1.b4
1.b4
This is arguably a space-gaining improvement over play in my round-seven game.
1...e5 2.Bb2 f6!?
More popular in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database are 2...d6 and 2...Bxb4!?
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| How should White respond? |
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3.b5!?
This is the top choice of Stockfish17 and Dragon1.
3...a6
The main line in Mega25 runs 3...d5 4.e3 Be6 5.Nf3 Bd6, with what the engines reckon is an equal position.
4.a4 axb5 5.axb5 Rxa1 6.Bxa1 d5 7.e3 Bd6 8.c4 Ne7!?
This may be a novelty. Known moves are 8...c6 and 8...Be6.
9.Nc3 Be6 10.Qb3 c6 11.d4?
Too loosening. The engines suggest various moves, including 11.cxd5, 11.bxc6, 11.Bb2 and 11.Nf3.
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| How should Black proceed? |
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11...Qa5
Exchanging on d4, and then playing ...Qa5, is also strong.
12.Bb2 Bb4 13.Nf3 dxc4
Getting on with development with 13...Nd7 or 13...Kf7!? may be even stronger.
14.Bxc4 Bxc4 15.Qxc4 e4?
White is at least equal after this. Instead 15...Nd5 16.bxc6! bxc6 17.Kd2 Qa4! 18.Qd3 (forced) 0-0 gives Black the upper hand, according to the engines.
16.Nd2 Nd5?
The game is roughly equal after 16...Bxc3!? 17.Bxc3 cxb5!?, according to the engines.
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| What should White play? |
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17.Nxd4!?
This is good enough for a pleasant advantage, but the engines come up with a piece sacrifice in the shape of 17.Ndxe4!! f5 18.0-0! (18.Ke2!? also seems good), and if 18...fxe4 then 19.Ra1 Bxc3 (there is nothing better) 20.Rxa5 Bxa5 21.Qc2!, when Black has rook and two knights for queen and pawn, but the engines reckon Black's lack of coordination gives White a large advantage, eg 21...0-0 22.Qxe4 Be1!? 23.Qe6+ Kh8 24.f3, with e4 to come.
The engines suggest Black may be better off meeting 17.Nde4!! with 17...Nxc3!? 18.Bxc3 Bxc3+ 19.Nxc3 Qa1+ 20.Nd1 Qa5+ 21.Ke2 Qxb5 22.Qxb5 cxb5, when Black has restored material equality, but the doubled and isolated b pawns are a major weakness, especially as White has a protected passer.
17...Bxd2+
Also possible is 17...cxd5, but with best play it transposes, according to the engines.
18.Ke2 cxd5
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| How should White continue? |
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19.Qc8+?!
White has at least the upper hand after 19.Qxd5!, according to the engines, eg 19...Qb4 20.Qxe4+ Kf7 21.Qxb7+ Kg6 22.Qe4+ Kh6 (22...Kf7? loses to 23.Qd5+) 23.Qc2 Bxe3 24.fxe3 Qxb5+ 25.Kf2 Nc6 26.Rd1, after which White emerges with an extra pawn and the safer king.
Trying to extricate the black bishop with 19...Bb4?! backfires after 20.Rc1!, with Qxe4(+) to come.
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| Black to play and draw |
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19...Qd8?
Correct is 19...Kf7! (or 19...Ke7!), when 20.Qxh8? loses to 20...Qxb5+ 21.Kxd2 Qxb2+ 22.Kd1, and now the move I missed, 22...Nc6, after which White does not have a perpetual and cannot save the rook. However the engines show White has equal chances after 20.Qxb7+, eg 20...Ke6 21.Ra1 Qb4 22.Ra7!?, when Black probably has to take a draw, one way being 22...Qc4+ 23.Kxd2 Qd3+ 24.Kc1 Qf1+ etc.
20.Qe6+?!
LT offered a draw, but winning was 20.Qxb7!, eg 20...Bb4?! 21.Rc1 0-0 22.Rc7 etc, or 20...Qd7!? 21.Qxd7+ (21.Qxb8+? Kf7 22.Qxh8 Qxb5+ 23.Kxd2 Qxb2+ allows Black perpetual check) Nxd7 22.Kxd2, when White's extra pawn is decisive, according to the engines.
20...Qe7
I probably should have taken the draw.
21.Qc8+ Qd8?
This should lose in the same manner as after 19...Qd8?, but 21...Kf7!? 22.Qxh8 Ba5!, although leaving Black the exchange down, gives Black a lot of play, the engines fluctuating between calling the game equal or just slightly better for White.
½–½
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