.Rae1, along with 22.e4!?
This is Dragon1's top choice for a while, but the move then drops a little behind 22.Rae1 in the evaluations. Stockfish17 also likes 22.Rae1, along with 22.e4!?
22...Rcb7
The engines suggest 22...f5!?
23.Rab1
White is completely fine after 23.cxb4 or 23.b3!?, according to the engines.
23...Qa6
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| How should White proceed? |
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24.b3?!
Probably better is capturing on b4, or creating luft for the king with 24.h3 or 24.g3.
24...bxc3 25.bxc4?
Much better is 25.Ra1, although 25...cxb3 26.axb3 Qc6 27.Ra5!? Rxb3 28.Rc5 Qb6 29.Rxc3 leaves Black with the upper hand (Dragon1) or at least a slight edge (Stockfish17).
25...Qxc4?!
Immediately swopping rooks is much stronger, but the text also wins.
26.h3?!
Best is 26.Rbc1 Rc8 27.Rb1!, although 27...Rxb1 28.Rxb1 e5 29.Rd1 Rb8 is just one of several winning lines.
26...Rxb1 27.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 28.Qxb1 c2 29.Qb8+
If 29.Qc1 then 29...Qxa2 followed by ...Qb1.
29...Kf7 30.Qxa7+ Kg6 31.Qa8 c1=Q+ 32.Kh2 Qc7+ 33.g3 Qf1 34.Qe8+ Kh6 0-1
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