Maróczy Bind
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4
There are 9,849 examples of this move in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, where it scores a disappointing 50%.
3...a6
This is second in popularity to 3...Nc6, but is not liked by Stockfish17.1 or Dragon1, although both moves score 51%.
4.Nc3 Qc7 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4
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| By a slightly unusual move-order, the game has reached a position occurring 3,176 times in Mega25 |
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6...Ne7!?
This rare continuation is not liked by the engines. Normal is 6...Nf6.
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| How should White proceed? |
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7.Be3
This is Stockfish17.1's top choice, but Dragon1 for quite some time prefers 7.Ndb5!? axb5 8.Nxb5 Qc6 9.Nd6+ Kd8 10.Nxf7+ Ke8 11.Nxh8 Qxe4+ 12.Qe2, when the engines agree White is better, but the position is tricky to play for both sides.
7...Nbc6 8.Rc1!?
Tyring to take advantage of the Black queen's placement, but the engines prefer the straightforward 8.Be2.
8...Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Nc6 10.Qd2 b6!?
This seems to be a novelty, and is preferred by the engines over the known 10...Ne5.
11.Be2 Bb7 12.0-0 Rb8?!
This is the engines' second choice, but they much prefer 12...Bc5, when play might continue 13.Rfd1 d6 (13...0-0 14.Qxd7) 14.Bf4, with what they reckon is at least the upper hand for White.
13.Rfd1
Even stronger, according to the engines, is 13.Na4.
13...d6?
It seems Black had to play 13...Bc5 or 13...Ne5!?, but White is on top.
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| After 13...d6? it is White to play and gain a winning advantage |
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14.Nd5! exd5 15.cxd5 b5?!
Stockfish17.1 suggests 15...Qd7 16.dxc6 Bxc6, but 17.Bxa6 (17.Qd4!? may be stronger) wins a pawn, while keeping a large lead in development in a position that has suddenly opened.
Dragon1 gives 15...Be7 16.dxc6 Bc8, but 17.Bf4 (again 17.Qd4!? is a major alternative) leaves White with an advantage the engines agree is worth more than a rook.
16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.Qc3 Rc8 18.Bg4 Bd7
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| What is White's best continuation? |
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19.Bxd7+!
This is even better than winning the exchange with 19.Qxc7 Rxc7 20.Rxc7 Bxg4 21.f3.
19...Kxd7 20.Qb3 1-0
On 20...Qb7 I planned 21.Qxf7+ Be7 22.Rxd6+! (other moves also win, including 22.Qf5+), and after the forced 22...Kxd6 the quickest mate starts 23.Bf4+ Kd7 24.Rd1+. Similarly, after 20...Qd8 White has 21.Qxe7+ Be7 (or 21...Qe7) 22.Rxd6+! Kxd6 23.Qd5#.
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