Maróczy Bind
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Be2 d6 9.0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess this position, which occurs 20,723 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database? |
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White's space advantage gives a slight edge, according to Stockfish18 and Dragon1.
9...Nd7!?
This is fourth in popularity in Mega26, behind 9...a6, 9...Nxd4 and especially 9...Bd7.
10.Rc1
The main line in Mega26 runs 10.Qd2 Nc5 11.Rfd1 Bd7 12.f3, with a slight edge for White, according to the engines.
10...Nc5 11.f3 a5 12.b3
Yordan Ivanov (2395) - Keith Arkell (2480), Balaguer (Spain) 1997, went 12.Ndb5!? f5 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Nd4 Bd7 15.Qd2, with a slight edge for White, according to the engines (1-0, 53 moves).
12...Bd7
A short while after pressing the clock, UW offered a draw.
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| Objectively, should White accept? |
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Black has not broken the bind, by getting in one of the three traditional anti-Maróczy pawn-breaks, ...b5, ...d5, ...f5, so the engines reckon White still has a slight edge.
13.Ndb5!?
Apparently a novelty, at least in this exact position, and preferred by the engines over the known 13.Qd2.
13...Na7 14.Qd2 Nxb5 15.Nxb5
The engines suggest 15.cxb5!?, making White's light-square bishop slightly less bad.
15...Ne6!? 16.Rfd1 Bc6 17.Nc3!? Rb8 18.Nd5 b6 19.Qe1!? Nc5 20.Qh4 Bxd5
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| How should White recapture? |
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21.exd5?!
The worst of the three choices, according to the engines. They suggest 21.cxd5, and if, as in the game, 21...e5!?, then they reckon 22.Qxd8 Rbxd8 23.g4!? gives White the upper hand, a sample line continuing 23...f5!? 24.g5 Rf7 25.exf5!? gxf5, after which the position has opened a little for White's bishop-pair, but Black still has a strong knight, despite the engines' continuing evaluation of White having the upper hand.
21...e5!
The engines reckon this completely equalises.
22.Qxd8 Rbxd8 ½–½
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