QGD Semi-Tarrasch
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nc3 c5
This is fifth in popularity, behind 4...Nbd7, 4...Bb4, 4...c6 and especially 4...Be7.
5.e3
The main move is 5.cxd5, but there are 3,721 examples of the text in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.
5...Nc6 6.cxd5 exd5
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| How should White proceed? |
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7.Be2
This is the commonest continuation in Mega25, but Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 marginally prefer 7.Bb5, when the main line in Mega25 runs 7...Bd6 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.b3, with a slight edge for White (Dragon1), or at least the better part of equality (Stockfish17.1).
7...c4!?
This is Dragon1'a top choice by a small margin over the much more popular 7...cxd4, which is Stockfish17.1's recommendation.
8.0-0
This is the normal continuation, and the engines' preference. The problem with 8.b3!?, immediately attacking the advanced pawn, is that Black has the pinning 8...Bb4.
8...Bb4 9.Bd2 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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White has a slight lead in development, but the game is probably going to hinge on how White deals with Black's space-gaining queenside pawn-majority. Stockfish17.1 gives White a slight edge; Dragon1 calls the game equal.
10.b3 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Ne4
Possibly 11...b5 is a little better.
12.Rc1
This seems to be a novelty. The engines like 12.Be1!?, while three queen moves have been tried - to e1, c1 and c2.
12...Nxc3 13.Rxc3 b5 14.bxc4 Qa5 15.Rc1 bxc4
The engines reckon 15...dxc4?! strongly favours White after 16.a4!
16.Nd2?!
The engines give 16.e4!? dxe4 17.Rxc4, claiming equal chances.
16...Re8?!
Black has at least a slight edge, according to the engines, after 16...Rb8, occupying the open file.
17.Bf3
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| How should Black respond? |
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17...Bb7!?
Preparing a pawn sacrifice for active play.
Note that in the diagram, White threatens 18.Nxc4, when 18...dxc4? makes matters worse as 19.Bxc6 wins back the piece and forks the black rooks.
The aggressive 17...c3? leaves Black in trouble after the simple 18.Nb3, and even worse is 17...Qxa2?? 18.Bxd5.
The engines recommend 17...Bd7, with what they reckon is equality.
18.Rb1 Rab8!?
Not 18...Nd8? 19.Nxc4!, but the engines suggest 18...Ba6, again with equal chances.
19.Nxc4!
The engines agree White has to accept the sacrifice to gain an advantage.
19...dxc4 20.Rxb7! Rxb7
The engines' 20...Nb4!? may be slightly better.
21.Bxc6 Reb8 22.Bxb7 Rxb7
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| How would you assess this heavy-piece late-middlegame? |
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White is a pawn up, but Black's more-advanced passer is dangerous. Dragon1 reckons White is winning; Stockfish17.1 gives White only a slight edge. If the engines are given extra time to study the position, Stockfish17.1 comes for a while to give White the upper hand, but reverts to awarding only a slight edge. Dragon1, meanwhile, downgrades White's advantage to enjoying the upper hand.
23.Qc2
At first both engines reckon 23.Qf3 is best, but Dragon1 comes to prefer the text.
At first both engines reckon 23.Qf3 is best, but Dragon1 comes to prefer the text.
23...c3 24.Qe4
Dragon1 is convinced 24.Rc1 is much stronger; Stockfish17.1 is less sure. Note that 24.Rc1 does not threaten to immediately capture on c3 as White (as well as Black) has back-rank problems.
24...Rb8 25.g3 g6
This is good enough for equality, according to the engines, which reckon 25...Qxa2 also equalises.
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| White to play and lose |
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26.Qe5??
Various moves maintain complete equality, according to the engines, including 26.Qc6, 26.Rc1 and 26.h4.
26...Qxe5 27.dxe5 c2 0-1
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