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1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 Bg4!?
This is only fourth-most popular in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, but even so there are 801 examples of the position.
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| How should White respond? |
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6.Be3!?
The main line in Mega25 runs 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.Be3, with a positionally won game for White, according to Stockfish17 and Dragon1.
The main line in Mega25 runs 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.Be3, with a positionally won game for White, according to Stockfish17 and Dragon1.
6...0-0 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3
The engines reckon White also has a won game here.
8...Nbd7?!
The engines strongly dislike this. It seems Black has to immediately challenge White's centre by 8...c5 or 8...e5!?
9.0-0-0 a6!?
Apparently a novelty. Known moves are 9...c6 and 9...Qc8!?
10.e5 Ne8 11.e6?!
This gives away a lot of White's advantage. The engines like 11.h4 or 11.Be2, and reckon 11.Qxb7!? is well-playable.
11...fxe6 12.Qg4 Nef6 13.Qxe6+ Kh8 14.Bd3 Nh5!? 15.Nd5?!
White is still winning, according to the engines, after 15.Ne2!? or 15.Rhf1 (but not 15.Rdf1?? Ng3).
15...c6
This is the engines' second or third choice, but Dragon1 prefers 15...Ndf6, and Stockfish17 suggests 15...Bh6!?
16.Nxe7?
The knight is doomed here, while after 16.g4 the engines reckon White has at least the upper hand, and probably more.
16...Rf6 17.Qe4??
Correct is 17.Nxg6+ hxg6 18.Qg4, when, for a piece, White has two pawns, the bishop-pair and some attacking chances against Black's weakened king's position. Equal chances. according to the engines.
17...d5?
The knight fork 17...Ng3 wins.
18.Nxd5?
Much better is 18.Nxg6+ hxg6 19.Qf3, according to the engines, although they give Black at least a slight edge.
18...cxd5 19.Qxd5 Nxf4 20.Bxf4 Rxf4 21.c3
White loses quickly after 21.Qxb7?, eg 21...Rb8 22.Qxa6 Rxd4 23.Rhe1 Nc5 24.Qa3 Qg5+ 25.Kb1 Ra4.
21...Qc7
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| Now the tactical melee is over, how would you assess the middlegame? |
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White has two pawns for a knight, which might suggest Black's advantage is worth about a pawn, or a little more, but the engines reckon Black is roughly the equivalent of two-and-a-half pawns ahead.
22.Kb1 Nf6 23.Qg5 Ne4 24.Bxe4 Rxe4 25.Rd2 Rae8 26.Rhe1 Qb6 27.Ka1 h6 28.Qg3 Re2 29.Kb1? Rxd2?
29...R(either)e3 wins a pawn.
30.Rxd2 Kh7 31.Qd3 Qc6 32.d5?!
Probably better is 32.a3, but not 32.c4? Re1+ 33.Kc2 Qe6 (even stronger than 33...Qa4+ 34.Qb3), when White has no good answer to the threat of ...Re3 followed by ...Qe4+.
32...Re1+ 33.Rd1 Rxd1+
Even stronger is the engines' 33...Qb5!, eg 34.Qxb5 Rxd1+ 35.Kc2 axb5 36.Kxd1, after which Black's bishop and king will soon mop up the white pawns.
34.Qxd1 Qd7 35.g4
Not 35.c4? Qf5+, eg 36.Ka1 Qf2 etc.
35...Bf6 36.c4 b5 37.a3 Qd6 38.Qd2 a5 39.Ka2 Be7 40.Qe1 Qc5 41.Qe4 Kg7 42.Qd3 Kf7!?
The king heads for the queenside.
43.Qe4 Qd6 44.Kb3 Ke8 45.Qe3 g5
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| A minor victory for White as the white queen will now find it easier to invade Black's position |
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46.Qe4 Kd8 47.Ka2 Kc7 48.Qh7 b5!? 49.Qe4!?
This is the engines' second choice, but some way behind 49.cxb5!?
49...b4 50.a4!?
Trying to keep lines closed, but the engines prefer 50.axb4.
50...Bf6 51.Qe3 Kb7 52.Qe8 Qb6
Best is 52...b3+, eg 53.Kxb3 Qb4+ 54.Kc2 Qxb2+ 55.Kd1 Qd4+ etc, or 53.Kb1 Qc5, when White has no good defence to ...Qg1+.
53.Qf7+ Kc8
Not 53...Ka6? 54.c5!
54.Qe8+ Bd8 55.Kb3 Qf6
The checks soon run out after 55...Qc5 (55...Qd6 is also good), eg 56.Qe6+ Kc7 57.Qe5+ Kb7 58.Qg7+ Be7, and if 59.Qxh6? then 59...Qe3+ starts a mating sequence.
56.Ka2 Qb6 57.Kb3 Qf6 58.Ka2 Qb6?
Black is still winning after, for example, 58...Qd6, one point being 59.Kb3 can be met by 59...Qg3+ 60.Ka2 b3+! 61.Ka3 Qd6+ 62.Kxb3 Qb4+ etc.
After 58...Qb6? I announced my next move would be ...
59.Kb3
... and so I was claiming a draw.
½–½
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