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| Looking down on Bad Bertrich |
Réti
1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3!?
The main continuations in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database are 3.d4 and especially 3.g3, but the text is a fashionable alternative, one of the points being it prevents 3...d4.
3...Nf6
3...c5 renews the 'threat' of playing ...d4, so White usually continues with 4.d4 or 4.cxd5 exd5 5.d4, in both cases with equal chances, according to Stockfish18 and Dragon1.
4.b3!?
This is easily the most popular move in Mega26.
4...Bd6!?
The bishop more often goes to e7.
5.Bb2 0-0 6.g3!? b6!?
The engines prefer 6...dxc4!? or 6...Nc6!?
7.Bg2 Bb7 8.0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the game? |
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The position occurs 39 times in Mega26, including eight games in which Nakamura was White. His score from the diagram is +5=2-1, but, according to the engines, White has no more than the better part of equality.
8...Nbd7 9.d4
Nakamura has played this, but also Qe2, cxd5 and d3.
9...c5!?
This may be slightly premature. The engines suggest 9...dxc4!? 10.bxc4, and now 10...c5.
10.cxd5 Bxd5
The engines agree this is better than 10...exd5.
11.Nc3 Bc6!?
Keeping a watch on the b5 square, but the engines prefer the conventional retreat 11...Bb7.
12.Qe2 Ne4!?
Black should probably play 12...cxd4, obliging White to accept an IQP or to allow an exchange of light-square bishops.
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| How should White proceed? |
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13.dxc5
Stockfish18 gives on 13.Rad1 Qe7 14.Qd3 Nxc3 15.Bxc3 Bxf3!? 16.Bxf3, claiming a slight edge for White. Taking on f3 looks strange, but if, say, 15...Rfd8, White has 16.Ng5! Qxg5 17.Bxc6, gaining the bishop-pair anyway.
Dragon1 suggests 13.Nb5 Bb7 (13...Bb8? 14.Nd2) 14.Rfd1 a6 15.Na3!?, also claiming a slight edge for White.
13...Nxc3 14.Bxc3 Bxc5
The engines prefer 14...Nxc5.
15.Rfd1 Qe7 16.Rac1 Rac8 17.Nd4!?
The engines give 17.b4!?, one point being 17...Bxb4?! runs into 18.Bxb4 Qxb4 19.Rxc6! Rxc6 20.Rxd7, although this is not as strong as it first appears, as Black has 20...Qb1+ followed by ...Rc2.
17...Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Nf6 19.Qf3 Nd5
One line given by the engines runs 19...e5!? 20.Nf5 Qe6, with roughly equal chances.
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| What should White play? |
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20.Nf5!?
This is Dragon1's top choice; Stockfish18 prefers 20.Bb2.
20...exf5 21.Qxd5
The engines slightly prefer 21.Rxd5.
21...Ba3 22.Rc2 Rfd8
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| What would you play as White? |
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23.Qf3?
Contrary to first impressions, perhaps, White is at least equal in the diagram position, thanks to Black having back-rank mating problems. Best play, according to the engines, runs 23.Qe5! (23.Ba1!? is also fine) Qxe5 24.Bxe5 f6 25.Ba1 Rxc2 (the engines also like 25...Bc5) 26.Rxd8+ Bf8 27.a4, with complete equality, according to Stockfish18, although Dragon1 gives White a slight edge.
23...Rxd1 24.Qxd1 Qe4+
The immediate 24...Bb4 may be even stronger.
25.Kg1
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| How should Black proceed? |
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25...h6
White is off the hook after 25...Bb4? 26.Rc1, and if 26...Ba3, then 27.Bb2!? or 27.Qd7.
26.Qd7
There is nothing better, eg 26.Qd2 is met by 26...Bb4.
26...Rc5 27.Qd8+?!
Objectively better is 27.Qd4 Qxd4 28.exd4 Rc8 29.d5!, when 29...Bb4?! 30.d6 Bxd6 31.Rd2 Rc6 leaves Black a doubled pawn up, and winning, according to the engines, but stronger is 29...f4!, eg 30.gxf4 Bd6 31.Kg2 b5 32.a3 Bxf4 33.d6 Bxd6 34.Rd2 Bxa3, with a two-pawn advantage, or 30.Kf1!? Bb4 31.d6 Bxd6 32.Rd2 Rxc3 33.Rxd6 Rc2 34.Rd8+ Kh7 35.gxf4 Rxa2, when Black is a pawn up, and all of White's pawns are isolated.
While the text is objectively weaker, keeping queens on gives Black more chance to go wrong.
27...Kh7 28.Bxg7 Kxg7 29.Rxc5 Bxc5
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| How large is Black's advantage in this ending? |
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Black's kingside pawns are weak, but Black is up bishop for pawn, and has an advantage worth comfortably more than a minor piece, according to the engines.
30.Qd7 a5 31.Qd1 Kg6 32.Qe2 Qd5 33.Qc2 Qf3 34.Qd3 Qe4 35.Qe2 Qe5 36.Kg2 Qd5+ 37.Kg1 Bb4 38.Qb2 Qd2 39.Qh8 Qc3 40.Qg8+ Qg7 41.Qd8 Bc5 42.Kg2 Qf6 43.Qg8+ Qg7 44.Qd8 Kh7
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| Black has not made much progress after much manoeuvring, but also has not jettisoned a pawn, or otherwise reduced the winning chances |
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45.Qd7 Qg6 46.Qd3!? f4!? 47.e4 h5 48.Qf3 Bd6 49.Kf1 Kh6 50.Qd3 Qf6 51.Kg2 Be5 52.Kg1 Qc6 53.Qe2 Qc5 54.Kg2 Qd4 55.Qf3 Qd6 56.Qe2 Qf6 57.Qd3 Qg5 58.Qd7 Kg7 59.Qd1 h4
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| At last I felt able to move in for the kill |
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60.Qf3 Kg6 61.Qd3
61.g4 possibly holds out longer, but makes little difference to the engines' assessment of the position.
61...Qh5 62.Qd7 h3+!? 63.Kf1
Not 63.Qxh3? f3+.
63...fxg3 64.hxg3 h2 65.Qf5+ Qxf5 66.exf5+ Kxf5 67.Kg2 Ke4 0-1
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