London System
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 Bd6 4.Bg3 Nf6 5.e3 Ne4!?
Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer the mainline 5...0-0, or 5...c5.
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| How should White respond? |
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6.Bxd6!?
White usually plays 6.Nbd2 or 6.Bd3, eg 6.Nbd2 Nxg3 7.hxg3, when the half-open h file and 'promotion' of the h pawn to a more-central g pawn are roughly balanced by Black having the bishop-pair and more flexible kingside pawn-structure. The engines give White the better part of equality.
White has also tried 6.Bh4, when Black has 6...g5!?, as well as the more conventional 6...Be7.
6...cxd6!? 7.c4 Qa5+ 8.Nbd2
The engines come to marginally prefer 8.Nfd2!?
8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 d5 10.Bd3!?
The engines agree this apparent-novelty is a slight improvement on the known 10.Be2.
10...Nc6 11.0-0 Nxd2 12.Nxd2 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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White has much the better bishop, which the engines agree gives White a slight edge, although Stockfish17.1 is less sure than Dragon1.
13.f4
This looks dangerous, but the engines prefer immediate queenside play with 13.Nb3.
13...Bd7 14.Nb3!?
A move such as 14.Rf3, 14.Nf3, or even 14.Qh5!?, intending to meet 14...g6 with 15.Qe2, would seem more consistent, but the engines reckon White 's kingside play is not dangerous, and they prefer the text.
14...Qc7!?
This invites a pin, which is why the engines suggest 14...Qd8.
15.Rc1 Rac8
This is Dragon1's top choice; Stockfish17.1 prefers 15...Rfc8!?
16.Nc5 b6?!
This is Dragon1's top choice, at least for a while, but Stockfish17.1 much prefers 16...g6 or 16...Ne7, and Dragon1 comes to agree, presumably because the text is too loosening.
17.Nxd7 Qxd7 18.Qa4
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| How should Black proceed? |
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18...Rc7?
Black had to play 18...Qd6 or 18...Nb8, although neither is pleasant, and it is unclear which is better, eg 18...Qd6 19.Ba6 Rc7 20.Qa3! Qd8! (20...Qd7 21.Qc3 is much worse, according to the engines) 21.Qc3 Re8 22.Bb5 Qb8! 23.Rc2 (23.Bxc6? Rec8 equalises) Rec8 24.Rfc1 Qb7 25.f5!? exf5 26.e4!, with the upper hand for White, according to the engines, or 18...Nb8 19.Qxd7 Nxd7 20.Ba6 Ra8 21.Rc7, with pressure, but only a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish17.1, although Dragon1 again awards White the upper hand. Both lines are sharp and there are alternatives along the way.
Black had to play 18...Qd6 or 18...Nb8, although neither is pleasant, and it is unclear which is better, eg 18...Qd6 19.Ba6 Rc7 20.Qa3! Qd8! (20...Qd7 21.Qc3 is much worse, according to the engines) 21.Qc3 Re8 22.Bb5 Qb8! 23.Rc2 (23.Bxc6? Rec8 equalises) Rec8 24.Rfc1 Qb7 25.f5!? exf5 26.e4!, with the upper hand for White, according to the engines, or 18...Nb8 19.Qxd7 Nxd7 20.Ba6 Ra8 21.Rc7, with pressure, but only a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish17.1, although Dragon1 again awards White the upper hand. Both lines are sharp and there are alternatives along the way.
19.Bb5 Rfc8 20.Ba6 Rcd8 21.Bb5 Rdc8
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| White to play and win |
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22.Qa6?
Doubling on the c file, starting with 22.Rc3, gives a simple win, eg 22...Qd6 23.Ba6 Rd8 24.Rfc1 etc. The engines suggest 23...b5!?, but 24.Qxb5 Rb8 25.Qc5 Qd8 26.Rfc1 wins, eg 26...Rxb2 27.Qxc6! (27.Bb5 is also good enough) Rxc6 28.Rxc6, after which the black queen falls.
22...Qd8
Also drawing is 22...Qe7!?, as long as after 23.Bxc6 Black plays 23...Qd8! and not 23...Rxc6? 24.Qxc8+! etc.
23.Bxc6 Rxc6 24.Rxc6 Rxc6 25.Qxa7
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| White has won a pawn, but Black's activity on the open file forces a draw |
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25...Rc2 26.Qa3 g6 27.Qb3 Qc7 28.Rf2
There is nothing better.
The game finished:
28...Rc1+ 29.Rf1 Rc2 30.Rf2 Rc1+ 31.Rf1 Rc2 ½–½
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