[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2023.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Modern Vienna"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Boris"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "40"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] {[%evp 0,40,25,13,27,-9,-12,-6,6,12,52,45,83,73,73,70,70,47,55,64,46,43,40,45,72,68,79,60,47,54,50,44,51,43,48,36,33,22,66,65,57,58,66]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. e4 {White most principal move. I also examined White four alternative options} ({The most popular alternative} 5. e3 a6 6. Bxc4 {the main alternative obviously} (6. a4 {now I would like to offer fighting alternative} b6 $5 {to well-known} (6... c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O Be7 {which easily solves opening problems for Black. Two examplary lines here:} 9. Qe2 ({and} 9. dxc5 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. Bd2 Bd7 12. Bd3 O-O 13. Ne4 Be7 14. Rac1 Rfd8 15. Nc5 Be8 $1 $11 {Anand-Kramnik, Monte Carlo 2011}) 9... cxd4 10. Rd1 e5 $1 11. exd4 exd4 12. Nxd4 $1 Nxd4 13. Qe5 Qd6 $1 {the easiest solution} 14. Qxd6 Bxd6 15. Rxd4 Bc5 $11 {over 200 games here, but the endgame is very equal.}) 7. Bxc4 Bb7 8. O-O (8. Qe2 Bb4 9. O-O {see 8.0-0}) 8... Bb4 9. Qe2 {important alternative line here} (9. Qb3 Qe7 10. d5 {other moves:} (10. Ne5 O-O 11. f3 c5 $1 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Nd3 {Tadic-Perunovic, Zlatibor 2007 Black should just keep his dark-squared bishop by means of} Bd6 $1 $146 14. Qxb6 Nc6 $44) (10. e4 {occured in two games. A serious imporvement here} Nc6 $1 $146 {too dangerous} (10... Nxe4 $2 11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. d5 $1 $36 {Greenfeld-Godart, Avoine 2014}) 11. Qc2 Na5 12. Bd3 c5 {and we have a complex game with approximate line being} 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ne4 cxd4 15. Nxd4 {or} (15. Bg5 f6 $1 16. exf6 gxf6 17. Bh6 e5 $15) 15... h6 $13) 10... exd5 {Black can also play} (10... Bxc3 11. dxe6 $1 {White idea here} Bb4 12. exf7+ Kf8 13. Nd4 b5 $1 {only move!} 14. axb5 axb5 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 16. Bxb5 {another game featured} (16. Nxb5 Nc6 $1 17. Qa4 Bb7 18. Rd1 g5 $13 {Pohlig-Hoffmann, ICCF email 2013}) 16... Bd5 17. Bc4 Bxc4 18. Qxc4 Bd6 19. Ne6+ Kxf7 20. Nxc7+ Kg6 $1 21. Qd3+ Kf7 22. Qc4+ {and draw agreed in Berczes-Ngo, New York 2022}) 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Nc6 13. e4 Na5 (13... O-O-O $5) 14. Qd3 {Piyumantha-Liyanage, Colombo 2018 Black should have played} Rd8 $146 15. Bg5 f6 16. Be3 Rd7 $13) 9... O-O 10. Rd1 {another important line here} (10. Bd3 c5 11. dxc5 {other White options:} (11. Rd1 cxd4 12. exd4 h6 $5 13. Ne5 Nc6 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bxa6 Bxc3 $1 16. bxc3 Qd5 17. f3 Qa5 18. Bd3 Qxc3 19. Bb2 Qa5 $15 {Gladyszev-Grachev, Olginka 2011}) (11. Na2 Nc6 $1 12. e4 {or} (12. Nxb4 Nxb4 13. Bb1 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 cxd4 15. Bd2 Qd6 16. exd4 {Khademalsharieh-Zawadzka, Sharjah 2021} Nc6 $146) 12... Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 {Kurbedinov-Sarana, Sochi 2017 Black should have played} Qe5 $1 $146 15. Nxb4 cxb4 16. Bxb6 Bxe4 17. Rfe1 Qd6 18. Bxe4 Nxe4 19. a5 Nf6 $44) 11... Bxc5 12. e4 Nbd7 13. Bf4 {I also checked} (13. Bg5 Qb8 14. Rad1 $1 h6 15. Bc1 {Mazalon-Skalik, Lazy 2010} Qc7 $146 16. Bb1 Rfd8 $15) (13. e5 $2 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 Nxe5 $17 {Gormally-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 13... Nh5 $1 14. Bd2 (14. Be3 Qc7 15. g3 Nhf6 16. Bf4 {1-0 (46) Volkov, S (2541)-Iljiushenok,I (2554) Khanty-Mansiysk 2021} Bd6 $146 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. e5 Qc6 19. exf6 Qxf3 20. Qxf3 Bxf3 $11) 14... Qc7 15. e5 Bxf3 $1 16. gxf3 $2 ({White should have played} 16. Qxf3 $1 {with approximate line} g6 17. Be2 Nxe5 18. Qh3 Rfd8 19. Bg5 Be7 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Bxh5 gxh5 22. Qxh5 Ng6 $11) 16... Nxe5 $17 {Estremera Panos-Ivanov,S Stockholm 2020}) 10... Qe7 11. Bd3 {the main alternative is} (11. Ne5 c5 12. Na2 Ba5 13. b3 Nbd7 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. Bb2 Rfd8 $11 {Tratar-Petkov, Zadar 2005}) 11... c5 12. e4 {another line here} (12. Na2 Nc6 $5 13. e4 {Manolache,M-Mastrovasilis,D Tornelo INT 2023 I would suggest the following improvement} (13. Nxb4 Nxb4 14. Bb1 Rfd8 15. Bd2 Bxf3 $1 16. Qxf3 cxd4 17. exd4 Rac8 {Roselli Mailhe-Lopez Azambuja, Montevideo 2021}) 13... h6 $5 14. e5 Nd5 15. Qe4 f5 16. exf6 Nxf6 17. Qg6 Qe8 $1 $13) 12... cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nbd7 14. e5 Nd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Bf4 {Zordick-Lemke, GER email 2017 Black should have played} f6 $146 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Bg3 Bc5 19. Nf3 a5 $132) 6... b5 7. Bb3 {two alternatives are:} (7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O c5 9. Qe2 {or} (9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qe2 {other moves here:} (10. e4 Nbd7 11. Bf4 {or} (11. Qe2 Qb8 12. Bg5 O-O 13. Rad1 (13. Rac1 h6 14. Bxf6 (14. Bh4 {runs into} Nh5 $1 15. Bb1 Rc8 16. Rfd1 {De Groot-Riemersma, Utrecht 2018 after natural} Ne5 $1 $36 {Black is better.}) 14... Nxf6 15. Nxb5 Bxf2+ $1 16. Rxf2 axb5 17. a3 Rd8 $17 {Gerber-Brunner, Switzerland 2017}) 13... Bd6 14. a3 {all this occured in Rombaldoni,D-Georgiev,K Arvier 2010 after} h6 $1 $146 15. Bh4 Bf4 16. Bb1 Qc7 {with very comfortabel play for Black.}) 11... Nh5 $1 12. Bg5 Be7 13. Be3 Nhf6 14. Qc2 b4 15. Ne2 Rc8 16. Qb1 Bc5 $17 {Bondars-Sorcinelli, LSS email 2011}) (10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Qe2 Qe7 {Black achieved very comfortable position with natural move} 13. Rfd1 Rac8 14. Nd2 Ba3 $1 15. Bxa3 Qxa3 $15 {Seo-Abdusattorov, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Nbd7 11. Rd1 (11. e4 {see 10.e4}) 11... O-O 12. b3 Rc8 13. Bb2 Bb4 14. Nb1 {three games here} (14. Rac1 $2 Qa5 $19 {occureed in two games}) 14... Nd5 $146 15. a3 Be7 16. Nd4 Bf6 $15)) (7. Be2 Bb7 8. O-O {I also checked} (8. a3 c5 9. O-O {another line here} (9. dxc5 Qxd1+ 10. Bxd1 Bxc5 {Black has no problems whatsoever in this endgame, a good model game here} 11. b4 Bd6 12. Bb2 Nbd7 13. O-O Ke7 14. Nd2 Nb6 15. Be2 Rac8 16. Rac1 Rhd8 $15 {Rakhmanov-Shimanov, Minsk 2014}) 9... Nbd7 10. dxc5 (10. b3 Qc7 11. Bb2 Rd8 $1 12. Rc1 Qb8 13. dxc5 $6 Ng4 $5 14. Nxb5 $2 {Koth-Gasper, Nordrheinwestfalen 2018} ({White should have continued} 14. c6 $1 Bxc6 15. g3 Bb7 $15) 14... Bxf3 $1 $146 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. cxd6 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Ngf6 18. Qxa6 Qxb3 $19) 10... Bxc5 11. b4 {hardly a good idea for White} (11. Qc2 $6 Rc8 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Rfd1 Qe7 14. Rac1 {Gvanceladze-Zvereva, Moscow 2021 a great idea for Black would be} Ng4 $1 $146 {seizing the initiaitve, for example} 15. h3 $140 Nge5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. f4 Ng6 18. Kh2 Nh4 19. e4 f5 $40) 11... Be7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Qb3 {other moves:} (13. a4 a5 $5 $146 {fighting move. Obviously there is nothing wrong with} (13... bxa4 14. Qxa4 Qb6 15. b5 Nc5 16. Qa5 Qxa5 17. Rxa5 axb5 $11 {Goloshchapov-Buhmann, Germany 2010}) 14. Nxb5 {another line here} (14. bxa5 b4 15. Nb5 Qxa5 16. Nd2 Rad8 17. Nb3 Qa8 18. Bf3 Ne4 $15) (14. axb5 $6 axb4 15. Nb1 Rxa1 16. Bxa1 Bxf3 $1 17. gxf3 (17. Bxf3 Qa5 $17) 17... Nd5 $1 $15) 14... axb4 15. Qd4 $1 Qb8 16. Ne5 Rd8 $13) (13. Rc1 Nb6 14. Qd4 Rc8 15. Rfd1 Qxd4 16. Nxd4 Nfd5 $11 {Zubkov-Zhdanov, Uljanovsk 2009}) 13... Qb8 14. h3 {another direction here} (14. Rfd1 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. e4 {one game featured} (16. g3 $6 Qf5 $1 17. Rd4 {Priehoda-Kapnisis, Prague 2020 after logical} Rac8 $146 {Black would be clearly better.}) 16... Qb8 17. Bf3 Rd8 18. Qc2 Qc7 $15 {Muse-Eingorn, Berlin 1991}) 14... Rc8 15. Rfd1 Nb6 16. Rac1 {or} (16. Rd4 Nfd5 $1 17. e4 $2 Nxc3 18. Bxc3 Na4 19. Be1 Bf6 20. e5 Bxf3 $19 {with winning position for Black Kamrukov,A-Grachev,B Sochi 2017}) 16... Nc4 17. Ba1 {occured in two games} h6 $146 18. a4 Nd5 $15) 8... Nbd7 {I examined three lines here:} 9. b3 (9. Bd2 c5 10. dxc5 {other lines:} (10. Rc1 Be7 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. a3 O-O 13. b4 Nce4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Rc2 Bf6 16. Bc1 {Engelking-Zoch, Langenhagen 2007 and now Black missed} Nc3 $1 $146 17. Qxd8 Rfxd8 18. Bb2 Rac8 $17 {with clear advantage.}) (10. a4 b4 11. Na2 a5 $1 12. Nc1 {another line} (12. Bb5 Be7 13. Ne5 $6 O-O 14. Nc6 Bxc6 15. Bxc6 Rc8 16. Bb5 {Adly-Suleymanli, Sharjah 2022 Black could have played} c4 $1 $146 17. Qe2 Nb6 18. Rfc1 Ne4 $17) 12... Bd6 13. Nb3 O-O 14. Rc1 {Montagard-Remille, France 2009 and now natural} Rc8 $146 15. Be1 Bd5 $15 {would led to very pleasant position for Black.}) 10... Bxc5 11. b4 $1 {this is more precise to compare with} (11. a3 O-O 12. b4 {two games arrive to this position, but Black has never tried} Bd6 $1 $146 13. a4 bxa4 14. Qxa4 Qe7 15. Rfb1 Ne5 $15 {with more pleasant play.}) 11... Bd6 {another equal line here} (11... Bxb4 12. Nxb5 {White's point} Be7 13. Nbd4 O-O $11 {Epishin-Espinosa Aranda, Roquetas de Mar 2018}) 12. a4 bxa4 13. b5 O-O 14. bxa6 Bxa6 15. Bxa6 Rxa6 16. Rxa4 Rxa4 17. Qxa4 Ne5 $11 {Ijzermans-Admiraal, Vlissingen 2018}) (9. a4 b4 10. Nb1 c5 11. Nbd2 Be7 12. Nc4 {other moves:} (12. b3 cxd4 13. Nxd4 O-O 14. Bb2 {or} (14. Bf3 Nd5 $1 15. Nc4 $2 (15. Bb2 Ne5 $1 $15) 15... Nc3 $1 16. Qc2 Bxf3 17. Nxf3 {Tran-Hoang, Ho Chi Minh City 2017 and now precise would have been} Nb6 $1 $146 18. Nfe5 Nxc4 19. Nxc4 Bf6 20. Bd2 Qc7 $17)) (12. a5 O-O 13. Nc4 {see 12.Nc4}) 12... O-O 13. a5 {another line} (13. Bd2 a5 $1 14. Rc1 {Van der Lende-Swinkels, Hoogeveen 2021} Nb6 $1 $146 15. Nxb6 Qxb6 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Bb5 Ne4 $36) (13. b3 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Nc5 15. Bd2 {Drnovsek-Borisek, Ljubljana 2022 Black should have played} Nce4 $1 $146 16. Be1 Nd5 $17) 13... Qc7 14. Bd2 (14. b3 cxd4 15. Nxd4 (15. exd4 Rad8 $15 {Tunik-Bocharov, Ekaterinburg 2019}) 15... Nc5 16. Bd2 {Arzhenkov-Kremenietsky, Lesnoj Gorodok 2009} Nce4 $1 $146 17. Rc1 Rad8 $15) 14... Rac8 15. Rc1 Qb8 16. Nfe5 Rfd8 $15 {Ikonnikov-Ris, Netherlands 2016}) 9... c5 10. Bb2 Rc8 11. Rc1 {the main alternative} (11. a4 b4 12. Nb1 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 14. Nd2 Be7 15. Rc1 O-O 16. Bf3 Nd5 17. Nc4 Bf6 {with comfortable game for Black, occured in several games.}) 11... Be7 12. dxc5 {or} (12. a4 b4 13. Nb1 O-O 14. Nbd2 Rc7 $5 15. Nc4 Qa8 16. Ne1 {Rosenberg-Timmermans, Chess.com 2022 and now simple} cxd4 $146 17. Bxd4 Bd5 $15 {leads to more pleasant position for Black.}) 12... Bxc5 13. Nd2 {Black should continue} (13. Nd4 O-O 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 {covered through13.Nd2}) 13... O-O $146 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 Qb6 16. Qe2 Rfd8 $11 {Babich-Sharovskaya, Evpatoria 2007}) 7... Bb7 8. O-O c5 {I examined three White major continuations:} 9. e4 (9. Qe2 Nbd7 10. Rd1 {the main alternative is} (10. e4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bc5 12. Be3 Qb6 13. Rfd1 {only one game featured} (13. Rad1 O-O 14. f3 Rad8 15. Rd2 Ne5 16. Rfd1 {Gligoric-Pietzsch, Leipzig 1960 ater natural} h6 $15 {I preer Black position}) 13... O-O 14. f3 (14. a4 {occured in four games} Ne5 15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Rxa8 17. Qxb5 Qxb5 18. Ncxb5 {Black should have played} (18. Ndxb5 Bxe3 19. fxe3 Bxe4 $1 $15) 18... Neg4 $1 $146 19. Nc7 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Rb8 $1 $44 {with nice compensation.}) 14... Ne5 15. Rd2 Rfd8 16. Rad1 {occured in nine games. Here I like the new move} h6 $5 $146 {with approximate line} 17. Nc2 Rxd2 18. Qxd2 Rc8 19. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 20. Qd4 Nfd7 {with pleasant position or Black.}) 10... Qc7 {This is tabya position, here I analyzed three moves} 11. e4 (11. d5 c4 $1 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc2 Bd6 {Two main moves here:} 14. e4 {and} (14. h3 O-O 15. e4 ({Fails to impress} 15. Ng5 $6 Nc5 16. b4 cxb3 17. axb3 Bh2+ $1 18. Kh1 {Livaic-Xiong, Chess.com 2022 Black play can be improved by means of} Be5 $1 $146 19. Bb2 b4 20. Na4 Bxb2 21. Nxb2 h6 22. Nf3 Nd5 $17 {with clear edge for Black.}) 15... Rae8 16. Bg5 {another instructive line} (16. Nd4 Nc5 17. a3 Bh2+ $1 18. Kh1 Be5 $17 {Drenchev-Mitkov, Sunny Beach 2010}) 16... Ne5 17. Nd4 (17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Rac1 {Narva-Meier, Tallinn 2018} Bc6 $146 19. a3 Rc8 $17) 17... Bc5 18. Bf4 {Holemar-Kozak, Brno 2008 and now simple} b4 $146 19. Na4 Ba7 $17 {would lead to Black clear edge.}) 14... O-O 15. Bg5 (15. h3 {see 14.h3}) 15... Ne5 16. Nd4 $2 Neg4 $1 17. g3 Nxf2 $1 18. Nxe6 {doesn't help} (18. Qxf2 Bc5 $19) 18... Nh3+ 19. Kg2 Qe7 $19 {D'Costa-Wells, West Bromwich 2003}) (11. Bd2 Rc8 12. Rac1 Qb8 13. e4 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Bd6 15. g3 O-O 16. f3 Rfe8 17. Be3 h6 $15 {Cremerius-Bernaert, ICCF email 2018}) 11... cxd4 12. Nxd4 {a very interesting alternative} (12. Nd5 $5 exd5 13. exd5+ Kd8 $5 14. Ng5 {clearly worse} (14. Bg5 $2 Bc5 15. Nxd4 {Calinescu-Lev, Arnhem 1987 and now natural} Re8 $146 16. Qf3 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Qe5 $1 18. Be3 Nc5 $17 {would secure clear edge for Black.}) 14... Nc5 15. d6 Bxd6 16. Nxf7+ Kc8 17. Nxh8 {Platz-Herrmann, Soemmerda 1950 in the game Black missed the best} Nxb3 $1 $146 18. axb3 Bc6 19. Bd2 Kb7 20. Ba5 Qd7 21. Rxd4 Bxh2+ $1 22. Kxh2 Qxd4 23. Qe7+ Nd7 24. Nf7 Qxf2 $15) 12... Bc5 13. Be3 {other moves} ({Important to check} 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Nxe6 Qe5 15. Nxg7+ Kf7 16. Nf5 {this has been occured in five games} (16. Nh5 $2 Rad8 17. Ng3 h5 $1 18. Be3 h4 19. Nf5 {Mamedyarov-So, Zagreb 2022 now} h3 $1 $40 {would decisively weaken light-squares around White king.}) 16... h5 $5 $146 {a strong improvement with approximate line} 17. g3 Qe6 18. Bf4 Ne5 19. Rac1 Rac8 $15) (13. Bg5 O-O 14. Rac1 Rac8 15. Kh1 $6 Qb6 $1 16. Be3 Bxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 $17 {Bennborn-Hult, Sweden 1991}) 13... O-O 14. Rac1 {another good example} (14. f3 Rfd8 15. Rd2 Bd6 16. g3 Nc5 17. Bc2 {Milde-Popov, ICCF email 2013 Black could play} Rac8 18. Rad1 Be7 {no problems for Black}) 14... Qb6 {here we have an extraordinary game} 15. f3 Rac8 16. Bf2 Ne5 17. Rc2 Nh5 $1 18. g3 Nf6 19. Rcd2 h6 20. Kg2 g5 $1 $15 {Lenderman-Anton Guijarro, Douglas 2019}) (9. dxc5 Nbd7 $1 10. Qe2 Bxc5 11. e4 Qb8 $1 12. Bg5 {Kuzubov-Zubov, Kiev 2012} O-O $146 13. Rac1 Rc8 $15) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 {another line} (11. Be3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Be7 13. e5 (13. f3 O-O 14. Qd2 {Perez Lopez-Fister, ICCF email 2016} (14. a4 Qb8 $1 15. Qe1 b4 16. Nb1 $2 {Wojtaszek-Kulaots, Warsaw 2013 Black has a strong improvement} Rd8 $1 $146 17. Qf2 (17. Bf2 Qe5 $17) 17... Bd6 $1 18. g3 Be5 $17) 14... Nd7 $146 15. Rfd1 Nc5 $11) 13... Ne4 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Re1 Bd5 16. Qg4 Bxb3 17. axb3 O-O 18. Be3 Qd3 19. Rad1 Qg6 $11 {Wichert-Seelig, ICCF email 2018}) 11... Bxc6 12. Qe2 (12. f3 $6 Bc5+ 13. Kh1 {Bruzon Batista-Vazquez, Lichess.org 2020} O-O $146 14. Qxd8 Rfxd8 15. Bf4 Nd7 {with pleasant endgame for Black.}) 12... Be7 13. Rd1 (13. Bg5 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. a3 O-O 16. Rfd1 Rfd8 17. Ba2 b4 $1 18. axb4 Qxb4 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Lintchevski, Sochi 2019}) (13. e5 Nd7 14. Bf4 Nc5 15. Bc2 O-O 16. Qe3 {Bruce-Rogers, ICCF email 2020 and now Black should have continued} b4 $146 17. Rfd1 Qc7 18. Ne2 Rac8 $13) 13... Qc7 14. Bg5 {another important line here} (14. e5 Nd7 15. Bf4 {Van Nierop-Cuaycong, LSS email 2009 here I discovered an interesting idea} g5 $5 $146 16. Bg3 Nc5 17. Bc2 (17. Qh5 Nxb3 18. axb3 O-O $15) 17... b4 18. Ne4 (18. Nb1 $6 h5 $36) 18... Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 Rc8 $1 $13) 14... Qe5 15. f4 Qc5+ 16. Kh1 b4 17. Bxf6 gxf6 (17... Bxf6 $2 18. Nd5 $1 $16) 18. Nb1 Bb5 19. Qe1 Qh5 $15 {Nurtawa-Khan, ICCF email 2020}) (5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. Qxc4 {other moves are also important} (6. a3 Bd6 7. Bg5 {or} (7. e4 {Mozharov-Sadhwani, Chess.com 2019 Black should have continued} Bd7 $146 8. Qxc4 e5 9. d5 Ne7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O h6 $13 {with complex middlegame}) 7... O-O 8. Qxc4 {another game featured} (8. Rd1 h6 9. Bh4 Bd7 10. Qxc4 b5 $1 11. Qd3 {Black idea can be seen from the following line} (11. Nxb5 g5 $1 12. Bg3 Na5 13. Qc3 Bxb5 14. Qxa5 Rb8 $44 {with nice compensation thanks to development advantage.}) 11... b4 12. Ne4 $6 {Black missed strong} ({Better would have been} 12. axb4 Nxb4 13. Qb1 Be7 14. e3 Nbd5 $11) 12... g5 $1 13. Nxf6+ (13. Nxd6 cxd6 14. Bg3 Qa5 $40) 13... Qxf6 14. Bg3 Rfd8 $13) 8... h6 9. Bh4 e5 10. d5 Ne7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. e3 {Indjic-Abdisalimov, Tashkent 2023 Black should have played} (12. e4 {another line} Rb8 $5 13. Be2 f5 $132) 12... Rb8 $1 $146 {useful waiting move} 13. Be2 f5 14. O-O Kh7 $15) (6. e4 $6 Bb4 7. Bg5 (7. Bxc4 {not dangerous} Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Rb1 {1-0 (24) Radnic,Z-Seifert,P Bad Zwesten 2001} O-O $146 {a clear improvement over the game with the following point} 11. Ba3 Nxd4 $1 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. Bxf8 Kxf8 $17) 7... Bd7 $1 8. Qc2 h6 $1 9. Bd2 {I also examined} (9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. e5 Nxd4 $1 11. Nxd4 Qxe5+ 12. Nde2 O-O-O 13. O-O-O Bc6 $17 {Dreisch-Nitschke, GER email 2015}) 9... b5 {a good model game here} 10. a3 Ba5 11. Nxb5 Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 (12. Nxd2 a6 13. Nc3 Nxd4 $17) 12... Nxe4 13. Qf4 Nd6 $1 14. Nxd6+ cxd6 15. Bxc4 (15. Qxd6 $2 Qa5+ $40) 15... d5 16. Bd3 {Kozak-Parligras, Tornelo INT 2021 Black should have played} Qb8 $1 $146 17. Qxb8+ Rxb8 18. b4 Ke7 19. Kd2 f6 $15) (6. Bg5 Bb4 7. Bxf6 {other moves:} (7. e3 Bd7 8. Qc2 b5 9. Be2 {other options:} (9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. a4 bxa4 11. Bxc4 {this all happened in Xiong-Sarana, Chess.com 2021 now Black should have continued} Qg6 $1 $146 12. Bd3 (12. Qxg6 $140 hxg6 13. Rxa4 Nxd4 $1 $19) 12... Qxg2 13. Ke2 Qh3 14. Rhg1 Bd6 $15) (9. a3 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 (10. Qxc3 $6 {played twice, in both games Black missed obvious} Ne4 $1 $146 11. Bxd8 Nxc3 12. Bxc7 Na4 13. Rb1 Ke7 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 a6 12. g4 Ne7 (12... Bc8 $5) 13. Ne5 Nfd5 14. Bg2 f6 15. Ng6 Nxg6 16. Qxg6+ Kf8 17. Qc2 Bc6 $17 {Salama-Gajewski, Reykjavik 2019}) 9... Ne7 $5 10. Bxf6 {another game saw} (10. O-O Nfd5 $1 11. e4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Ba3 13. Nd2 f6 14. Be3 {Piceu-Horvath,D Germany 2022 and now after simple} O-O $146 {Black is clealry better.}) 10... gxf6 11. O-O c6 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 a5 $1 14. b3 Nd5 15. Qc2 cxb3 16. Qxb3 O-O $15 {Williams-Biedermann, ICCF email 2016}) (7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qd5 $1 9. Bxf6 ({Hardly a good idea} 9. Bf4 $2 Bd7 10. Qd1 {or} (10. Qc2 Qe4 $1 11. Qc1 Na5 $1 12. Bxc7 Nb3 13. Nd2 Qc6 14. Nxb3 cxb3 15. Bf4 a5 16. Qb2 a4 $19 {Ftacnik-Lerner, Stary Smokovec 1977}) 10... Ne4 11. Qc2 O-O-O $17 {Geldyeva-Khademalsharieh, Chengdu 2017}) 9... gxf6 10. g3 {other important moves:} (10. Nd2 b5 11. Qc2 a6 12. e4 Qd6 $1 13. a4 Rb8 14. Be2 O-O 15. O-O e5 $1 16. d5 Ne7 17. Rfb1 Bd7 $17 {with healthy extra pawn Cuppone-Valente, ICCF email 2015}) (10. Qc2 f5 11. g3 b6 12. Bg2 Bb7 13. O-O {another important line} (13. Nh4 Qa5 14. O-O O-O-O $17) 13... O-O-O 14. Nh4 {other moves:} (14. Rfe1 {occured in Olszewski-Wojtaszek, Germany 2015 Now strong would have been} Na5 $146 15. Nh4 Qd7 16. e4 f4 $1 17. gxf4 $140 Rhg8 $40) (14. a4 Na5 15. Rab1 Nb3 16. Nh4 Qa5 17. Bxb7+ Kxb7 18. Nf3 f6 $17 {Candela Perez-Moreno Trujillo, Madrid 2016}) 14... Qd7 15. e4 {happened in Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Wijk aan Zee 1999} Ne7 $1 $146 16. Rfe1 {or} (16. exf5 Nxf5 17. Nxf5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 exf5 $17) 16... fxe4 17. Bxe4 h5 $17) 10... Bd7 11. Qc2 Na5 12. e4 {another line} (12. Bg2 Bc6 13. O-O O-O-O 14. Nh4 {Valette-Jolly, Angers 2017} Qb5 $146 15. e4 Nb3 16. Ra2 Qa5 $17) 12... Qc6 13. Bg2 Qa4 $1 14. Qe2 Nb3 15. Rb1 {Zhao-Zaiatz, Moscow 2004} (15. Rd1 {Thiel-Nasshan, Tegernsee 2019 a nice improvement here} O-O-O $1 $146 16. O-O h6 $15) 15... O-O-O $146 16. O-O Bc6 17. Rfd1 a6 $15) (7. e4 {see 6.e4}) 7... gxf6 8. e3 {happened in several games} (8. e4 Bd7 $1 9. Qc2 (9. Bxc4 $2 Nxd4 $1 $19) 9... b5 10. Be2 Ne7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rad1 {Koch-Drenchev, Germany 2011} c6 $146 13. Qc1 Kh8 $1 $15) (8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qd5 $1 {covered via 7.a3 line}) 8... Bd7 $146 9. Qc2 b5 10. Be2 a6 11. O-O Bd6 $15) 6... Nb4 $1 7. Qb3 c5 8. dxc5 {I also examined three alternatives} (8. a3 cxd4 9. axb4 dxc3 10. bxc3 Bd6 11. Bg5 O-O 12. e3 b6 13. Be2 Bb7 14. O-O {Lalith-Adhiban, Kanpur 2022 Black should have played} a6 $146 15. Rfd1 Qc7 16. Bxf6 gxf6 $13 {with complex game.}) (8. Bg5 $6 cxd4 9. Rd1 ({Hardly a good idea} 9. O-O-O $2 Qa5 $1 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Ne4 f5 $1 12. Nf6+ Ke7 13. a3 Kxf6 14. axb4 {Erbe-Lauer, DESC email 1999 after natural} Qxb4 {Black position is winning}) 9... Qa5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nxd4 e5 $1 12. Ndb5 $2 {Instead White should have prefered} (12. a3 $1 exd4 13. axb4 Qe5 $15) 12... a6 $1 13. Nd6+ Bxd6 14. Rxd6 Ke7 15. a3 Kxd6 16. Qxf7 Nd5 17. b4 Qxa3 18. Qxd5+ Ke7 $19 {Krasenkow -Landa, Port Erin 2006}) (8. e3 a6 9. Be2 {only one game here} cxd4 10. exd4 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 b6 13. a3 Nbd5 14. Bg5 $6 Bb7 15. Ne5 h6 16. Bh4 Nf4 17. Bf1 Rc8 $15 {Harper-Keres, Vancouver 1975}) 8... Bxc5 9. a3 {another move} (9. Bg5 O-O 10. e3 {another important line} (10. Rd1 Qb6 11. e3 Nfd5 12. Nxd5 $2 exd5 13. Be2 Bf5 14. Rd2 Nc2+ $1 15. Kd1 Qxb3 16. axb3 Na1 $1 $17 {Nanu-Gyimesi, Austria 2011}) 10... Nd3+ 11. Bxd3 Qxd3 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Nd2 {Kortschnoj-Wells, Port Erin 2004 Black could choose} Qg6 $146 14. Nde4 Be7 15. O-O-O b6 $15) 9... Nc6 10. Bg5 (10. g3 {Stohl-Meister, Slovakia 1994 Black play can be improved with} h6 $1 $146 11. Bg2 O-O 12. O-O e5 $15 {with comfortable play.}) 10... Qb6 11. Qxb6 Bxb6 12. e3 {another game saw} (12. Rd1 h6 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. e3 a6 15. g3 Ke7 16. Bg2 Bd7 17. O-O Rac8 $11 {Tanis-Mostowik, ICCF email 2010}) 12... Bd7 13. O-O-O Ng4 $5 14. Bh4 f6 15. Be2 {Krasenkow-Fridman, Hilversum 2009 Black would conviniently equalize by means of} Ne7 $146 16. h3 Nh6 17. g4 Bc6 $11) (5. Bg5 a6 $1 6. a4 (6. e4 b5 {see 5.e4 b5 6.Bg5 line}) ({The main alternative} 6. e3 b5 7. a4 c6 8. axb5 {I also checked} (8. Ne5 Bb7 9. Be2 {or} (9. Qf3 {two games arrived to this position. I would suggest the following new idea} h6 $146 10. Bh4 Be7 {and it's transposed to one game} 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Bxf6 (13. Be2 Nbd7 $17) 13... gxf6 $1 14. Nxf7 Kxf7 15. Qh5+ Kf8 $19 {Hardaway-Turzo, Chess.com 2021}) 9... Nbd7 10. Qc2 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. dxe5 Nd5 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Ne4 Nb4 16. Qc3 c5 $17 {Akobian-Sarana, Chess.com 2020}) 8... cxb5 9. Nxb5 {the alternative is} (9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nxb5 axb5 $1 {thematic exchange sacrifice} 11. Rxa8 Bb7 12. Ra1 {another line} (12. Ra7 Bb4+ 13. Nd2 (13. Ke2 Be4 $1 14. Nd2 {Piket-Lobron, Amsterdam 1994 after} Bd5 $146 {Black has powerful initaitve.}) 13... Qb6 14. Ra1 {in case of} (14. Rxb7 Qxb7 15. Be2 {Black can take g2-pawn} Qxg2 16. Bf3 {Czerwonski-Poysti, Bohumin 2020 and now preicse would have been} Qg6 $1 $146 17. Bh5 Qd3 18. Be2 Qf5 $17) 14... e5 $1 15. Qg4 (15. dxe5 {occured in two games a very strong idea} Ke7 $1 $146 16. exf6+ Qxf6 17. Qc2 Rd8 18. Rd1 Qe6 $1 $17) 15... Nc6 16. Qg7 Rf8 17. Qxf6 exd4 18. exd4 {Afloarei-Rotaru, ICCF email 2017 a nice improvement here} Rg8 $1 $146 19. d5 Qd4 20. Qxd4 Nxd4 21. Kd1 Bxd5 $17) 12... Bb4+ 13. Nd2 {the alternative is} (13. Ke2 O-O 14. Ne1 {a wonderful model game here} (14. Qc2 f5 15. Nd2 Nc6 16. Rd1 Qxd4 $1 17. Nf3 Qf6 $19 {Mamedyarov-Nakamura, Kolkata 2018}) 14... Nc6 15. Nc2 Ba5 16. Rg1 Qb6 17. g4 Rd8 18. g5 f5 19. f4 e5 $1 20. fxe5 Nxe5 21. Bg2 Bxg2 22. Rxg2 b4 $1 $40 {Egorov-Mashchenko, LSS email 2014}) 13... e5 14. Be2 (14. Qh5 {happened in six games} Bc6 $1 $146 15. Qh4 O-O 16. Be2 exd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. exd4 Rd8 $17) 14... exd4 15. O-O dxe3 16. Nf3 exf2+ 17. Kh1 {occured in two games . Black can play} O-O $146 18. Rxf2 Nc6 19. Qxd8 Rxd8 $44) 9... axb5 10. Rxa8 Bb7 11. Ra1 (11. Bxf6 gxf6 {see 9. Bxf6}) 11... Bb4+ 12. Nd2 {one game featured} (12. Ke2 {Zhao-Orndahl, Taby 2007} O-O $1 $146 13. Ne1 h6 14. Bh4 Nc6 15. f3 Be7 $17) 12... e5 $1 13. dxe5 {I also examined} (13. Be2 Qd5 $1 14. f3 {or} (14. Bf3 e4 15. Bxf6 exf3 16. Bxg7 fxg2 17. Rg1 Rg8 18. Be5 Nc6 $17) 14... exd4 15. Bf4 O-O 16. e4 Nxe4 $1 17. O-O (17. fxe4 Qxe4 $19) 17... Nxd2 18. Bxd2 Bc5 19. Kh1 d3 $1 $19 {Satkar-Raja, Mumbai 2018}) 13... Bxd2+ 14. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Ne4+ 16. Kc2 Nxg5 17. b3 Ne6 18. bxc4 b4 $15 {Napalkov-Churkin, ICCF email 2017}) 6... Nc6 7. e3 {another line here} (7. e4 Na5 8. e5 (8. Qc2 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Rd1 Nxg3 12. hxg3 Bg7 13. Be2 Qe7 $17 {Krejci-Cernousek, Slovakia 2020}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 (9. Bd2 {happened in two games} Nd7 $1 $146 10. Ne4 c5 11. Nd6+ Bxd6 12. exd6 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 $17) 9... g5 10. Nxg5 {the alternative line} (10. Bg3 Nd5 11. Be2 Bb4 12. Qc2 {Larrosa-Benitez, Rio Negro 2022 Black should have played} Bd7 $1 $146 13. O-O Bc6 $17) 10... Nd5 $1 11. Nf3 Be7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nd2 {another game featured} (13. Be2 Bd7 14. O-O {Muljadi-Hassim, ICCF email 2017 and now} Bc6 $1 $146 {promsing for Black}) 13... Qb4 14. Qc2 Bd7 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Qc3 Qb6 17. Be2 {Balta-Kopeikin, ICCF email 2016 Black missed} O-O-O $1 $146 18. O-O f6 $36) 7... Na5 8. Ne5 {other moves:} (8. Nd2 c5 9. dxc5 {another line here} (9. Nxc4 cxd4 10. exd4 {or} (10. Nxa5 Qxa5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qxd4 {Anderson-Archer, FICGS email 2014 here I like the following new idea} Qe5 $146 13. O-O-O (13. Qd3 Bd7 $15) 13... Qxd4 14. Rxd4 Bd7 15. Be2 Bc6 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rc8 $11) (10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. exd4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Bb4 13. Bd2 $6 Bd7 $15 {Sahidi-Urazayev, Lichess.org 2021}) 10... Bb4 11. Ne5 {occured in two games} h6 $146 12. Bh4 $140 (12. Be3 Nd5 $15) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nf3 Rg8 $17) 9... Bxc5 10. Bxc4 {an alternative variation} (10. Nxc4 Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Bd7 {Black has no problems, one good model game here} 13. Ke2 Rc8 14. Bb3 {Krimbacher-Sherwood, ICCF email 2017 and now} Bc6 $146 15. f3 h6 16. Bh4 Ke7 $15) 10... Bd7 11. O-O {another line} (11. Be2 Bc6 12. O-O O-O 13. Rb1 Bb4 $1 14. Bh4 {Hinz-Baranowski, ICCF email 2017 here I like} Qd6 $146 15. Qc2 Nd5 16. Nde4 Qd7 $15) 11... Be7 12. Bd3 {Meissner-Buchan, ICCF email 2021 after natural} Qb6 $146 13. Rb1 Qb4 {I prefer Black position.}) (8. Be2 c5 9. dxc5 Qxd1+ 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. O-O {four games arrived to this position} Be7 $146 12. Ne5 Nd5 13. Bxe7 Kxe7 14. Rd4 (14. Nxd5+ $140 exd5 15. Rxd5 b5 $1 16. axb5 Be6 17. Rdd1 axb5 $15) 14... Nb6 15. Nxc4 Nbxc4 16. Bxc4 Nc6 17. Rd2 Bd7 {with more pleasant endgame for Black.}) 8... Bb4 9. Be2 {other moves:} (9. Nxc4 Qd5 $1 10. Bxf6 {much worse} (10. Nxa5 $2 Qxa5 (10... Ne4 $5) 11. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qxc3+ 13. Ke2 gxf6 $17 {Muradli -Erigaisi, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Nxc4 11. Qb3 {other moves} (11. Bxc4 Qxg2 $1 12. Rf1 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 gxf6 14. Qb3 Qxh2 15. O-O-O Qd6 $17 {Szabolcsi, J-Milikow, E Budapest 2022}) (11. Bxg7 Rg8 12. Bf6 Rg6 $1 13. Bh8 Bd7 14. Qc2 O-O-O 15. O-O-O Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Nd6 17. Be5 Bxa4 $15 {Peiro Aparisi-Ordobas Martinez, ICCF email 2021}) 11... Nxe3 $1 12. Qxb4 Nc2+ 13. Kd2 Nxb4 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. Be5 f6 17. Bg3 {Yanchenko-Gonzalez, Chess.com 2022} Rg4 $1 $146 18. f4 Nxf4 19. Re1 Nd5 $17) (9. Bxf6 gxf6 ({Worthy alternative} 9... Qxf6 10. Nxc4 b6 $5 11. Nxa5 bxa5 12. Bd3 c5 {with nice play for Black Cramling-Javakhishvili, Mulhouse 2017}) 10. Nxc4 c5 {one good illustraitve game} 11. Qc2 Bd7 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Rd1 Be7 14. Nd6+ Kf8 $1 $15 {Krimbacher-Zolochevsky, ICCF email 2017}) 9... c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. exd4 h6 (11... Nb3 $5 12. Ra2 Nxd4 13. Bh5 $1 $132 {Balta-Byrne, ICCF email 2018}) 12. Bxf6 (12. Bh4 Nb3 13. Rb1 Qxd4 $15) 12... Qxf6 13. Bxc4 O-O 14. Ne4 {Furguzz-Mary, LSS email 2018 here my new suggestion} Qe7 $146 15. Ba2 Rd8 16. Rc1 Bd7 17. Rc7 Rac8 18. Rxd7 Rxd7 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. d5 exd5 21. Qxd5 $11) (5. g3 c5 6. Bg2 {other moves} (6. Qa4+ Bd7 7. Qxc4 b5 $5 $146 {a regular theoretical line here} (7... Bc6 8. dxc5 Nbd7 {with many games}) 8. Nxb5 {crtical} (8. Qd3 Bc6 $15) 8... Qb6 {I checked three moves here} 9. Nc3 (9. a4 a6 10. Na3 {or} (10. Nc3 Nc6 $1 11. e3 Na5 12. Qe2 Bc6 13. Bg2 Nb3 14. Rb1 Qb7 $1 $44) 10... Nc6 11. Bg2 (11. dxc5 $2 Bxc5 12. e3 Na5 $19) 11... cxd4 12. O-O Rc8 {with complex , but balanced play.}) (9. Na3 Nc6 10. Bg2 {worse for White} (10. dxc5 $6 Bxc5 11. e3 O-O 12. Be2 e5 13. Qb5 Bh3 $36) 10... cxd4 11. O-O Rc8 12. Bd2 $5 Bxa3 (12... Qxb2 13. Nb5 $44) 13. bxa3 Ne5 14. Qb3 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 O-O $11) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 (10. Qxd4 $2 Bc5 $19) 10... Nc6 11. Nxc6 {another line} (11. e3 Nxd4 12. exd4 Qb7 {only not} (12... Bc6 $2 13. Qxc6+ Qxc6 14. Bb5 $16) 13. d5 {in case of} (13. Rg1 Bb4 14. a3 Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 O-O $44) 13... Nxd5 14. Bg2 Rc8 $1 15. Qd4 Qb4 16. Qxb4 Nxb4 $5 ({obviously equalizes} 16... Bxb4 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. O-O $11) 17. O-O Nd3 18. Rd1 Nxc1 19. Raxc1 Be7 $13 {with balanced endgame}) 11... Bxc6 12. Be3 (12. f3 $2 Bc5 $36) 12... Qb7 13. f3 Rc8 14. Qb3 Bb4 $44) (6. dxc5 $6 Qxd1+ 7. Nxd1 Bxc5 8. Be3 {Burnett-Orr, Edinburgh 2022 Black could play} Bxe3 $146 9. Nxe3 c3 $1 10. bxc3 b6 11. Bg2 Bb7 12. O-O Ke7 $15) 6... Nc6 7. Qa4 {main move without any doubts. Other options:} (7. e3 Rb8 $1 8. O-O b5 9. dxc5 {Silva-Papp, Chess.com 2022 Black should have played} Bxc5 $1 $146 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $1 {allowing} 11. Ng5 Ne5 12. f4 Nd3 $1 {the point behind Black idea} 13. Nxf7+ Ke7 14. Nxh8 Nxc1 15. Rfxc1 Bxe3+ 16. Kf1 Bxc1 17. Rxc1 Bd7 $15) (7. dxc5 Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 Bxc5 9. Ne3 {White best move} (9. O-O Nd5 $1 10. e4 Ndb4 11. Be3 {Rendboe-Meskenas, Denmark 2023} Be7 $1 $146 12. Nd2 Na5 $17) 9... Bxe3 10. Bxe3 Nd5 11. Bd2 {Ivanov-Farago, Osterskars 1995} O-O $146 12. O-O b5 13. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) (7. Be3 $6 Ng4 $1 8. O-O {not dangeorus for Black} (8. d5 Nxe3 9. fxe3 exd5 10. Nxd5 {Radjabov-Grischuk, Krasnogorsk 2023 and now Black could play} g6 $1 $146 11. Nd2 Bg7 12. Nxc4 O-O $15) 8... Nxe3 9. fxe3 Be7 10. Qa4 {A strong improvement I suggest} ({One game continued} 10. d5 exd5 11. Nxd5 {Krasenkow-Praggnanandhaa, Krasnaya Polyana 2021 Black should have played} O-O $146 12. Nd2 Bh3 $1 13. Nxc4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 b5 15. Na3 Rb8 $17) 10... Rb8 $1 $146 11. Ne5 {critical move, another line I checked} (11. Rfd1 O-O 12. dxc5 b5 $1 13. Rxd8 {or} (13. Nxb5 Qa5 $1 14. Qxa5 Nxa5 15. Nc3 Bxc5 $15) 13... bxa4 14. Rxf8+ Kxf8 15. Nxa4 Bd7 16. Nd2 Ne5 $15) (11. Qxc4 $6 b5 $1 12. Qd3 (12. Nxb5 $140 $2 Na5 13. Qa4 Bd7 $19) 12... O-O $17) 11... O-O 12. Bxc6 cxd4 $1 13. Rfd1 bxc6 14. Qxa7 (14. Nxc6 $2 Bd7 15. Rxd4 Bg5 $1 $17) 14... Rb7 15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. exd4 c5 $15) 7... Bd7 {Black reaches easy equality after} (7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 9. Bxc6+ Bd7 $1 10. Bxd7+ {or} (10. Be3 Bxc6 {worthy of consideration} (10... Qd6 $5 $146 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. Qxc4 Rc8 13. Qb3 Bc5 14. Bxc5 Rxc5 15. Rd1 Qc6 16. O-O O-O $11) 11. Qxc6+ bxc6 12. Bxd4 Nd5 13. Rc1 {Sokolin-Kaidanov, New York 1997 Black should have played} c5 $1 $146 14. Be5 f6 15. Bf4 Kd7 16. O-O Be7 $15) 10... Qxd7 11. Qxc4 Rc8 12. Qb3 {inferior square} (12. Qf4 $6 Bd6 13. Qf3 {Panjer-Ilinca Ilinca, Benidorm 2022. A nice improvement would be} Be5 $146 14. O-O O-O 15. Bf4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qd5 $1 $15) 12... Bc5 13. O-O O-O (13... Qc6 $5 {deserves attention as well}) 14. Bg5 {main move. I also examined} (14. Bf4 Rfd8 15. Rad1 Qc6 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 $11 {Keil-Gebigke, Berlin 2003}) 14... Qc6 15. Rac1 Ne4 $1 16. Nxe4 Qxe4 17. Rxc5 Rxc5 18. Be7 {Klyszcz-Moench, Wiesbaden 2013 and now the most precise would be} Rfc8 $146 19. Bxc5 Rxc5 $11) 8. Qxc4 (8. dxc5 $6 {happeened in two games. In both cases Black missed strong} Nd4 $1 $146 9. Qd1 Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 Bxc5 11. O-O O-O 12. Bxb7 Rb8 13. Bf3 h6 {I would prefer Black position.}) 8... b5 9. Qd3 {Black b5-pawn is untouchable} (9. Nxb5 $2 Na5 10. Qa4 (10. Qd3 c4 $19) 10... a6 $19) (9. Qxb5 $2 Nb4 $19) 9... c4 10. Qc2 Be7 11. O-O ({I checked also} 11. a3 Qb6 12. Be3 Nd5 $13) 11... b4 12. Ne4 Rc8 $1 13. Bf4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 O-O 15. Rac1 Na5 16. Ne5 Be8 17. h4 f6 18. Nf3 Bf7 19. Rfd1 Qb6 $15 {Ax-Radloff, GER email 2011}) 5... b5 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) 7... Nb6 {The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} 8. Be2 (8. Be3 Nc6 9. a3 (9. Be2 {will be covered through 8.Be2 move order}) (9. Nc3 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O {once again covered through 8.Be2 move order}) 9... Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Be2 {White also tried} (11. Qc2 Ne7 $5 12. Nd2 Nf5 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. Qa4+ c6 17. O-O {Kuzubov-Pichot, Linares 2022 I like the following improvement for Black} Bc5 $146 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Rad1 Qf4 $1 $11) 11... Na5 {I would like to suggest another ideas as well} (11... Ne7 $5 12. O-O Nf5 13. b3 {second game here featured} (13. Qc1 Be7 14. Rd1 O-O 15. d5 Nxe3 16. dxe6 {Santos Latasa-Yuffa, Linares 2022} Qc6 $1 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. fxe3 (18. Qxe3 Raf8 $36) 18... Raf8 $44) 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3 {Koelle-Zelcic, Terme Catez 2022 now accurate} Bc6 $146 15. Rfc1 Be7 $11 {would lead to reliable position for Black.}) 12. h4 (12. Qc2 Be7 {see 8.Be2 move order}) 12... f5 $1 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Bf3 {Maltsevskaya-Kostenko, Cheliabinsk 2022} f5 $146 16. O-O Bd6 $15) (8. a4 Qd7 $1 9. Be2 {I checked also} (9. Na3 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxa3 {worth considering} (10... Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxa4 {after} 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O Qb4 $1 14. Qc3 O-O 15. Nxc4 Nd5 $11) 11. Rxa3 a5 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 {Vachier Lagrave-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021 I like the following improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rh4 f5 $1 $13) 9... Nc6 10. O-O {another line} (10. Be3 Bb7 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 Bb4 13. Nc3 O-O $15 {Aditya-Pranav, chess24. com 2022}) 10... Na5 11. Ng5 {worse option for White} (11. Ra2 $6 Bb7 12. Qc2 a6 13. Nc3 {Grozdanovic-Djukic, Novi Banovci 2023 and now} Qc6 $1 $146 14. Rd1 Bb4 {would secure better position for Black.}) 11... h6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Nd5 $1 15. Ra3 a6 16. Nd4 Ne7 17. Qd2 {Carlsen-Nakamura, chess24.com 2020 and now the logical improvement would be} O-O-O $1 $146 {with the following illustrative line} 18. Qxa5 Qxd4 19. Bf3 Nc6 $1 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxa6+ Bb7 22. Qb5 Qd5 $1 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Qa5 Rhg8 $11) (8. a3 Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Nc6 {transpose to 8.Be3}) (8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15) 8... Nc6 9. O-O {I examined four alternatives here:} ({The main alternative is} 9. Be3 Be7 10. a3 {other important moves:} (10. h4 $5 {played twice by Gukesh} Bb7 11. h5 Qd7 12. Nc3 {Gukesh-Abdusattorov, Warsaw 2021 Black play can be improved by means of} O-O-O $1 $146 13. Qd2 Kb8 14. Kf1 f5 $1 $15) (10. O-O {covered through 10.Be3}) 10... Bb7 11. Qc2 {the main move. In case of} (11. Nc3 Na5 {White has nothing better than} 12. Qc2 Qd7 {which takes us back to 11.Qc2}) 11... Qd7 12. Nc3 {one game saw} (12. Rd1 $6 {Rustemov-Xiong, Chess. com 2022 this allowed tactical solution} Nxe5 $1 $146 13. Nxe5 {or} (13. Nxc7+ Qxc7 14. dxe5 Rc8 $15) 13... Qxb5 14. O-O O-O 15. Nxc4 Qc6 $15) 12... Na5 13. Rd1 {other possibilitites:} (13. O-O {happened in three games. I don't see the reason to refrain from natural} O-O $146 14. Nd2 Rab8 $13 {with complex game.}) (13. h4 {is well met by} f5 $1 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Rd1 O-O-O 16. Bf4 {Maghsoodloo-Pichot, Chess.com 2023 Black could have played} ({Much worse} 16. Ne4 $6 {In the game Unuk-Guichard, Petrovac 2023 Black missed fantastic} Qa4 $1 $146 17. Qb1 Nd5 $17) 16... h5 $1 $146 17. O-O Rdg8 $36 18. Bg3 Bd6 $15) 13... f5 $5 14. exf6 {only one game featured} (14. h4 $6 O-O 15. Rg1 Rad8 $17 {Gajewski-Kollars, Legnica 2021}) 14... gxf6 15. O-O ({Once again} 15. Ne4 {met by} Qa4 $1 16. Qxa4+ $2 {better would have been} (16. Qb1 O-O-O $15) 16... Nxa4 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 {Ostlund-Crevatin, Stockholm 2022 and now the most precise would be} Bd5 $1 $146) 15... O-O-O 16. Nd2 {not working for White} (16. d5 $2 exd5 17. Nd4 {Gunina-Kosteniuk, Almaty 2022} Rhg8 $17) 16... f5 17. Bf3 Rhg8 18. g3 {White best try} (18. Kh1 {Koelle-Murphy, Arandjelovac 2022} Bxf3 $146 19. Nxf3 Bf6 $13) (18. Bxb7+ Kxb7 19. Nf3 $6 {stronger would be} (19. b4 $1 $146 cxb3 20. Nxb3 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 Qc6 $13) 19... Qc6 20. Qe2 Nb3 $15 {Martirosyan-Martin Duque, La Roda 2022}) 18... Bd6 19. Bxb7+ Kxb7 20. Nf3 {another game here continued: Harsha-Girel, Rochefort 2023 Black should have just played} (20. Rfe1 {Lazavik-Azarov, Cheliabinsk 2021 an immediate improvement might be} Rdf8 $146 21. f4 Qc6 $13) 20... Nb3 $1 $146 {with the following nice point} 21. d5 e5 22. Qe2 c5 $1 23. dxc6+ Qxc6 $13) ({Interesting idea} 9. h4 Bb7 10. Rh3 $1 {no problems for Black} (10. h5 Qd7 11. Be3 {Gunina-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022 a natural improvement would be} Bb4+ $1 $146 12. Nc3 (12. Kf1 Ne7 $15) 12... Ne7 13. Qc2 h6 {and now it's transposed to one game} 14. Rd1 Nf5 $15 {Makarian-Seo, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Bb4+ ({deserves attention} 10... Qd7 $5) 11. Kf1 Qd7 12. a3 Be7 13. Nc3 {Krysa-Mareco, Tornelo INT 2021 I like the new} O-O-O $146 14. Be3 f5 $1 15. exf6 Bxf6 $132) (9. Bg5 Be7 10. Qd2 $6 {Sarana-Tomashevsky, Satka 2018 and now simple} Bxg5 $146 11. Qxg5 Qxg5 12. Nxg5 Ke7 $1 13. Nxc7 Rb8 14. Nf3 a6 $15) (9. a3 Be7 10. Be3 {see 9.Be3}) 9... Be7 10. Qd2 {This will be our main continuation. I will examine 5 alternatives as well:} (10. Be3 O-O 11. Nc3 {other options:} (11. Qc2 Nb4 12. Qe4 (12. Qc1 Bb7 $11) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Nc3 Qxe4 14. Nxe4 {Wichmann-Poetsch, Leipzig 2018 and now my minor improvement would be} a5 $5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba6 16. a3 {or} (16. Nfd2 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 (17. Rc2 h6 $13) 17... cxd3 18. Rxc7 Nd5 19. Rcc1 Rfb8 $44 {with excellent compensation.}) 16... N4d5 17. Rc2 Rfb8 18. Nfd2 Ra7 $1 $13) (11. Qc1 Bb7 {an interesting alternative could be} (11... Nb4 $5 12. Nc3 (12. Rd1 {another important line} Bb7 {see 11...Bb7}) 12... a5 $5 13. Rd1 Ba6 14. a3 N4d5 15. Nxd5 $6 {Mishra-Velten, Budapest 2021 and now the right recapture would have been} exd5 $1 $146 16. h3 Bc8 17. Qc2 a4 18. Nh2 Be6 $15) 12. Rd1 ({In case of} 12. Nc3 Nb4 13. Rd1 Rb8 {see via 11. Nc3 move roder}) ({Black main idea can be seen from the following line} 12. Bxc4 a6 $1 13. Na3 Nxc4 14. Nxc4 {or} (14. Qxc4 Nb4 15. Qe2 a5 16. Nc4 Qd7 $44) 14... Qd5 $1 15. Rd1 h6 $44) 12... Nb4 13. a3 {after} (13. Na3 {runs into} Nd3 14. Bxd3 Bxf3 $1 15. gxf3 cxd3 16. Rxd3 c5 17. Nc4 $6 Qd5 $1 18. Nxb6 axb6 $36 {Hardarson-Ivic, Reykjavik 2021}) (13. Ne1 N4d5 14. Bxc4 Nxe3 15. fxe3 Bg5 16. b3 {two games arrived to this position. I suggest the following new idea} Nxc4 $146 17. bxc4 f6 $1 $44 {easier play for Black.}) 13... N4d5 14. Nc3 (14. Bxc4 $2 Nxe3 15. fxe3 a6 $19) 14... Rb8 15. Nxd5 {clearly worse for White} (15. Nd2 $2 Nxe3 16. fxe3 c5 $1 $36 17. Nxc4 $140 Nxc4 18. Bxc4 cxd4 19. exd4 Bg5 $1 20. Qc2 Be3+ 21. Kh1 Qh4 $19 {Zadruzny-Ochsner, Kragero 2022}) 15... Qxd5 16. Bf1 {Sturt-Park, Budapest 2022 a simple} Bc6 $146 17. Nd2 Rfc8 $11 {would lead to balanced game.}) 11... Rb8 12. a3 {I examined White other possibilities:} (12. Qc1 Nb4 13. Rd1 {another line here} (13. Nd2 Ba6 14. b3 (14. Re1 $6 Nd3 $1 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Nce4 Nd5 17. a3 Bb7 $15 {Mendonca-Stoyanov, Kavala 2021}) 14... cxb3 15. Bxa6 b2 $1 16. Qxb2 Nxa6 17. Nb3 Nd5 18. Ne4 {Lombaers-Rakotomaharo, Belgium 2022 and now I like} Qe8 $146 {with equal play.}) 13... Bb7 14. Nd2 (14. a3 N4d5 {covered via 13. a3}) (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 a6 16. Nd2 N6d5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. Bf3 {Real de Azua-Flores, Buenos Aires 2017 and now natural} Qd7 $146 19. Ne4 Rfd8 {with comfortable play for Black.}) 14... Qe8 {very similar to 14...Qd7, I like the idea just be away from d-file just in case} 15. a3 {other moves:} (15. Nde4 N6d5 16. Nxd5 {Now I really like to recapture with bishop} (16. Bxc4 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bxe4 18. cxb4 Bxb4 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Qd7 $11 {Dessaules-Van Habberney, ICCF email 2018}) 16... Bxd5 $146 17. f3 {or} (17. Nc3 Bb7 18. Bf1 (18. Bxc4 {see 15. Nxc4}) 18... Qc6 19. b3 cxb3 20. axb3 a6 21. Qd2 Rfd8 {with complex but balanced play.}) 17... Qb5 18. Kh1 a5 19. b3 Qc6 $1 20. Bxc4 {or} (20. bxc4 Bxe4 21. fxe4 Qxe4 22. Bf3 Qf5 $1 23. Rd2 c5 $132) 20... a4 $44) ({The main idea can be seen from the folowng line} 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 Bxg2 $1 17. a3 {critical continuation} (17. Kxg2 $6 Qc6+ 18. d5 $6 (18. Kg1 $142 Qxc4 $15) 18... Qxc4 19. Rd4 Qa6 20. a3 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Qxc7 Qe6 $36 {Brynell-Ochsner, Germany 2022}) 17... Bd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Qxc7 f5 $11) 15... Nd3 16. Qc2 f5 $1 17. exf6 Qg6 $1 {the point} 18. Bf1 Rxf6 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Qxd3 Nxe3 21. Qxg6 $2 (21. Qxe3 $142 Rbf8 $44) 21... Rxg6 22. fxe3 Bxg2 $1 $19 {Rasmussen-Ochsner, Denmark 2022}) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. Qb1 {only one game saw} (14. Qd2 {Stefansson-Royal, Nova Gorica 2022 I like here} a5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba8 $13 {with complicated middlegame.}) 14... a5 15. Rd1 {Nguyen-Hassemeier, Pardubice 2022 an important improvement here} (15. Qe4 {happened in Aditya-Indjic, Tashkent 2022} Nb4 $146 16. Qg4 Kh8 17. Rxa5 N6d5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bc4 c5 20. Ra4 Nc2 $44) 15... Nb4 $146 16. Rxa5 {another line} (16. Ne4 h6 $1 17. Rxa5 Ra8 $1 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. Nc5 Bd5 $44) 16... N6d5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Bc4 Qd7 $44) (12. Rc1 Bb7 13. Na4 {I would like to mention also} (13. Qc2 $6 Nb4 14. Qb1 {occured in two games} Bxf3 $1 {looks like a nice improvement upon Black play} 15. Bxf3 (15. gxf3 f5 $1 16. exf6 Rxf6 $36) 15... Nd3 16. Rcd1 c5 17. Be4 (17. dxc5 Nd7 $15) 17... cxd4 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 Nc4 {interesting to check} (19... dxe3 $5 20. Rxd8 exf2+ 21. Rxf2 Rfxd8 $44) 20. Rxd4 Qc7 21. Bc1 Rfd8 $11) (13. Qd2 Nb4 14. Rfd1 {another example here} (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 {Sarana-Alekseenko, Yaroslavl 2019} N4d5 $15) 14... Qd7 15. Bg5 Bxf3 $1 16. Bxe7 ({bettwe would have been} 16. gxf3 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 f5 $1 $15) (16. Bxf3 $2 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 Nd3 $17) 16... Qxe7 17. Bxf3 Nd3 18. Rb1 {Andreikin-Nakamura, Chess.com 2023} c5 $1 $15) 13... Na5 {interesting to check} (13... Nb4 $5 14. Nxb6 cxb6 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bb3 a5 $44) 14. Nc5 (14. Bd2 {Gharibyan-Bjerre, Porto Carras 2018 I would recommend} Nc6 $146 {and it seems like White has nothing better than} 15. Be3 {with repetition}) (14. Nxb6 $6 cxb6 15. Nd2 b5 $15 {Sharavdorj-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 14... Bxc5 15. dxc5 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 {Checa-Tabatabaei, Chess.com 2020 a very strong improvement} Na4 $1 $146 17. Bd2 Nc6 18. Bc3 Rfd8 $1 19. Bxc4 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Na5 21. Be2 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Nc4 $15) (12. Qc2 Nb4 13. Qd2 {Mamedyarov-Firouzja, Zagreb 2022 a natural improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rfd1 Ba8 $13) 12... Na5 13. Qc2 Nd5 {a good alternative} (13... Bb7 $5 {for example} 14. Rad1 Qd7 15. Rfe1 h6 16. Nd2 {Assaubayeva-Svane, chess24.com 2022 and now} Rfd8 $146 17. h3 Ba8 $13 {with complex game.}) 14. Rad1 Ba6 15. Bd2 Nb3 16. Ne4 Nxd2 17. Rxd2 (17. Nfxd2 {would run into} c3 $1 18. Bxa6 Rxb2 19. Qc1 Rb6 $1 20. Be2 cxd2 21. Rxd2 Qd7 $11) 17... Rb3 $146 {the game has continued} (17... Nf4 $5 18. Bxc4 Rxb2 {the point} 19. Qxb2 Bxc4 20. Rc1 Bd5 $44 {with interesting compensation Radjabov-Firouzja, Madrid 2022:} (20... Nd3 $5 21. Rxd3 Bxd3 22. Nc5 Bf5 $13)) 18. Bxc4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qb8 20. Qc2 Qb7 21. Ne1 Nf4 22. h4 {or} (22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 g5 $1 24. c6 Qb5 $44) 22... Rb8 23. g3 Nd5 24. Nd3 Ne3 $1 25. fxe3 Qxe4 26. Re1 g5 $1 $132) (10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be3 {see 10.Be3} (11. Qd2 Bb7 {see 10.Qd2 11.Nc3 line}) (11. b3 $6 cxb3 12. axb3 Bb7 13. Be3 Nb4 14. Qd2 a5 15. Rfd1 N6d5 $15 {Seel-Shimanov, Chess.com 2021})) (10. Qc2 a6 11. Nc3 {I also checked} (11. Na3 Bxa3 12. bxa3 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 (14. Bb2 Qc5 15. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) 14... Qxe5 15. Bf3 Rb8 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Bc5 Qg5 $1 18. Bxb6 (18. Bb4 a5 $1 $15) 18... Rxb6 19. Qxc4 Qe7 20. Rac1 $11) 11... Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bf3 Rb8 14. Qe2 $6 Qd3 $1 15. Qe1 Bb7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. Be3 O-O 18. Rd1 Qf5 $17 {Aronian-Maghsoodloo, Kolkata 2021}) (10. a3 $5 {Two games reached this position} Bb7 $146 11. Be3 Na5 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Rad1 {one game featured} (13. Rac1 {Rustemov-Kosteniuk, Chess.com 2022} Qd7 $146 14. Nc3 Nb3 15. Rcd1 Qc6 $13) 13... Qd7 14. Nc3 Qc6 15. Ne1 (15. Rfe1 Rfd8 16. Bf1 {Anton Guijarro-Del Rio de Angelis, Linares 2015 Black should have played} Nb3 $146 17. Bg5 Qe8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 $13) 15... Rab8 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Bd2 Rfb8 $11 {Narayanan-Bartel, El Prat de Llobregat 2019}) (10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 O-O 13. Qd2 {another line} (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc1 {Pogorelov-Abdusattorov, Castelldefels 2021 now simple} Rfd8 $146 15. Rd1 h6 $15) 13... a6 14. Nc3 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 Qe7 16. Rfa1 Qb4 $1 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Rozum, Kazan 2018}) 10... Bb7 (10... O-O 11. Rd1 {scores amazingly for White on practice.}) 11. Qf4 {Two alternatives are:} (11. Rd1 Qd7 {here I checked five continuations:} 12. Nc3 (12. Qf4 g5 $5 {more aggressive than} (12... Nb4 13. Nc3 {see 12.Nc3}) 13. Qg3 {dangeorus for White to accept pawn sacrifice} (13. Nxg5 $6 Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Ne7 15. d5 Nbxd5 {one good example here} 16. a4 Rg8 17. Qd2 a6 18. Nd4 O-O-O 19. f3 Ng6 20. Bxc4 c5 21. Nc2 $2 Nh4 $19 {Erdos-Xiong, Saint Louis 2019}) 13... O-O-O 14. b3 (14. d5 $5 {happened in Dubov-Matlakov, St Petersburg 2018 after correct} Nxd5 $146 15. Bxc4 Rhg8 $13 {with double-edged play.}) 14... cxb3 15. axb3 Nd5 16. Bd2 Kb8 17. Ra4 $2 {Maerevoet-Tilicheev, Primorsko 2021} ({Better for White would have been} 17. Nc3 Rhg8 $13) 17... Rhg8 $17 18. Nc3 g4 19. Ne1 Nb6 $17) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Nb4 14. Nc3 O-O 15. Bb2 {other move are less impressive:} (15. Qb2 $6 {Zhang-Sethuraman, Tianjin 2020} Rfb8 $15) (15. Qf4 $2 N4d5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qd2 Bb4 18. Qc2 Nc3 19. Ng5 Nxe2+ 20. Qxe2 {Siddharth-Ibrahimli, Chess.com 2022 Black missed powerful} Qd5 $1 $146 21. f3 Qxb3 $17) 15... a5 16. Rac1 Rfc8 $15 {Urkedal-Hillarp Persson, Fagernes 2021} (16... Rfb8 $5)) (12. a4 Nb4 13. Na3 $6 {Bu-Xiong, chess24. com 2020 I don't see the reason to refrain from} ({A better idea for White would be} 13. Qf4 {here I checked the following line} O-O 14. Qg4 Kh8 $1 15. Na3 Qxa4 $1 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Nxc4 Nxc4 19. Bxc4 h6 $15 {with comfortable position for Black.}) 13... Qxa4 $146 {for instance} 14. Qf4 Nc2 15. Nxc2 Qxc2 16. Bd2 O-O $17) (12. Na3 $6 Bxa3 13. bxa3 Ne7 $1 14. Qc2 {Novikov-Papp, Germany 2022 and now simple} O-O $15 {would give Black excellent position.}) 12... Nb4 13. Qf4 {other moves} (13. a3 N4d5 {Very interesting idea could be} (13... a5 $146 {unfortunately White has very powerful} 14. b3 $1 {Black idea works really well after} (14. axb4 axb4 15. Rxa8+ Bxa8 16. Nb1 Be4 $1 $15) 14... cxb3 15. axb4 axb4 16. Rxa8+ Bxa8 17. Bb5 Bc6 $1 (17... c6 $2 18. Na4 $18) 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. Ne2 O-O $14 {although I am not sure it's objectively sufficient for Black.}) 14. Ne4 Qc6 15. Re1 {Two games reached this position. I have a new idea here} (15. Qc2 {here Black has} Nb4 $1 16. axb4 Qxe4 17. Qxe4 Bxe4 18. b5 {Ding-Praggnanandhaa, chess24. com 2021 here I like} Bc2 $5 $146 19. Re1 O-O 20. Bd2 Ba4 21. Bxc4 Nxc4 22. Rxa4 Nxd2 23. Nxd2 Rfb8 24. Rea1 Rxb5 25. Rxa7 Rxa7 26. Rxa7 Rxb2 27. Nf1 Rc2 $11) 15... h6 $5 $146 16. Bf1 (16. Ng3 $2 g5) (16. Qc2 {allows} Nb4 $1) 16... O-O 17. Qc2 Rab8 18. Bd2 Rfd8 19. Qc1 (19. Rac1 Qb5 $1) 19... Bf8 {with very complex play.}) (13. b3 cxb3 14. axb3 {see 12.b3}) 13... f5 $1 14. exf6 {the main continuation. Other moves} (14. h4 O-O-O 15. b3 {Obsivac-Mica, Olomouc 2022 I found a remarkable novelty here} g5 $3 $146 16. hxg5 {or} (16. Nxg5 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 cxd3 18. Rxd3 Bb4 19. Bd2 Rhg8 $40) 16... N4d5 17. Qd2 Bb4 18. Bb2 cxb3 19. axb3 a5 20. Qc2 h6 $40) (14. Qg3 {featured in Ding-Caruana, Saint Louis 2019 once again Black missed a remarkable} g5 $1 $146 15. Nxg5 {or} (15. b3 g4 16. Ne1 cxb3 17. axb3 h5 $15) 15... O-O-O 16. Bf3 N6d5 $44) 14... gxf6 15. Qh6 {White other options:} ({Very interesting} 15. d5 $5 {Li-Narayanan, Changsha 2019 Black should have played} N4xd5 $1 $146 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. b3 $1 e5 18. Qh4 Qe6 $1 19. bxc4 Bxc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Qh5+ Qf7 22. Qh3 Rd8 ({a bit dangeorus} 22... O-O 23. Bh6 Rfd8 24. Nh4 $44) 23. Rxd8+ Kxd8 24. Be3 Bd6 $44 {White definitely has compensation, but Black is pretty solid.}) (15. b3 {Cheparinov-Moiseenko, chess24.com 2020 Black had to play} N4d5 $146 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qh6 O-O-O 18. Bxc4 (18. bxc4 $2 Nc3 $17) 18... Rhg8 {with double-edged play.}) (15. Qg4 $6 O-O-O 16. Bf4 h5 17. Qh3 {Borhy-Brkic, Mali Losinj 2021 Black had a very nice idea} Nd3 $146 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 $140 $2 e5 $19) 15... O-O-O 16. Bf4 Rdg8 {I prefer this move to} (16... Nd3 17. Bg3 $1 Nxb2 18. Rdc1 N2a4 19. Rab1 Nxc3 20. Rxc3 Qc6 21. Bf1 $44 {Pelletier-Praggnanandhaa, Chennai 2022}) 17. Bg3 {Dreev-Sjugirov, Chess. com 2022 Black should have played} Rg6 $146 {here I checked two variations} 18. Qd2 {or} (18. Qh5 f5 19. Ne5 {or} (19. b3 Bf6 $1 20. Ne5 Qg7 21. Bf3 Ba6 $1 22. Bf4 Nd3 23. Nxd3 cxd3 24. Rac1 Bg5 25. Be5 Bf6 $11) 19... Qe8 $1 20. a3 (20. Rd2 $6 f4 21. Bxf4 Rxg2+ 22. Kf1 Rg7 $15) 20... N4d5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Bf3 Qf8 $1 23. Nxg6 hxg6 24. Qxg6 Rh6 $19) 18... h5 19. d5 $1 {critical} Rg7 $1 {this is stronger than} (19... N4xd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Nh4 Rg5 22. b3 cxb3 23. axb3 $44) 20. b3 {or} (20. dxe6 Qxd2 21. Rxd2 h4 22. Bf4 Rhg8 23. g3 hxg3 24. fxg3 Bc5+ 25. Kf1 Nd3 $36) 20... exd5 21. bxc4 d4 $1 22. Qf4 (22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. Nxd4 h4 24. Nf5 hxg3 25. Nxg7 Rg8 $1 26. Bg4+ Kb8 27. Nf5 Bc5 28. h3 gxf2+ 29. Kf1 Nxc4 $44) 22... d3 23. Bxd3 Bd6 $1 24. Qf5 Nxd3 25. Qxd3 Bxg3 26. hxg3 Qxd3 27. Rxd3 Nxc4 $11) (11. Nc3 O-O 12. Rd1 {another line} (12. Qf4 Nb4 13. Qg4 {another game featured} (13. Rd1 f5 $1 14. Qg3 Qe8 15. b3 {another game here saw} (15. h4 Nc2 (15... N4d5 $5 {worth considering}) 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 $1 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Nxd4 21. Rxd4 (21. Bf1 $5 c5 $11) 21... Rxd4 22. Nxe6 Rxh4 23. Nxf8 Kxf8 $15 {Garriga Cazorla-Sosa, Castelldefels 2021}) 15... Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Kf7 20. Bxe7 Kxe7 21. Rbc1 Bxf3 22. Rxc2 (22. Bxf3 $2 Nxd4 $17) 22... cxb3 23. axb3 Bxe2 24. Nxe2 Nd5 25. h4 Rb8 $11 {Goreczny-Chumanov, LSS email 2019}) 13... Kh8 14. Rd1 {five game arrived to this position. I would like to recommend a new idea} Qe8 $5 $146 15. Bf4 {another direction here} (15. Qh3 Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 f6 19. Be3 Nxe3 20. Qxe3 Qg6 21. Bf1 Rf7 $13) 15... Rb8 16. Rac1 Ba8 17. h4 a5 ({a good alternative would be} 17... N4d5 $5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxc4 Rxb2 20. Ng5 c5 $132) 18. Nd2 Nd3 $1 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Nde4 Na4 $1 21. Rxd3 Nxc3 22. Nxc3 Rxb2 23. d5 (23. Rg3 Rg8 $13) 23... Rb4 $1 24. Qg3 Qd7 25. d6 cxd6 26. exd6 Bd8 $13) 12... Nb4 13. a3 (13. Qf4 {see 13. Rd1}) 13... a5 $1 $146 {this time it looks working well for Black. The game continued} (13... N4d5 14. Ne4 $14 {Narayanan-Erenberg, Sitges 2019}) 14. Re1 ({after} 14. Qf4 {Black has} N4d5 15. Qg4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Kh8 17. Ng5 Rb8 18. Qh5 $140 $6 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Qd5 20. Bf3 Qb5 $15) 14... Nd3 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Qxd3 c5 17. Be3 Rb8 $44) 11... a6 ({A very popular move} 11... Qd7 {unfortunately runs into} 12. d5 $1 $146 Nxd5 (12... exd5 13. e6 $18) 13. Qxc4 $14 {with White retaining better pawnstructure.}) 12. Nc3 g5 $1 13. Nxg5 {I checked also} (13. Qg3 $146 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Bxg5 (15. Rd1 $6 Qh4 16. Qe3 Nd5 $15) 15... Rg8 16. Rfd1 Qxd1+ $1 17. Rxd1 Rxg5 18. Qe3 Rxg2+ 19. Kf1 Rxh2 20. Ke1 Nd7 $44) 13... Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Qxg5 15. Bxg5 Nxd4 16. f4 {other move White has tried} (16. f3 Rg8 17. h4 Nd7 $1 18. Rad1 Nxe2+ 19. Nxe2 Nxe5 20. Kh2 {Aleksandrov-Esipenko, Minsk 2019} Nd7 $1 $146 {looks like a nice improvement} 21. Nf4 e5 22. Nd5 (22. Nh5 Rg6 $15) 22... Bxd5 23. Rxd5 f6 24. Be3 O-O-O 25. Rc1 e4 $5 26. f4 Nb6 27. Rxd8+ Kxd8 28. Bxb6 cxb6 29. Rxc4 f5 $11) (16. Bh4 Rg8 $1 17. f3 Nd5 18. Kf2 $2 {the only move maintaining equality: Zoler-Zanan, Israel 2022} ({the only move maintaining equality} 18. Rae1 $1) 18... Nxc3 19. bxc3 Nxe2 20. Kxe2 Rxg2+ 21. Rf2 Rg6 $17) 16... Nxe2+ $146 {this is more accurate than} (16... Rg8 {Erenberg-Kasimdzhanov, Douglas 2019} 17. Rf2 $1 $14) 17. Nxe2 h6 18. Bh4 a5 19. Nc3 a4 20. a3 Nd5 $11 * [Event "N2026_0415X"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.23"] [Round "1.1"] [Board "1"] [White "Schwanek, C."] [Black "Llanos, G."] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Llanos,Guillermo"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "26"] [GameId "2298560152554291"] [EventDate "2026.??.??"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,26,19,19,25,0,6,14,6,6,50,56,78,78,70,70,72,57,52,52,52,54,49,11,30,31,40,20,-22] N2026_0413L} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 (4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qa4 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bf4 (10. Bd2 Be4 11. Qc1 c6) 10... Nc6 (10... Nd5 {0-1 Schwanek,C-Wehbe,R ARG U18-ch Chacabuco 1980})) {N2026_0413L} 4... dxc4 5. e4 (5. Bg5 a6) (5. Qa4+ c6 6. Qxc4 b5) (5. e3 a6 6. Bxc4 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7 8. O-O c5) 5... b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nxb5 {N2026_0415X} Nb6 8. Be2 ({Stockfish 18: 1)} 8. Be2 Nc6 9. Be3 Bb7 10. O-O Be7 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Na4 Nb4 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxc4 Nd5 15. Bc1 Ba6 16. Bxa6 Rxa6 17. a3 Qd7 18. Qd3 Rfa8 19. Rb1 b5 20. b4 Qc6 21. Bb2 Nf4 22. Qe3 Nd5 23. Qb3 Qc4 24. Nd2 Qxb3 25. Nxb3 h5 26. g3 g5 27. Rfc1 Kg7 28. Kf1 g4 29. Rc2 h4 30. Ke2 hxg3 31. hxg3 Rxa3 32. Bxa3 Rxa3 {[%eval 43,41]}) ({Stockfish 18: 2)} 8. Be3 Bb4+ 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Be2 N8d7 11. O-O c5 12. a3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 cxd4 14. Qxd4 O-O 15. Rfb1 Qc7 16. a4 Bd5 17. a5 Nc8 18. Qh4 a6 19. Qf4 Ne7 20. Bb6 Qc8 21. h4 h6 22. h5 Nc6 23. Bxc4 Bxc4 24. Qxc4 Ndxe5 25. Nxe5 Nxe5 26. Qd4 Nd7 27. Rc1 Qc6 28. c4 Rac8 {[%eval 38,41]}) ({Stockfish 18: 3)} 8. Nc3 Bb7 9. Be3 Bb4 10. Be2 N8d7 11. O-O c5 12. a3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 O-O 14. dxc5 Nd5 15. Bd4 Rc8 16. Bxc4 Nxc5 17. Re1 Qa5 18. Qc2 Qa4 19. Bd3 Qxc2 20. Bxc2 Ba6 21. a4 Nd3 22. Bxd3 Bxd3 23. Bxa7 Rxc3 24. Be3 h6 25. a5 Ba6 26. Bd2 Rc2 27. Reb1 Ra8 28. h4 Kh7 29. Rc1 Rb2 {[%eval 38,41]}) ({Stockfish 18: 4)} 8. a4 Qd7 9. Bd2 a6 10. Na3 Bxa3 11. Rxa3 a5 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O Ne7 14. Qc1 Bb7 15. Re1 Bd5 16. Bd1 Nf5 17. Bc3 Bc6 18. Ng5 Bxa4 19. Bg4 Ne7 20. Bf3 Bc6 21. Ne4 O-O 22. h4 Bxe4 23. Bxe4 Nbd5 24. Qc2 h6 25. Rea1 Rfd8 26. Qa4 Qxa4 27. Rxa4 Nxc3 {[%eval 34,40]}) ({Stockfish 18: 5)} 8. a3 Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 10. Nc3 Nc6 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. Be2 Ne7 13. Nb1 Nf5 14. Nbd2 c5 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Rxc4 Ba6 17. Rc1 Bxe2 18. Qxe2 cxd4 19. Bd2 Be7 20. g4 Nh4 21. Nxh4 Bxh4 22. O-O Be7 23. Ba5 Rb8 24. Rfd1 O-O 25. Rc7 Qa4 26. b4 Bd8 27. Ra1 {[%eval 32,40]}) 8... Nc6 (8... Be7 {[%emt 0:00:17];1-0 Giri,A (2753)-Praggnanandhaa R (2741) FIDE Candidates 2026 Agios Georgios Pegeia (8.3)}) 9. O-O Be7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Rc1 Bb7 12. Bxc4 (12. Na3 Nb4) 12... Nxc4 13. Rxc4 Qd5 0-1 [Event "N20226_0517D"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.17"] [Round "1.1"] [Board "1"] [White "D24_supi"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "40"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,40,25,13,27,-9,-12,-6,6,12,52,45,83,73,73,70,70,47,55,64,46,43,40,45,72,68,79,60,47,54,50,44,51,43,48,36,33,22,66,65,57,58,66]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. e4 {White most principal move. I also examined White four alternative options} ({The most popular alternative} 5. e3 a6 6. Bxc4 {the main alternative obviously} (6. a4 {now I would like to offer fighting alternative} b6 $5 {to well-known} (6... c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O Be7 {which easily solves opening problems for Black. Two examplary lines here:} 9. Qe2 ({and} 9. dxc5 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. Bd2 Bd7 12. Bd3 O-O 13. Ne4 Be7 14. Rac1 Rfd8 15. Nc5 Be8 $1 $11 {Anand-Kramnik, Monte Carlo 2011}) 9... cxd4 10. Rd1 e5 $1 11. exd4 exd4 12. Nxd4 $1 Nxd4 13. Qe5 Qd6 $1 {the easiest solution} 14. Qxd6 Bxd6 15. Rxd4 Bc5 $11 {over 200 games here, but the endgame is very equal.}) 7. Bxc4 Bb7 8. O-O (8. Qe2 Bb4 9. O-O {see 8.0-0}) 8... Bb4 9. Qe2 {important alternative line here} (9. Qb3 Qe7 10. d5 {other moves:} (10. Ne5 O-O 11. f3 c5 $1 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Nd3 {Tadic-Perunovic, Zlatibor 2007 Black should just keep his dark-squared bishop by means of} Bd6 $1 $146 14. Qxb6 Nc6 $44) (10. e4 {occured in two games. A serious imporvement here} Nc6 $1 $146 {too dangerous} (10... Nxe4 $2 11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. d5 $1 $36 {Greenfeld-Godart, Avoine 2014}) 11. Qc2 Na5 12. Bd3 c5 {and we have a complex game with approximate line being} 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ne4 cxd4 15. Nxd4 {or} (15. Bg5 f6 $1 16. exf6 gxf6 17. Bh6 e5 $15) 15... h6 $13) 10... exd5 {Black can also play} (10... Bxc3 11. dxe6 $1 {White idea here} Bb4 12. exf7+ Kf8 13. Nd4 b5 $1 {only move!} 14. axb5 axb5 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 16. Bxb5 {another game featured} (16. Nxb5 Nc6 $1 17. Qa4 Bb7 18. Rd1 g5 $13 {Pohlig-Hoffmann, ICCF email 2013}) 16... Bd5 17. Bc4 Bxc4 18. Qxc4 Bd6 19. Ne6+ Kxf7 20. Nxc7+ Kg6 $1 21. Qd3+ Kf7 22. Qc4+ {and draw agreed in Berczes-Ngo, New York 2022}) 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Nc6 13. e4 Na5 (13... O-O-O $5) 14. Qd3 {Piyumantha-Liyanage, Colombo 2018 Black should have played} Rd8 $146 15. Bg5 f6 16. Be3 Rd7 $13) 9... O-O 10. Rd1 {another important line here} (10. Bd3 c5 11. dxc5 {other White options:} (11. Rd1 cxd4 12. exd4 h6 $5 13. Ne5 Nc6 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bxa6 Bxc3 $1 16. bxc3 Qd5 17. f3 Qa5 18. Bd3 Qxc3 19. Bb2 Qa5 $15 {Gladyszev-Grachev, Olginka 2011}) (11. Na2 Nc6 $1 12. e4 {or} (12. Nxb4 Nxb4 13. Bb1 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 cxd4 15. Bd2 Qd6 16. exd4 {Khademalsharieh-Zawadzka, Sharjah 2021} Nc6 $146) 12... Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 {Kurbedinov-Sarana, Sochi 2017 Black should have played} Qe5 $1 $146 15. Nxb4 cxb4 16. Bxb6 Bxe4 17. Rfe1 Qd6 18. Bxe4 Nxe4 19. a5 Nf6 $44) 11... Bxc5 12. e4 Nbd7 13. Bf4 {I also checked} (13. Bg5 Qb8 14. Rad1 $1 h6 15. Bc1 {Mazalon-Skalik, Lazy 2010} Qc7 $146 16. Bb1 Rfd8 $15) (13. e5 $2 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 Nxe5 $17 {Gormally-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 13... Nh5 $1 14. Bd2 (14. Be3 Qc7 15. g3 Nhf6 16. Bf4 {1-0 (46) Volkov, S (2541)-Iljiushenok,I (2554) Khanty-Mansiysk 2021} Bd6 $146 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. e5 Qc6 19. exf6 Qxf3 20. Qxf3 Bxf3 $11) 14... Qc7 15. e5 Bxf3 $1 16. gxf3 $2 ({White should have played} 16. Qxf3 $1 {with approximate line} g6 17. Be2 Nxe5 18. Qh3 Rfd8 19. Bg5 Be7 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Bxh5 gxh5 22. Qxh5 Ng6 $11) 16... Nxe5 $17 {Estremera Panos-Ivanov,S Stockholm 2020}) 10... Qe7 11. Bd3 {the main alternative is} (11. Ne5 c5 12. Na2 Ba5 13. b3 Nbd7 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. Bb2 Rfd8 $11 {Tratar-Petkov, Zadar 2005}) 11... c5 12. e4 {another line here} (12. Na2 Nc6 $5 13. e4 {Manolache,M-Mastrovasilis,D Tornelo INT 2023 I would suggest the following improvement} (13. Nxb4 Nxb4 14. Bb1 Rfd8 15. Bd2 Bxf3 $1 16. Qxf3 cxd4 17. exd4 Rac8 {Roselli Mailhe-Lopez Azambuja, Montevideo 2021}) 13... h6 $5 14. e5 Nd5 15. Qe4 f5 16. exf6 Nxf6 17. Qg6 Qe8 $1 $13) 12... cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nbd7 14. e5 Nd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Bf4 {Zordick-Lemke, GER email 2017 Black should have played} f6 $146 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Bg3 Bc5 19. Nf3 a5 $132) 6... b5 7. Bb3 {two alternatives are:} (7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O c5 9. Qe2 {or} (9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qe2 {other moves here:} (10. e4 Nbd7 11. Bf4 {or} (11. Qe2 Qb8 12. Bg5 O-O 13. Rad1 (13. Rac1 h6 14. Bxf6 (14. Bh4 {runs into} Nh5 $1 15. Bb1 Rc8 16. Rfd1 {De Groot-Riemersma, Utrecht 2018 after natural} Ne5 $1 $36 {Black is better.}) 14... Nxf6 15. Nxb5 Bxf2+ $1 16. Rxf2 axb5 17. a3 Rd8 $17 {Gerber-Brunner, Switzerland 2017}) 13... Bd6 14. a3 {all this occured in Rombaldoni,D-Georgiev,K Arvier 2010 after} h6 $1 $146 15. Bh4 Bf4 16. Bb1 Qc7 {with very comfortabel play for Black.}) 11... Nh5 $1 12. Bg5 Be7 13. Be3 Nhf6 14. Qc2 b4 15. Ne2 Rc8 16. Qb1 Bc5 $17 {Bondars-Sorcinelli, LSS email 2011}) (10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Qe2 Qe7 {Black achieved very comfortable position with natural move} 13. Rfd1 Rac8 14. Nd2 Ba3 $1 15. Bxa3 Qxa3 $15 {Seo-Abdusattorov, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Nbd7 11. Rd1 (11. e4 {see 10.e4}) 11... O-O 12. b3 Rc8 13. Bb2 Bb4 14. Nb1 {three games here} (14. Rac1 $2 Qa5 $19 {occureed in two games}) 14... Nd5 $146 15. a3 Be7 16. Nd4 Bf6 $15)) (7. Be2 Bb7 8. O-O {I also checked} (8. a3 c5 9. O-O {another line here} (9. dxc5 Qxd1+ 10. Bxd1 Bxc5 {Black has no problems whatsoever in this endgame, a good model game here} 11. b4 Bd6 12. Bb2 Nbd7 13. O-O Ke7 14. Nd2 Nb6 15. Be2 Rac8 16. Rac1 Rhd8 $15 {Rakhmanov-Shimanov, Minsk 2014}) 9... Nbd7 10. dxc5 (10. b3 Qc7 11. Bb2 Rd8 $1 12. Rc1 Qb8 13. dxc5 $6 Ng4 $5 14. Nxb5 $2 {Koth-Gasper, Nordrheinwestfalen 2018} ({White should have continued} 14. c6 $1 Bxc6 15. g3 Bb7 $15) 14... Bxf3 $1 $146 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. cxd6 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Ngf6 18. Qxa6 Qxb3 $19) 10... Bxc5 11. b4 {hardly a good idea for White} (11. Qc2 $6 Rc8 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Rfd1 Qe7 14. Rac1 {Gvanceladze-Zvereva, Moscow 2021 a great idea for Black would be} Ng4 $1 $146 {seizing the initiaitve, for example} 15. h3 $140 Nge5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. f4 Ng6 18. Kh2 Nh4 19. e4 f5 $40) 11... Be7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Qb3 {other moves:} (13. a4 a5 $5 $146 {fighting move. Obviously there is nothing wrong with} (13... bxa4 14. Qxa4 Qb6 15. b5 Nc5 16. Qa5 Qxa5 17. Rxa5 axb5 $11 {Goloshchapov-Buhmann, Germany 2010}) 14. Nxb5 {another line here} (14. bxa5 b4 15. Nb5 Qxa5 16. Nd2 Rad8 17. Nb3 Qa8 18. Bf3 Ne4 $15) (14. axb5 $6 axb4 15. Nb1 Rxa1 16. Bxa1 Bxf3 $1 17. gxf3 (17. Bxf3 Qa5 $17) 17... Nd5 $1 $15) 14... axb4 15. Qd4 $1 Qb8 16. Ne5 Rd8 $13) (13. Rc1 Nb6 14. Qd4 Rc8 15. Rfd1 Qxd4 16. Nxd4 Nfd5 $11 {Zubkov-Zhdanov, Uljanovsk 2009}) 13... Qb8 14. h3 {another direction here} (14. Rfd1 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. e4 {one game featured} (16. g3 $6 Qf5 $1 17. Rd4 {Priehoda-Kapnisis, Prague 2020 after logical} Rac8 $146 {Black would be clearly better.}) 16... Qb8 17. Bf3 Rd8 18. Qc2 Qc7 $15 {Muse-Eingorn, Berlin 1991}) 14... Rc8 15. Rfd1 Nb6 16. Rac1 {or} (16. Rd4 Nfd5 $1 17. e4 $2 Nxc3 18. Bxc3 Na4 19. Be1 Bf6 20. e5 Bxf3 $19 {with winning position for Black Kamrukov,A-Grachev,B Sochi 2017}) 16... Nc4 17. Ba1 {occured in two games} h6 $146 18. a4 Nd5 $15) 8... Nbd7 {I examined three lines here:} 9. b3 (9. Bd2 c5 10. dxc5 {other lines:} (10. Rc1 Be7 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. a3 O-O 13. b4 Nce4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Rc2 Bf6 16. Bc1 {Engelking-Zoch, Langenhagen 2007 and now Black missed} Nc3 $1 $146 17. Qxd8 Rfxd8 18. Bb2 Rac8 $17 {with clear advantage.}) (10. a4 b4 11. Na2 a5 $1 12. Nc1 {another line} (12. Bb5 Be7 13. Ne5 $6 O-O 14. Nc6 Bxc6 15. Bxc6 Rc8 16. Bb5 {Adly-Suleymanli, Sharjah 2022 Black could have played} c4 $1 $146 17. Qe2 Nb6 18. Rfc1 Ne4 $17) 12... Bd6 13. Nb3 O-O 14. Rc1 {Montagard-Remille, France 2009 and now natural} Rc8 $146 15. Be1 Bd5 $15 {would led to very pleasant position for Black.}) 10... Bxc5 11. b4 $1 {this is more precise to compare with} (11. a3 O-O 12. b4 {two games arrive to this position, but Black has never tried} Bd6 $1 $146 13. a4 bxa4 14. Qxa4 Qe7 15. Rfb1 Ne5 $15 {with more pleasant play.}) 11... Bd6 {another equal line here} (11... Bxb4 12. Nxb5 {White's point} Be7 13. Nbd4 O-O $11 {Epishin-Espinosa Aranda, Roquetas de Mar 2018}) 12. a4 bxa4 13. b5 O-O 14. bxa6 Bxa6 15. Bxa6 Rxa6 16. Rxa4 Rxa4 17. Qxa4 Ne5 $11 {Ijzermans-Admiraal, Vlissingen 2018}) (9. a4 b4 10. Nb1 c5 11. Nbd2 Be7 12. Nc4 {other moves:} (12. b3 cxd4 13. Nxd4 O-O 14. Bb2 {or} (14. Bf3 Nd5 $1 15. Nc4 $2 (15. Bb2 Ne5 $1 $15) 15... Nc3 $1 16. Qc2 Bxf3 17. Nxf3 {Tran-Hoang, Ho Chi Minh City 2017 and now precise would have been} Nb6 $1 $146 18. Nfe5 Nxc4 19. Nxc4 Bf6 20. Bd2 Qc7 $17)) (12. a5 O-O 13. Nc4 {see 12.Nc4}) 12... O-O 13. a5 {another line} (13. Bd2 a5 $1 14. Rc1 {Van der Lende-Swinkels, Hoogeveen 2021} Nb6 $1 $146 15. Nxb6 Qxb6 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Bb5 Ne4 $36) (13. b3 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Nc5 15. Bd2 {Drnovsek-Borisek, Ljubljana 2022 Black should have played} Nce4 $1 $146 16. Be1 Nd5 $17) 13... Qc7 14. Bd2 (14. b3 cxd4 15. Nxd4 (15. exd4 Rad8 $15 {Tunik-Bocharov, Ekaterinburg 2019}) 15... Nc5 16. Bd2 {Arzhenkov-Kremenietsky, Lesnoj Gorodok 2009} Nce4 $1 $146 17. Rc1 Rad8 $15) 14... Rac8 15. Rc1 Qb8 16. Nfe5 Rfd8 $15 {Ikonnikov-Ris, Netherlands 2016}) 9... c5 10. Bb2 Rc8 11. Rc1 {the main alternative} (11. a4 b4 12. Nb1 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 14. Nd2 Be7 15. Rc1 O-O 16. Bf3 Nd5 17. Nc4 Bf6 {with comfortable game for Black, occured in several games.}) 11... Be7 12. dxc5 {or} (12. a4 b4 13. Nb1 O-O 14. Nbd2 Rc7 $5 15. Nc4 Qa8 16. Ne1 {Rosenberg-Timmermans, Chess.com 2022 and now simple} cxd4 $146 17. Bxd4 Bd5 $15 {leads to more pleasant position for Black.}) 12... Bxc5 13. Nd2 {Black should continue} (13. Nd4 O-O 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 {covered through13.Nd2}) 13... O-O $146 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 Qb6 16. Qe2 Rfd8 $11 {Babich-Sharovskaya, Evpatoria 2007}) 7... Bb7 8. O-O c5 {I examined three White major continuations:} 9. e4 (9. Qe2 Nbd7 10. Rd1 {the main alternative is} (10. e4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bc5 12. Be3 Qb6 13. Rfd1 {only one game featured} (13. Rad1 O-O 14. f3 Rad8 15. Rd2 Ne5 16. Rfd1 {Gligoric-Pietzsch, Leipzig 1960 ater natural} h6 $15 {I preer Black position}) 13... O-O 14. f3 (14. a4 {occured in four games} Ne5 15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Rxa8 17. Qxb5 Qxb5 18. Ncxb5 {Black should have played} (18. Ndxb5 Bxe3 19. fxe3 Bxe4 $1 $15) 18... Neg4 $1 $146 19. Nc7 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Rb8 $1 $44 {with nice compensation.}) 14... Ne5 15. Rd2 Rfd8 16. Rad1 {occured in nine games. Here I like the new move} h6 $5 $146 {with approximate line} 17. Nc2 Rxd2 18. Qxd2 Rc8 19. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 20. Qd4 Nfd7 {with pleasant position or Black.}) 10... Qc7 {This is tabya position, here I analyzed three moves} 11. e4 (11. d5 c4 $1 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc2 Bd6 {Two main moves here:} 14. e4 {and} (14. h3 O-O 15. e4 ({Fails to impress} 15. Ng5 $6 Nc5 16. b4 cxb3 17. axb3 Bh2+ $1 18. Kh1 {Livaic-Xiong, Chess.com 2022 Black play can be improved by means of} Be5 $1 $146 19. Bb2 b4 20. Na4 Bxb2 21. Nxb2 h6 22. Nf3 Nd5 $17 {with clear edge for Black.}) 15... Rae8 16. Bg5 {another instructive line} (16. Nd4 Nc5 17. a3 Bh2+ $1 18. Kh1 Be5 $17 {Drenchev-Mitkov, Sunny Beach 2010}) 16... Ne5 17. Nd4 (17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Rac1 {Narva-Meier, Tallinn 2018} Bc6 $146 19. a3 Rc8 $17) 17... Bc5 18. Bf4 {Holemar-Kozak, Brno 2008 and now simple} b4 $146 19. Na4 Ba7 $17 {would lead to Black clear edge.}) 14... O-O 15. Bg5 (15. h3 {see 14.h3}) 15... Ne5 16. Nd4 $2 Neg4 $1 17. g3 Nxf2 $1 18. Nxe6 {doesn't help} (18. Qxf2 Bc5 $19) 18... Nh3+ 19. Kg2 Qe7 $19 {D'Costa-Wells, West Bromwich 2003}) (11. Bd2 Rc8 12. Rac1 Qb8 13. e4 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Bd6 15. g3 O-O 16. f3 Rfe8 17. Be3 h6 $15 {Cremerius-Bernaert, ICCF email 2018}) 11... cxd4 12. Nxd4 {a very interesting alternative} (12. Nd5 $5 exd5 13. exd5+ Kd8 $5 14. Ng5 {clearly worse} (14. Bg5 $2 Bc5 15. Nxd4 {Calinescu-Lev, Arnhem 1987 and now natural} Re8 $146 16. Qf3 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Qe5 $1 18. Be3 Nc5 $17 {would secure clear edge for Black.}) 14... Nc5 15. d6 Bxd6 16. Nxf7+ Kc8 17. Nxh8 {Platz-Herrmann, Soemmerda 1950 in the game Black missed the best} Nxb3 $1 $146 18. axb3 Bc6 19. Bd2 Kb7 20. Ba5 Qd7 21. Rxd4 Bxh2+ $1 22. Kxh2 Qxd4 23. Qe7+ Nd7 24. Nf7 Qxf2 $15) 12... Bc5 13. Be3 {other moves} ({Important to check} 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Nxe6 Qe5 15. Nxg7+ Kf7 16. Nf5 {this has been occured in five games} (16. Nh5 $2 Rad8 17. Ng3 h5 $1 18. Be3 h4 19. Nf5 {Mamedyarov-So, Zagreb 2022 now} h3 $1 $40 {would decisively weaken light-squares around White king.}) 16... h5 $5 $146 {a strong improvement with approximate line} 17. g3 Qe6 18. Bf4 Ne5 19. Rac1 Rac8 $15) (13. Bg5 O-O 14. Rac1 Rac8 15. Kh1 $6 Qb6 $1 16. Be3 Bxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 $17 {Bennborn-Hult, Sweden 1991}) 13... O-O 14. Rac1 {another good example} (14. f3 Rfd8 15. Rd2 Bd6 16. g3 Nc5 17. Bc2 {Milde-Popov, ICCF email 2013 Black could play} Rac8 18. Rad1 Be7 {no problems for Black}) 14... Qb6 {here we have an extraordinary game} 15. f3 Rac8 16. Bf2 Ne5 17. Rc2 Nh5 $1 18. g3 Nf6 19. Rcd2 h6 20. Kg2 g5 $1 $15 {Lenderman-Anton Guijarro, Douglas 2019}) (9. dxc5 Nbd7 $1 10. Qe2 Bxc5 11. e4 Qb8 $1 12. Bg5 {Kuzubov-Zubov, Kiev 2012} O-O $146 13. Rac1 Rc8 $15) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 {another line} (11. Be3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Be7 13. e5 (13. f3 O-O 14. Qd2 {Perez Lopez-Fister, ICCF email 2016} (14. a4 Qb8 $1 15. Qe1 b4 16. Nb1 $2 {Wojtaszek-Kulaots, Warsaw 2013 Black has a strong improvement} Rd8 $1 $146 17. Qf2 (17. Bf2 Qe5 $17) 17... Bd6 $1 18. g3 Be5 $17) 14... Nd7 $146 15. Rfd1 Nc5 $11) 13... Ne4 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Re1 Bd5 16. Qg4 Bxb3 17. axb3 O-O 18. Be3 Qd3 19. Rad1 Qg6 $11 {Wichert-Seelig, ICCF email 2018}) 11... Bxc6 12. Qe2 (12. f3 $6 Bc5+ 13. Kh1 {Bruzon Batista-Vazquez, Lichess.org 2020} O-O $146 14. Qxd8 Rfxd8 15. Bf4 Nd7 {with pleasant endgame for Black.}) 12... Be7 13. Rd1 (13. Bg5 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. a3 O-O 16. Rfd1 Rfd8 17. Ba2 b4 $1 18. axb4 Qxb4 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Lintchevski, Sochi 2019}) (13. e5 Nd7 14. Bf4 Nc5 15. Bc2 O-O 16. Qe3 {Bruce-Rogers, ICCF email 2020 and now Black should have continued} b4 $146 17. Rfd1 Qc7 18. Ne2 Rac8 $13) 13... Qc7 14. Bg5 {another important line here} (14. e5 Nd7 15. Bf4 {Van Nierop-Cuaycong, LSS email 2009 here I discovered an interesting idea} g5 $5 $146 16. Bg3 Nc5 17. Bc2 (17. Qh5 Nxb3 18. axb3 O-O $15) 17... b4 18. Ne4 (18. Nb1 $6 h5 $36) 18... Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 Rc8 $1 $13) 14... Qe5 15. f4 Qc5+ 16. Kh1 b4 17. Bxf6 gxf6 (17... Bxf6 $2 18. Nd5 $1 $16) 18. Nb1 Bb5 19. Qe1 Qh5 $15 {Nurtawa-Khan, ICCF email 2020}) (5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. Qxc4 {other moves are also important} (6. a3 Bd6 7. Bg5 {or} (7. e4 {Mozharov-Sadhwani, Chess.com 2019 Black should have continued} Bd7 $146 8. Qxc4 e5 9. d5 Ne7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O h6 $13 {with complex middlegame}) 7... O-O 8. Qxc4 {another game featured} (8. Rd1 h6 9. Bh4 Bd7 10. Qxc4 b5 $1 11. Qd3 {Black idea can be seen from the following line} (11. Nxb5 g5 $1 12. Bg3 Na5 13. Qc3 Bxb5 14. Qxa5 Rb8 $44 {with nice compensation thanks to development advantage.}) 11... b4 12. Ne4 $6 {Black missed strong} ({Better would have been} 12. axb4 Nxb4 13. Qb1 Be7 14. e3 Nbd5 $11) 12... g5 $1 13. Nxf6+ (13. Nxd6 cxd6 14. Bg3 Qa5 $40) 13... Qxf6 14. Bg3 Rfd8 $13) 8... h6 9. Bh4 e5 10. d5 Ne7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. e3 {Indjic-Abdisalimov, Tashkent 2023 Black should have played} (12. e4 {another line} Rb8 $5 13. Be2 f5 $132) 12... Rb8 $1 $146 {useful waiting move} 13. Be2 f5 14. O-O Kh7 $15) (6. e4 $6 Bb4 7. Bg5 (7. Bxc4 {not dangerous} Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Rb1 {1-0 (24) Radnic,Z-Seifert,P Bad Zwesten 2001} O-O $146 {a clear improvement over the game with the following point} 11. Ba3 Nxd4 $1 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. Bxf8 Kxf8 $17) 7... Bd7 $1 8. Qc2 h6 $1 9. Bd2 {I also examined} (9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. e5 Nxd4 $1 11. Nxd4 Qxe5+ 12. Nde2 O-O-O 13. O-O-O Bc6 $17 {Dreisch-Nitschke, GER email 2015}) 9... b5 {a good model game here} 10. a3 Ba5 11. Nxb5 Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 (12. Nxd2 a6 13. Nc3 Nxd4 $17) 12... Nxe4 13. Qf4 Nd6 $1 14. Nxd6+ cxd6 15. Bxc4 (15. Qxd6 $2 Qa5+ $40) 15... d5 16. Bd3 {Kozak-Parligras, Tornelo INT 2021 Black should have played} Qb8 $1 $146 17. Qxb8+ Rxb8 18. b4 Ke7 19. Kd2 f6 $15) (6. Bg5 Bb4 7. Bxf6 {other moves:} (7. e3 Bd7 8. Qc2 b5 9. Be2 {other options:} (9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. a4 bxa4 11. Bxc4 {this all happened in Xiong-Sarana, Chess.com 2021 now Black should have continued} Qg6 $1 $146 12. Bd3 (12. Qxg6 $140 hxg6 13. Rxa4 Nxd4 $1 $19) 12... Qxg2 13. Ke2 Qh3 14. Rhg1 Bd6 $15) (9. a3 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 (10. Qxc3 $6 {played twice, in both games Black missed obvious} Ne4 $1 $146 11. Bxd8 Nxc3 12. Bxc7 Na4 13. Rb1 Ke7 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 a6 12. g4 Ne7 (12... Bc8 $5) 13. Ne5 Nfd5 14. Bg2 f6 15. Ng6 Nxg6 16. Qxg6+ Kf8 17. Qc2 Bc6 $17 {Salama-Gajewski, Reykjavik 2019}) 9... Ne7 $5 10. Bxf6 {another game saw} (10. O-O Nfd5 $1 11. e4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Ba3 13. Nd2 f6 14. Be3 {Piceu-Horvath,D Germany 2022 and now after simple} O-O $146 {Black is clealry better.}) 10... gxf6 11. O-O c6 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 a5 $1 14. b3 Nd5 15. Qc2 cxb3 16. Qxb3 O-O $15 {Williams-Biedermann, ICCF email 2016}) (7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qd5 $1 9. Bxf6 ({Hardly a good idea} 9. Bf4 $2 Bd7 10. Qd1 {or} (10. Qc2 Qe4 $1 11. Qc1 Na5 $1 12. Bxc7 Nb3 13. Nd2 Qc6 14. Nxb3 cxb3 15. Bf4 a5 16. Qb2 a4 $19 {Ftacnik-Lerner, Stary Smokovec 1977}) 10... Ne4 11. Qc2 O-O-O $17 {Geldyeva-Khademalsharieh, Chengdu 2017}) 9... gxf6 10. g3 {other important moves:} (10. Nd2 b5 11. Qc2 a6 12. e4 Qd6 $1 13. a4 Rb8 14. Be2 O-O 15. O-O e5 $1 16. d5 Ne7 17. Rfb1 Bd7 $17 {with healthy extra pawn Cuppone-Valente, ICCF email 2015}) (10. Qc2 f5 11. g3 b6 12. Bg2 Bb7 13. O-O {another important line} (13. Nh4 Qa5 14. O-O O-O-O $17) 13... O-O-O 14. Nh4 {other moves:} (14. Rfe1 {occured in Olszewski-Wojtaszek, Germany 2015 Now strong would have been} Na5 $146 15. Nh4 Qd7 16. e4 f4 $1 17. gxf4 $140 Rhg8 $40) (14. a4 Na5 15. Rab1 Nb3 16. Nh4 Qa5 17. Bxb7+ Kxb7 18. Nf3 f6 $17 {Candela Perez-Moreno Trujillo, Madrid 2016}) 14... Qd7 15. e4 {happened in Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Wijk aan Zee 1999} Ne7 $1 $146 16. Rfe1 {or} (16. exf5 Nxf5 17. Nxf5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 exf5 $17) 16... fxe4 17. Bxe4 h5 $17) 10... Bd7 11. Qc2 Na5 12. e4 {another line} (12. Bg2 Bc6 13. O-O O-O-O 14. Nh4 {Valette-Jolly, Angers 2017} Qb5 $146 15. e4 Nb3 16. Ra2 Qa5 $17) 12... Qc6 13. Bg2 Qa4 $1 14. Qe2 Nb3 15. Rb1 {Zhao-Zaiatz, Moscow 2004} (15. Rd1 {Thiel-Nasshan, Tegernsee 2019 a nice improvement here} O-O-O $1 $146 16. O-O h6 $15) 15... O-O-O $146 16. O-O Bc6 17. Rfd1 a6 $15) (7. e4 {see 6.e4}) 7... gxf6 8. e3 {happened in several games} (8. e4 Bd7 $1 9. Qc2 (9. Bxc4 $2 Nxd4 $1 $19) 9... b5 10. Be2 Ne7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rad1 {Koch-Drenchev, Germany 2011} c6 $146 13. Qc1 Kh8 $1 $15) (8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qd5 $1 {covered via 7.a3 line}) 8... Bd7 $146 9. Qc2 b5 10. Be2 a6 11. O-O Bd6 $15) 6... Nb4 $1 7. Qb3 c5 8. dxc5 {I also examined three alternatives} (8. a3 cxd4 9. axb4 dxc3 10. bxc3 Bd6 11. Bg5 O-O 12. e3 b6 13. Be2 Bb7 14. O-O {Lalith-Adhiban, Kanpur 2022 Black should have played} a6 $146 15. Rfd1 Qc7 16. Bxf6 gxf6 $13 {with complex game.}) (8. Bg5 $6 cxd4 9. Rd1 ({Hardly a good idea} 9. O-O-O $2 Qa5 $1 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Ne4 f5 $1 12. Nf6+ Ke7 13. a3 Kxf6 14. axb4 {Erbe-Lauer, DESC email 1999 after natural} Qxb4 {Black position is winning}) 9... Qa5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nxd4 e5 $1 12. Ndb5 $2 {Instead White should have prefered} (12. a3 $1 exd4 13. axb4 Qe5 $15) 12... a6 $1 13. Nd6+ Bxd6 14. Rxd6 Ke7 15. a3 Kxd6 16. Qxf7 Nd5 17. b4 Qxa3 18. Qxd5+ Ke7 $19 {Krasenkow -Landa, Port Erin 2006}) (8. e3 a6 9. Be2 {only one game here} cxd4 10. exd4 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 b6 13. a3 Nbd5 14. Bg5 $6 Bb7 15. Ne5 h6 16. Bh4 Nf4 17. Bf1 Rc8 $15 {Harper-Keres, Vancouver 1975}) 8... Bxc5 9. a3 {another move} (9. Bg5 O-O 10. e3 {another important line} (10. Rd1 Qb6 11. e3 Nfd5 12. Nxd5 $2 exd5 13. Be2 Bf5 14. Rd2 Nc2+ $1 15. Kd1 Qxb3 16. axb3 Na1 $1 $17 {Nanu-Gyimesi, Austria 2011}) 10... Nd3+ 11. Bxd3 Qxd3 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Nd2 {Kortschnoj-Wells, Port Erin 2004 Black could choose} Qg6 $146 14. Nde4 Be7 15. O-O-O b6 $15) 9... Nc6 10. Bg5 (10. g3 {Stohl-Meister, Slovakia 1994 Black play can be improved with} h6 $1 $146 11. Bg2 O-O 12. O-O e5 $15 {with comfortable play.}) 10... Qb6 11. Qxb6 Bxb6 12. e3 {another game saw} (12. Rd1 h6 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. e3 a6 15. g3 Ke7 16. Bg2 Bd7 17. O-O Rac8 $11 {Tanis-Mostowik, ICCF email 2010}) 12... Bd7 13. O-O-O Ng4 $5 14. Bh4 f6 15. Be2 {Krasenkow-Fridman, Hilversum 2009 Black would conviniently equalize by means of} Ne7 $146 16. h3 Nh6 17. g4 Bc6 $11) (5. Bg5 a6 $1 6. a4 (6. e4 b5 {see 5.e4 b5 6.Bg5 line}) ({The main alternative} 6. e3 b5 7. a4 c6 8. axb5 {I also checked} (8. Ne5 Bb7 9. Be2 {or} (9. Qf3 {two games arrived to this position. I would suggest the following new idea} h6 $146 10. Bh4 Be7 {and it's transposed to one game} 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Bxf6 (13. Be2 Nbd7 $17) 13... gxf6 $1 14. Nxf7 Kxf7 15. Qh5+ Kf8 $19 {Hardaway-Turzo, Chess.com 2021}) 9... Nbd7 10. Qc2 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. dxe5 Nd5 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Ne4 Nb4 16. Qc3 c5 $17 {Akobian-Sarana, Chess.com 2020}) 8... cxb5 9. Nxb5 {the alternative is} (9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nxb5 axb5 $1 {thematic exchange sacrifice} 11. Rxa8 Bb7 12. Ra1 {another line} (12. Ra7 Bb4+ 13. Nd2 (13. Ke2 Be4 $1 14. Nd2 {Piket-Lobron, Amsterdam 1994 after} Bd5 $146 {Black has powerful initaitve.}) 13... Qb6 14. Ra1 {in case of} (14. Rxb7 Qxb7 15. Be2 {Black can take g2-pawn} Qxg2 16. Bf3 {Czerwonski-Poysti, Bohumin 2020 and now preicse would have been} Qg6 $1 $146 17. Bh5 Qd3 18. Be2 Qf5 $17) 14... e5 $1 15. Qg4 (15. dxe5 {occured in two games a very strong idea} Ke7 $1 $146 16. exf6+ Qxf6 17. Qc2 Rd8 18. Rd1 Qe6 $1 $17) 15... Nc6 16. Qg7 Rf8 17. Qxf6 exd4 18. exd4 {Afloarei-Rotaru, ICCF email 2017 a nice improvement here} Rg8 $1 $146 19. d5 Qd4 20. Qxd4 Nxd4 21. Kd1 Bxd5 $17) 12... Bb4+ 13. Nd2 {the alternative is} (13. Ke2 O-O 14. Ne1 {a wonderful model game here} (14. Qc2 f5 15. Nd2 Nc6 16. Rd1 Qxd4 $1 17. Nf3 Qf6 $19 {Mamedyarov-Nakamura, Kolkata 2018}) 14... Nc6 15. Nc2 Ba5 16. Rg1 Qb6 17. g4 Rd8 18. g5 f5 19. f4 e5 $1 20. fxe5 Nxe5 21. Bg2 Bxg2 22. Rxg2 b4 $1 $40 {Egorov-Mashchenko, LSS email 2014}) 13... e5 14. Be2 (14. Qh5 {happened in six games} Bc6 $1 $146 15. Qh4 O-O 16. Be2 exd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. exd4 Rd8 $17) 14... exd4 15. O-O dxe3 16. Nf3 exf2+ 17. Kh1 {occured in two games . Black can play} O-O $146 18. Rxf2 Nc6 19. Qxd8 Rxd8 $44) 9... axb5 10. Rxa8 Bb7 11. Ra1 (11. Bxf6 gxf6 {see 9. Bxf6}) 11... Bb4+ 12. Nd2 {one game featured} (12. Ke2 {Zhao-Orndahl, Taby 2007} O-O $1 $146 13. Ne1 h6 14. Bh4 Nc6 15. f3 Be7 $17) 12... e5 $1 13. dxe5 {I also examined} (13. Be2 Qd5 $1 14. f3 {or} (14. Bf3 e4 15. Bxf6 exf3 16. Bxg7 fxg2 17. Rg1 Rg8 18. Be5 Nc6 $17) 14... exd4 15. Bf4 O-O 16. e4 Nxe4 $1 17. O-O (17. fxe4 Qxe4 $19) 17... Nxd2 18. Bxd2 Bc5 19. Kh1 d3 $1 $19 {Satkar-Raja, Mumbai 2018}) 13... Bxd2+ 14. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Ne4+ 16. Kc2 Nxg5 17. b3 Ne6 18. bxc4 b4 $15 {Napalkov-Churkin, ICCF email 2017}) 6... Nc6 7. e3 {another line here} (7. e4 Na5 8. e5 (8. Qc2 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Rd1 Nxg3 12. hxg3 Bg7 13. Be2 Qe7 $17 {Krejci-Cernousek, Slovakia 2020}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 (9. Bd2 {happened in two games} Nd7 $1 $146 10. Ne4 c5 11. Nd6+ Bxd6 12. exd6 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 $17) 9... g5 10. Nxg5 {the alternative line} (10. Bg3 Nd5 11. Be2 Bb4 12. Qc2 {Larrosa-Benitez, Rio Negro 2022 Black should have played} Bd7 $1 $146 13. O-O Bc6 $17) 10... Nd5 $1 11. Nf3 Be7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nd2 {another game featured} (13. Be2 Bd7 14. O-O {Muljadi-Hassim, ICCF email 2017 and now} Bc6 $1 $146 {promsing for Black}) 13... Qb4 14. Qc2 Bd7 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Qc3 Qb6 17. Be2 {Balta-Kopeikin, ICCF email 2016 Black missed} O-O-O $1 $146 18. O-O f6 $36) 7... Na5 8. Ne5 {other moves:} (8. Nd2 c5 9. dxc5 {another line here} (9. Nxc4 cxd4 10. exd4 {or} (10. Nxa5 Qxa5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qxd4 {Anderson-Archer, FICGS email 2014 here I like the following new idea} Qe5 $146 13. O-O-O (13. Qd3 Bd7 $15) 13... Qxd4 14. Rxd4 Bd7 15. Be2 Bc6 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rc8 $11) (10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. exd4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Bb4 13. Bd2 $6 Bd7 $15 {Sahidi-Urazayev, Lichess.org 2021}) 10... Bb4 11. Ne5 {occured in two games} h6 $146 12. Bh4 $140 (12. Be3 Nd5 $15) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nf3 Rg8 $17) 9... Bxc5 10. Bxc4 {an alternative variation} (10. Nxc4 Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Bd7 {Black has no problems, one good model game here} 13. Ke2 Rc8 14. Bb3 {Krimbacher-Sherwood, ICCF email 2017 and now} Bc6 $146 15. f3 h6 16. Bh4 Ke7 $15) 10... Bd7 11. O-O {another line} (11. Be2 Bc6 12. O-O O-O 13. Rb1 Bb4 $1 14. Bh4 {Hinz-Baranowski, ICCF email 2017 here I like} Qd6 $146 15. Qc2 Nd5 16. Nde4 Qd7 $15) 11... Be7 12. Bd3 {Meissner-Buchan, ICCF email 2021 after natural} Qb6 $146 13. Rb1 Qb4 {I prefer Black position.}) (8. Be2 c5 9. dxc5 Qxd1+ 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. O-O {four games arrived to this position} Be7 $146 12. Ne5 Nd5 13. Bxe7 Kxe7 14. Rd4 (14. Nxd5+ $140 exd5 15. Rxd5 b5 $1 16. axb5 Be6 17. Rdd1 axb5 $15) 14... Nb6 15. Nxc4 Nbxc4 16. Bxc4 Nc6 17. Rd2 Bd7 {with more pleasant endgame for Black.}) 8... Bb4 9. Be2 {other moves:} (9. Nxc4 Qd5 $1 10. Bxf6 {much worse} (10. Nxa5 $2 Qxa5 (10... Ne4 $5) 11. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qxc3+ 13. Ke2 gxf6 $17 {Muradli -Erigaisi, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Nxc4 11. Qb3 {other moves} (11. Bxc4 Qxg2 $1 12. Rf1 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 gxf6 14. Qb3 Qxh2 15. O-O-O Qd6 $17 {Szabolcsi, J-Milikow, E Budapest 2022}) (11. Bxg7 Rg8 12. Bf6 Rg6 $1 13. Bh8 Bd7 14. Qc2 O-O-O 15. O-O-O Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Nd6 17. Be5 Bxa4 $15 {Peiro Aparisi-Ordobas Martinez, ICCF email 2021}) 11... Nxe3 $1 12. Qxb4 Nc2+ 13. Kd2 Nxb4 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. Be5 f6 17. Bg3 {Yanchenko-Gonzalez, Chess.com 2022} Rg4 $1 $146 18. f4 Nxf4 19. Re1 Nd5 $17) (9. Bxf6 gxf6 ({Worthy alternative} 9... Qxf6 10. Nxc4 b6 $5 11. Nxa5 bxa5 12. Bd3 c5 {with nice play for Black Cramling-Javakhishvili, Mulhouse 2017}) 10. Nxc4 c5 {one good illustraitve game} 11. Qc2 Bd7 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Rd1 Be7 14. Nd6+ Kf8 $1 $15 {Krimbacher-Zolochevsky, ICCF email 2017}) 9... c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. exd4 h6 (11... Nb3 $5 12. Ra2 Nxd4 13. Bh5 $1 $132 {Balta-Byrne, ICCF email 2018}) 12. Bxf6 (12. Bh4 Nb3 13. Rb1 Qxd4 $15) 12... Qxf6 13. Bxc4 O-O 14. Ne4 {Furguzz-Mary, LSS email 2018 here my new suggestion} Qe7 $146 15. Ba2 Rd8 16. Rc1 Bd7 17. Rc7 Rac8 18. Rxd7 Rxd7 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. d5 exd5 21. Qxd5 $11) (5. g3 c5 6. Bg2 {other moves} (6. Qa4+ Bd7 7. Qxc4 b5 $5 $146 {a regular theoretical line here} (7... Bc6 8. dxc5 Nbd7 {with many games}) 8. Nxb5 {crtical} (8. Qd3 Bc6 $15) 8... Qb6 {I checked three moves here} 9. Nc3 (9. a4 a6 10. Na3 {or} (10. Nc3 Nc6 $1 11. e3 Na5 12. Qe2 Bc6 13. Bg2 Nb3 14. Rb1 Qb7 $1 $44) 10... Nc6 11. Bg2 (11. dxc5 $2 Bxc5 12. e3 Na5 $19) 11... cxd4 12. O-O Rc8 {with complex , but balanced play.}) (9. Na3 Nc6 10. Bg2 {worse for White} (10. dxc5 $6 Bxc5 11. e3 O-O 12. Be2 e5 13. Qb5 Bh3 $36) 10... cxd4 11. O-O Rc8 12. Bd2 $5 Bxa3 (12... Qxb2 13. Nb5 $44) 13. bxa3 Ne5 14. Qb3 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 O-O $11) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 (10. Qxd4 $2 Bc5 $19) 10... Nc6 11. Nxc6 {another line} (11. e3 Nxd4 12. exd4 Qb7 {only not} (12... Bc6 $2 13. Qxc6+ Qxc6 14. Bb5 $16) 13. d5 {in case of} (13. Rg1 Bb4 14. a3 Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 O-O $44) 13... Nxd5 14. Bg2 Rc8 $1 15. Qd4 Qb4 16. Qxb4 Nxb4 $5 ({obviously equalizes} 16... Bxb4 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. O-O $11) 17. O-O Nd3 18. Rd1 Nxc1 19. Raxc1 Be7 $13 {with balanced endgame}) 11... Bxc6 12. Be3 (12. f3 $2 Bc5 $36) 12... Qb7 13. f3 Rc8 14. Qb3 Bb4 $44) (6. dxc5 $6 Qxd1+ 7. Nxd1 Bxc5 8. Be3 {Burnett-Orr, Edinburgh 2022 Black could play} Bxe3 $146 9. Nxe3 c3 $1 10. bxc3 b6 11. Bg2 Bb7 12. O-O Ke7 $15) 6... Nc6 7. Qa4 {main move without any doubts. Other options:} (7. e3 Rb8 $1 8. O-O b5 9. dxc5 {Silva-Papp, Chess.com 2022 Black should have played} Bxc5 $1 $146 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $1 {allowing} 11. Ng5 Ne5 12. f4 Nd3 $1 {the point behind Black idea} 13. Nxf7+ Ke7 14. Nxh8 Nxc1 15. Rfxc1 Bxe3+ 16. Kf1 Bxc1 17. Rxc1 Bd7 $15) (7. dxc5 Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 Bxc5 9. Ne3 {White best move} (9. O-O Nd5 $1 10. e4 Ndb4 11. Be3 {Rendboe-Meskenas, Denmark 2023} Be7 $1 $146 12. Nd2 Na5 $17) 9... Bxe3 10. Bxe3 Nd5 11. Bd2 {Ivanov-Farago, Osterskars 1995} O-O $146 12. O-O b5 13. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) (7. Be3 $6 Ng4 $1 8. O-O {not dangeorus for Black} (8. d5 Nxe3 9. fxe3 exd5 10. Nxd5 {Radjabov-Grischuk, Krasnogorsk 2023 and now Black could play} g6 $1 $146 11. Nd2 Bg7 12. Nxc4 O-O $15) 8... Nxe3 9. fxe3 Be7 10. Qa4 {A strong improvement I suggest} ({One game continued} 10. d5 exd5 11. Nxd5 {Krasenkow-Praggnanandhaa, Krasnaya Polyana 2021 Black should have played} O-O $146 12. Nd2 Bh3 $1 13. Nxc4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 b5 15. Na3 Rb8 $17) 10... Rb8 $1 $146 11. Ne5 {critical move, another line I checked} (11. Rfd1 O-O 12. dxc5 b5 $1 13. Rxd8 {or} (13. Nxb5 Qa5 $1 14. Qxa5 Nxa5 15. Nc3 Bxc5 $15) 13... bxa4 14. Rxf8+ Kxf8 15. Nxa4 Bd7 16. Nd2 Ne5 $15) (11. Qxc4 $6 b5 $1 12. Qd3 (12. Nxb5 $140 $2 Na5 13. Qa4 Bd7 $19) 12... O-O $17) 11... O-O 12. Bxc6 cxd4 $1 13. Rfd1 bxc6 14. Qxa7 (14. Nxc6 $2 Bd7 15. Rxd4 Bg5 $1 $17) 14... Rb7 15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. exd4 c5 $15) 7... Bd7 {Black reaches easy equality after} (7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 9. Bxc6+ Bd7 $1 10. Bxd7+ {or} (10. Be3 Bxc6 {worthy of consideration} (10... Qd6 $5 $146 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. Qxc4 Rc8 13. Qb3 Bc5 14. Bxc5 Rxc5 15. Rd1 Qc6 16. O-O O-O $11) 11. Qxc6+ bxc6 12. Bxd4 Nd5 13. Rc1 {Sokolin-Kaidanov, New York 1997 Black should have played} c5 $1 $146 14. Be5 f6 15. Bf4 Kd7 16. O-O Be7 $15) 10... Qxd7 11. Qxc4 Rc8 12. Qb3 {inferior square} (12. Qf4 $6 Bd6 13. Qf3 {Panjer-Ilinca Ilinca, Benidorm 2022. A nice improvement would be} Be5 $146 14. O-O O-O 15. Bf4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qd5 $1 $15) 12... Bc5 13. O-O O-O (13... Qc6 $5 {deserves attention as well}) 14. Bg5 {main move. I also examined} (14. Bf4 Rfd8 15. Rad1 Qc6 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 $11 {Keil-Gebigke, Berlin 2003}) 14... Qc6 15. Rac1 Ne4 $1 16. Nxe4 Qxe4 17. Rxc5 Rxc5 18. Be7 {Klyszcz-Moench, Wiesbaden 2013 and now the most precise would be} Rfc8 $146 19. Bxc5 Rxc5 $11) 8. Qxc4 (8. dxc5 $6 {happeened in two games. In both cases Black missed strong} Nd4 $1 $146 9. Qd1 Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 Bxc5 11. O-O O-O 12. Bxb7 Rb8 13. Bf3 h6 {I would prefer Black position.}) 8... b5 9. Qd3 {Black b5-pawn is untouchable} (9. Nxb5 $2 Na5 10. Qa4 (10. Qd3 c4 $19) 10... a6 $19) (9. Qxb5 $2 Nb4 $19) 9... c4 10. Qc2 Be7 11. O-O ({I checked also} 11. a3 Qb6 12. Be3 Nd5 $13) 11... b4 12. Ne4 Rc8 $1 13. Bf4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 O-O 15. Rac1 Na5 16. Ne5 Be8 17. h4 f6 18. Nf3 Bf7 19. Rfd1 Qb6 $15 {Ax-Radloff, GER email 2011}) 5... b5 {[#]} 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) 7... Nb6 {[#] The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} 8. Be2 (8. Be3 Nc6 9. a3 (9. Be2 {will be covered through 8.Be2 move order}) (9. Nc3 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O {once again covered through 8.Be2 move order}) 9... Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Be2 {White also tried} (11. Qc2 Ne7 $5 12. Nd2 Nf5 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. Qa4+ c6 17. O-O {Kuzubov-Pichot, Linares 2022 I like the following improvement for Black} Bc5 $146 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Rad1 Qf4 $1 $11) 11... Na5 {I would like to suggest another ideas as well} (11... Ne7 $5 12. O-O Nf5 13. b3 {second game here featured} (13. Qc1 Be7 14. Rd1 O-O 15. d5 Nxe3 16. dxe6 {Santos Latasa-Yuffa, Linares 2022} Qc6 $1 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. fxe3 (18. Qxe3 Raf8 $36) 18... Raf8 $44) 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3 {Koelle-Zelcic, Terme Catez 2022 now accurate} Bc6 $146 15. Rfc1 Be7 $11 {would lead to reliable position for Black.}) 12. h4 (12. Qc2 Be7 {see 8.Be2 move order}) 12... f5 $1 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Bf3 {Maltsevskaya-Kostenko, Cheliabinsk 2022} f5 $146 16. O-O Bd6 $15) (8. a4 Qd7 $1 9. Be2 {I checked also} (9. Na3 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxa3 {worth considering} (10... Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxa4 {after} 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O Qb4 $1 14. Qc3 O-O 15. Nxc4 Nd5 $11) 11. Rxa3 a5 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 {Vachier Lagrave-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021 I like the following improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rh4 f5 $1 $13) 9... Nc6 10. O-O {another line} (10. Be3 Bb7 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 Bb4 13. Nc3 O-O $15 {Aditya-Pranav, chess24. com 2022}) 10... Na5 11. Ng5 {worse option for White} (11. Ra2 $6 Bb7 12. Qc2 a6 13. Nc3 {Grozdanovic-Djukic, Novi Banovci 2023 and now} Qc6 $1 $146 14. Rd1 Bb4 {would secure better position for Black.}) 11... h6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Nd5 $1 15. Ra3 a6 16. Nd4 Ne7 17. Qd2 {Carlsen-Nakamura, chess24.com 2020 and now the logical improvement would be} O-O-O $1 $146 {with the following illustrative line} 18. Qxa5 Qxd4 19. Bf3 Nc6 $1 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxa6+ Bb7 22. Qb5 Qd5 $1 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Qa5 Rhg8 $11) (8. a3 Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Nc6 {transpose to 8.Be3}) (8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15) 8... Nc6 9. O-O {I examined four alternatives here:} ({The main alternative is} 9. Be3 Be7 10. a3 {other important moves:} (10. h4 $5 {played twice by Gukesh} Bb7 11. h5 Qd7 12. Nc3 {Gukesh-Abdusattorov, Warsaw 2021 Black play can be improved by means of} O-O-O $1 $146 13. Qd2 Kb8 14. Kf1 f5 $1 $15) (10. O-O {covered through 10.Be3}) 10... Bb7 11. Qc2 {the main move. In case of} (11. Nc3 Na5 {White has nothing better than} 12. Qc2 Qd7 {which takes us back to 11.Qc2}) 11... Qd7 12. Nc3 {one game saw} (12. Rd1 $6 {Rustemov-Xiong, Chess. com 2022 this allowed tactical solution} Nxe5 $1 $146 13. Nxe5 {or} (13. Nxc7+ Qxc7 14. dxe5 Rc8 $15) 13... Qxb5 14. O-O O-O 15. Nxc4 Qc6 $15) 12... Na5 13. Rd1 {other possibilitites:} (13. O-O {happened in three games. I don't see the reason to refrain from natural} O-O $146 14. Nd2 Rab8 $13 {with complex game.}) (13. h4 {is well met by} f5 $1 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Rd1 O-O-O 16. Bf4 {Maghsoodloo-Pichot, Chess.com 2023 Black could have played} ({Much worse} 16. Ne4 $6 {In the game Unuk-Guichard, Petrovac 2023 Black missed fantastic} Qa4 $1 $146 17. Qb1 Nd5 $17) 16... h5 $1 $146 17. O-O Rdg8 $36 18. Bg3 Bd6 $15) 13... f5 $5 14. exf6 {only one game featured} (14. h4 $6 O-O 15. Rg1 Rad8 $17 {Gajewski-Kollars, Legnica 2021}) 14... gxf6 15. O-O ({Once again} 15. Ne4 {met by} Qa4 $1 16. Qxa4+ $2 {better would have been} (16. Qb1 O-O-O $15) 16... Nxa4 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 {Ostlund-Crevatin, Stockholm 2022 and now the most precise would be} Bd5 $1 $146) 15... O-O-O 16. Nd2 {not working for White} (16. d5 $2 exd5 17. Nd4 {Gunina-Kosteniuk, Almaty 2022} Rhg8 $17) 16... f5 17. Bf3 Rhg8 18. g3 {White best try} (18. Kh1 {Koelle-Murphy, Arandjelovac 2022} Bxf3 $146 19. Nxf3 Bf6 $13) (18. Bxb7+ Kxb7 19. Nf3 $6 {stronger would be} (19. b4 $1 $146 cxb3 20. Nxb3 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 Qc6 $13) 19... Qc6 20. Qe2 Nb3 $15 {Martirosyan-Martin Duque, La Roda 2022}) 18... Bd6 19. Bxb7+ Kxb7 20. Nf3 {another game here continued: Harsha-Girel, Rochefort 2023 Black should have just played} (20. Rfe1 {Lazavik-Azarov, Cheliabinsk 2021 an immediate improvement might be} Rdf8 $146 21. f4 Qc6 $13) 20... Nb3 $1 $146 {with the following nice point} 21. d5 e5 22. Qe2 c5 $1 23. dxc6+ Qxc6 $13) ({Interesting idea} 9. h4 Bb7 10. Rh3 $1 {no problems for Black} (10. h5 Qd7 11. Be3 {Gunina-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022 a natural improvement would be} Bb4+ $1 $146 12. Nc3 (12. Kf1 Ne7 $15) 12... Ne7 13. Qc2 h6 {and now it's transposed to one game} 14. Rd1 Nf5 $15 {Makarian-Seo, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Bb4+ ({deserves attention} 10... Qd7 $5) 11. Kf1 Qd7 12. a3 Be7 13. Nc3 {Krysa-Mareco, Tornelo INT 2021 I like the new} O-O-O $146 14. Be3 f5 $1 15. exf6 Bxf6 $132) (9. Bg5 Be7 10. Qd2 $6 {Sarana-Tomashevsky, Satka 2018 and now simple} Bxg5 $146 11. Qxg5 Qxg5 12. Nxg5 Ke7 $1 13. Nxc7 Rb8 14. Nf3 a6 $15) (9. a3 Be7 10. Be3 {see 9.Be3}) 9... Be7 10. Qd2 {This will be our main continuation. I will examine 5 alternatives as well:} (10. Be3 O-O 11. Nc3 {other options:} (11. Qc2 Nb4 12. Qe4 (12. Qc1 Bb7 $11) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Nc3 Qxe4 14. Nxe4 {Wichmann-Poetsch, Leipzig 2018 and now my minor improvement would be} a5 $5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba6 16. a3 {or} (16. Nfd2 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 (17. Rc2 h6 $13) 17... cxd3 18. Rxc7 Nd5 19. Rcc1 Rfb8 $44 {with excellent compensation.}) 16... N4d5 17. Rc2 Rfb8 18. Nfd2 Ra7 $1 $13) (11. Qc1 Bb7 {an interesting alternative could be} (11... Nb4 $5 12. Nc3 (12. Rd1 {another important line} Bb7 {see 11...Bb7}) 12... a5 $5 13. Rd1 Ba6 14. a3 N4d5 15. Nxd5 $6 {Mishra-Velten, Budapest 2021 and now the right recapture would have been} exd5 $1 $146 16. h3 Bc8 17. Qc2 a4 18. Nh2 Be6 $15) 12. Rd1 ({In case of} 12. Nc3 Nb4 13. Rd1 Rb8 {see via 11. Nc3 move roder}) ({Black main idea can be seen from the following line} 12. Bxc4 a6 $1 13. Na3 Nxc4 14. Nxc4 {or} (14. Qxc4 Nb4 15. Qe2 a5 16. Nc4 Qd7 $44) 14... Qd5 $1 15. Rd1 h6 $44) 12... Nb4 13. a3 {after} (13. Na3 {runs into} Nd3 14. Bxd3 Bxf3 $1 15. gxf3 cxd3 16. Rxd3 c5 17. Nc4 $6 Qd5 $1 18. Nxb6 axb6 $36 {Hardarson-Ivic, Reykjavik 2021}) (13. Ne1 N4d5 14. Bxc4 Nxe3 15. fxe3 Bg5 16. b3 {two games arrived to this position. I suggest the following new idea} Nxc4 $146 17. bxc4 f6 $1 $44 {easier play for Black.}) 13... N4d5 14. Nc3 (14. Bxc4 $2 Nxe3 15. fxe3 a6 $19) 14... Rb8 15. Nxd5 {clearly worse for White} (15. Nd2 $2 Nxe3 16. fxe3 c5 $1 $36 17. Nxc4 $140 Nxc4 18. Bxc4 cxd4 19. exd4 Bg5 $1 20. Qc2 Be3+ 21. Kh1 Qh4 $19 {Zadruzny-Ochsner, Kragero 2022}) 15... Qxd5 16. Bf1 {Sturt-Park, Budapest 2022 a simple} Bc6 $146 17. Nd2 Rfc8 $11 {would lead to balanced game.}) 11... Rb8 12. a3 {I examined White other possibilities:} (12. Qc1 Nb4 13. Rd1 {another line here} (13. Nd2 Ba6 14. b3 (14. Re1 $6 Nd3 $1 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Nce4 Nd5 17. a3 Bb7 $15 {Mendonca-Stoyanov, Kavala 2021}) 14... cxb3 15. Bxa6 b2 $1 16. Qxb2 Nxa6 17. Nb3 Nd5 18. Ne4 {Lombaers-Rakotomaharo, Belgium 2022 and now I like} Qe8 $146 {with equal play.}) 13... Bb7 14. Nd2 (14. a3 N4d5 {covered via 13. a3}) (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 a6 16. Nd2 N6d5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. Bf3 {Real de Azua-Flores, Buenos Aires 2017 and now natural} Qd7 $146 19. Ne4 Rfd8 {with comfortable play for Black.}) 14... Qe8 {very similar to 14...Qd7, I like the idea just be away from d-file just in case} 15. a3 {other moves:} (15. Nde4 N6d5 16. Nxd5 {Now I really like to recapture with bishop} (16. Bxc4 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bxe4 18. cxb4 Bxb4 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Qd7 $11 {Dessaules-Van Habberney, ICCF email 2018}) 16... Bxd5 $146 17. f3 {or} (17. Nc3 Bb7 18. Bf1 (18. Bxc4 {see 15. Nxc4}) 18... Qc6 19. b3 cxb3 20. axb3 a6 21. Qd2 Rfd8 {with complex but balanced play.}) 17... Qb5 18. Kh1 a5 19. b3 Qc6 $1 20. Bxc4 {or} (20. bxc4 Bxe4 21. fxe4 Qxe4 22. Bf3 Qf5 $1 23. Rd2 c5 $132) 20... a4 $44) ({The main idea can be seen from the folowng line} 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 Bxg2 $1 17. a3 {critical continuation} (17. Kxg2 $6 Qc6+ 18. d5 $6 (18. Kg1 $142 Qxc4 $15) 18... Qxc4 19. Rd4 Qa6 20. a3 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Qxc7 Qe6 $36 {Brynell-Ochsner, Germany 2022}) 17... Bd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Qxc7 f5 $11) 15... Nd3 16. Qc2 f5 $1 17. exf6 Qg6 $1 {the point} 18. Bf1 Rxf6 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Qxd3 Nxe3 21. Qxg6 $2 (21. Qxe3 $142 Rbf8 $44) 21... Rxg6 22. fxe3 Bxg2 $1 $19 {Rasmussen-Ochsner, Denmark 2022}) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. Qb1 {only one game saw} (14. Qd2 {Stefansson-Royal, Nova Gorica 2022 I like here} a5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba8 $13 {with complicated middlegame.}) 14... a5 15. Rd1 {Nguyen-Hassemeier, Pardubice 2022 an important improvement here} (15. Qe4 {happened in Aditya-Indjic, Tashkent 2022} Nb4 $146 16. Qg4 Kh8 17. Rxa5 N6d5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bc4 c5 20. Ra4 Nc2 $44) 15... Nb4 $146 16. Rxa5 {another line} (16. Ne4 h6 $1 17. Rxa5 Ra8 $1 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. Nc5 Bd5 $44) 16... N6d5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Bc4 Qd7 $44) (12. Rc1 Bb7 13. Na4 {I would like to mention also} (13. Qc2 $6 Nb4 14. Qb1 {occured in two games} Bxf3 $1 {looks like a nice improvement upon Black play} 15. Bxf3 (15. gxf3 f5 $1 16. exf6 Rxf6 $36) 15... Nd3 16. Rcd1 c5 17. Be4 (17. dxc5 Nd7 $15) 17... cxd4 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 Nc4 {interesting to check} (19... dxe3 $5 20. Rxd8 exf2+ 21. Rxf2 Rfxd8 $44) 20. Rxd4 Qc7 21. Bc1 Rfd8 $11) (13. Qd2 Nb4 14. Rfd1 {another example here} (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 {Sarana-Alekseenko, Yaroslavl 2019} N4d5 $15) 14... Qd7 15. Bg5 Bxf3 $1 16. Bxe7 ({bettwe would have been} 16. gxf3 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 f5 $1 $15) (16. Bxf3 $2 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 Nd3 $17) 16... Qxe7 17. Bxf3 Nd3 18. Rb1 {Andreikin-Nakamura, Chess.com 2023} c5 $1 $15) 13... Na5 {interesting to check} (13... Nb4 $5 14. Nxb6 cxb6 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bb3 a5 $44) 14. Nc5 (14. Bd2 {Gharibyan-Bjerre, Porto Carras 2018 I would recommend} Nc6 $146 {and it seems like White has nothing better than} 15. Be3 {with repetition}) (14. Nxb6 $6 cxb6 15. Nd2 b5 $15 {Sharavdorj-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 14... Bxc5 15. dxc5 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 {Checa-Tabatabaei, Chess.com 2020 a very strong improvement} Na4 $1 $146 17. Bd2 Nc6 18. Bc3 Rfd8 $1 19. Bxc4 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Na5 21. Be2 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Nc4 $15) (12. Qc2 Nb4 13. Qd2 {Mamedyarov-Firouzja, Zagreb 2022 a natural improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rfd1 Ba8 $13) 12... Na5 13. Qc2 Nd5 {a good alternative} (13... Bb7 $5 {for example} 14. Rad1 Qd7 15. Rfe1 h6 16. Nd2 {Assaubayeva-Svane, chess24.com 2022 and now} Rfd8 $146 17. h3 Ba8 $13 {with complex game.}) 14. Rad1 Ba6 15. Bd2 Nb3 16. Ne4 Nxd2 17. Rxd2 (17. Nfxd2 {would run into} c3 $1 18. Bxa6 Rxb2 19. Qc1 Rb6 $1 20. Be2 cxd2 21. Rxd2 Qd7 $11) 17... Rb3 $146 {the game has continued} (17... Nf4 $5 18. Bxc4 Rxb2 {the point} 19. Qxb2 Bxc4 20. Rc1 Bd5 $44 {with interesting compensation Radjabov-Firouzja, Madrid 2022:} (20... Nd3 $5 21. Rxd3 Bxd3 22. Nc5 Bf5 $13)) 18. Bxc4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qb8 20. Qc2 Qb7 21. Ne1 Nf4 22. h4 {or} (22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 g5 $1 24. c6 Qb5 $44) 22... Rb8 23. g3 Nd5 24. Nd3 Ne3 $1 25. fxe3 Qxe4 26. Re1 g5 $1 $132) (10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be3 {see 10.Be3} (11. Qd2 Bb7 {see 10.Qd2 11.Nc3 line}) (11. b3 $6 cxb3 12. axb3 Bb7 13. Be3 Nb4 14. Qd2 a5 15. Rfd1 N6d5 $15 {Seel-Shimanov, Chess.com 2021})) (10. Qc2 a6 11. Nc3 {I also checked} (11. Na3 Bxa3 12. bxa3 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 (14. Bb2 Qc5 15. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) 14... Qxe5 15. Bf3 Rb8 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Bc5 Qg5 $1 18. Bxb6 (18. Bb4 a5 $1 $15) 18... Rxb6 19. Qxc4 Qe7 20. Rac1 $11) 11... Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bf3 Rb8 14. Qe2 $6 Qd3 $1 15. Qe1 Bb7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. Be3 O-O 18. Rd1 Qf5 $17 {Aronian-Maghsoodloo, Kolkata 2021}) (10. a3 $5 {Two games reached this position} Bb7 $146 11. Be3 Na5 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Rad1 {one game featured} (13. Rac1 {Rustemov-Kosteniuk, Chess.com 2022} Qd7 $146 14. Nc3 Nb3 15. Rcd1 Qc6 $13) 13... Qd7 14. Nc3 Qc6 15. Ne1 (15. Rfe1 Rfd8 16. Bf1 {Anton Guijarro-Del Rio de Angelis, Linares 2015 Black should have played} Nb3 $146 17. Bg5 Qe8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 $13) 15... Rab8 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Bd2 Rfb8 $11 {Narayanan-Bartel, El Prat de Llobregat 2019}) (10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 O-O 13. Qd2 {another line} (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc1 {Pogorelov-Abdusattorov, Castelldefels 2021 now simple} Rfd8 $146 15. Rd1 h6 $15) 13... a6 14. Nc3 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 Qe7 16. Rfa1 Qb4 $1 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Rozum, Kazan 2018}) 10... Bb7 (10... O-O 11. Rd1 {scores amazingly for White on practice.}) 11. Qf4 {Two alternatives are:} (11. Rd1 Qd7 {here I checked five continuations:} 12. Nc3 (12. Qf4 g5 $5 {more aggressive than} (12... Nb4 13. Nc3 {see 12.Nc3}) 13. Qg3 {dangeorus for White to accept pawn sacrifice} (13. Nxg5 $6 Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Ne7 15. d5 Nbxd5 {one good example here} 16. a4 Rg8 17. Qd2 a6 18. Nd4 O-O-O 19. f3 Ng6 20. Bxc4 c5 21. Nc2 $2 Nh4 $19 {Erdos-Xiong, Saint Louis 2019}) 13... O-O-O 14. b3 (14. d5 $5 {happened in Dubov-Matlakov, St Petersburg 2018 after correct} Nxd5 $146 15. Bxc4 Rhg8 $13 {with double-edged play.}) 14... cxb3 15. axb3 Nd5 16. Bd2 Kb8 17. Ra4 $2 {Maerevoet-Tilicheev, Primorsko 2021} ({Better for White would have been} 17. Nc3 Rhg8 $13) 17... Rhg8 $17 18. Nc3 g4 19. Ne1 Nb6 $17) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Nb4 14. Nc3 O-O 15. Bb2 {other move are less impressive:} (15. Qb2 $6 {Zhang-Sethuraman, Tianjin 2020} Rfb8 $15) (15. Qf4 $2 N4d5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qd2 Bb4 18. Qc2 Nc3 19. Ng5 Nxe2+ 20. Qxe2 {Siddharth-Ibrahimli, Chess.com 2022 Black missed powerful} Qd5 $1 $146 21. f3 Qxb3 $17) 15... a5 16. Rac1 Rfc8 $15 {Urkedal-Hillarp Persson, Fagernes 2021} (16... Rfb8 $5)) (12. a4 Nb4 13. Na3 $6 {Bu-Xiong, chess24. com 2020 I don't see the reason to refrain from} ({A better idea for White would be} 13. Qf4 {here I checked the following line} O-O 14. Qg4 Kh8 $1 15. Na3 Qxa4 $1 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Nxc4 Nxc4 19. Bxc4 h6 $15 {with comfortable position for Black.}) 13... Qxa4 $146 {for instance} 14. Qf4 Nc2 15. Nxc2 Qxc2 16. Bd2 O-O $17) (12. Na3 $6 Bxa3 13. bxa3 Ne7 $1 14. Qc2 {Novikov-Papp, Germany 2022 and now simple} O-O $15 {would give Black excellent position.}) 12... Nb4 13. Qf4 {other moves} (13. a3 N4d5 {Very interesting idea could be} (13... a5 $146 {unfortunately White has very powerful} 14. b3 $1 {Black idea works really well after} (14. axb4 axb4 15. Rxa8+ Bxa8 16. Nb1 Be4 $1 $15) 14... cxb3 15. axb4 axb4 16. Rxa8+ Bxa8 17. Bb5 Bc6 $1 (17... c6 $2 18. Na4 $18) 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. Ne2 O-O $14 {although I am not sure it's objectively sufficient for Black.}) 14. Ne4 Qc6 15. Re1 {Two games reached this position. I have a new idea here} (15. Qc2 {here Black has} Nb4 $1 16. axb4 Qxe4 17. Qxe4 Bxe4 18. b5 {Ding-Praggnanandhaa, chess24. com 2021 here I like} Bc2 $5 $146 19. Re1 O-O 20. Bd2 Ba4 21. Bxc4 Nxc4 22. Rxa4 Nxd2 23. Nxd2 Rfb8 24. Rea1 Rxb5 25. Rxa7 Rxa7 26. Rxa7 Rxb2 27. Nf1 Rc2 $11) 15... h6 $5 $146 16. Bf1 (16. Ng3 $2 g5) (16. Qc2 {allows} Nb4 $1) 16... O-O 17. Qc2 Rab8 18. Bd2 Rfd8 19. Qc1 (19. Rac1 Qb5 $1) 19... Bf8 {with very complex play.}) (13. b3 cxb3 14. axb3 {see 12.b3}) 13... f5 $1 14. exf6 {the main continuation. Other moves} (14. h4 O-O-O 15. b3 {Obsivac-Mica, Olomouc 2022 I found a remarkable novelty here} g5 $3 $146 16. hxg5 {or} (16. Nxg5 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 cxd3 18. Rxd3 Bb4 19. Bd2 Rhg8 $40) 16... N4d5 17. Qd2 Bb4 18. Bb2 cxb3 19. axb3 a5 20. Qc2 h6 $40) (14. Qg3 {featured in Ding-Caruana, Saint Louis 2019 once again Black missed a remarkable} g5 $1 $146 15. Nxg5 {or} (15. b3 g4 16. Ne1 cxb3 17. axb3 h5 $15) 15... O-O-O 16. Bf3 N6d5 $44) 14... gxf6 15. Qh6 {White other options:} ({Very interesting} 15. d5 $5 {Li-Narayanan, Changsha 2019 Black should have played} N4xd5 $1 $146 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. b3 $1 e5 18. Qh4 Qe6 $1 19. bxc4 Bxc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Qh5+ Qf7 22. Qh3 Rd8 ({a bit dangeorus} 22... O-O 23. Bh6 Rfd8 24. Nh4 $44) 23. Rxd8+ Kxd8 24. Be3 Bd6 $44 {White definitely has compensation, but Black is pretty solid.}) (15. b3 {Cheparinov-Moiseenko, chess24.com 2020 Black had to play} N4d5 $146 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qh6 O-O-O 18. Bxc4 (18. bxc4 $2 Nc3 $17) 18... Rhg8 {with double-edged play.}) (15. Qg4 $6 O-O-O 16. Bf4 h5 17. Qh3 {Borhy-Brkic, Mali Losinj 2021 Black had a very nice idea} Nd3 $146 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 $140 $2 e5 $19) 15... O-O-O 16. Bf4 Rdg8 {I prefer this move to} (16... Nd3 17. Bg3 $1 Nxb2 18. Rdc1 N2a4 19. Rab1 Nxc3 20. Rxc3 Qc6 21. Bf1 $44 {Pelletier-Praggnanandhaa, Chennai 2022}) 17. Bg3 {Dreev-Sjugirov, Chess. com 2022 Black should have played} Rg6 $146 {here I checked two variations} 18. Qd2 {or} (18. Qh5 f5 19. Ne5 {or} (19. b3 Bf6 $1 20. Ne5 Qg7 21. Bf3 Ba6 $1 22. Bf4 Nd3 23. Nxd3 cxd3 24. Rac1 Bg5 25. Be5 Bf6 $11) 19... Qe8 $1 20. a3 (20. Rd2 $6 f4 21. Bxf4 Rxg2+ 22. Kf1 Rg7 $15) 20... N4d5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Bf3 Qf8 $1 23. Nxg6 hxg6 24. Qxg6 Rh6 $19) 18... h5 19. d5 $1 {critical} Rg7 $1 {this is stronger than} (19... N4xd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Nh4 Rg5 22. b3 cxb3 23. axb3 $44) 20. b3 {or} (20. dxe6 Qxd2 21. Rxd2 h4 22. Bf4 Rhg8 23. g3 hxg3 24. fxg3 Bc5+ 25. Kf1 Nd3 $36) 20... exd5 21. bxc4 d4 $1 22. Qf4 (22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. Nxd4 h4 24. Nf5 hxg3 25. Nxg7 Rg8 $1 26. Bg4+ Kb8 27. Nf5 Bc5 28. h3 gxf2+ 29. Kf1 Nxc4 $44) 22... d3 23. Bxd3 Bd6 $1 24. Qf5 Nxd3 25. Qxd3 Bxg3 26. hxg3 Qxd3 27. Rxd3 Nxc4 $11) (11. Nc3 O-O 12. Rd1 {another line} (12. Qf4 Nb4 13. Qg4 {another game featured} (13. Rd1 f5 $1 14. Qg3 Qe8 15. b3 {another game here saw} (15. h4 Nc2 (15... N4d5 $5 {worth considering}) 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 $1 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Nxd4 21. Rxd4 (21. Bf1 $5 c5 $11) 21... Rxd4 22. Nxe6 Rxh4 23. Nxf8 Kxf8 $15 {Garriga Cazorla-Sosa, Castelldefels 2021}) 15... Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Kf7 20. Bxe7 Kxe7 21. Rbc1 Bxf3 22. Rxc2 (22. Bxf3 $2 Nxd4 $17) 22... cxb3 23. axb3 Bxe2 24. Nxe2 Nd5 25. h4 Rb8 $11 {Goreczny-Chumanov, LSS email 2019}) 13... Kh8 14. Rd1 {five game arrived to this position. I would like to recommend a new idea} Qe8 $5 $146 15. Bf4 {another direction here} (15. Qh3 Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 f6 19. Be3 Nxe3 20. Qxe3 Qg6 21. Bf1 Rf7 $13) 15... Rb8 16. Rac1 Ba8 17. h4 a5 ({a good alternative would be} 17... N4d5 $5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxc4 Rxb2 20. Ng5 c5 $132) 18. Nd2 Nd3 $1 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Nde4 Na4 $1 21. Rxd3 Nxc3 22. Nxc3 Rxb2 23. d5 (23. Rg3 Rg8 $13) 23... Rb4 $1 24. Qg3 Qd7 25. d6 cxd6 26. exd6 Bd8 $13) 12... Nb4 13. a3 (13. Qf4 {see 13. Rd1}) 13... a5 $1 $146 {this time it looks working well for Black. The game continued} (13... N4d5 14. Ne4 $14 {Narayanan-Erenberg, Sitges 2019}) 14. Re1 ({after} 14. Qf4 {Black has} N4d5 15. Qg4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Kh8 17. Ng5 Rb8 18. Qh5 $140 $6 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Qd5 20. Bf3 Qb5 $15) 14... Nd3 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Qxd3 c5 17. Be3 Rb8 $44) 11... a6 ({A very popular move} 11... Qd7 {unfortunately runs into} 12. d5 $1 $146 Nxd5 (12... exd5 13. e6 $18) 13. Qxc4 $14 {with White retaining better pawnstructure.}) 12. Nc3 g5 $1 13. Nxg5 {I checked also} (13. Qg3 $146 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Bxg5 (15. Rd1 $6 Qh4 16. Qe3 Nd5 $15) 15... Rg8 16. Rfd1 Qxd1+ $1 17. Rxd1 Rxg5 18. Qe3 Rxg2+ 19. Kf1 Rxh2 20. Ke1 Nd7 $44) 13... Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Qxg5 15. Bxg5 Nxd4 16. f4 {other move White has tried} (16. f3 Rg8 17. h4 Nd7 $1 18. Rad1 Nxe2+ 19. Nxe2 Nxe5 20. Kh2 {Aleksandrov-Esipenko, Minsk 2019} Nd7 $1 $146 {looks like a nice improvement} 21. Nf4 e5 22. Nd5 (22. Nh5 Rg6 $15) 22... Bxd5 23. Rxd5 f6 24. Be3 O-O-O 25. Rc1 e4 $5 26. f4 Nb6 27. Rxd8+ Kxd8 28. Bxb6 cxb6 29. Rxc4 f5 $11) (16. Bh4 Rg8 $1 17. f3 Nd5 18. Kf2 $2 {the only move maintaining equality: Zoler-Zanan, Israel 2022} ({the only move maintaining equality} 18. Rae1 $1) 18... Nxc3 19. bxc3 Nxe2 20. Kxe2 Rxg2+ 21. Rf2 Rg6 $17) 16... Nxe2+ $146 {this is more accurate than} (16... Rg8 {Erenberg-Kasimdzhanov, Douglas 2019} 17. Rf2 $1 $14) 17. Nxe2 h6 18. Bh4 a5 19. Nc3 a4 20. a3 Nd5 $11 * [Event "N20226_0517D"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.17"] [Round "1.1"] [Board "1"] [White "1) 5.e4"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "40"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,40,25,13,27,-9,-12,-6,6,12,52,45,83,73,73,70,70,47,55,64,46,43,40,45,72,68,79,60,47,54,50,44,51,43,48,36,33,22,66,65,57,58,66]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. e4 {White most principal move. I also examined White four alternative options} ({The most popular alternative} 5. e3 a6 6. Bxc4 {the main alternative obviously} (6. a4 {now I would like to offer fighting alternative} b6 $5 {to well-known} (6... c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O Be7 {which easily solves opening problems for Black. Two examplary lines here:} 9. Qe2 ({and} 9. dxc5 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. Bd2 Bd7 12. Bd3 O-O 13. Ne4 Be7 14. Rac1 Rfd8 15. Nc5 Be8 $1 $11 {Anand-Kramnik, Monte Carlo 2011}) 9... cxd4 10. Rd1 e5 $1 11. exd4 exd4 12. Nxd4 $1 Nxd4 13. Qe5 Qd6 $1 {the easiest solution} 14. Qxd6 Bxd6 15. Rxd4 Bc5 $11 {over 200 games here, but the endgame is very equal.}) 7. Bxc4 Bb7 8. O-O (8. Qe2 Bb4 9. O-O {see 8.0-0}) 8... Bb4 9. Qe2 {important alternative line here} (9. Qb3 Qe7 10. d5 {other moves:} (10. Ne5 O-O 11. f3 c5 $1 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Nd3 {Tadic-Perunovic, Zlatibor 2007 Black should just keep his dark-squared bishop by means of} Bd6 $1 $146 14. Qxb6 Nc6 $44) (10. e4 {occured in two games. A serious imporvement here} Nc6 $1 $146 {too dangerous} (10... Nxe4 $2 11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. d5 $1 $36 {Greenfeld-Godart, Avoine 2014}) 11. Qc2 Na5 12. Bd3 c5 {and we have a complex game with approximate line being} 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ne4 cxd4 15. Nxd4 {or} (15. Bg5 f6 $1 16. exf6 gxf6 17. Bh6 e5 $15) 15... h6 $13) 10... exd5 {Black can also play} (10... Bxc3 11. dxe6 $1 {White idea here} Bb4 12. exf7+ Kf8 13. Nd4 b5 $1 {only move!} 14. axb5 axb5 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 16. Bxb5 {another game featured} (16. Nxb5 Nc6 $1 17. Qa4 Bb7 18. Rd1 g5 $13 {Pohlig-Hoffmann, ICCF email 2013}) 16... Bd5 17. Bc4 Bxc4 18. Qxc4 Bd6 19. Ne6+ Kxf7 20. Nxc7+ Kg6 $1 21. Qd3+ Kf7 22. Qc4+ {and draw agreed in Berczes-Ngo, New York 2022}) 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Nc6 13. e4 Na5 (13... O-O-O $5) 14. Qd3 {Piyumantha-Liyanage, Colombo 2018 Black should have played} Rd8 $146 15. Bg5 f6 16. Be3 Rd7 $13) 9... O-O 10. Rd1 {another important line here} (10. Bd3 c5 11. dxc5 {other White options:} (11. Rd1 cxd4 12. exd4 h6 $5 13. Ne5 Nc6 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bxa6 Bxc3 $1 16. bxc3 Qd5 17. f3 Qa5 18. Bd3 Qxc3 19. Bb2 Qa5 $15 {Gladyszev-Grachev, Olginka 2011}) (11. Na2 Nc6 $1 12. e4 {or} (12. Nxb4 Nxb4 13. Bb1 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 cxd4 15. Bd2 Qd6 16. exd4 {Khademalsharieh-Zawadzka, Sharjah 2021} Nc6 $146) 12... Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 {Kurbedinov-Sarana, Sochi 2017 Black should have played} Qe5 $1 $146 15. Nxb4 cxb4 16. Bxb6 Bxe4 17. Rfe1 Qd6 18. Bxe4 Nxe4 19. a5 Nf6 $44) 11... Bxc5 12. e4 Nbd7 13. Bf4 {I also checked} (13. Bg5 Qb8 14. Rad1 $1 h6 15. Bc1 {Mazalon-Skalik, Lazy 2010} Qc7 $146 16. Bb1 Rfd8 $15) (13. e5 $2 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 Nxe5 $17 {Gormally-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 13... Nh5 $1 14. Bd2 (14. Be3 Qc7 15. g3 Nhf6 16. Bf4 {1-0 (46) Volkov, S (2541)-Iljiushenok,I (2554) Khanty-Mansiysk 2021} Bd6 $146 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. e5 Qc6 19. exf6 Qxf3 20. Qxf3 Bxf3 $11) 14... Qc7 15. e5 Bxf3 $1 16. gxf3 $2 ({White should have played} 16. Qxf3 $1 {with approximate line} g6 17. Be2 Nxe5 18. Qh3 Rfd8 19. Bg5 Be7 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Bxh5 gxh5 22. Qxh5 Ng6 $11) 16... Nxe5 $17 {Estremera Panos-Ivanov,S Stockholm 2020}) 10... Qe7 11. Bd3 {the main alternative is} (11. Ne5 c5 12. Na2 Ba5 13. b3 Nbd7 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. Bb2 Rfd8 $11 {Tratar-Petkov, Zadar 2005}) 11... c5 12. e4 {another line here} (12. Na2 Nc6 $5 13. e4 {Manolache,M-Mastrovasilis,D Tornelo INT 2023 I would suggest the following improvement} (13. Nxb4 Nxb4 14. Bb1 Rfd8 15. Bd2 Bxf3 $1 16. Qxf3 cxd4 17. exd4 Rac8 {Roselli Mailhe-Lopez Azambuja, Montevideo 2021}) 13... h6 $5 14. e5 Nd5 15. Qe4 f5 16. exf6 Nxf6 17. Qg6 Qe8 $1 $13) 12... cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nbd7 14. e5 Nd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Bf4 {Zordick-Lemke, GER email 2017 Black should have played} f6 $146 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Bg3 Bc5 19. Nf3 a5 $132) 6... b5 7. Bb3 {two alternatives are:} (7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O c5 9. Qe2 {or} (9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qe2 {other moves here:} (10. e4 Nbd7 11. Bf4 {or} (11. Qe2 Qb8 12. Bg5 O-O 13. Rad1 (13. Rac1 h6 14. Bxf6 (14. Bh4 {runs into} Nh5 $1 15. Bb1 Rc8 16. Rfd1 {De Groot-Riemersma, Utrecht 2018 after natural} Ne5 $1 $36 {Black is better.}) 14... Nxf6 15. Nxb5 Bxf2+ $1 16. Rxf2 axb5 17. a3 Rd8 $17 {Gerber-Brunner, Switzerland 2017}) 13... Bd6 14. a3 {all this occured in Rombaldoni,D-Georgiev,K Arvier 2010 after} h6 $1 $146 15. Bh4 Bf4 16. Bb1 Qc7 {with very comfortabel play for Black.}) 11... Nh5 $1 12. Bg5 Be7 13. Be3 Nhf6 14. Qc2 b4 15. Ne2 Rc8 16. Qb1 Bc5 $17 {Bondars-Sorcinelli, LSS email 2011}) (10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Qe2 Qe7 {Black achieved very comfortable position with natural move} 13. Rfd1 Rac8 14. Nd2 Ba3 $1 15. Bxa3 Qxa3 $15 {Seo-Abdusattorov, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Nbd7 11. Rd1 (11. e4 {see 10.e4}) 11... O-O 12. b3 Rc8 13. Bb2 Bb4 14. Nb1 {three games here} (14. Rac1 $2 Qa5 $19 {occureed in two games}) 14... Nd5 $146 15. a3 Be7 16. Nd4 Bf6 $15)) (7. Be2 Bb7 8. O-O {I also checked} (8. a3 c5 9. O-O {another line here} (9. dxc5 Qxd1+ 10. Bxd1 Bxc5 {Black has no problems whatsoever in this endgame, a good model game here} 11. b4 Bd6 12. Bb2 Nbd7 13. O-O Ke7 14. Nd2 Nb6 15. Be2 Rac8 16. Rac1 Rhd8 $15 {Rakhmanov-Shimanov, Minsk 2014}) 9... Nbd7 10. dxc5 (10. b3 Qc7 11. Bb2 Rd8 $1 12. Rc1 Qb8 13. dxc5 $6 Ng4 $5 14. Nxb5 $2 {Koth-Gasper, Nordrheinwestfalen 2018} ({White should have continued} 14. c6 $1 Bxc6 15. g3 Bb7 $15) 14... Bxf3 $1 $146 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. cxd6 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Ngf6 18. Qxa6 Qxb3 $19) 10... Bxc5 11. b4 {hardly a good idea for White} (11. Qc2 $6 Rc8 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Rfd1 Qe7 14. Rac1 {Gvanceladze-Zvereva, Moscow 2021 a great idea for Black would be} Ng4 $1 $146 {seizing the initiaitve, for example} 15. h3 $140 Nge5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. f4 Ng6 18. Kh2 Nh4 19. e4 f5 $40) 11... Be7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Qb3 {other moves:} (13. a4 a5 $5 $146 {fighting move. Obviously there is nothing wrong with} (13... bxa4 14. Qxa4 Qb6 15. b5 Nc5 16. Qa5 Qxa5 17. Rxa5 axb5 $11 {Goloshchapov-Buhmann, Germany 2010}) 14. Nxb5 {another line here} (14. bxa5 b4 15. Nb5 Qxa5 16. Nd2 Rad8 17. Nb3 Qa8 18. Bf3 Ne4 $15) (14. axb5 $6 axb4 15. Nb1 Rxa1 16. Bxa1 Bxf3 $1 17. gxf3 (17. Bxf3 Qa5 $17) 17... Nd5 $1 $15) 14... axb4 15. Qd4 $1 Qb8 16. Ne5 Rd8 $13) (13. Rc1 Nb6 14. Qd4 Rc8 15. Rfd1 Qxd4 16. Nxd4 Nfd5 $11 {Zubkov-Zhdanov, Uljanovsk 2009}) 13... Qb8 14. h3 {another direction here} (14. Rfd1 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. e4 {one game featured} (16. g3 $6 Qf5 $1 17. Rd4 {Priehoda-Kapnisis, Prague 2020 after logical} Rac8 $146 {Black would be clearly better.}) 16... Qb8 17. Bf3 Rd8 18. Qc2 Qc7 $15 {Muse-Eingorn, Berlin 1991}) 14... Rc8 15. Rfd1 Nb6 16. Rac1 {or} (16. Rd4 Nfd5 $1 17. e4 $2 Nxc3 18. Bxc3 Na4 19. Be1 Bf6 20. e5 Bxf3 $19 {with winning position for Black Kamrukov,A-Grachev,B Sochi 2017}) 16... Nc4 17. Ba1 {occured in two games} h6 $146 18. a4 Nd5 $15) 8... Nbd7 {I examined three lines here:} 9. b3 (9. Bd2 c5 10. dxc5 {other lines:} (10. Rc1 Be7 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. a3 O-O 13. b4 Nce4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Rc2 Bf6 16. Bc1 {Engelking-Zoch, Langenhagen 2007 and now Black missed} Nc3 $1 $146 17. Qxd8 Rfxd8 18. Bb2 Rac8 $17 {with clear advantage.}) (10. a4 b4 11. Na2 a5 $1 12. Nc1 {another line} (12. Bb5 Be7 13. Ne5 $6 O-O 14. Nc6 Bxc6 15. Bxc6 Rc8 16. Bb5 {Adly-Suleymanli, Sharjah 2022 Black could have played} c4 $1 $146 17. Qe2 Nb6 18. Rfc1 Ne4 $17) 12... Bd6 13. Nb3 O-O 14. Rc1 {Montagard-Remille, France 2009 and now natural} Rc8 $146 15. Be1 Bd5 $15 {would led to very pleasant position for Black.}) 10... Bxc5 11. b4 $1 {this is more precise to compare with} (11. a3 O-O 12. b4 {two games arrive to this position, but Black has never tried} Bd6 $1 $146 13. a4 bxa4 14. Qxa4 Qe7 15. Rfb1 Ne5 $15 {with more pleasant play.}) 11... Bd6 {another equal line here} (11... Bxb4 12. Nxb5 {White's point} Be7 13. Nbd4 O-O $11 {Epishin-Espinosa Aranda, Roquetas de Mar 2018}) 12. a4 bxa4 13. b5 O-O 14. bxa6 Bxa6 15. Bxa6 Rxa6 16. Rxa4 Rxa4 17. Qxa4 Ne5 $11 {Ijzermans-Admiraal, Vlissingen 2018}) (9. a4 b4 10. Nb1 c5 11. Nbd2 Be7 12. Nc4 {other moves:} (12. b3 cxd4 13. Nxd4 O-O 14. Bb2 {or} (14. Bf3 Nd5 $1 15. Nc4 $2 (15. Bb2 Ne5 $1 $15) 15... Nc3 $1 16. Qc2 Bxf3 17. Nxf3 {Tran-Hoang, Ho Chi Minh City 2017 and now precise would have been} Nb6 $1 $146 18. Nfe5 Nxc4 19. Nxc4 Bf6 20. Bd2 Qc7 $17)) (12. a5 O-O 13. Nc4 {see 12.Nc4}) 12... O-O 13. a5 {another line} (13. Bd2 a5 $1 14. Rc1 {Van der Lende-Swinkels, Hoogeveen 2021} Nb6 $1 $146 15. Nxb6 Qxb6 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Bb5 Ne4 $36) (13. b3 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Nc5 15. Bd2 {Drnovsek-Borisek, Ljubljana 2022 Black should have played} Nce4 $1 $146 16. Be1 Nd5 $17) 13... Qc7 14. Bd2 (14. b3 cxd4 15. Nxd4 (15. exd4 Rad8 $15 {Tunik-Bocharov, Ekaterinburg 2019}) 15... Nc5 16. Bd2 {Arzhenkov-Kremenietsky, Lesnoj Gorodok 2009} Nce4 $1 $146 17. Rc1 Rad8 $15) 14... Rac8 15. Rc1 Qb8 16. Nfe5 Rfd8 $15 {Ikonnikov-Ris, Netherlands 2016}) 9... c5 10. Bb2 Rc8 11. Rc1 {the main alternative} (11. a4 b4 12. Nb1 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 14. Nd2 Be7 15. Rc1 O-O 16. Bf3 Nd5 17. Nc4 Bf6 {with comfortable game for Black, occured in several games.}) 11... Be7 12. dxc5 {or} (12. a4 b4 13. Nb1 O-O 14. Nbd2 Rc7 $5 15. Nc4 Qa8 16. Ne1 {Rosenberg-Timmermans, Chess.com 2022 and now simple} cxd4 $146 17. Bxd4 Bd5 $15 {leads to more pleasant position for Black.}) 12... Bxc5 13. Nd2 {Black should continue} (13. Nd4 O-O 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 {covered through13.Nd2}) 13... O-O $146 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 Qb6 16. Qe2 Rfd8 $11 {Babich-Sharovskaya, Evpatoria 2007}) 7... Bb7 8. O-O c5 {I examined three White major continuations:} 9. e4 (9. Qe2 Nbd7 10. Rd1 {the main alternative is} (10. e4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bc5 12. Be3 Qb6 13. Rfd1 {only one game featured} (13. Rad1 O-O 14. f3 Rad8 15. Rd2 Ne5 16. Rfd1 {Gligoric-Pietzsch, Leipzig 1960 ater natural} h6 $15 {I preer Black position}) 13... O-O 14. f3 (14. a4 {occured in four games} Ne5 15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Rxa8 17. Qxb5 Qxb5 18. Ncxb5 {Black should have played} (18. Ndxb5 Bxe3 19. fxe3 Bxe4 $1 $15) 18... Neg4 $1 $146 19. Nc7 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Rb8 $1 $44 {with nice compensation.}) 14... Ne5 15. Rd2 Rfd8 16. Rad1 {occured in nine games. Here I like the new move} h6 $5 $146 {with approximate line} 17. Nc2 Rxd2 18. Qxd2 Rc8 19. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 20. Qd4 Nfd7 {with pleasant position or Black.}) 10... Qc7 {This is tabya position, here I analyzed three moves} 11. e4 (11. d5 c4 $1 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc2 Bd6 {Two main moves here:} 14. e4 {and} (14. h3 O-O 15. e4 ({Fails to impress} 15. Ng5 $6 Nc5 16. b4 cxb3 17. axb3 Bh2+ $1 18. Kh1 {Livaic-Xiong, Chess.com 2022 Black play can be improved by means of} Be5 $1 $146 19. Bb2 b4 20. Na4 Bxb2 21. Nxb2 h6 22. Nf3 Nd5 $17 {with clear edge for Black.}) 15... Rae8 16. Bg5 {another instructive line} (16. Nd4 Nc5 17. a3 Bh2+ $1 18. Kh1 Be5 $17 {Drenchev-Mitkov, Sunny Beach 2010}) 16... Ne5 17. Nd4 (17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Rac1 {Narva-Meier, Tallinn 2018} Bc6 $146 19. a3 Rc8 $17) 17... Bc5 18. Bf4 {Holemar-Kozak, Brno 2008 and now simple} b4 $146 19. Na4 Ba7 $17 {would lead to Black clear edge.}) 14... O-O 15. Bg5 (15. h3 {see 14.h3}) 15... Ne5 16. Nd4 $2 Neg4 $1 17. g3 Nxf2 $1 18. Nxe6 {doesn't help} (18. Qxf2 Bc5 $19) 18... Nh3+ 19. Kg2 Qe7 $19 {D'Costa-Wells, West Bromwich 2003}) (11. Bd2 Rc8 12. Rac1 Qb8 13. e4 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Bd6 15. g3 O-O 16. f3 Rfe8 17. Be3 h6 $15 {Cremerius-Bernaert, ICCF email 2018}) 11... cxd4 12. Nxd4 {a very interesting alternative} (12. Nd5 $5 exd5 13. exd5+ Kd8 $5 14. Ng5 {clearly worse} (14. Bg5 $2 Bc5 15. Nxd4 {Calinescu-Lev, Arnhem 1987 and now natural} Re8 $146 16. Qf3 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Qe5 $1 18. Be3 Nc5 $17 {would secure clear edge for Black.}) 14... Nc5 15. d6 Bxd6 16. Nxf7+ Kc8 17. Nxh8 {Platz-Herrmann, Soemmerda 1950 in the game Black missed the best} Nxb3 $1 $146 18. axb3 Bc6 19. Bd2 Kb7 20. Ba5 Qd7 21. Rxd4 Bxh2+ $1 22. Kxh2 Qxd4 23. Qe7+ Nd7 24. Nf7 Qxf2 $15) 12... Bc5 13. Be3 {other moves} ({Important to check} 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Nxe6 Qe5 15. Nxg7+ Kf7 16. Nf5 {this has been occured in five games} (16. Nh5 $2 Rad8 17. Ng3 h5 $1 18. Be3 h4 19. Nf5 {Mamedyarov-So, Zagreb 2022 now} h3 $1 $40 {would decisively weaken light-squares around White king.}) 16... h5 $5 $146 {a strong improvement with approximate line} 17. g3 Qe6 18. Bf4 Ne5 19. Rac1 Rac8 $15) (13. Bg5 O-O 14. Rac1 Rac8 15. Kh1 $6 Qb6 $1 16. Be3 Bxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 $17 {Bennborn-Hult, Sweden 1991}) 13... O-O 14. Rac1 {another good example} (14. f3 Rfd8 15. Rd2 Bd6 16. g3 Nc5 17. Bc2 {Milde-Popov, ICCF email 2013 Black could play} Rac8 18. Rad1 Be7 {no problems for Black}) 14... Qb6 {here we have an extraordinary game} 15. f3 Rac8 16. Bf2 Ne5 17. Rc2 Nh5 $1 18. g3 Nf6 19. Rcd2 h6 20. Kg2 g5 $1 $15 {Lenderman-Anton Guijarro, Douglas 2019}) (9. dxc5 Nbd7 $1 10. Qe2 Bxc5 11. e4 Qb8 $1 12. Bg5 {Kuzubov-Zubov, Kiev 2012} O-O $146 13. Rac1 Rc8 $15) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 {another line} (11. Be3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Be7 13. e5 (13. f3 O-O 14. Qd2 {Perez Lopez-Fister, ICCF email 2016} (14. a4 Qb8 $1 15. Qe1 b4 16. Nb1 $2 {Wojtaszek-Kulaots, Warsaw 2013 Black has a strong improvement} Rd8 $1 $146 17. Qf2 (17. Bf2 Qe5 $17) 17... Bd6 $1 18. g3 Be5 $17) 14... Nd7 $146 15. Rfd1 Nc5 $11) 13... Ne4 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Re1 Bd5 16. Qg4 Bxb3 17. axb3 O-O 18. Be3 Qd3 19. Rad1 Qg6 $11 {Wichert-Seelig, ICCF email 2018}) 11... Bxc6 12. Qe2 (12. f3 $6 Bc5+ 13. Kh1 {Bruzon Batista-Vazquez, Lichess.org 2020} O-O $146 14. Qxd8 Rfxd8 15. Bf4 Nd7 {with pleasant endgame for Black.}) 12... Be7 13. Rd1 (13. Bg5 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. a3 O-O 16. Rfd1 Rfd8 17. Ba2 b4 $1 18. axb4 Qxb4 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Lintchevski, Sochi 2019}) (13. e5 Nd7 14. Bf4 Nc5 15. Bc2 O-O 16. Qe3 {Bruce-Rogers, ICCF email 2020 and now Black should have continued} b4 $146 17. Rfd1 Qc7 18. Ne2 Rac8 $13) 13... Qc7 14. Bg5 {another important line here} (14. e5 Nd7 15. Bf4 {Van Nierop-Cuaycong, LSS email 2009 here I discovered an interesting idea} g5 $5 $146 16. Bg3 Nc5 17. Bc2 (17. Qh5 Nxb3 18. axb3 O-O $15) 17... b4 18. Ne4 (18. Nb1 $6 h5 $36) 18... Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 Rc8 $1 $13) 14... Qe5 15. f4 Qc5+ 16. Kh1 b4 17. Bxf6 gxf6 (17... Bxf6 $2 18. Nd5 $1 $16) 18. Nb1 Bb5 19. Qe1 Qh5 $15 {Nurtawa-Khan, ICCF email 2020}) (5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. Qxc4 {other moves are also important} (6. a3 Bd6 7. Bg5 {or} (7. e4 {Mozharov-Sadhwani, Chess.com 2019 Black should have continued} Bd7 $146 8. Qxc4 e5 9. d5 Ne7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O h6 $13 {with complex middlegame}) 7... O-O 8. Qxc4 {another game featured} (8. Rd1 h6 9. Bh4 Bd7 10. Qxc4 b5 $1 11. Qd3 {Black idea can be seen from the following line} (11. Nxb5 g5 $1 12. Bg3 Na5 13. Qc3 Bxb5 14. Qxa5 Rb8 $44 {with nice compensation thanks to development advantage.}) 11... b4 12. Ne4 $6 {Black missed strong} ({Better would have been} 12. axb4 Nxb4 13. Qb1 Be7 14. e3 Nbd5 $11) 12... g5 $1 13. Nxf6+ (13. Nxd6 cxd6 14. Bg3 Qa5 $40) 13... Qxf6 14. Bg3 Rfd8 $13) 8... h6 9. Bh4 e5 10. d5 Ne7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. e3 {Indjic-Abdisalimov, Tashkent 2023 Black should have played} (12. e4 {another line} Rb8 $5 13. Be2 f5 $132) 12... Rb8 $1 $146 {useful waiting move} 13. Be2 f5 14. O-O Kh7 $15) (6. e4 $6 Bb4 7. Bg5 (7. Bxc4 {not dangerous} Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Rb1 {1-0 (24) Radnic,Z-Seifert,P Bad Zwesten 2001} O-O $146 {a clear improvement over the game with the following point} 11. Ba3 Nxd4 $1 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. Bxf8 Kxf8 $17) 7... Bd7 $1 8. Qc2 h6 $1 9. Bd2 {I also examined} (9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. e5 Nxd4 $1 11. Nxd4 Qxe5+ 12. Nde2 O-O-O 13. O-O-O Bc6 $17 {Dreisch-Nitschke, GER email 2015}) 9... b5 {a good model game here} 10. a3 Ba5 11. Nxb5 Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 (12. Nxd2 a6 13. Nc3 Nxd4 $17) 12... Nxe4 13. Qf4 Nd6 $1 14. Nxd6+ cxd6 15. Bxc4 (15. Qxd6 $2 Qa5+ $40) 15... d5 16. Bd3 {Kozak-Parligras, Tornelo INT 2021 Black should have played} Qb8 $1 $146 17. Qxb8+ Rxb8 18. b4 Ke7 19. Kd2 f6 $15) (6. Bg5 Bb4 7. Bxf6 {other moves:} (7. e3 Bd7 8. Qc2 b5 9. Be2 {other options:} (9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. a4 bxa4 11. Bxc4 {this all happened in Xiong-Sarana, Chess.com 2021 now Black should have continued} Qg6 $1 $146 12. Bd3 (12. Qxg6 $140 hxg6 13. Rxa4 Nxd4 $1 $19) 12... Qxg2 13. Ke2 Qh3 14. Rhg1 Bd6 $15) (9. a3 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 (10. Qxc3 $6 {played twice, in both games Black missed obvious} Ne4 $1 $146 11. Bxd8 Nxc3 12. Bxc7 Na4 13. Rb1 Ke7 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 a6 12. g4 Ne7 (12... Bc8 $5) 13. Ne5 Nfd5 14. Bg2 f6 15. Ng6 Nxg6 16. Qxg6+ Kf8 17. Qc2 Bc6 $17 {Salama-Gajewski, Reykjavik 2019}) 9... Ne7 $5 10. Bxf6 {another game saw} (10. O-O Nfd5 $1 11. e4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Ba3 13. Nd2 f6 14. Be3 {Piceu-Horvath,D Germany 2022 and now after simple} O-O $146 {Black is clealry better.}) 10... gxf6 11. O-O c6 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 a5 $1 14. b3 Nd5 15. Qc2 cxb3 16. Qxb3 O-O $15 {Williams-Biedermann, ICCF email 2016}) (7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qd5 $1 9. Bxf6 ({Hardly a good idea} 9. Bf4 $2 Bd7 10. Qd1 {or} (10. Qc2 Qe4 $1 11. Qc1 Na5 $1 12. Bxc7 Nb3 13. Nd2 Qc6 14. Nxb3 cxb3 15. Bf4 a5 16. Qb2 a4 $19 {Ftacnik-Lerner, Stary Smokovec 1977}) 10... Ne4 11. Qc2 O-O-O $17 {Geldyeva-Khademalsharieh, Chengdu 2017}) 9... gxf6 10. g3 {other important moves:} (10. Nd2 b5 11. Qc2 a6 12. e4 Qd6 $1 13. a4 Rb8 14. Be2 O-O 15. O-O e5 $1 16. d5 Ne7 17. Rfb1 Bd7 $17 {with healthy extra pawn Cuppone-Valente, ICCF email 2015}) (10. Qc2 f5 11. g3 b6 12. Bg2 Bb7 13. O-O {another important line} (13. Nh4 Qa5 14. O-O O-O-O $17) 13... O-O-O 14. Nh4 {other moves:} (14. Rfe1 {occured in Olszewski-Wojtaszek, Germany 2015 Now strong would have been} Na5 $146 15. Nh4 Qd7 16. e4 f4 $1 17. gxf4 $140 Rhg8 $40) (14. a4 Na5 15. Rab1 Nb3 16. Nh4 Qa5 17. Bxb7+ Kxb7 18. Nf3 f6 $17 {Candela Perez-Moreno Trujillo, Madrid 2016}) 14... Qd7 15. e4 {happened in Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Wijk aan Zee 1999} Ne7 $1 $146 16. Rfe1 {or} (16. exf5 Nxf5 17. Nxf5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 exf5 $17) 16... fxe4 17. Bxe4 h5 $17) 10... Bd7 11. Qc2 Na5 12. e4 {another line} (12. Bg2 Bc6 13. O-O O-O-O 14. Nh4 {Valette-Jolly, Angers 2017} Qb5 $146 15. e4 Nb3 16. Ra2 Qa5 $17) 12... Qc6 13. Bg2 Qa4 $1 14. Qe2 Nb3 15. Rb1 {Zhao-Zaiatz, Moscow 2004} (15. Rd1 {Thiel-Nasshan, Tegernsee 2019 a nice improvement here} O-O-O $1 $146 16. O-O h6 $15) 15... O-O-O $146 16. O-O Bc6 17. Rfd1 a6 $15) (7. e4 {see 6.e4}) 7... gxf6 8. e3 {happened in several games} (8. e4 Bd7 $1 9. Qc2 (9. Bxc4 $2 Nxd4 $1 $19) 9... b5 10. Be2 Ne7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rad1 {Koch-Drenchev, Germany 2011} c6 $146 13. Qc1 Kh8 $1 $15) (8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qd5 $1 {covered via 7.a3 line}) 8... Bd7 $146 9. Qc2 b5 10. Be2 a6 11. O-O Bd6 $15) 6... Nb4 $1 7. Qb3 c5 8. dxc5 {I also examined three alternatives} (8. a3 cxd4 9. axb4 dxc3 10. bxc3 Bd6 11. Bg5 O-O 12. e3 b6 13. Be2 Bb7 14. O-O {Lalith-Adhiban, Kanpur 2022 Black should have played} a6 $146 15. Rfd1 Qc7 16. Bxf6 gxf6 $13 {with complex game.}) (8. Bg5 $6 cxd4 9. Rd1 ({Hardly a good idea} 9. O-O-O $2 Qa5 $1 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Ne4 f5 $1 12. Nf6+ Ke7 13. a3 Kxf6 14. axb4 {Erbe-Lauer, DESC email 1999 after natural} Qxb4 {Black position is winning}) 9... Qa5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nxd4 e5 $1 12. Ndb5 $2 {Instead White should have prefered} (12. a3 $1 exd4 13. axb4 Qe5 $15) 12... a6 $1 13. Nd6+ Bxd6 14. Rxd6 Ke7 15. a3 Kxd6 16. Qxf7 Nd5 17. b4 Qxa3 18. Qxd5+ Ke7 $19 {Krasenkow -Landa, Port Erin 2006}) (8. e3 a6 9. Be2 {only one game here} cxd4 10. exd4 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 b6 13. a3 Nbd5 14. Bg5 $6 Bb7 15. Ne5 h6 16. Bh4 Nf4 17. Bf1 Rc8 $15 {Harper-Keres, Vancouver 1975}) 8... Bxc5 9. a3 {another move} (9. Bg5 O-O 10. e3 {another important line} (10. Rd1 Qb6 11. e3 Nfd5 12. Nxd5 $2 exd5 13. Be2 Bf5 14. Rd2 Nc2+ $1 15. Kd1 Qxb3 16. axb3 Na1 $1 $17 {Nanu-Gyimesi, Austria 2011}) 10... Nd3+ 11. Bxd3 Qxd3 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Nd2 {Kortschnoj-Wells, Port Erin 2004 Black could choose} Qg6 $146 14. Nde4 Be7 15. O-O-O b6 $15) 9... Nc6 10. Bg5 (10. g3 {Stohl-Meister, Slovakia 1994 Black play can be improved with} h6 $1 $146 11. Bg2 O-O 12. O-O e5 $15 {with comfortable play.}) 10... Qb6 11. Qxb6 Bxb6 12. e3 {another game saw} (12. Rd1 h6 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. e3 a6 15. g3 Ke7 16. Bg2 Bd7 17. O-O Rac8 $11 {Tanis-Mostowik, ICCF email 2010}) 12... Bd7 13. O-O-O Ng4 $5 14. Bh4 f6 15. Be2 {Krasenkow-Fridman, Hilversum 2009 Black would conviniently equalize by means of} Ne7 $146 16. h3 Nh6 17. g4 Bc6 $11) (5. Bg5 a6 $1 6. a4 (6. e4 b5 {see 5.e4 b5 6.Bg5 line}) ({The main alternative} 6. e3 b5 7. a4 c6 8. axb5 {I also checked} (8. Ne5 Bb7 9. Be2 {or} (9. Qf3 {two games arrived to this position. I would suggest the following new idea} h6 $146 10. Bh4 Be7 {and it's transposed to one game} 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Bxf6 (13. Be2 Nbd7 $17) 13... gxf6 $1 14. Nxf7 Kxf7 15. Qh5+ Kf8 $19 {Hardaway-Turzo, Chess.com 2021}) 9... Nbd7 10. Qc2 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. dxe5 Nd5 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Ne4 Nb4 16. Qc3 c5 $17 {Akobian-Sarana, Chess.com 2020}) 8... cxb5 9. Nxb5 {the alternative is} (9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nxb5 axb5 $1 {thematic exchange sacrifice} 11. Rxa8 Bb7 12. Ra1 {another line} (12. Ra7 Bb4+ 13. Nd2 (13. Ke2 Be4 $1 14. Nd2 {Piket-Lobron, Amsterdam 1994 after} Bd5 $146 {Black has powerful initaitve.}) 13... Qb6 14. Ra1 {in case of} (14. Rxb7 Qxb7 15. Be2 {Black can take g2-pawn} Qxg2 16. Bf3 {Czerwonski-Poysti, Bohumin 2020 and now preicse would have been} Qg6 $1 $146 17. Bh5 Qd3 18. Be2 Qf5 $17) 14... e5 $1 15. Qg4 (15. dxe5 {occured in two games a very strong idea} Ke7 $1 $146 16. exf6+ Qxf6 17. Qc2 Rd8 18. Rd1 Qe6 $1 $17) 15... Nc6 16. Qg7 Rf8 17. Qxf6 exd4 18. exd4 {Afloarei-Rotaru, ICCF email 2017 a nice improvement here} Rg8 $1 $146 19. d5 Qd4 20. Qxd4 Nxd4 21. Kd1 Bxd5 $17) 12... Bb4+ 13. Nd2 {the alternative is} (13. Ke2 O-O 14. Ne1 {a wonderful model game here} (14. Qc2 f5 15. Nd2 Nc6 16. Rd1 Qxd4 $1 17. Nf3 Qf6 $19 {Mamedyarov-Nakamura, Kolkata 2018}) 14... Nc6 15. Nc2 Ba5 16. Rg1 Qb6 17. g4 Rd8 18. g5 f5 19. f4 e5 $1 20. fxe5 Nxe5 21. Bg2 Bxg2 22. Rxg2 b4 $1 $40 {Egorov-Mashchenko, LSS email 2014}) 13... e5 14. Be2 (14. Qh5 {happened in six games} Bc6 $1 $146 15. Qh4 O-O 16. Be2 exd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. exd4 Rd8 $17) 14... exd4 15. O-O dxe3 16. Nf3 exf2+ 17. Kh1 {occured in two games . Black can play} O-O $146 18. Rxf2 Nc6 19. Qxd8 Rxd8 $44) 9... axb5 10. Rxa8 Bb7 11. Ra1 (11. Bxf6 gxf6 {see 9. Bxf6}) 11... Bb4+ 12. Nd2 {one game featured} (12. Ke2 {Zhao-Orndahl, Taby 2007} O-O $1 $146 13. Ne1 h6 14. Bh4 Nc6 15. f3 Be7 $17) 12... e5 $1 13. dxe5 {I also examined} (13. Be2 Qd5 $1 14. f3 {or} (14. Bf3 e4 15. Bxf6 exf3 16. Bxg7 fxg2 17. Rg1 Rg8 18. Be5 Nc6 $17) 14... exd4 15. Bf4 O-O 16. e4 Nxe4 $1 17. O-O (17. fxe4 Qxe4 $19) 17... Nxd2 18. Bxd2 Bc5 19. Kh1 d3 $1 $19 {Satkar-Raja, Mumbai 2018}) 13... Bxd2+ 14. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Ne4+ 16. Kc2 Nxg5 17. b3 Ne6 18. bxc4 b4 $15 {Napalkov-Churkin, ICCF email 2017}) 6... Nc6 7. e3 {another line here} (7. e4 Na5 8. e5 (8. Qc2 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Rd1 Nxg3 12. hxg3 Bg7 13. Be2 Qe7 $17 {Krejci-Cernousek, Slovakia 2020}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 (9. Bd2 {happened in two games} Nd7 $1 $146 10. Ne4 c5 11. Nd6+ Bxd6 12. exd6 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 $17) 9... g5 10. Nxg5 {the alternative line} (10. Bg3 Nd5 11. Be2 Bb4 12. Qc2 {Larrosa-Benitez, Rio Negro 2022 Black should have played} Bd7 $1 $146 13. O-O Bc6 $17) 10... Nd5 $1 11. Nf3 Be7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nd2 {another game featured} (13. Be2 Bd7 14. O-O {Muljadi-Hassim, ICCF email 2017 and now} Bc6 $1 $146 {promsing for Black}) 13... Qb4 14. Qc2 Bd7 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Qc3 Qb6 17. Be2 {Balta-Kopeikin, ICCF email 2016 Black missed} O-O-O $1 $146 18. O-O f6 $36) 7... Na5 8. Ne5 {other moves:} (8. Nd2 c5 9. dxc5 {another line here} (9. Nxc4 cxd4 10. exd4 {or} (10. Nxa5 Qxa5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qxd4 {Anderson-Archer, FICGS email 2014 here I like the following new idea} Qe5 $146 13. O-O-O (13. Qd3 Bd7 $15) 13... Qxd4 14. Rxd4 Bd7 15. Be2 Bc6 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rc8 $11) (10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. exd4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Bb4 13. Bd2 $6 Bd7 $15 {Sahidi-Urazayev, Lichess.org 2021}) 10... Bb4 11. Ne5 {occured in two games} h6 $146 12. Bh4 $140 (12. Be3 Nd5 $15) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nf3 Rg8 $17) 9... Bxc5 10. Bxc4 {an alternative variation} (10. Nxc4 Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Bd7 {Black has no problems, one good model game here} 13. Ke2 Rc8 14. Bb3 {Krimbacher-Sherwood, ICCF email 2017 and now} Bc6 $146 15. f3 h6 16. Bh4 Ke7 $15) 10... Bd7 11. O-O {another line} (11. Be2 Bc6 12. O-O O-O 13. Rb1 Bb4 $1 14. Bh4 {Hinz-Baranowski, ICCF email 2017 here I like} Qd6 $146 15. Qc2 Nd5 16. Nde4 Qd7 $15) 11... Be7 12. Bd3 {Meissner-Buchan, ICCF email 2021 after natural} Qb6 $146 13. Rb1 Qb4 {I prefer Black position.}) (8. Be2 c5 9. dxc5 Qxd1+ 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. O-O {four games arrived to this position} Be7 $146 12. Ne5 Nd5 13. Bxe7 Kxe7 14. Rd4 (14. Nxd5+ $140 exd5 15. Rxd5 b5 $1 16. axb5 Be6 17. Rdd1 axb5 $15) 14... Nb6 15. Nxc4 Nbxc4 16. Bxc4 Nc6 17. Rd2 Bd7 {with more pleasant endgame for Black.}) 8... Bb4 9. Be2 {other moves:} (9. Nxc4 Qd5 $1 10. Bxf6 {much worse} (10. Nxa5 $2 Qxa5 (10... Ne4 $5) 11. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qxc3+ 13. Ke2 gxf6 $17 {Muradli -Erigaisi, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Nxc4 11. Qb3 {other moves} (11. Bxc4 Qxg2 $1 12. Rf1 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 gxf6 14. Qb3 Qxh2 15. O-O-O Qd6 $17 {Szabolcsi, J-Milikow, E Budapest 2022}) (11. Bxg7 Rg8 12. Bf6 Rg6 $1 13. Bh8 Bd7 14. Qc2 O-O-O 15. O-O-O Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Nd6 17. Be5 Bxa4 $15 {Peiro Aparisi-Ordobas Martinez, ICCF email 2021}) 11... Nxe3 $1 12. Qxb4 Nc2+ 13. Kd2 Nxb4 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. Be5 f6 17. Bg3 {Yanchenko-Gonzalez, Chess.com 2022} Rg4 $1 $146 18. f4 Nxf4 19. Re1 Nd5 $17) (9. Bxf6 gxf6 ({Worthy alternative} 9... Qxf6 10. Nxc4 b6 $5 11. Nxa5 bxa5 12. Bd3 c5 {with nice play for Black Cramling-Javakhishvili, Mulhouse 2017}) 10. Nxc4 c5 {one good illustraitve game} 11. Qc2 Bd7 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Rd1 Be7 14. Nd6+ Kf8 $1 $15 {Krimbacher-Zolochevsky, ICCF email 2017}) 9... c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. exd4 h6 (11... Nb3 $5 12. Ra2 Nxd4 13. Bh5 $1 $132 {Balta-Byrne, ICCF email 2018}) 12. Bxf6 (12. Bh4 Nb3 13. Rb1 Qxd4 $15) 12... Qxf6 13. Bxc4 O-O 14. Ne4 {Furguzz-Mary, LSS email 2018 here my new suggestion} Qe7 $146 15. Ba2 Rd8 16. Rc1 Bd7 17. Rc7 Rac8 18. Rxd7 Rxd7 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. d5 exd5 21. Qxd5 $11) (5. g3 c5 6. Bg2 {other moves} (6. Qa4+ Bd7 7. Qxc4 b5 $5 $146 {a regular theoretical line here} (7... Bc6 8. dxc5 Nbd7 {with many games}) 8. Nxb5 {crtical} (8. Qd3 Bc6 $15) 8... Qb6 {I checked three moves here} 9. Nc3 (9. a4 a6 10. Na3 {or} (10. Nc3 Nc6 $1 11. e3 Na5 12. Qe2 Bc6 13. Bg2 Nb3 14. Rb1 Qb7 $1 $44) 10... Nc6 11. Bg2 (11. dxc5 $2 Bxc5 12. e3 Na5 $19) 11... cxd4 12. O-O Rc8 {with complex , but balanced play.}) (9. Na3 Nc6 10. Bg2 {worse for White} (10. dxc5 $6 Bxc5 11. e3 O-O 12. Be2 e5 13. Qb5 Bh3 $36) 10... cxd4 11. O-O Rc8 12. Bd2 $5 Bxa3 (12... Qxb2 13. Nb5 $44) 13. bxa3 Ne5 14. Qb3 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 O-O $11) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 (10. Qxd4 $2 Bc5 $19) 10... Nc6 11. Nxc6 {another line} (11. e3 Nxd4 12. exd4 Qb7 {only not} (12... Bc6 $2 13. Qxc6+ Qxc6 14. Bb5 $16) 13. d5 {in case of} (13. Rg1 Bb4 14. a3 Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 O-O $44) 13... Nxd5 14. Bg2 Rc8 $1 15. Qd4 Qb4 16. Qxb4 Nxb4 $5 ({obviously equalizes} 16... Bxb4 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. O-O $11) 17. O-O Nd3 18. Rd1 Nxc1 19. Raxc1 Be7 $13 {with balanced endgame}) 11... Bxc6 12. Be3 (12. f3 $2 Bc5 $36) 12... Qb7 13. f3 Rc8 14. Qb3 Bb4 $44) (6. dxc5 $6 Qxd1+ 7. Nxd1 Bxc5 8. Be3 {Burnett-Orr, Edinburgh 2022 Black could play} Bxe3 $146 9. Nxe3 c3 $1 10. bxc3 b6 11. Bg2 Bb7 12. O-O Ke7 $15) 6... Nc6 7. Qa4 {main move without any doubts. Other options:} (7. e3 Rb8 $1 8. O-O b5 9. dxc5 {Silva-Papp, Chess.com 2022 Black should have played} Bxc5 $1 $146 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $1 {allowing} 11. Ng5 Ne5 12. f4 Nd3 $1 {the point behind Black idea} 13. Nxf7+ Ke7 14. Nxh8 Nxc1 15. Rfxc1 Bxe3+ 16. Kf1 Bxc1 17. Rxc1 Bd7 $15) (7. dxc5 Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 Bxc5 9. Ne3 {White best move} (9. O-O Nd5 $1 10. e4 Ndb4 11. Be3 {Rendboe-Meskenas, Denmark 2023} Be7 $1 $146 12. Nd2 Na5 $17) 9... Bxe3 10. Bxe3 Nd5 11. Bd2 {Ivanov-Farago, Osterskars 1995} O-O $146 12. O-O b5 13. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) (7. Be3 $6 Ng4 $1 8. O-O {not dangeorus for Black} (8. d5 Nxe3 9. fxe3 exd5 10. Nxd5 {Radjabov-Grischuk, Krasnogorsk 2023 and now Black could play} g6 $1 $146 11. Nd2 Bg7 12. Nxc4 O-O $15) 8... Nxe3 9. fxe3 Be7 10. Qa4 {A strong improvement I suggest} ({One game continued} 10. d5 exd5 11. Nxd5 {Krasenkow-Praggnanandhaa, Krasnaya Polyana 2021 Black should have played} O-O $146 12. Nd2 Bh3 $1 13. Nxc4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 b5 15. Na3 Rb8 $17) 10... Rb8 $1 $146 11. Ne5 {critical move, another line I checked} (11. Rfd1 O-O 12. dxc5 b5 $1 13. Rxd8 {or} (13. Nxb5 Qa5 $1 14. Qxa5 Nxa5 15. Nc3 Bxc5 $15) 13... bxa4 14. Rxf8+ Kxf8 15. Nxa4 Bd7 16. Nd2 Ne5 $15) (11. Qxc4 $6 b5 $1 12. Qd3 (12. Nxb5 $140 $2 Na5 13. Qa4 Bd7 $19) 12... O-O $17) 11... O-O 12. Bxc6 cxd4 $1 13. Rfd1 bxc6 14. Qxa7 (14. Nxc6 $2 Bd7 15. Rxd4 Bg5 $1 $17) 14... Rb7 15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. exd4 c5 $15) 7... Bd7 {Black reaches easy equality after} (7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 9. Bxc6+ Bd7 $1 10. Bxd7+ {or} (10. Be3 Bxc6 {worthy of consideration} (10... Qd6 $5 $146 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. Qxc4 Rc8 13. Qb3 Bc5 14. Bxc5 Rxc5 15. Rd1 Qc6 16. O-O O-O $11) 11. Qxc6+ bxc6 12. Bxd4 Nd5 13. Rc1 {Sokolin-Kaidanov, New York 1997 Black should have played} c5 $1 $146 14. Be5 f6 15. Bf4 Kd7 16. O-O Be7 $15) 10... Qxd7 11. Qxc4 Rc8 12. Qb3 {inferior square} (12. Qf4 $6 Bd6 13. Qf3 {Panjer-Ilinca Ilinca, Benidorm 2022. A nice improvement would be} Be5 $146 14. O-O O-O 15. Bf4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qd5 $1 $15) 12... Bc5 13. O-O O-O (13... Qc6 $5 {deserves attention as well}) 14. Bg5 {main move. I also examined} (14. Bf4 Rfd8 15. Rad1 Qc6 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 $11 {Keil-Gebigke, Berlin 2003}) 14... Qc6 15. Rac1 Ne4 $1 16. Nxe4 Qxe4 17. Rxc5 Rxc5 18. Be7 {Klyszcz-Moench, Wiesbaden 2013 and now the most precise would be} Rfc8 $146 19. Bxc5 Rxc5 $11) 8. Qxc4 (8. dxc5 $6 {happeened in two games. In both cases Black missed strong} Nd4 $1 $146 9. Qd1 Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 Bxc5 11. O-O O-O 12. Bxb7 Rb8 13. Bf3 h6 {I would prefer Black position.}) 8... b5 9. Qd3 {Black b5-pawn is untouchable} (9. Nxb5 $2 Na5 10. Qa4 (10. Qd3 c4 $19) 10... a6 $19) (9. Qxb5 $2 Nb4 $19) 9... c4 10. Qc2 Be7 11. O-O ({I checked also} 11. a3 Qb6 12. Be3 Nd5 $13) 11... b4 12. Ne4 Rc8 $1 13. Bf4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 O-O 15. Rac1 Na5 16. Ne5 Be8 17. h4 f6 18. Nf3 Bf7 19. Rfd1 Qb6 $15 {Ax-Radloff, GER email 2011}) 5... b5 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) 7... Nb6 {The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} 8. Be2 (8. Be3 Nc6 9. a3 (9. Be2 {will be covered through 8.Be2 move order}) (9. Nc3 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O {once again covered through 8.Be2 move order}) 9... Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Be2 {White also tried} (11. Qc2 Ne7 $5 12. Nd2 Nf5 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. Qa4+ c6 17. O-O {Kuzubov-Pichot, Linares 2022 I like the following improvement for Black} Bc5 $146 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Rad1 Qf4 $1 $11) 11... Na5 {I would like to suggest another ideas as well} (11... Ne7 $5 12. O-O Nf5 13. b3 {second game here featured} (13. Qc1 Be7 14. Rd1 O-O 15. d5 Nxe3 16. dxe6 {Santos Latasa-Yuffa, Linares 2022} Qc6 $1 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. fxe3 (18. Qxe3 Raf8 $36) 18... Raf8 $44) 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3 {Koelle-Zelcic, Terme Catez 2022 now accurate} Bc6 $146 15. Rfc1 Be7 $11 {would lead to reliable position for Black.}) 12. h4 (12. Qc2 Be7 {see 8.Be2 move order}) 12... f5 $1 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Bf3 {Maltsevskaya-Kostenko, Cheliabinsk 2022} f5 $146 16. O-O Bd6 $15) (8. a4 Qd7 $1 9. Be2 {I checked also} (9. Na3 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxa3 {worth considering} (10... Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxa4 {after} 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O Qb4 $1 14. Qc3 O-O 15. Nxc4 Nd5 $11) 11. Rxa3 a5 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 {Vachier Lagrave-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021 I like the following improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rh4 f5 $1 $13) 9... Nc6 10. O-O {another line} (10. Be3 Bb7 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 Bb4 13. Nc3 O-O $15 {Aditya-Pranav, chess24. com 2022}) 10... Na5 11. Ng5 {worse option for White} (11. Ra2 $6 Bb7 12. Qc2 a6 13. Nc3 {Grozdanovic-Djukic, Novi Banovci 2023 and now} Qc6 $1 $146 14. Rd1 Bb4 {would secure better position for Black.}) 11... h6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Nd5 $1 15. Ra3 a6 16. Nd4 Ne7 17. Qd2 {Carlsen-Nakamura, chess24.com 2020 and now the logical improvement would be} O-O-O $1 $146 {with the following illustrative line} 18. Qxa5 Qxd4 19. Bf3 Nc6 $1 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxa6+ Bb7 22. Qb5 Qd5 $1 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Qa5 Rhg8 $11) (8. a3 Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Nc6 {transpose to 8.Be3}) (8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15) 8... Nc6 9. O-O {I examined four alternatives here:} ({The main alternative is} 9. Be3 Be7 10. a3 {other important moves:} (10. h4 $5 {played twice by Gukesh} Bb7 11. h5 Qd7 12. Nc3 {Gukesh-Abdusattorov, Warsaw 2021 Black play can be improved by means of} O-O-O $1 $146 13. Qd2 Kb8 14. Kf1 f5 $1 $15) (10. O-O {covered through 10.Be3}) 10... Bb7 11. Qc2 {the main move. In case of} (11. Nc3 Na5 {White has nothing better than} 12. Qc2 Qd7 {which takes us back to 11.Qc2}) 11... Qd7 12. Nc3 {one game saw} (12. Rd1 $6 {Rustemov-Xiong, Chess. com 2022 this allowed tactical solution} Nxe5 $1 $146 13. Nxe5 {or} (13. Nxc7+ Qxc7 14. dxe5 Rc8 $15) 13... Qxb5 14. O-O O-O 15. Nxc4 Qc6 $15) 12... Na5 13. Rd1 {other possibilitites:} (13. O-O {happened in three games. I don't see the reason to refrain from natural} O-O $146 14. Nd2 Rab8 $13 {with complex game.}) (13. h4 {is well met by} f5 $1 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Rd1 O-O-O 16. Bf4 {Maghsoodloo-Pichot, Chess.com 2023 Black could have played} ({Much worse} 16. Ne4 $6 {In the game Unuk-Guichard, Petrovac 2023 Black missed fantastic} Qa4 $1 $146 17. Qb1 Nd5 $17) 16... h5 $1 $146 17. O-O Rdg8 $36 18. Bg3 Bd6 $15) 13... f5 $5 14. exf6 {only one game featured} (14. h4 $6 O-O 15. Rg1 Rad8 $17 {Gajewski-Kollars, Legnica 2021}) 14... gxf6 15. O-O ({Once again} 15. Ne4 {met by} Qa4 $1 16. Qxa4+ $2 {better would have been} (16. Qb1 O-O-O $15) 16... Nxa4 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 {Ostlund-Crevatin, Stockholm 2022 and now the most precise would be} Bd5 $1 $146) 15... O-O-O 16. Nd2 {not working for White} (16. d5 $2 exd5 17. Nd4 {Gunina-Kosteniuk, Almaty 2022} Rhg8 $17) 16... f5 17. Bf3 Rhg8 18. g3 {White best try} (18. Kh1 {Koelle-Murphy, Arandjelovac 2022} Bxf3 $146 19. Nxf3 Bf6 $13) (18. Bxb7+ Kxb7 19. Nf3 $6 {stronger would be} (19. b4 $1 $146 cxb3 20. Nxb3 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 Qc6 $13) 19... Qc6 20. Qe2 Nb3 $15 {Martirosyan-Martin Duque, La Roda 2022}) 18... Bd6 19. Bxb7+ Kxb7 20. Nf3 {another game here continued: Harsha-Girel, Rochefort 2023 Black should have just played} (20. Rfe1 {Lazavik-Azarov, Cheliabinsk 2021 an immediate improvement might be} Rdf8 $146 21. f4 Qc6 $13) 20... Nb3 $1 $146 {with the following nice point} 21. d5 e5 22. Qe2 c5 $1 23. dxc6+ Qxc6 $13) ({Interesting idea} 9. h4 Bb7 10. Rh3 $1 {no problems for Black} (10. h5 Qd7 11. Be3 {Gunina-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022 a natural improvement would be} Bb4+ $1 $146 12. Nc3 (12. Kf1 Ne7 $15) 12... Ne7 13. Qc2 h6 {and now it's transposed to one game} 14. Rd1 Nf5 $15 {Makarian-Seo, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Bb4+ ({deserves attention} 10... Qd7 $5) 11. Kf1 Qd7 12. a3 Be7 13. Nc3 {Krysa-Mareco, Tornelo INT 2021 I like the new} O-O-O $146 14. Be3 f5 $1 15. exf6 Bxf6 $132) (9. Bg5 Be7 10. Qd2 $6 {Sarana-Tomashevsky, Satka 2018 and now simple} Bxg5 $146 11. Qxg5 Qxg5 12. Nxg5 Ke7 $1 13. Nxc7 Rb8 14. Nf3 a6 $15) (9. a3 Be7 10. Be3 {see 9.Be3}) 9... Be7 10. Qd2 {This will be our main continuation. I will examine 5 alternatives as well:} (10. Be3 O-O 11. Nc3 {other options:} (11. Qc2 Nb4 12. Qe4 (12. Qc1 Bb7 $11) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Nc3 Qxe4 14. Nxe4 {Wichmann-Poetsch, Leipzig 2018 and now my minor improvement would be} a5 $5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba6 16. a3 {or} (16. Nfd2 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 (17. Rc2 h6 $13) 17... cxd3 18. Rxc7 Nd5 19. Rcc1 Rfb8 $44 {with excellent compensation.}) 16... N4d5 17. Rc2 Rfb8 18. Nfd2 Ra7 $1 $13) (11. Qc1 Bb7 {an interesting alternative could be} (11... Nb4 $5 12. Nc3 (12. Rd1 {another important line} Bb7 {see 11...Bb7}) 12... a5 $5 13. Rd1 Ba6 14. a3 N4d5 15. Nxd5 $6 {Mishra-Velten, Budapest 2021 and now the right recapture would have been} exd5 $1 $146 16. h3 Bc8 17. Qc2 a4 18. Nh2 Be6 $15) 12. Rd1 ({In case of} 12. Nc3 Nb4 13. Rd1 Rb8 {see via 11. Nc3 move roder}) ({Black main idea can be seen from the following line} 12. Bxc4 a6 $1 13. Na3 Nxc4 14. Nxc4 {or} (14. Qxc4 Nb4 15. Qe2 a5 16. Nc4 Qd7 $44) 14... Qd5 $1 15. Rd1 h6 $44) 12... Nb4 13. a3 {after} (13. Na3 {runs into} Nd3 14. Bxd3 Bxf3 $1 15. gxf3 cxd3 16. Rxd3 c5 17. Nc4 $6 Qd5 $1 18. Nxb6 axb6 $36 {Hardarson-Ivic, Reykjavik 2021}) (13. Ne1 N4d5 14. Bxc4 Nxe3 15. fxe3 Bg5 16. b3 {two games arrived to this position. I suggest the following new idea} Nxc4 $146 17. bxc4 f6 $1 $44 {easier play for Black.}) 13... N4d5 14. Nc3 (14. Bxc4 $2 Nxe3 15. fxe3 a6 $19) 14... Rb8 15. Nxd5 {clearly worse for White} (15. Nd2 $2 Nxe3 16. fxe3 c5 $1 $36 17. Nxc4 $140 Nxc4 18. Bxc4 cxd4 19. exd4 Bg5 $1 20. Qc2 Be3+ 21. Kh1 Qh4 $19 {Zadruzny-Ochsner, Kragero 2022}) 15... Qxd5 16. Bf1 {Sturt-Park, Budapest 2022 a simple} Bc6 $146 17. Nd2 Rfc8 $11 {would lead to balanced game.}) 11... Rb8 12. a3 {I examined White other possibilities:} (12. Qc1 Nb4 13. Rd1 {another line here} (13. Nd2 Ba6 14. b3 (14. Re1 $6 Nd3 $1 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Nce4 Nd5 17. a3 Bb7 $15 {Mendonca-Stoyanov, Kavala 2021}) 14... cxb3 15. Bxa6 b2 $1 16. Qxb2 Nxa6 17. Nb3 Nd5 18. Ne4 {Lombaers-Rakotomaharo, Belgium 2022 and now I like} Qe8 $146 {with equal play.}) 13... Bb7 14. Nd2 (14. a3 N4d5 {covered via 13. a3}) (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 a6 16. Nd2 N6d5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. Bf3 {Real de Azua-Flores, Buenos Aires 2017 and now natural} Qd7 $146 19. Ne4 Rfd8 {with comfortable play for Black.}) 14... Qe8 {very similar to 14...Qd7, I like the idea just be away from d-file just in case} 15. a3 {other moves:} (15. Nde4 N6d5 16. Nxd5 {Now I really like to recapture with bishop} (16. Bxc4 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bxe4 18. cxb4 Bxb4 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Qd7 $11 {Dessaules-Van Habberney, ICCF email 2018}) 16... Bxd5 $146 17. f3 {or} (17. Nc3 Bb7 18. Bf1 (18. Bxc4 {see 15. Nxc4}) 18... Qc6 19. b3 cxb3 20. axb3 a6 21. Qd2 Rfd8 {with complex but balanced play.}) 17... Qb5 18. Kh1 a5 19. b3 Qc6 $1 20. Bxc4 {or} (20. bxc4 Bxe4 21. fxe4 Qxe4 22. Bf3 Qf5 $1 23. Rd2 c5 $132) 20... a4 $44) ({The main idea can be seen from the folowng line} 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 Bxg2 $1 17. a3 {critical continuation} (17. Kxg2 $6 Qc6+ 18. d5 $6 (18. Kg1 $142 Qxc4 $15) 18... Qxc4 19. Rd4 Qa6 20. a3 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Qxc7 Qe6 $36 {Brynell-Ochsner, Germany 2022}) 17... Bd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Qxc7 f5 $11) 15... Nd3 16. Qc2 f5 $1 17. exf6 Qg6 $1 {the point} 18. Bf1 Rxf6 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Qxd3 Nxe3 21. Qxg6 $2 (21. Qxe3 $142 Rbf8 $44) 21... Rxg6 22. fxe3 Bxg2 $1 $19 {Rasmussen-Ochsner, Denmark 2022}) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. Qb1 {only one game saw} (14. Qd2 {Stefansson-Royal, Nova Gorica 2022 I like here} a5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba8 $13 {with complicated middlegame.}) 14... a5 15. Rd1 {Nguyen-Hassemeier, Pardubice 2022 an important improvement here} (15. Qe4 {happened in Aditya-Indjic, Tashkent 2022} Nb4 $146 16. Qg4 Kh8 17. Rxa5 N6d5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bc4 c5 20. Ra4 Nc2 $44) 15... Nb4 $146 16. Rxa5 {another line} (16. Ne4 h6 $1 17. Rxa5 Ra8 $1 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. Nc5 Bd5 $44) 16... N6d5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Bc4 Qd7 $44) (12. Rc1 Bb7 13. Na4 {I would like to mention also} (13. Qc2 $6 Nb4 14. Qb1 {occured in two games} Bxf3 $1 {looks like a nice improvement upon Black play} 15. Bxf3 (15. gxf3 f5 $1 16. exf6 Rxf6 $36) 15... Nd3 16. Rcd1 c5 17. Be4 (17. dxc5 Nd7 $15) 17... cxd4 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 Nc4 {interesting to check} (19... dxe3 $5 20. Rxd8 exf2+ 21. Rxf2 Rfxd8 $44) 20. Rxd4 Qc7 21. Bc1 Rfd8 $11) (13. Qd2 Nb4 14. Rfd1 {another example here} (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 {Sarana-Alekseenko, Yaroslavl 2019} N4d5 $15) 14... Qd7 15. Bg5 Bxf3 $1 16. Bxe7 ({bettwe would have been} 16. gxf3 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 f5 $1 $15) (16. Bxf3 $2 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 Nd3 $17) 16... Qxe7 17. Bxf3 Nd3 18. Rb1 {Andreikin-Nakamura, Chess.com 2023} c5 $1 $15) 13... Na5 {interesting to check} (13... Nb4 $5 14. Nxb6 cxb6 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bb3 a5 $44) 14. Nc5 (14. Bd2 {Gharibyan-Bjerre, Porto Carras 2018 I would recommend} Nc6 $146 {and it seems like White has nothing better than} 15. Be3 {with repetition}) (14. Nxb6 $6 cxb6 15. Nd2 b5 $15 {Sharavdorj-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 14... Bxc5 15. dxc5 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 {Checa-Tabatabaei, Chess.com 2020 a very strong improvement} Na4 $1 $146 17. Bd2 Nc6 18. Bc3 Rfd8 $1 19. Bxc4 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Na5 21. Be2 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Nc4 $15) (12. Qc2 Nb4 13. Qd2 {Mamedyarov-Firouzja, Zagreb 2022 a natural improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rfd1 Ba8 $13) 12... Na5 13. Qc2 Nd5 {a good alternative} (13... Bb7 $5 {for example} 14. Rad1 Qd7 15. Rfe1 h6 16. Nd2 {Assaubayeva-Svane, chess24.com 2022 and now} Rfd8 $146 17. h3 Ba8 $13 {with complex game.}) 14. Rad1 Ba6 15. Bd2 Nb3 16. Ne4 Nxd2 17. Rxd2 (17. Nfxd2 {would run into} c3 $1 18. Bxa6 Rxb2 19. Qc1 Rb6 $1 20. Be2 cxd2 21. Rxd2 Qd7 $11) 17... Rb3 $146 {the game has continued} (17... Nf4 $5 18. Bxc4 Rxb2 {the point} 19. Qxb2 Bxc4 20. Rc1 Bd5 $44 {with interesting compensation Radjabov-Firouzja, Madrid 2022:} (20... Nd3 $5 21. Rxd3 Bxd3 22. Nc5 Bf5 $13)) 18. Bxc4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qb8 20. Qc2 Qb7 21. Ne1 Nf4 22. h4 {or} (22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 g5 $1 24. c6 Qb5 $44) 22... Rb8 23. g3 Nd5 24. Nd3 Ne3 $1 25. fxe3 Qxe4 26. Re1 g5 $1 $132) (10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be3 {see 10.Be3} (11. Qd2 Bb7 {see 10.Qd2 11.Nc3 line}) (11. b3 $6 cxb3 12. axb3 Bb7 13. Be3 Nb4 14. Qd2 a5 15. Rfd1 N6d5 $15 {Seel-Shimanov, Chess.com 2021})) (10. Qc2 a6 11. Nc3 {I also checked} (11. Na3 Bxa3 12. bxa3 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 (14. Bb2 Qc5 15. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) 14... Qxe5 15. Bf3 Rb8 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Bc5 Qg5 $1 18. Bxb6 (18. Bb4 a5 $1 $15) 18... Rxb6 19. Qxc4 Qe7 20. Rac1 $11) 11... Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bf3 Rb8 14. Qe2 $6 Qd3 $1 15. Qe1 Bb7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. Be3 O-O 18. Rd1 Qf5 $17 {Aronian-Maghsoodloo, Kolkata 2021}) (10. a3 $5 {Two games reached this position} Bb7 $146 11. Be3 Na5 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Rad1 {one game featured} (13. Rac1 {Rustemov-Kosteniuk, Chess.com 2022} Qd7 $146 14. Nc3 Nb3 15. Rcd1 Qc6 $13) 13... Qd7 14. Nc3 Qc6 15. Ne1 (15. Rfe1 Rfd8 16. Bf1 {Anton Guijarro-Del Rio de Angelis, Linares 2015 Black should have played} Nb3 $146 17. Bg5 Qe8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 $13) 15... Rab8 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Bd2 Rfb8 $11 {Narayanan-Bartel, El Prat de Llobregat 2019}) (10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 O-O 13. Qd2 {another line} (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc1 {Pogorelov-Abdusattorov, Castelldefels 2021 now simple} Rfd8 $146 15. Rd1 h6 $15) 13... a6 14. Nc3 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 Qe7 16. Rfa1 Qb4 $1 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Rozum, Kazan 2018}) 10... Bb7 (10... O-O 11. Rd1 {scores amazingly for White on practice.}) 11. Qf4 {Two alternatives are:} (11. Rd1 Qd7 {here I checked five continuations:} 12. Nc3 (12. Qf4 g5 $5 {more aggressive than} (12... Nb4 13. Nc3 {see 12.Nc3}) 13. Qg3 {dangeorus for White to accept pawn sacrifice} (13. Nxg5 $6 Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Ne7 15. d5 Nbxd5 {one good example here} 16. a4 Rg8 17. Qd2 a6 18. Nd4 O-O-O 19. f3 Ng6 20. Bxc4 c5 21. Nc2 $2 Nh4 $19 {Erdos-Xiong, Saint Louis 2019}) 13... O-O-O 14. b3 (14. d5 $5 {happened in Dubov-Matlakov, St Petersburg 2018 after correct} Nxd5 $146 15. Bxc4 Rhg8 $13 {with double-edged play.}) 14... cxb3 15. axb3 Nd5 16. Bd2 Kb8 17. Ra4 $2 {Maerevoet-Tilicheev, Primorsko 2021} ({Better for White would have been} 17. Nc3 Rhg8 $13) 17... Rhg8 $17 18. Nc3 g4 19. Ne1 Nb6 $17) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Nb4 14. Nc3 O-O 15. Bb2 {other move are less impressive:} (15. Qb2 $6 {Zhang-Sethuraman, Tianjin 2020} Rfb8 $15) (15. Qf4 $2 N4d5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qd2 Bb4 18. Qc2 Nc3 19. Ng5 Nxe2+ 20. Qxe2 {Siddharth-Ibrahimli, Chess.com 2022 Black missed powerful} Qd5 $1 $146 21. f3 Qxb3 $17) 15... a5 16. Rac1 Rfc8 $15 {Urkedal-Hillarp Persson, Fagernes 2021} (16... Rfb8 $5)) (12. a4 Nb4 13. Na3 $6 {Bu-Xiong, chess24. com 2020 I don't see the reason to refrain from} ({A better idea for White would be} 13. Qf4 {here I checked the following line} O-O 14. Qg4 Kh8 $1 15. Na3 Qxa4 $1 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Nxc4 Nxc4 19. Bxc4 h6 $15 {with comfortable position for Black.}) 13... Qxa4 $146 {for instance} 14. Qf4 Nc2 15. Nxc2 Qxc2 16. Bd2 O-O $17) (12. Na3 $6 Bxa3 13. bxa3 Ne7 $1 14. Qc2 {Novikov-Papp, Germany 2022 and now simple} O-O $15 {would give Black excellent position.}) 12... Nb4 13. Qf4 {other moves} (13. a3 N4d5 {Very interesting idea could be} (13... a5 $146 {unfortunately White has very powerful} 14. b3 $1 {Black idea works really well after} (14. axb4 axb4 15. Rxa8+ Bxa8 16. Nb1 Be4 $1 $15) 14... cxb3 15. axb4 axb4 16. Rxa8+ Bxa8 17. Bb5 Bc6 $1 (17... c6 $2 18. Na4 $18) 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. Ne2 O-O $14 {although I am not sure it's objectively sufficient for Black.}) 14. Ne4 Qc6 15. Re1 {Two games reached this position. I have a new idea here} (15. Qc2 {here Black has} Nb4 $1 16. axb4 Qxe4 17. Qxe4 Bxe4 18. b5 {Ding-Praggnanandhaa, chess24. com 2021 here I like} Bc2 $5 $146 19. Re1 O-O 20. Bd2 Ba4 21. Bxc4 Nxc4 22. Rxa4 Nxd2 23. Nxd2 Rfb8 24. Rea1 Rxb5 25. Rxa7 Rxa7 26. Rxa7 Rxb2 27. Nf1 Rc2 $11) 15... h6 $5 $146 16. Bf1 (16. Ng3 $2 g5) (16. Qc2 {allows} Nb4 $1) 16... O-O 17. Qc2 Rab8 18. Bd2 Rfd8 19. Qc1 (19. Rac1 Qb5 $1) 19... Bf8 {with very complex play.}) (13. b3 cxb3 14. axb3 {see 12.b3}) 13... f5 $1 14. exf6 {the main continuation. Other moves} (14. h4 O-O-O 15. b3 {Obsivac-Mica, Olomouc 2022 I found a remarkable novelty here} g5 $3 $146 16. hxg5 {or} (16. Nxg5 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 cxd3 18. Rxd3 Bb4 19. Bd2 Rhg8 $40) 16... N4d5 17. Qd2 Bb4 18. Bb2 cxb3 19. axb3 a5 20. Qc2 h6 $40) (14. Qg3 {featured in Ding-Caruana, Saint Louis 2019 once again Black missed a remarkable} g5 $1 $146 15. Nxg5 {or} (15. b3 g4 16. Ne1 cxb3 17. axb3 h5 $15) 15... O-O-O 16. Bf3 N6d5 $44) 14... gxf6 15. Qh6 {White other options:} ({Very interesting} 15. d5 $5 {Li-Narayanan, Changsha 2019 Black should have played} N4xd5 $1 $146 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. b3 $1 e5 18. Qh4 Qe6 $1 19. bxc4 Bxc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Qh5+ Qf7 22. Qh3 Rd8 ({a bit dangeorus} 22... O-O 23. Bh6 Rfd8 24. Nh4 $44) 23. Rxd8+ Kxd8 24. Be3 Bd6 $44 {White definitely has compensation, but Black is pretty solid.}) (15. b3 {Cheparinov-Moiseenko, chess24.com 2020 Black had to play} N4d5 $146 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qh6 O-O-O 18. Bxc4 (18. bxc4 $2 Nc3 $17) 18... Rhg8 {with double-edged play.}) (15. Qg4 $6 O-O-O 16. Bf4 h5 17. Qh3 {Borhy-Brkic, Mali Losinj 2021 Black had a very nice idea} Nd3 $146 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 $140 $2 e5 $19) 15... O-O-O 16. Bf4 Rdg8 {I prefer this move to} (16... Nd3 17. Bg3 $1 Nxb2 18. Rdc1 N2a4 19. Rab1 Nxc3 20. Rxc3 Qc6 21. Bf1 $44 {Pelletier-Praggnanandhaa, Chennai 2022}) 17. Bg3 {Dreev-Sjugirov, Chess. com 2022 Black should have played} Rg6 $146 {here I checked two variations} 18. Qd2 {or} (18. Qh5 f5 19. Ne5 {or} (19. b3 Bf6 $1 20. Ne5 Qg7 21. Bf3 Ba6 $1 22. Bf4 Nd3 23. Nxd3 cxd3 24. Rac1 Bg5 25. Be5 Bf6 $11) 19... Qe8 $1 20. a3 (20. Rd2 $6 f4 21. Bxf4 Rxg2+ 22. Kf1 Rg7 $15) 20... N4d5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Bf3 Qf8 $1 23. Nxg6 hxg6 24. Qxg6 Rh6 $19) 18... h5 19. d5 $1 {critical} Rg7 $1 {this is stronger than} (19... N4xd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Nh4 Rg5 22. b3 cxb3 23. axb3 $44) 20. b3 {or} (20. dxe6 Qxd2 21. Rxd2 h4 22. Bf4 Rhg8 23. g3 hxg3 24. fxg3 Bc5+ 25. Kf1 Nd3 $36) 20... exd5 21. bxc4 d4 $1 22. Qf4 (22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. Nxd4 h4 24. Nf5 hxg3 25. Nxg7 Rg8 $1 26. Bg4+ Kb8 27. Nf5 Bc5 28. h3 gxf2+ 29. Kf1 Nxc4 $44) 22... d3 23. Bxd3 Bd6 $1 24. Qf5 Nxd3 25. Qxd3 Bxg3 26. hxg3 Qxd3 27. Rxd3 Nxc4 $11) (11. Nc3 O-O 12. Rd1 {another line} (12. Qf4 Nb4 13. Qg4 {another game featured} (13. Rd1 f5 $1 14. Qg3 Qe8 15. b3 {another game here saw} (15. h4 Nc2 (15... N4d5 $5 {worth considering}) 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 $1 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Nxd4 21. Rxd4 (21. Bf1 $5 c5 $11) 21... Rxd4 22. Nxe6 Rxh4 23. Nxf8 Kxf8 $15 {Garriga Cazorla-Sosa, Castelldefels 2021}) 15... Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Kf7 20. Bxe7 Kxe7 21. Rbc1 Bxf3 22. Rxc2 (22. Bxf3 $2 Nxd4 $17) 22... cxb3 23. axb3 Bxe2 24. Nxe2 Nd5 25. h4 Rb8 $11 {Goreczny-Chumanov, LSS email 2019}) 13... Kh8 14. Rd1 {five game arrived to this position. I would like to recommend a new idea} Qe8 $5 $146 15. Bf4 {another direction here} (15. Qh3 Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 f6 19. Be3 Nxe3 20. Qxe3 Qg6 21. Bf1 Rf7 $13) 15... Rb8 16. Rac1 Ba8 17. h4 a5 ({a good alternative would be} 17... N4d5 $5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxc4 Rxb2 20. Ng5 c5 $132) 18. Nd2 Nd3 $1 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Nde4 Na4 $1 21. Rxd3 Nxc3 22. Nxc3 Rxb2 23. d5 (23. Rg3 Rg8 $13) 23... Rb4 $1 24. Qg3 Qd7 25. d6 cxd6 26. exd6 Bd8 $13) 12... Nb4 13. a3 (13. Qf4 {see 13. Rd1}) 13... a5 $1 $146 {this time it looks working well for Black. The game continued} (13... N4d5 14. Ne4 $14 {Narayanan-Erenberg, Sitges 2019}) 14. Re1 ({after} 14. Qf4 {Black has} N4d5 15. Qg4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Kh8 17. Ng5 Rb8 18. Qh5 $140 $6 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Qd5 20. Bf3 Qb5 $15) 14... Nd3 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Qxd3 c5 17. Be3 Rb8 $44) 11... a6 ({A very popular move} 11... Qd7 {unfortunately runs into} 12. d5 $1 $146 Nxd5 (12... exd5 13. e6 $18) 13. Qxc4 $14 {with White retaining better pawnstructure.}) 12. Nc3 g5 $1 13. Nxg5 {I checked also} (13. Qg3 $146 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Bxg5 (15. Rd1 $6 Qh4 16. Qe3 Nd5 $15) 15... Rg8 16. Rfd1 Qxd1+ $1 17. Rxd1 Rxg5 18. Qe3 Rxg2+ 19. Kf1 Rxh2 20. Ke1 Nd7 $44) 13... Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Qxg5 15. Bxg5 Nxd4 16. f4 {other move White has tried} (16. f3 Rg8 17. h4 Nd7 $1 18. Rad1 Nxe2+ 19. Nxe2 Nxe5 20. Kh2 {Aleksandrov-Esipenko, Minsk 2019} Nd7 $1 $146 {looks like a nice improvement} 21. Nf4 e5 22. Nd5 (22. Nh5 Rg6 $15) 22... Bxd5 23. Rxd5 f6 24. Be3 O-O-O 25. Rc1 e4 $5 26. f4 Nb6 27. Rxd8+ Kxd8 28. Bxb6 cxb6 29. Rxc4 f5 $11) (16. Bh4 Rg8 $1 17. f3 Nd5 18. Kf2 $2 {the only move maintaining equality: Zoler-Zanan, Israel 2022} ({the only move maintaining equality} 18. Rae1 $1) 18... Nxc3 19. bxc3 Nxe2 20. Kxe2 Rxg2+ 21. Rf2 Rg6 $17) 16... Nxe2+ $146 {this is more accurate than} (16... Rg8 {Erenberg-Kasimdzhanov, Douglas 2019} 17. Rf2 $1 $14) 17. Nxe2 h6 18. Bh4 a5 19. Nc3 a4 20. a3 Nd5 $11 * [Event "N20226_0517D"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.17"] [Round "2.1"] [Board "1"] [White "2) 5.e3"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D27"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "38"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,40,25,13,27,-9,-12,-6,6,12,52,45,83,73,73,70,70,47,55,64,46,43,40,45,72,68,79,60,47,54,50,44,51,43,48,36,33,22,66,65,57,58,66]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 {The most popular alternative} 5. e3 (5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. Qxc4 {other moves are also important} (6. a3 Bd6 7. Bg5 {or} (7. e4 {Mozharov-Sadhwani, Chess.com 2019 Black should have continued} Bd7 $146 8. Qxc4 e5 9. d5 Ne7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O h6 $13 {with complex middlegame}) 7... O-O 8. Qxc4 {another game featured} (8. Rd1 h6 9. Bh4 Bd7 10. Qxc4 b5 $1 11. Qd3 {Black idea can be seen from the following line} (11. Nxb5 g5 $1 12. Bg3 Na5 13. Qc3 Bxb5 14. Qxa5 Rb8 $44 {with nice compensation thanks to development advantage.}) 11... b4 12. Ne4 $6 {Black missed strong} ({Better would have been} 12. axb4 Nxb4 13. Qb1 Be7 14. e3 Nbd5 $11) 12... g5 $1 13. Nxf6+ (13. Nxd6 cxd6 14. Bg3 Qa5 $40) 13... Qxf6 14. Bg3 Rfd8 $13) 8... h6 9. Bh4 e5 10. d5 Ne7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. e3 {Indjic-Abdisalimov, Tashkent 2023 Black should have played} (12. e4 {another line} Rb8 $5 13. Be2 f5 $132) 12... Rb8 $1 $146 {useful waiting move} 13. Be2 f5 14. O-O Kh7 $15) (6. e4 $6 Bb4 7. Bg5 (7. Bxc4 {not dangerous} Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Rb1 {1-0 (24) Radnic,Z-Seifert,P Bad Zwesten 2001} O-O $146 {a clear improvement over the game with the following point} 11. Ba3 Nxd4 $1 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. Bxf8 Kxf8 $17) 7... Bd7 $1 8. Qc2 h6 $1 9. Bd2 {I also examined} (9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. e5 Nxd4 $1 11. Nxd4 Qxe5+ 12. Nde2 O-O-O 13. O-O-O Bc6 $17 {Dreisch-Nitschke, GER email 2015}) 9... b5 {a good model game here} 10. a3 Ba5 11. Nxb5 Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 (12. Nxd2 a6 13. Nc3 Nxd4 $17) 12... Nxe4 13. Qf4 Nd6 $1 14. Nxd6+ cxd6 15. Bxc4 (15. Qxd6 $2 Qa5+ $40) 15... d5 16. Bd3 {Kozak-Parligras, Tornelo INT 2021 Black should have played} Qb8 $1 $146 17. Qxb8+ Rxb8 18. b4 Ke7 19. Kd2 f6 $15) (6. Bg5 Bb4 7. Bxf6 {other moves:} (7. e3 Bd7 8. Qc2 b5 9. Be2 {other options:} (9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. a4 bxa4 11. Bxc4 {this all happened in Xiong-Sarana, Chess.com 2021 now Black should have continued} Qg6 $1 $146 12. Bd3 (12. Qxg6 $140 hxg6 13. Rxa4 Nxd4 $1 $19) 12... Qxg2 13. Ke2 Qh3 14. Rhg1 Bd6 $15) (9. a3 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 (10. Qxc3 $6 {played twice, in both games Black missed obvious} Ne4 $1 $146 11. Bxd8 Nxc3 12. Bxc7 Na4 13. Rb1 Ke7 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 a6 12. g4 Ne7 (12... Bc8 $5) 13. Ne5 Nfd5 14. Bg2 f6 15. Ng6 Nxg6 16. Qxg6+ Kf8 17. Qc2 Bc6 $17 {Salama-Gajewski, Reykjavik 2019}) 9... Ne7 $5 10. Bxf6 {another game saw} (10. O-O Nfd5 $1 11. e4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Ba3 13. Nd2 f6 14. Be3 {Piceu-Horvath,D Germany 2022 and now after simple} O-O $146 {Black is clealry better.}) 10... gxf6 11. O-O c6 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 a5 $1 14. b3 Nd5 15. Qc2 cxb3 16. Qxb3 O-O $15 {Williams-Biedermann, ICCF email 2016}) (7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qd5 $1 9. Bxf6 ({Hardly a good idea} 9. Bf4 $2 Bd7 10. Qd1 {or} (10. Qc2 Qe4 $1 11. Qc1 Na5 $1 12. Bxc7 Nb3 13. Nd2 Qc6 14. Nxb3 cxb3 15. Bf4 a5 16. Qb2 a4 $19 {Ftacnik-Lerner, Stary Smokovec 1977}) 10... Ne4 11. Qc2 O-O-O $17 {Geldyeva-Khademalsharieh, Chengdu 2017}) 9... gxf6 10. g3 {other important moves:} (10. Nd2 b5 11. Qc2 a6 12. e4 Qd6 $1 13. a4 Rb8 14. Be2 O-O 15. O-O e5 $1 16. d5 Ne7 17. Rfb1 Bd7 $17 {with healthy extra pawn Cuppone-Valente, ICCF email 2015}) (10. Qc2 f5 11. g3 b6 12. Bg2 Bb7 13. O-O {another important line} (13. Nh4 Qa5 14. O-O O-O-O $17) 13... O-O-O 14. Nh4 {other moves:} (14. Rfe1 {occured in Olszewski-Wojtaszek, Germany 2015 Now strong would have been} Na5 $146 15. Nh4 Qd7 16. e4 f4 $1 17. gxf4 $140 Rhg8 $40) (14. a4 Na5 15. Rab1 Nb3 16. Nh4 Qa5 17. Bxb7+ Kxb7 18. Nf3 f6 $17 {Candela Perez-Moreno Trujillo, Madrid 2016}) 14... Qd7 15. e4 {happened in Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Wijk aan Zee 1999} Ne7 $1 $146 16. Rfe1 {or} (16. exf5 Nxf5 17. Nxf5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 exf5 $17) 16... fxe4 17. Bxe4 h5 $17) 10... Bd7 11. Qc2 Na5 12. e4 {another line} (12. Bg2 Bc6 13. O-O O-O-O 14. Nh4 {Valette-Jolly, Angers 2017} Qb5 $146 15. e4 Nb3 16. Ra2 Qa5 $17) 12... Qc6 13. Bg2 Qa4 $1 14. Qe2 Nb3 15. Rb1 {Zhao-Zaiatz, Moscow 2004} (15. Rd1 {Thiel-Nasshan, Tegernsee 2019 a nice improvement here} O-O-O $1 $146 16. O-O h6 $15) 15... O-O-O $146 16. O-O Bc6 17. Rfd1 a6 $15) (7. e4 {see 6.e4}) 7... gxf6 8. e3 {happened in several games} (8. e4 Bd7 $1 9. Qc2 (9. Bxc4 $2 Nxd4 $1 $19) 9... b5 10. Be2 Ne7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rad1 {Koch-Drenchev, Germany 2011} c6 $146 13. Qc1 Kh8 $1 $15) (8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qd5 $1 {covered via 7.a3 line}) 8... Bd7 $146 9. Qc2 b5 10. Be2 a6 11. O-O Bd6 $15) 6... Nb4 $1 7. Qb3 c5 8. dxc5 {I also examined three alternatives} (8. a3 cxd4 9. axb4 dxc3 10. bxc3 Bd6 11. Bg5 O-O 12. e3 b6 13. Be2 Bb7 14. O-O {Lalith-Adhiban, Kanpur 2022 Black should have played} a6 $146 15. Rfd1 Qc7 16. Bxf6 gxf6 $13 {with complex game.}) (8. Bg5 $6 cxd4 9. Rd1 ({Hardly a good idea} 9. O-O-O $2 Qa5 $1 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Ne4 f5 $1 12. Nf6+ Ke7 13. a3 Kxf6 14. axb4 {Erbe-Lauer, DESC email 1999 after natural} Qxb4 {Black position is winning}) 9... Qa5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nxd4 e5 $1 12. Ndb5 $2 {Instead White should have prefered} (12. a3 $1 exd4 13. axb4 Qe5 $15) 12... a6 $1 13. Nd6+ Bxd6 14. Rxd6 Ke7 15. a3 Kxd6 16. Qxf7 Nd5 17. b4 Qxa3 18. Qxd5+ Ke7 $19 {Krasenkow -Landa, Port Erin 2006}) (8. e3 a6 9. Be2 {only one game here} cxd4 10. exd4 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 b6 13. a3 Nbd5 14. Bg5 $6 Bb7 15. Ne5 h6 16. Bh4 Nf4 17. Bf1 Rc8 $15 {Harper-Keres, Vancouver 1975}) 8... Bxc5 9. a3 {another move} (9. Bg5 O-O 10. e3 {another important line} (10. Rd1 Qb6 11. e3 Nfd5 12. Nxd5 $2 exd5 13. Be2 Bf5 14. Rd2 Nc2+ $1 15. Kd1 Qxb3 16. axb3 Na1 $1 $17 {Nanu-Gyimesi, Austria 2011}) 10... Nd3+ 11. Bxd3 Qxd3 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Nd2 {Kortschnoj-Wells, Port Erin 2004 Black could choose} Qg6 $146 14. Nde4 Be7 15. O-O-O b6 $15) 9... Nc6 10. Bg5 (10. g3 {Stohl-Meister, Slovakia 1994 Black play can be improved with} h6 $1 $146 11. Bg2 O-O 12. O-O e5 $15 {with comfortable play.}) 10... Qb6 11. Qxb6 Bxb6 12. e3 {another game saw} (12. Rd1 h6 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. e3 a6 15. g3 Ke7 16. Bg2 Bd7 17. O-O Rac8 $11 {Tanis-Mostowik, ICCF email 2010}) 12... Bd7 13. O-O-O Ng4 $5 14. Bh4 f6 15. Be2 {Krasenkow-Fridman, Hilversum 2009 Black would conviniently equalize by means of} Ne7 $146 16. h3 Nh6 17. g4 Bc6 $11) (5. Bg5 a6 $1 6. a4 (6. e4 b5 {see 5.e4 b5 6.Bg5 line}) ({The main alternative} 6. e3 b5 7. a4 c6 8. axb5 {I also checked} (8. Ne5 Bb7 9. Be2 {or} (9. Qf3 {two games arrived to this position. I would suggest the following new idea} h6 $146 10. Bh4 Be7 {and it's transposed to one game} 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Bxf6 (13. Be2 Nbd7 $17) 13... gxf6 $1 14. Nxf7 Kxf7 15. Qh5+ Kf8 $19 {Hardaway-Turzo, Chess.com 2021}) 9... Nbd7 10. Qc2 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. dxe5 Nd5 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Ne4 Nb4 16. Qc3 c5 $17 {Akobian-Sarana, Chess.com 2020}) 8... cxb5 9. Nxb5 {the alternative is} (9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nxb5 axb5 $1 {thematic exchange sacrifice} 11. Rxa8 Bb7 12. Ra1 {another line} (12. Ra7 Bb4+ 13. Nd2 (13. Ke2 Be4 $1 14. Nd2 {Piket-Lobron, Amsterdam 1994 after} Bd5 $146 {Black has powerful initaitve.}) 13... Qb6 14. Ra1 {in case of} (14. Rxb7 Qxb7 15. Be2 {Black can take g2-pawn} Qxg2 16. Bf3 {Czerwonski-Poysti, Bohumin 2020 and now preicse would have been} Qg6 $1 $146 17. Bh5 Qd3 18. Be2 Qf5 $17) 14... e5 $1 15. Qg4 (15. dxe5 {occured in two games a very strong idea} Ke7 $1 $146 16. exf6+ Qxf6 17. Qc2 Rd8 18. Rd1 Qe6 $1 $17) 15... Nc6 16. Qg7 Rf8 17. Qxf6 exd4 18. exd4 {Afloarei-Rotaru, ICCF email 2017 a nice improvement here} Rg8 $1 $146 19. d5 Qd4 20. Qxd4 Nxd4 21. Kd1 Bxd5 $17) 12... Bb4+ 13. Nd2 {the alternative is} (13. Ke2 O-O 14. Ne1 {a wonderful model game here} (14. Qc2 f5 15. Nd2 Nc6 16. Rd1 Qxd4 $1 17. Nf3 Qf6 $19 {Mamedyarov-Nakamura, Kolkata 2018}) 14... Nc6 15. Nc2 Ba5 16. Rg1 Qb6 17. g4 Rd8 18. g5 f5 19. f4 e5 $1 20. fxe5 Nxe5 21. Bg2 Bxg2 22. Rxg2 b4 $1 $40 {Egorov-Mashchenko, LSS email 2014}) 13... e5 14. Be2 (14. Qh5 {happened in six games} Bc6 $1 $146 15. Qh4 O-O 16. Be2 exd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. exd4 Rd8 $17) 14... exd4 15. O-O dxe3 16. Nf3 exf2+ 17. Kh1 {occured in two games . Black can play} O-O $146 18. Rxf2 Nc6 19. Qxd8 Rxd8 $44) 9... axb5 10. Rxa8 Bb7 11. Ra1 (11. Bxf6 gxf6 {see 9. Bxf6}) 11... Bb4+ 12. Nd2 {one game featured} (12. Ke2 {Zhao-Orndahl, Taby 2007} O-O $1 $146 13. Ne1 h6 14. Bh4 Nc6 15. f3 Be7 $17) 12... e5 $1 13. dxe5 {I also examined} (13. Be2 Qd5 $1 14. f3 {or} (14. Bf3 e4 15. Bxf6 exf3 16. Bxg7 fxg2 17. Rg1 Rg8 18. Be5 Nc6 $17) 14... exd4 15. Bf4 O-O 16. e4 Nxe4 $1 17. O-O (17. fxe4 Qxe4 $19) 17... Nxd2 18. Bxd2 Bc5 19. Kh1 d3 $1 $19 {Satkar-Raja, Mumbai 2018}) 13... Bxd2+ 14. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Ne4+ 16. Kc2 Nxg5 17. b3 Ne6 18. bxc4 b4 $15 {Napalkov-Churkin, ICCF email 2017}) 6... Nc6 7. e3 {another line here} (7. e4 Na5 8. e5 (8. Qc2 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Rd1 Nxg3 12. hxg3 Bg7 13. Be2 Qe7 $17 {Krejci-Cernousek, Slovakia 2020}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 (9. Bd2 {happened in two games} Nd7 $1 $146 10. Ne4 c5 11. Nd6+ Bxd6 12. exd6 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 $17) 9... g5 10. Nxg5 {the alternative line} (10. Bg3 Nd5 11. Be2 Bb4 12. Qc2 {Larrosa-Benitez, Rio Negro 2022 Black should have played} Bd7 $1 $146 13. O-O Bc6 $17) 10... Nd5 $1 11. Nf3 Be7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nd2 {another game featured} (13. Be2 Bd7 14. O-O {Muljadi-Hassim, ICCF email 2017 and now} Bc6 $1 $146 {promsing for Black}) 13... Qb4 14. Qc2 Bd7 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Qc3 Qb6 17. Be2 {Balta-Kopeikin, ICCF email 2016 Black missed} O-O-O $1 $146 18. O-O f6 $36) 7... Na5 8. Ne5 {other moves:} (8. Nd2 c5 9. dxc5 {another line here} (9. Nxc4 cxd4 10. exd4 {or} (10. Nxa5 Qxa5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qxd4 {Anderson-Archer, FICGS email 2014 here I like the following new idea} Qe5 $146 13. O-O-O (13. Qd3 Bd7 $15) 13... Qxd4 14. Rxd4 Bd7 15. Be2 Bc6 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rc8 $11) (10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. exd4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Bb4 13. Bd2 $6 Bd7 $15 {Sahidi-Urazayev, Lichess.org 2021}) 10... Bb4 11. Ne5 {occured in two games} h6 $146 12. Bh4 $140 (12. Be3 Nd5 $15) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nf3 Rg8 $17) 9... Bxc5 10. Bxc4 {an alternative variation} (10. Nxc4 Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Bd7 {Black has no problems, one good model game here} 13. Ke2 Rc8 14. Bb3 {Krimbacher-Sherwood, ICCF email 2017 and now} Bc6 $146 15. f3 h6 16. Bh4 Ke7 $15) 10... Bd7 11. O-O {another line} (11. Be2 Bc6 12. O-O O-O 13. Rb1 Bb4 $1 14. Bh4 {Hinz-Baranowski, ICCF email 2017 here I like} Qd6 $146 15. Qc2 Nd5 16. Nde4 Qd7 $15) 11... Be7 12. Bd3 {Meissner-Buchan, ICCF email 2021 after natural} Qb6 $146 13. Rb1 Qb4 {I prefer Black position.}) (8. Be2 c5 9. dxc5 Qxd1+ 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. O-O {four games arrived to this position} Be7 $146 12. Ne5 Nd5 13. Bxe7 Kxe7 14. Rd4 (14. Nxd5+ $140 exd5 15. Rxd5 b5 $1 16. axb5 Be6 17. Rdd1 axb5 $15) 14... Nb6 15. Nxc4 Nbxc4 16. Bxc4 Nc6 17. Rd2 Bd7 {with more pleasant endgame for Black.}) 8... Bb4 9. Be2 {other moves:} (9. Nxc4 Qd5 $1 10. Bxf6 {much worse} (10. Nxa5 $2 Qxa5 (10... Ne4 $5) 11. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qxc3+ 13. Ke2 gxf6 $17 {Muradli -Erigaisi, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Nxc4 11. Qb3 {other moves} (11. Bxc4 Qxg2 $1 12. Rf1 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 gxf6 14. Qb3 Qxh2 15. O-O-O Qd6 $17 {Szabolcsi, J-Milikow, E Budapest 2022}) (11. Bxg7 Rg8 12. Bf6 Rg6 $1 13. Bh8 Bd7 14. Qc2 O-O-O 15. O-O-O Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Nd6 17. Be5 Bxa4 $15 {Peiro Aparisi-Ordobas Martinez, ICCF email 2021}) 11... Nxe3 $1 12. Qxb4 Nc2+ 13. Kd2 Nxb4 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. Be5 f6 17. Bg3 {Yanchenko-Gonzalez, Chess.com 2022} Rg4 $1 $146 18. f4 Nxf4 19. Re1 Nd5 $17) (9. Bxf6 gxf6 ({Worthy alternative} 9... Qxf6 10. Nxc4 b6 $5 11. Nxa5 bxa5 12. Bd3 c5 {with nice play for Black Cramling-Javakhishvili, Mulhouse 2017}) 10. Nxc4 c5 {one good illustraitve game} 11. Qc2 Bd7 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Rd1 Be7 14. Nd6+ Kf8 $1 $15 {Krimbacher-Zolochevsky, ICCF email 2017}) 9... c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. exd4 h6 (11... Nb3 $5 12. Ra2 Nxd4 13. Bh5 $1 $132 {Balta-Byrne, ICCF email 2018}) 12. Bxf6 (12. Bh4 Nb3 13. Rb1 Qxd4 $15) 12... Qxf6 13. Bxc4 O-O 14. Ne4 {Furguzz-Mary, LSS email 2018 here my new suggestion} Qe7 $146 15. Ba2 Rd8 16. Rc1 Bd7 17. Rc7 Rac8 18. Rxd7 Rxd7 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. d5 exd5 21. Qxd5 $11) (5. g3 c5 6. Bg2 {other moves} (6. Qa4+ Bd7 7. Qxc4 b5 $5 $146 {a regular theoretical line here} (7... Bc6 8. dxc5 Nbd7 {with many games}) 8. Nxb5 {crtical} (8. Qd3 Bc6 $15) 8... Qb6 {I checked three moves here} 9. Nc3 (9. a4 a6 10. Na3 {or} (10. Nc3 Nc6 $1 11. e3 Na5 12. Qe2 Bc6 13. Bg2 Nb3 14. Rb1 Qb7 $1 $44) 10... Nc6 11. Bg2 (11. dxc5 $2 Bxc5 12. e3 Na5 $19) 11... cxd4 12. O-O Rc8 {with complex , but balanced play.}) (9. Na3 Nc6 10. Bg2 {worse for White} (10. dxc5 $6 Bxc5 11. e3 O-O 12. Be2 e5 13. Qb5 Bh3 $36) 10... cxd4 11. O-O Rc8 12. Bd2 $5 Bxa3 (12... Qxb2 13. Nb5 $44) 13. bxa3 Ne5 14. Qb3 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 O-O $11) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 (10. Qxd4 $2 Bc5 $19) 10... Nc6 11. Nxc6 {another line} (11. e3 Nxd4 12. exd4 Qb7 {only not} (12... Bc6 $2 13. Qxc6+ Qxc6 14. Bb5 $16) 13. d5 {in case of} (13. Rg1 Bb4 14. a3 Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 O-O $44) 13... Nxd5 14. Bg2 Rc8 $1 15. Qd4 Qb4 16. Qxb4 Nxb4 $5 ({obviously equalizes} 16... Bxb4 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. O-O $11) 17. O-O Nd3 18. Rd1 Nxc1 19. Raxc1 Be7 $13 {with balanced endgame}) 11... Bxc6 12. Be3 (12. f3 $2 Bc5 $36) 12... Qb7 13. f3 Rc8 14. Qb3 Bb4 $44) (6. dxc5 $6 Qxd1+ 7. Nxd1 Bxc5 8. Be3 {Burnett-Orr, Edinburgh 2022 Black could play} Bxe3 $146 9. Nxe3 c3 $1 10. bxc3 b6 11. Bg2 Bb7 12. O-O Ke7 $15) 6... Nc6 7. Qa4 {main move without any doubts. Other options:} (7. e3 Rb8 $1 8. O-O b5 9. dxc5 {Silva-Papp, Chess.com 2022 Black should have played} Bxc5 $1 $146 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $1 {allowing} 11. Ng5 Ne5 12. f4 Nd3 $1 {the point behind Black idea} 13. Nxf7+ Ke7 14. Nxh8 Nxc1 15. Rfxc1 Bxe3+ 16. Kf1 Bxc1 17. Rxc1 Bd7 $15) (7. dxc5 Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 Bxc5 9. Ne3 {White best move} (9. O-O Nd5 $1 10. e4 Ndb4 11. Be3 {Rendboe-Meskenas, Denmark 2023} Be7 $1 $146 12. Nd2 Na5 $17) 9... Bxe3 10. Bxe3 Nd5 11. Bd2 {Ivanov-Farago, Osterskars 1995} O-O $146 12. O-O b5 13. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) (7. Be3 $6 Ng4 $1 8. O-O {not dangeorus for Black} (8. d5 Nxe3 9. fxe3 exd5 10. Nxd5 {Radjabov-Grischuk, Krasnogorsk 2023 and now Black could play} g6 $1 $146 11. Nd2 Bg7 12. Nxc4 O-O $15) 8... Nxe3 9. fxe3 Be7 10. Qa4 {A strong improvement I suggest} ({One game continued} 10. d5 exd5 11. Nxd5 {Krasenkow-Praggnanandhaa, Krasnaya Polyana 2021 Black should have played} O-O $146 12. Nd2 Bh3 $1 13. Nxc4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 b5 15. Na3 Rb8 $17) 10... Rb8 $1 $146 11. Ne5 {critical move, another line I checked} (11. Rfd1 O-O 12. dxc5 b5 $1 13. Rxd8 {or} (13. Nxb5 Qa5 $1 14. Qxa5 Nxa5 15. Nc3 Bxc5 $15) 13... bxa4 14. Rxf8+ Kxf8 15. Nxa4 Bd7 16. Nd2 Ne5 $15) (11. Qxc4 $6 b5 $1 12. Qd3 (12. Nxb5 $140 $2 Na5 13. Qa4 Bd7 $19) 12... O-O $17) 11... O-O 12. Bxc6 cxd4 $1 13. Rfd1 bxc6 14. Qxa7 (14. Nxc6 $2 Bd7 15. Rxd4 Bg5 $1 $17) 14... Rb7 15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. exd4 c5 $15) 7... Bd7 {Black reaches easy equality after} (7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 9. Bxc6+ Bd7 $1 10. Bxd7+ {or} (10. Be3 Bxc6 {worthy of consideration} (10... Qd6 $5 $146 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. Qxc4 Rc8 13. Qb3 Bc5 14. Bxc5 Rxc5 15. Rd1 Qc6 16. O-O O-O $11) 11. Qxc6+ bxc6 12. Bxd4 Nd5 13. Rc1 {Sokolin-Kaidanov, New York 1997 Black should have played} c5 $1 $146 14. Be5 f6 15. Bf4 Kd7 16. O-O Be7 $15) 10... Qxd7 11. Qxc4 Rc8 12. Qb3 {inferior square} (12. Qf4 $6 Bd6 13. Qf3 {Panjer-Ilinca Ilinca, Benidorm 2022. A nice improvement would be} Be5 $146 14. O-O O-O 15. Bf4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qd5 $1 $15) 12... Bc5 13. O-O O-O (13... Qc6 $5 {deserves attention as well}) 14. Bg5 {main move. I also examined} (14. Bf4 Rfd8 15. Rad1 Qc6 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 $11 {Keil-Gebigke, Berlin 2003}) 14... Qc6 15. Rac1 Ne4 $1 16. Nxe4 Qxe4 17. Rxc5 Rxc5 18. Be7 {Klyszcz-Moench, Wiesbaden 2013 and now the most precise would be} Rfc8 $146 19. Bxc5 Rxc5 $11) 8. Qxc4 (8. dxc5 $6 {happeened in two games. In both cases Black missed strong} Nd4 $1 $146 9. Qd1 Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 Bxc5 11. O-O O-O 12. Bxb7 Rb8 13. Bf3 h6 {I would prefer Black position.}) 8... b5 9. Qd3 {Black b5-pawn is untouchable} (9. Nxb5 $2 Na5 10. Qa4 (10. Qd3 c4 $19) 10... a6 $19) (9. Qxb5 $2 Nb4 $19) 9... c4 10. Qc2 Be7 11. O-O ({I checked also} 11. a3 Qb6 12. Be3 Nd5 $13) 11... b4 12. Ne4 Rc8 $1 13. Bf4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 O-O 15. Rac1 Na5 16. Ne5 Be8 17. h4 f6 18. Nf3 Bf7 19. Rfd1 Qb6 $15 {Ax-Radloff, GER email 2011}) 5... a6 6. Bxc4 {the main alternative obviously} (6. a4 {now I would like to offer fighting alternative} b6 $5 {to well-known} (6... c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O Be7 {which easily solves opening problems for Black. Two examplary lines here:} 9. Qe2 ({and} 9. dxc5 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. Bd2 Bd7 12. Bd3 O-O 13. Ne4 Be7 14. Rac1 Rfd8 15. Nc5 Be8 $1 $11 {Anand-Kramnik, Monte Carlo 2011}) 9... cxd4 10. Rd1 e5 $1 11. exd4 exd4 12. Nxd4 $1 Nxd4 13. Qe5 Qd6 $1 {the easiest solution} 14. Qxd6 Bxd6 15. Rxd4 Bc5 $11 {over 200 games here, but the endgame is very equal.}) 7. Bxc4 Bb7 8. O-O (8. Qe2 Bb4 9. O-O {see 8.0-0}) 8... Bb4 9. Qe2 {important alternative line here} (9. Qb3 Qe7 10. d5 {other moves:} (10. Ne5 O-O 11. f3 c5 $1 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Nd3 {Tadic-Perunovic, Zlatibor 2007 Black should just keep his dark-squared bishop by means of} Bd6 $1 $146 14. Qxb6 Nc6 $44) (10. e4 {occured in two games. A serious imporvement here} Nc6 $1 $146 {too dangerous} (10... Nxe4 $2 11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. d5 $1 $36 {Greenfeld-Godart, Avoine 2014}) 11. Qc2 Na5 12. Bd3 c5 {and we have a complex game with approximate line being} 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ne4 cxd4 15. Nxd4 {or} (15. Bg5 f6 $1 16. exf6 gxf6 17. Bh6 e5 $15) 15... h6 $13) 10... exd5 {Black can also play} (10... Bxc3 11. dxe6 $1 {White idea here} Bb4 12. exf7+ Kf8 13. Nd4 b5 $1 {only move!} 14. axb5 axb5 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 16. Bxb5 {another game featured} (16. Nxb5 Nc6 $1 17. Qa4 Bb7 18. Rd1 g5 $13 {Pohlig-Hoffmann, ICCF email 2013}) 16... Bd5 17. Bc4 Bxc4 18. Qxc4 Bd6 19. Ne6+ Kxf7 20. Nxc7+ Kg6 $1 21. Qd3+ Kf7 22. Qc4+ {and draw agreed in Berczes-Ngo, New York 2022}) 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Nc6 13. e4 Na5 (13... O-O-O $5) 14. Qd3 {Piyumantha-Liyanage, Colombo 2018 Black should have played} Rd8 $146 15. Bg5 f6 16. Be3 Rd7 $13) 9... O-O 10. Rd1 {another important line here} (10. Bd3 c5 11. dxc5 {other White options:} (11. Rd1 cxd4 12. exd4 h6 $5 13. Ne5 Nc6 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bxa6 Bxc3 $1 16. bxc3 Qd5 17. f3 Qa5 18. Bd3 Qxc3 19. Bb2 Qa5 $15 {Gladyszev-Grachev, Olginka 2011}) (11. Na2 Nc6 $1 12. e4 {or} (12. Nxb4 Nxb4 13. Bb1 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 cxd4 15. Bd2 Qd6 16. exd4 {Khademalsharieh-Zawadzka, Sharjah 2021} Nc6 $146) 12... Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 {Kurbedinov-Sarana, Sochi 2017 Black should have played} Qe5 $1 $146 15. Nxb4 cxb4 16. Bxb6 Bxe4 17. Rfe1 Qd6 18. Bxe4 Nxe4 19. a5 Nf6 $44) 11... Bxc5 12. e4 Nbd7 13. Bf4 {I also checked} (13. Bg5 Qb8 14. Rad1 $1 h6 15. Bc1 {Mazalon-Skalik, Lazy 2010} Qc7 $146 16. Bb1 Rfd8 $15) (13. e5 $2 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 Nxe5 $17 {Gormally-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 13... Nh5 $1 14. Bd2 (14. Be3 Qc7 15. g3 Nhf6 16. Bf4 {1-0 (46) Volkov, S (2541)-Iljiushenok,I (2554) Khanty-Mansiysk 2021} Bd6 $146 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. e5 Qc6 19. exf6 Qxf3 20. Qxf3 Bxf3 $11) 14... Qc7 15. e5 Bxf3 $1 16. gxf3 $2 ({White should have played} 16. Qxf3 $1 {with approximate line} g6 17. Be2 Nxe5 18. Qh3 Rfd8 19. Bg5 Be7 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Bxh5 gxh5 22. Qxh5 Ng6 $11) 16... Nxe5 $17 {Estremera Panos-Ivanov,S Stockholm 2020}) 10... Qe7 11. Bd3 {the main alternative is} (11. Ne5 c5 12. Na2 Ba5 13. b3 Nbd7 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. Bb2 Rfd8 $11 {Tratar-Petkov, Zadar 2005}) 11... c5 12. e4 {another line here} (12. Na2 Nc6 $5 13. e4 {Manolache,M-Mastrovasilis,D Tornelo INT 2023 I would suggest the following improvement} (13. Nxb4 Nxb4 14. Bb1 Rfd8 15. Bd2 Bxf3 $1 16. Qxf3 cxd4 17. exd4 Rac8 {Roselli Mailhe-Lopez Azambuja, Montevideo 2021}) 13... h6 $5 14. e5 Nd5 15. Qe4 f5 16. exf6 Nxf6 17. Qg6 Qe8 $1 $13) 12... cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nbd7 14. e5 Nd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Bf4 {Zordick-Lemke, GER email 2017 Black should have played} f6 $146 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Bg3 Bc5 19. Nf3 a5 $132) 6... b5 7. Bb3 {two alternatives are:} (7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O c5 9. Qe2 {or} (9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qe2 {other moves here:} (10. e4 Nbd7 11. Bf4 {or} (11. Qe2 Qb8 12. Bg5 O-O 13. Rad1 (13. Rac1 h6 14. Bxf6 (14. Bh4 {runs into} Nh5 $1 15. Bb1 Rc8 16. Rfd1 {De Groot-Riemersma, Utrecht 2018 after natural} Ne5 $1 $36 {Black is better.}) 14... Nxf6 15. Nxb5 Bxf2+ $1 16. Rxf2 axb5 17. a3 Rd8 $17 {Gerber-Brunner, Switzerland 2017}) 13... Bd6 14. a3 {all this occured in Rombaldoni,D-Georgiev,K Arvier 2010 after} h6 $1 $146 15. Bh4 Bf4 16. Bb1 Qc7 {with very comfortabel play for Black.}) 11... Nh5 $1 12. Bg5 Be7 13. Be3 Nhf6 14. Qc2 b4 15. Ne2 Rc8 16. Qb1 Bc5 $17 {Bondars-Sorcinelli, LSS email 2011}) (10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Qe2 Qe7 {Black achieved very comfortable position with natural move} 13. Rfd1 Rac8 14. Nd2 Ba3 $1 15. Bxa3 Qxa3 $15 {Seo-Abdusattorov, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Nbd7 11. Rd1 (11. e4 {see 10.e4}) 11... O-O 12. b3 Rc8 13. Bb2 Bb4 14. Nb1 {three games here} (14. Rac1 $2 Qa5 $19 {occureed in two games}) 14... Nd5 $146 15. a3 Be7 16. Nd4 Bf6 $15)) (7. Be2 Bb7 8. O-O {I also checked} (8. a3 c5 9. O-O {another line here} (9. dxc5 Qxd1+ 10. Bxd1 Bxc5 {Black has no problems whatsoever in this endgame, a good model game here} 11. b4 Bd6 12. Bb2 Nbd7 13. O-O Ke7 14. Nd2 Nb6 15. Be2 Rac8 16. Rac1 Rhd8 $15 {Rakhmanov-Shimanov, Minsk 2014}) 9... Nbd7 10. dxc5 (10. b3 Qc7 11. Bb2 Rd8 $1 12. Rc1 Qb8 13. dxc5 $6 Ng4 $5 14. Nxb5 $2 {Koth-Gasper, Nordrheinwestfalen 2018} ({White should have continued} 14. c6 $1 Bxc6 15. g3 Bb7 $15) 14... Bxf3 $1 $146 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. cxd6 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Ngf6 18. Qxa6 Qxb3 $19) 10... Bxc5 11. b4 {hardly a good idea for White} (11. Qc2 $6 Rc8 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Rfd1 Qe7 14. Rac1 {Gvanceladze-Zvereva, Moscow 2021 a great idea for Black would be} Ng4 $1 $146 {seizing the initiaitve, for example} 15. h3 $140 Nge5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. f4 Ng6 18. Kh2 Nh4 19. e4 f5 $40) 11... Be7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Qb3 {other moves:} (13. a4 a5 $5 $146 {fighting move. Obviously there is nothing wrong with} (13... bxa4 14. Qxa4 Qb6 15. b5 Nc5 16. Qa5 Qxa5 17. Rxa5 axb5 $11 {Goloshchapov-Buhmann, Germany 2010}) 14. Nxb5 {another line here} (14. bxa5 b4 15. Nb5 Qxa5 16. Nd2 Rad8 17. Nb3 Qa8 18. Bf3 Ne4 $15) (14. axb5 $6 axb4 15. Nb1 Rxa1 16. Bxa1 Bxf3 $1 17. gxf3 (17. Bxf3 Qa5 $17) 17... Nd5 $1 $15) 14... axb4 15. Qd4 $1 Qb8 16. Ne5 Rd8 $13) (13. Rc1 Nb6 14. Qd4 Rc8 15. Rfd1 Qxd4 16. Nxd4 Nfd5 $11 {Zubkov-Zhdanov, Uljanovsk 2009}) 13... Qb8 14. h3 {another direction here} (14. Rfd1 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. e4 {one game featured} (16. g3 $6 Qf5 $1 17. Rd4 {Priehoda-Kapnisis, Prague 2020 after logical} Rac8 $146 {Black would be clearly better.}) 16... Qb8 17. Bf3 Rd8 18. Qc2 Qc7 $15 {Muse-Eingorn, Berlin 1991}) 14... Rc8 15. Rfd1 Nb6 16. Rac1 {or} (16. Rd4 Nfd5 $1 17. e4 $2 Nxc3 18. Bxc3 Na4 19. Be1 Bf6 20. e5 Bxf3 $19 {with winning position for Black Kamrukov,A-Grachev,B Sochi 2017}) 16... Nc4 17. Ba1 {occured in two games} h6 $146 18. a4 Nd5 $15) 8... Nbd7 {I examined three lines here:} 9. b3 (9. Bd2 c5 10. dxc5 {other lines:} (10. Rc1 Be7 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. a3 O-O 13. b4 Nce4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Rc2 Bf6 16. Bc1 {Engelking-Zoch, Langenhagen 2007 and now Black missed} Nc3 $1 $146 17. Qxd8 Rfxd8 18. Bb2 Rac8 $17 {with clear advantage.}) (10. a4 b4 11. Na2 a5 $1 12. Nc1 {another line} (12. Bb5 Be7 13. Ne5 $6 O-O 14. Nc6 Bxc6 15. Bxc6 Rc8 16. Bb5 {Adly-Suleymanli, Sharjah 2022 Black could have played} c4 $1 $146 17. Qe2 Nb6 18. Rfc1 Ne4 $17) 12... Bd6 13. Nb3 O-O 14. Rc1 {Montagard-Remille, France 2009 and now natural} Rc8 $146 15. Be1 Bd5 $15 {would led to very pleasant position for Black.}) 10... Bxc5 11. b4 $1 {this is more precise to compare with} (11. a3 O-O 12. b4 {two games arrive to this position, but Black has never tried} Bd6 $1 $146 13. a4 bxa4 14. Qxa4 Qe7 15. Rfb1 Ne5 $15 {with more pleasant play.}) 11... Bd6 {another equal line here} (11... Bxb4 12. Nxb5 {White's point} Be7 13. Nbd4 O-O $11 {Epishin-Espinosa Aranda, Roquetas de Mar 2018}) 12. a4 bxa4 13. b5 O-O 14. bxa6 Bxa6 15. Bxa6 Rxa6 16. Rxa4 Rxa4 17. Qxa4 Ne5 $11 {Ijzermans-Admiraal, Vlissingen 2018}) (9. a4 b4 10. Nb1 c5 11. Nbd2 Be7 12. Nc4 {other moves:} (12. b3 cxd4 13. Nxd4 O-O 14. Bb2 {or} (14. Bf3 Nd5 $1 15. Nc4 $2 (15. Bb2 Ne5 $1 $15) 15... Nc3 $1 16. Qc2 Bxf3 17. Nxf3 {Tran-Hoang, Ho Chi Minh City 2017 and now precise would have been} Nb6 $1 $146 18. Nfe5 Nxc4 19. Nxc4 Bf6 20. Bd2 Qc7 $17)) (12. a5 O-O 13. Nc4 {see 12.Nc4}) 12... O-O 13. a5 {another line} (13. Bd2 a5 $1 14. Rc1 {Van der Lende-Swinkels, Hoogeveen 2021} Nb6 $1 $146 15. Nxb6 Qxb6 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Bb5 Ne4 $36) (13. b3 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Nc5 15. Bd2 {Drnovsek-Borisek, Ljubljana 2022 Black should have played} Nce4 $1 $146 16. Be1 Nd5 $17) 13... Qc7 14. Bd2 (14. b3 cxd4 15. Nxd4 (15. exd4 Rad8 $15 {Tunik-Bocharov, Ekaterinburg 2019}) 15... Nc5 16. Bd2 {Arzhenkov-Kremenietsky, Lesnoj Gorodok 2009} Nce4 $1 $146 17. Rc1 Rad8 $15) 14... Rac8 15. Rc1 Qb8 16. Nfe5 Rfd8 $15 {Ikonnikov-Ris, Netherlands 2016}) 9... c5 10. Bb2 Rc8 11. Rc1 {the main alternative} (11. a4 b4 12. Nb1 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 14. Nd2 Be7 15. Rc1 O-O 16. Bf3 Nd5 17. Nc4 Bf6 {with comfortable game for Black, occured in several games.}) 11... Be7 12. dxc5 {or} (12. a4 b4 13. Nb1 O-O 14. Nbd2 Rc7 $5 15. Nc4 Qa8 16. Ne1 {Rosenberg-Timmermans, Chess.com 2022 and now simple} cxd4 $146 17. Bxd4 Bd5 $15 {leads to more pleasant position for Black.}) 12... Bxc5 13. Nd2 {Black should continue} (13. Nd4 O-O 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 {covered through13.Nd2}) 13... O-O $146 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 Qb6 16. Qe2 Rfd8 $11 {Babich-Sharovskaya, Evpatoria 2007}) 7... Bb7 8. O-O c5 {I examined three White major continuations:} 9. e4 (9. Qe2 Nbd7 10. Rd1 {the main alternative is} (10. e4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bc5 12. Be3 Qb6 13. Rfd1 {only one game featured} (13. Rad1 O-O 14. f3 Rad8 15. Rd2 Ne5 16. Rfd1 {Gligoric-Pietzsch, Leipzig 1960 ater natural} h6 $15 {I preer Black position}) 13... O-O 14. f3 (14. a4 {occured in four games} Ne5 15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Rxa8 17. Qxb5 Qxb5 18. Ncxb5 {Black should have played} (18. Ndxb5 Bxe3 19. fxe3 Bxe4 $1 $15) 18... Neg4 $1 $146 19. Nc7 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Rb8 $1 $44 {with nice compensation.}) 14... Ne5 15. Rd2 Rfd8 16. Rad1 {occured in nine games. Here I like the new move} h6 $5 $146 {with approximate line} 17. Nc2 Rxd2 18. Qxd2 Rc8 19. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 20. Qd4 Nfd7 {with pleasant position or Black.}) 10... Qc7 {This is tabya position, here I analyzed three moves} 11. e4 (11. d5 c4 $1 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc2 Bd6 {Two main moves here:} 14. e4 {and} (14. h3 O-O 15. e4 ({Fails to impress} 15. Ng5 $6 Nc5 16. b4 cxb3 17. axb3 Bh2+ $1 18. Kh1 {Livaic-Xiong, Chess.com 2022 Black play can be improved by means of} Be5 $1 $146 19. Bb2 b4 20. Na4 Bxb2 21. Nxb2 h6 22. Nf3 Nd5 $17 {with clear edge for Black.}) 15... Rae8 16. Bg5 {another instructive line} (16. Nd4 Nc5 17. a3 Bh2+ $1 18. Kh1 Be5 $17 {Drenchev-Mitkov, Sunny Beach 2010}) 16... Ne5 17. Nd4 (17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Rac1 {Narva-Meier, Tallinn 2018} Bc6 $146 19. a3 Rc8 $17) 17... Bc5 18. Bf4 {Holemar-Kozak, Brno 2008 and now simple} b4 $146 19. Na4 Ba7 $17 {would lead to Black clear edge.}) 14... O-O 15. Bg5 (15. h3 {see 14.h3}) 15... Ne5 16. Nd4 $2 Neg4 $1 17. g3 Nxf2 $1 18. Nxe6 {doesn't help} (18. Qxf2 Bc5 $19) 18... Nh3+ 19. Kg2 Qe7 $19 {D'Costa-Wells, West Bromwich 2003}) (11. Bd2 Rc8 12. Rac1 Qb8 13. e4 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Bd6 15. g3 O-O 16. f3 Rfe8 17. Be3 h6 $15 {Cremerius-Bernaert, ICCF email 2018}) 11... cxd4 12. Nxd4 {a very interesting alternative} (12. Nd5 $5 exd5 13. exd5+ Kd8 $5 14. Ng5 {clearly worse} (14. Bg5 $2 Bc5 15. Nxd4 {Calinescu-Lev, Arnhem 1987 and now natural} Re8 $146 16. Qf3 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Qe5 $1 18. Be3 Nc5 $17 {would secure clear edge for Black.}) 14... Nc5 15. d6 Bxd6 16. Nxf7+ Kc8 17. Nxh8 {Platz-Herrmann, Soemmerda 1950 in the game Black missed the best} Nxb3 $1 $146 18. axb3 Bc6 19. Bd2 Kb7 20. Ba5 Qd7 21. Rxd4 Bxh2+ $1 22. Kxh2 Qxd4 23. Qe7+ Nd7 24. Nf7 Qxf2 $15) 12... Bc5 13. Be3 {other moves} ({Important to check} 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Nxe6 Qe5 15. Nxg7+ Kf7 16. Nf5 {this has been occured in five games} (16. Nh5 $2 Rad8 17. Ng3 h5 $1 18. Be3 h4 19. Nf5 {Mamedyarov-So, Zagreb 2022 now} h3 $1 $40 {would decisively weaken light-squares around White king.}) 16... h5 $5 $146 {a strong improvement with approximate line} 17. g3 Qe6 18. Bf4 Ne5 19. Rac1 Rac8 $15) (13. Bg5 O-O 14. Rac1 Rac8 15. Kh1 $6 Qb6 $1 16. Be3 Bxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 $17 {Bennborn-Hult, Sweden 1991}) 13... O-O 14. Rac1 {another good example} (14. f3 Rfd8 15. Rd2 Bd6 16. g3 Nc5 17. Bc2 {Milde-Popov, ICCF email 2013 Black could play} Rac8 18. Rad1 Be7 {no problems for Black}) 14... Qb6 {here we have an extraordinary game} 15. f3 Rac8 16. Bf2 Ne5 17. Rc2 Nh5 $1 18. g3 Nf6 19. Rcd2 h6 20. Kg2 g5 $1 $15 {Lenderman-Anton Guijarro, Douglas 2019}) (9. dxc5 Nbd7 $1 10. Qe2 Bxc5 11. e4 Qb8 $1 12. Bg5 {Kuzubov-Zubov, Kiev 2012} O-O $146 13. Rac1 Rc8 $15) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 {another line} (11. Be3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Be7 13. e5 (13. f3 O-O 14. Qd2 {Perez Lopez-Fister, ICCF email 2016} (14. a4 Qb8 $1 15. Qe1 b4 16. Nb1 $2 {Wojtaszek-Kulaots, Warsaw 2013 Black has a strong improvement} Rd8 $1 $146 17. Qf2 (17. Bf2 Qe5 $17) 17... Bd6 $1 18. g3 Be5 $17) 14... Nd7 $146 15. Rfd1 Nc5 $11) 13... Ne4 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Re1 Bd5 16. Qg4 Bxb3 17. axb3 O-O 18. Be3 Qd3 19. Rad1 Qg6 $11 {Wichert-Seelig, ICCF email 2018}) 11... Bxc6 12. Qe2 (12. f3 $6 Bc5+ 13. Kh1 {Bruzon Batista-Vazquez, Lichess.org 2020} O-O $146 14. Qxd8 Rfxd8 15. Bf4 Nd7 {with pleasant endgame for Black.}) 12... Be7 13. Rd1 (13. Bg5 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. a3 O-O 16. Rfd1 Rfd8 17. Ba2 b4 $1 18. axb4 Qxb4 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Lintchevski, Sochi 2019}) (13. e5 Nd7 14. Bf4 Nc5 15. Bc2 O-O 16. Qe3 {Bruce-Rogers, ICCF email 2020 and now Black should have continued} b4 $146 17. Rfd1 Qc7 18. Ne2 Rac8 $13) 13... Qc7 14. Bg5 {another important line here} (14. e5 Nd7 15. Bf4 {Van Nierop-Cuaycong, LSS email 2009 here I discovered an interesting idea} g5 $5 $146 16. Bg3 Nc5 17. Bc2 (17. Qh5 Nxb3 18. axb3 O-O $15) 17... b4 18. Ne4 (18. Nb1 $6 h5 $36) 18... Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 Rc8 $1 $13) 14... Qe5 15. f4 Qc5+ 16. Kh1 b4 17. Bxf6 gxf6 (17... Bxf6 $2 18. Nd5 $1 $16) 18. Nb1 Bb5 19. Qe1 Qh5 $15 {Nurtawa-Khan, ICCF email 2020} * [Event "N20226_0517D"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.17"] [Round "3.1"] [Board "1"] [White "3) 5.Qa4+"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D23"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "34"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,40,25,13,27,-9,-12,-6,6,12,52,45,83,73,73,70,70,47,55,64,46,43,40,45,72,68,79,60,47,54,50,44,51,43,48,36,33,22,66,65,57,58,66]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ (5. Bg5 a6 $1 6. a4 (6. e4 b5 {see 5.e4 b5 6.Bg5 line}) ({The main alternative} 6. e3 b5 7. a4 c6 8. axb5 {I also checked} (8. Ne5 Bb7 9. Be2 {or} (9. Qf3 {two games arrived to this position. I would suggest the following new idea} h6 $146 10. Bh4 Be7 {and it's transposed to one game} 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Bxf6 (13. Be2 Nbd7 $17) 13... gxf6 $1 14. Nxf7 Kxf7 15. Qh5+ Kf8 $19 {Hardaway-Turzo, Chess.com 2021}) 9... Nbd7 10. Qc2 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. dxe5 Nd5 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Ne4 Nb4 16. Qc3 c5 $17 {Akobian-Sarana, Chess.com 2020}) 8... cxb5 9. Nxb5 {the alternative is} (9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nxb5 axb5 $1 {thematic exchange sacrifice} 11. Rxa8 Bb7 12. Ra1 {another line} (12. Ra7 Bb4+ 13. Nd2 (13. Ke2 Be4 $1 14. Nd2 {Piket-Lobron, Amsterdam 1994 after} Bd5 $146 {Black has powerful initaitve.}) 13... Qb6 14. Ra1 {in case of} (14. Rxb7 Qxb7 15. Be2 {Black can take g2-pawn} Qxg2 16. Bf3 {Czerwonski-Poysti, Bohumin 2020 and now preicse would have been} Qg6 $1 $146 17. Bh5 Qd3 18. Be2 Qf5 $17) 14... e5 $1 15. Qg4 (15. dxe5 {occured in two games a very strong idea} Ke7 $1 $146 16. exf6+ Qxf6 17. Qc2 Rd8 18. Rd1 Qe6 $1 $17) 15... Nc6 16. Qg7 Rf8 17. Qxf6 exd4 18. exd4 {Afloarei-Rotaru, ICCF email 2017 a nice improvement here} Rg8 $1 $146 19. d5 Qd4 20. Qxd4 Nxd4 21. Kd1 Bxd5 $17) 12... Bb4+ 13. Nd2 {the alternative is} (13. Ke2 O-O 14. Ne1 {a wonderful model game here} (14. Qc2 f5 15. Nd2 Nc6 16. Rd1 Qxd4 $1 17. Nf3 Qf6 $19 {Mamedyarov-Nakamura, Kolkata 2018}) 14... Nc6 15. Nc2 Ba5 16. Rg1 Qb6 17. g4 Rd8 18. g5 f5 19. f4 e5 $1 20. fxe5 Nxe5 21. Bg2 Bxg2 22. Rxg2 b4 $1 $40 {Egorov-Mashchenko, LSS email 2014}) 13... e5 14. Be2 (14. Qh5 {happened in six games} Bc6 $1 $146 15. Qh4 O-O 16. Be2 exd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. exd4 Rd8 $17) 14... exd4 15. O-O dxe3 16. Nf3 exf2+ 17. Kh1 {occured in two games . Black can play} O-O $146 18. Rxf2 Nc6 19. Qxd8 Rxd8 $44) 9... axb5 10. Rxa8 Bb7 11. Ra1 (11. Bxf6 gxf6 {see 9. Bxf6}) 11... Bb4+ 12. Nd2 {one game featured} (12. Ke2 {Zhao-Orndahl, Taby 2007} O-O $1 $146 13. Ne1 h6 14. Bh4 Nc6 15. f3 Be7 $17) 12... e5 $1 13. dxe5 {I also examined} (13. Be2 Qd5 $1 14. f3 {or} (14. Bf3 e4 15. Bxf6 exf3 16. Bxg7 fxg2 17. Rg1 Rg8 18. Be5 Nc6 $17) 14... exd4 15. Bf4 O-O 16. e4 Nxe4 $1 17. O-O (17. fxe4 Qxe4 $19) 17... Nxd2 18. Bxd2 Bc5 19. Kh1 d3 $1 $19 {Satkar-Raja, Mumbai 2018}) 13... Bxd2+ 14. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Ne4+ 16. Kc2 Nxg5 17. b3 Ne6 18. bxc4 b4 $15 {Napalkov-Churkin, ICCF email 2017}) 6... Nc6 7. e3 {another line here} (7. e4 Na5 8. e5 (8. Qc2 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Rd1 Nxg3 12. hxg3 Bg7 13. Be2 Qe7 $17 {Krejci-Cernousek, Slovakia 2020}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 (9. Bd2 {happened in two games} Nd7 $1 $146 10. Ne4 c5 11. Nd6+ Bxd6 12. exd6 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 $17) 9... g5 10. Nxg5 {the alternative line} (10. Bg3 Nd5 11. Be2 Bb4 12. Qc2 {Larrosa-Benitez, Rio Negro 2022 Black should have played} Bd7 $1 $146 13. O-O Bc6 $17) 10... Nd5 $1 11. Nf3 Be7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nd2 {another game featured} (13. Be2 Bd7 14. O-O {Muljadi-Hassim, ICCF email 2017 and now} Bc6 $1 $146 {promsing for Black}) 13... Qb4 14. Qc2 Bd7 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Qc3 Qb6 17. Be2 {Balta-Kopeikin, ICCF email 2016 Black missed} O-O-O $1 $146 18. O-O f6 $36) 7... Na5 8. Ne5 {other moves:} (8. Nd2 c5 9. dxc5 {another line here} (9. Nxc4 cxd4 10. exd4 {or} (10. Nxa5 Qxa5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qxd4 {Anderson-Archer, FICGS email 2014 here I like the following new idea} Qe5 $146 13. O-O-O (13. Qd3 Bd7 $15) 13... Qxd4 14. Rxd4 Bd7 15. Be2 Bc6 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rc8 $11) (10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. exd4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Bb4 13. Bd2 $6 Bd7 $15 {Sahidi-Urazayev, Lichess.org 2021}) 10... Bb4 11. Ne5 {occured in two games} h6 $146 12. Bh4 $140 (12. Be3 Nd5 $15) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nf3 Rg8 $17) 9... Bxc5 10. Bxc4 {an alternative variation} (10. Nxc4 Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Bd7 {Black has no problems, one good model game here} 13. Ke2 Rc8 14. Bb3 {Krimbacher-Sherwood, ICCF email 2017 and now} Bc6 $146 15. f3 h6 16. Bh4 Ke7 $15) 10... Bd7 11. O-O {another line} (11. Be2 Bc6 12. O-O O-O 13. Rb1 Bb4 $1 14. Bh4 {Hinz-Baranowski, ICCF email 2017 here I like} Qd6 $146 15. Qc2 Nd5 16. Nde4 Qd7 $15) 11... Be7 12. Bd3 {Meissner-Buchan, ICCF email 2021 after natural} Qb6 $146 13. Rb1 Qb4 {I prefer Black position.}) (8. Be2 c5 9. dxc5 Qxd1+ 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. O-O {four games arrived to this position} Be7 $146 12. Ne5 Nd5 13. Bxe7 Kxe7 14. Rd4 (14. Nxd5+ $140 exd5 15. Rxd5 b5 $1 16. axb5 Be6 17. Rdd1 axb5 $15) 14... Nb6 15. Nxc4 Nbxc4 16. Bxc4 Nc6 17. Rd2 Bd7 {with more pleasant endgame for Black.}) 8... Bb4 9. Be2 {other moves:} (9. Nxc4 Qd5 $1 10. Bxf6 {much worse} (10. Nxa5 $2 Qxa5 (10... Ne4 $5) 11. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qxc3+ 13. Ke2 gxf6 $17 {Muradli -Erigaisi, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Nxc4 11. Qb3 {other moves} (11. Bxc4 Qxg2 $1 12. Rf1 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 gxf6 14. Qb3 Qxh2 15. O-O-O Qd6 $17 {Szabolcsi, J-Milikow, E Budapest 2022}) (11. Bxg7 Rg8 12. Bf6 Rg6 $1 13. Bh8 Bd7 14. Qc2 O-O-O 15. O-O-O Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Nd6 17. Be5 Bxa4 $15 {Peiro Aparisi-Ordobas Martinez, ICCF email 2021}) 11... Nxe3 $1 12. Qxb4 Nc2+ 13. Kd2 Nxb4 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. Be5 f6 17. Bg3 {Yanchenko-Gonzalez, Chess.com 2022} Rg4 $1 $146 18. f4 Nxf4 19. Re1 Nd5 $17) (9. Bxf6 gxf6 ({Worthy alternative} 9... Qxf6 10. Nxc4 b6 $5 11. Nxa5 bxa5 12. Bd3 c5 {with nice play for Black Cramling-Javakhishvili, Mulhouse 2017}) 10. Nxc4 c5 {one good illustraitve game} 11. Qc2 Bd7 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Rd1 Be7 14. Nd6+ Kf8 $1 $15 {Krimbacher-Zolochevsky, ICCF email 2017}) 9... c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. exd4 h6 (11... Nb3 $5 12. Ra2 Nxd4 13. Bh5 $1 $132 {Balta-Byrne, ICCF email 2018}) 12. Bxf6 (12. Bh4 Nb3 13. Rb1 Qxd4 $15) 12... Qxf6 13. Bxc4 O-O 14. Ne4 {Furguzz-Mary, LSS email 2018 here my new suggestion} Qe7 $146 15. Ba2 Rd8 16. Rc1 Bd7 17. Rc7 Rac8 18. Rxd7 Rxd7 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. d5 exd5 21. Qxd5 $11) (5. g3 c5 6. Bg2 {other moves} (6. Qa4+ Bd7 7. Qxc4 b5 $5 $146 {a regular theoretical line here} (7... Bc6 8. dxc5 Nbd7 {with many games}) 8. Nxb5 {crtical} (8. Qd3 Bc6 $15) 8... Qb6 {I checked three moves here} 9. Nc3 (9. a4 a6 10. Na3 {or} (10. Nc3 Nc6 $1 11. e3 Na5 12. Qe2 Bc6 13. Bg2 Nb3 14. Rb1 Qb7 $1 $44) 10... Nc6 11. Bg2 (11. dxc5 $2 Bxc5 12. e3 Na5 $19) 11... cxd4 12. O-O Rc8 {with complex , but balanced play.}) (9. Na3 Nc6 10. Bg2 {worse for White} (10. dxc5 $6 Bxc5 11. e3 O-O 12. Be2 e5 13. Qb5 Bh3 $36) 10... cxd4 11. O-O Rc8 12. Bd2 $5 Bxa3 (12... Qxb2 13. Nb5 $44) 13. bxa3 Ne5 14. Qb3 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 O-O $11) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 (10. Qxd4 $2 Bc5 $19) 10... Nc6 11. Nxc6 {another line} (11. e3 Nxd4 12. exd4 Qb7 {only not} (12... Bc6 $2 13. Qxc6+ Qxc6 14. Bb5 $16) 13. d5 {in case of} (13. Rg1 Bb4 14. a3 Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 O-O $44) 13... Nxd5 14. Bg2 Rc8 $1 15. Qd4 Qb4 16. Qxb4 Nxb4 $5 ({obviously equalizes} 16... Bxb4 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. O-O $11) 17. O-O Nd3 18. Rd1 Nxc1 19. Raxc1 Be7 $13 {with balanced endgame}) 11... Bxc6 12. Be3 (12. f3 $2 Bc5 $36) 12... Qb7 13. f3 Rc8 14. Qb3 Bb4 $44) (6. dxc5 $6 Qxd1+ 7. Nxd1 Bxc5 8. Be3 {Burnett-Orr, Edinburgh 2022 Black could play} Bxe3 $146 9. Nxe3 c3 $1 10. bxc3 b6 11. Bg2 Bb7 12. O-O Ke7 $15) 6... Nc6 7. Qa4 {main move without any doubts. Other options:} (7. e3 Rb8 $1 8. O-O b5 9. dxc5 {Silva-Papp, Chess.com 2022 Black should have played} Bxc5 $1 $146 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $1 {allowing} 11. Ng5 Ne5 12. f4 Nd3 $1 {the point behind Black idea} 13. Nxf7+ Ke7 14. Nxh8 Nxc1 15. Rfxc1 Bxe3+ 16. Kf1 Bxc1 17. Rxc1 Bd7 $15) (7. dxc5 Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 Bxc5 9. Ne3 {White best move} (9. O-O Nd5 $1 10. e4 Ndb4 11. Be3 {Rendboe-Meskenas, Denmark 2023} Be7 $1 $146 12. Nd2 Na5 $17) 9... Bxe3 10. Bxe3 Nd5 11. Bd2 {Ivanov-Farago, Osterskars 1995} O-O $146 12. O-O b5 13. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) (7. Be3 $6 Ng4 $1 8. O-O {not dangeorus for Black} (8. d5 Nxe3 9. fxe3 exd5 10. Nxd5 {Radjabov-Grischuk, Krasnogorsk 2023 and now Black could play} g6 $1 $146 11. Nd2 Bg7 12. Nxc4 O-O $15) 8... Nxe3 9. fxe3 Be7 10. Qa4 {A strong improvement I suggest} ({One game continued} 10. d5 exd5 11. Nxd5 {Krasenkow-Praggnanandhaa, Krasnaya Polyana 2021 Black should have played} O-O $146 12. Nd2 Bh3 $1 13. Nxc4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 b5 15. Na3 Rb8 $17) 10... Rb8 $1 $146 11. Ne5 {critical move, another line I checked} (11. Rfd1 O-O 12. dxc5 b5 $1 13. Rxd8 {or} (13. Nxb5 Qa5 $1 14. Qxa5 Nxa5 15. Nc3 Bxc5 $15) 13... bxa4 14. Rxf8+ Kxf8 15. Nxa4 Bd7 16. Nd2 Ne5 $15) (11. Qxc4 $6 b5 $1 12. Qd3 (12. Nxb5 $140 $2 Na5 13. Qa4 Bd7 $19) 12... O-O $17) 11... O-O 12. Bxc6 cxd4 $1 13. Rfd1 bxc6 14. Qxa7 (14. Nxc6 $2 Bd7 15. Rxd4 Bg5 $1 $17) 14... Rb7 15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. exd4 c5 $15) 7... Bd7 {Black reaches easy equality after} (7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 9. Bxc6+ Bd7 $1 10. Bxd7+ {or} (10. Be3 Bxc6 {worthy of consideration} (10... Qd6 $5 $146 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. Qxc4 Rc8 13. Qb3 Bc5 14. Bxc5 Rxc5 15. Rd1 Qc6 16. O-O O-O $11) 11. Qxc6+ bxc6 12. Bxd4 Nd5 13. Rc1 {Sokolin-Kaidanov, New York 1997 Black should have played} c5 $1 $146 14. Be5 f6 15. Bf4 Kd7 16. O-O Be7 $15) 10... Qxd7 11. Qxc4 Rc8 12. Qb3 {inferior square} (12. Qf4 $6 Bd6 13. Qf3 {Panjer-Ilinca Ilinca, Benidorm 2022. A nice improvement would be} Be5 $146 14. O-O O-O 15. Bf4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qd5 $1 $15) 12... Bc5 13. O-O O-O (13... Qc6 $5 {deserves attention as well}) 14. Bg5 {main move. I also examined} (14. Bf4 Rfd8 15. Rad1 Qc6 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 $11 {Keil-Gebigke, Berlin 2003}) 14... Qc6 15. Rac1 Ne4 $1 16. Nxe4 Qxe4 17. Rxc5 Rxc5 18. Be7 {Klyszcz-Moench, Wiesbaden 2013 and now the most precise would be} Rfc8 $146 19. Bxc5 Rxc5 $11) 8. Qxc4 (8. dxc5 $6 {happeened in two games. In both cases Black missed strong} Nd4 $1 $146 9. Qd1 Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 Bxc5 11. O-O O-O 12. Bxb7 Rb8 13. Bf3 h6 {I would prefer Black position.}) 8... b5 9. Qd3 {Black b5-pawn is untouchable} (9. Nxb5 $2 Na5 10. Qa4 (10. Qd3 c4 $19) 10... a6 $19) (9. Qxb5 $2 Nb4 $19) 9... c4 10. Qc2 Be7 11. O-O ({I checked also} 11. a3 Qb6 12. Be3 Nd5 $13) 11... b4 12. Ne4 Rc8 $1 13. Bf4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 O-O 15. Rac1 Na5 16. Ne5 Be8 17. h4 f6 18. Nf3 Bf7 19. Rfd1 Qb6 $15 {Ax-Radloff, GER email 2011}) 5... Nc6 6. Qxc4 {other moves are also important} (6. a3 Bd6 7. Bg5 {or} (7. e4 {Mozharov-Sadhwani, Chess.com 2019 Black should have continued} Bd7 $146 8. Qxc4 e5 9. d5 Ne7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O h6 $13 {with complex middlegame}) 7... O-O 8. Qxc4 {another game featured} (8. Rd1 h6 9. Bh4 Bd7 10. Qxc4 b5 $1 11. Qd3 {Black idea can be seen from the following line} (11. Nxb5 g5 $1 12. Bg3 Na5 13. Qc3 Bxb5 14. Qxa5 Rb8 $44 {with nice compensation thanks to development advantage.}) 11... b4 12. Ne4 $6 {Black missed strong} ({Better would have been} 12. axb4 Nxb4 13. Qb1 Be7 14. e3 Nbd5 $11) 12... g5 $1 13. Nxf6+ (13. Nxd6 cxd6 14. Bg3 Qa5 $40) 13... Qxf6 14. Bg3 Rfd8 $13) 8... h6 9. Bh4 e5 10. d5 Ne7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. e3 {Indjic-Abdisalimov, Tashkent 2023 Black should have played} (12. e4 {another line} Rb8 $5 13. Be2 f5 $132) 12... Rb8 $1 $146 {useful waiting move} 13. Be2 f5 14. O-O Kh7 $15) (6. e4 $6 Bb4 7. Bg5 (7. Bxc4 {not dangerous} Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Rb1 {1-0 (24) Radnic,Z-Seifert,P Bad Zwesten 2001} O-O $146 {a clear improvement over the game with the following point} 11. Ba3 Nxd4 $1 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. Bxf8 Kxf8 $17) 7... Bd7 $1 8. Qc2 h6 $1 9. Bd2 {I also examined} (9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. e5 Nxd4 $1 11. Nxd4 Qxe5+ 12. Nde2 O-O-O 13. O-O-O Bc6 $17 {Dreisch-Nitschke, GER email 2015}) 9... b5 {a good model game here} 10. a3 Ba5 11. Nxb5 Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 (12. Nxd2 a6 13. Nc3 Nxd4 $17) 12... Nxe4 13. Qf4 Nd6 $1 14. Nxd6+ cxd6 15. Bxc4 (15. Qxd6 $2 Qa5+ $40) 15... d5 16. Bd3 {Kozak-Parligras, Tornelo INT 2021 Black should have played} Qb8 $1 $146 17. Qxb8+ Rxb8 18. b4 Ke7 19. Kd2 f6 $15) (6. Bg5 Bb4 7. Bxf6 {other moves:} (7. e3 Bd7 8. Qc2 b5 9. Be2 {other options:} (9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. a4 bxa4 11. Bxc4 {this all happened in Xiong-Sarana, Chess.com 2021 now Black should have continued} Qg6 $1 $146 12. Bd3 (12. Qxg6 $140 hxg6 13. Rxa4 Nxd4 $1 $19) 12... Qxg2 13. Ke2 Qh3 14. Rhg1 Bd6 $15) (9. a3 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 (10. Qxc3 $6 {played twice, in both games Black missed obvious} Ne4 $1 $146 11. Bxd8 Nxc3 12. Bxc7 Na4 13. Rb1 Ke7 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 a6 12. g4 Ne7 (12... Bc8 $5) 13. Ne5 Nfd5 14. Bg2 f6 15. Ng6 Nxg6 16. Qxg6+ Kf8 17. Qc2 Bc6 $17 {Salama-Gajewski, Reykjavik 2019}) 9... Ne7 $5 10. Bxf6 {another game saw} (10. O-O Nfd5 $1 11. e4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Ba3 13. Nd2 f6 14. Be3 {Piceu-Horvath,D Germany 2022 and now after simple} O-O $146 {Black is clealry better.}) 10... gxf6 11. O-O c6 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 a5 $1 14. b3 Nd5 15. Qc2 cxb3 16. Qxb3 O-O $15 {Williams-Biedermann, ICCF email 2016}) (7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qd5 $1 9. Bxf6 ({Hardly a good idea} 9. Bf4 $2 Bd7 10. Qd1 {or} (10. Qc2 Qe4 $1 11. Qc1 Na5 $1 12. Bxc7 Nb3 13. Nd2 Qc6 14. Nxb3 cxb3 15. Bf4 a5 16. Qb2 a4 $19 {Ftacnik-Lerner, Stary Smokovec 1977}) 10... Ne4 11. Qc2 O-O-O $17 {Geldyeva-Khademalsharieh, Chengdu 2017}) 9... gxf6 10. g3 {other important moves:} (10. Nd2 b5 11. Qc2 a6 12. e4 Qd6 $1 13. a4 Rb8 14. Be2 O-O 15. O-O e5 $1 16. d5 Ne7 17. Rfb1 Bd7 $17 {with healthy extra pawn Cuppone-Valente, ICCF email 2015}) (10. Qc2 f5 11. g3 b6 12. Bg2 Bb7 13. O-O {another important line} (13. Nh4 Qa5 14. O-O O-O-O $17) 13... O-O-O 14. Nh4 {other moves:} (14. Rfe1 {occured in Olszewski-Wojtaszek, Germany 2015 Now strong would have been} Na5 $146 15. Nh4 Qd7 16. e4 f4 $1 17. gxf4 $140 Rhg8 $40) (14. a4 Na5 15. Rab1 Nb3 16. Nh4 Qa5 17. Bxb7+ Kxb7 18. Nf3 f6 $17 {Candela Perez-Moreno Trujillo, Madrid 2016}) 14... Qd7 15. e4 {happened in Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Wijk aan Zee 1999} Ne7 $1 $146 16. Rfe1 {or} (16. exf5 Nxf5 17. Nxf5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 exf5 $17) 16... fxe4 17. Bxe4 h5 $17) 10... Bd7 11. Qc2 Na5 12. e4 {another line} (12. Bg2 Bc6 13. O-O O-O-O 14. Nh4 {Valette-Jolly, Angers 2017} Qb5 $146 15. e4 Nb3 16. Ra2 Qa5 $17) 12... Qc6 13. Bg2 Qa4 $1 14. Qe2 Nb3 15. Rb1 {Zhao-Zaiatz, Moscow 2004} (15. Rd1 {Thiel-Nasshan, Tegernsee 2019 a nice improvement here} O-O-O $1 $146 16. O-O h6 $15) 15... O-O-O $146 16. O-O Bc6 17. Rfd1 a6 $15) (7. e4 {see 6.e4}) 7... gxf6 8. e3 {happened in several games} (8. e4 Bd7 $1 9. Qc2 (9. Bxc4 $2 Nxd4 $1 $19) 9... b5 10. Be2 Ne7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rad1 {Koch-Drenchev, Germany 2011} c6 $146 13. Qc1 Kh8 $1 $15) (8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qd5 $1 {covered via 7.a3 line}) 8... Bd7 $146 9. Qc2 b5 10. Be2 a6 11. O-O Bd6 $15) 6... Nb4 $1 7. Qb3 c5 8. dxc5 {I also examined three alternatives} (8. a3 cxd4 9. axb4 dxc3 10. bxc3 Bd6 11. Bg5 O-O 12. e3 b6 13. Be2 Bb7 14. O-O {Lalith-Adhiban, Kanpur 2022 Black should have played} a6 $146 15. Rfd1 Qc7 16. Bxf6 gxf6 $13 {with complex game.}) (8. Bg5 $6 cxd4 9. Rd1 ({Hardly a good idea} 9. O-O-O $2 Qa5 $1 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Ne4 f5 $1 12. Nf6+ Ke7 13. a3 Kxf6 14. axb4 {Erbe-Lauer, DESC email 1999 after natural} Qxb4 {Black position is winning}) 9... Qa5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nxd4 e5 $1 12. Ndb5 $2 {Instead White should have prefered} (12. a3 $1 exd4 13. axb4 Qe5 $15) 12... a6 $1 13. Nd6+ Bxd6 14. Rxd6 Ke7 15. a3 Kxd6 16. Qxf7 Nd5 17. b4 Qxa3 18. Qxd5+ Ke7 $19 {Krasenkow -Landa, Port Erin 2006}) (8. e3 a6 9. Be2 {only one game here} cxd4 10. exd4 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 b6 13. a3 Nbd5 14. Bg5 $6 Bb7 15. Ne5 h6 16. Bh4 Nf4 17. Bf1 Rc8 $15 {Harper-Keres, Vancouver 1975}) 8... Bxc5 9. a3 {another move} (9. Bg5 O-O 10. e3 {another important line} (10. Rd1 Qb6 11. e3 Nfd5 12. Nxd5 $2 exd5 13. Be2 Bf5 14. Rd2 Nc2+ $1 15. Kd1 Qxb3 16. axb3 Na1 $1 $17 {Nanu-Gyimesi, Austria 2011}) 10... Nd3+ 11. Bxd3 Qxd3 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Nd2 {Kortschnoj-Wells, Port Erin 2004 Black could choose} Qg6 $146 14. Nde4 Be7 15. O-O-O b6 $15) 9... Nc6 10. Bg5 (10. g3 {Stohl-Meister, Slovakia 1994 Black play can be improved with} h6 $1 $146 11. Bg2 O-O 12. O-O e5 $15 {with comfortable play.}) 10... Qb6 11. Qxb6 Bxb6 12. e3 {another game saw} (12. Rd1 h6 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. e3 a6 15. g3 Ke7 16. Bg2 Bd7 17. O-O Rac8 $11 {Tanis-Mostowik, ICCF email 2010}) 12... Bd7 13. O-O-O Ng4 $5 14. Bh4 f6 15. Be2 {Krasenkow-Fridman, Hilversum 2009 Black would conviniently equalize by means of} Ne7 $146 16. h3 Nh6 17. g4 Bc6 $11 * [Event "N20226_0517D"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.17"] [Round "4.1"] [Board "1"] [White "4) 5.Bg5"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "41"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,40,25,13,27,-9,-12,-6,6,12,52,45,83,73,73,70,70,47,55,64,46,43,40,45,72,68,79,60,47,54,50,44,51,43,48,36,33,22,66,65,57,58,66]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg5 (5. g3 c5 6. Bg2 {other moves} (6. Qa4+ Bd7 7. Qxc4 b5 $5 $146 {a regular theoretical line here} (7... Bc6 8. dxc5 Nbd7 {with many games}) 8. Nxb5 {crtical} (8. Qd3 Bc6 $15) 8... Qb6 {I checked three moves here} 9. Nc3 (9. a4 a6 10. Na3 {or} (10. Nc3 Nc6 $1 11. e3 Na5 12. Qe2 Bc6 13. Bg2 Nb3 14. Rb1 Qb7 $1 $44) 10... Nc6 11. Bg2 (11. dxc5 $2 Bxc5 12. e3 Na5 $19) 11... cxd4 12. O-O Rc8 {with complex , but balanced play.}) (9. Na3 Nc6 10. Bg2 {worse for White} (10. dxc5 $6 Bxc5 11. e3 O-O 12. Be2 e5 13. Qb5 Bh3 $36) 10... cxd4 11. O-O Rc8 12. Bd2 $5 Bxa3 (12... Qxb2 13. Nb5 $44) 13. bxa3 Ne5 14. Qb3 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 O-O $11) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 (10. Qxd4 $2 Bc5 $19) 10... Nc6 11. Nxc6 {another line} (11. e3 Nxd4 12. exd4 Qb7 {only not} (12... Bc6 $2 13. Qxc6+ Qxc6 14. Bb5 $16) 13. d5 {in case of} (13. Rg1 Bb4 14. a3 Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 O-O $44) 13... Nxd5 14. Bg2 Rc8 $1 15. Qd4 Qb4 16. Qxb4 Nxb4 $5 ({obviously equalizes} 16... Bxb4 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. O-O $11) 17. O-O Nd3 18. Rd1 Nxc1 19. Raxc1 Be7 $13 {with balanced endgame}) 11... Bxc6 12. Be3 (12. f3 $2 Bc5 $36) 12... Qb7 13. f3 Rc8 14. Qb3 Bb4 $44) (6. dxc5 $6 Qxd1+ 7. Nxd1 Bxc5 8. Be3 {Burnett-Orr, Edinburgh 2022 Black could play} Bxe3 $146 9. Nxe3 c3 $1 10. bxc3 b6 11. Bg2 Bb7 12. O-O Ke7 $15) 6... Nc6 7. Qa4 {main move without any doubts. Other options:} (7. e3 Rb8 $1 8. O-O b5 9. dxc5 {Silva-Papp, Chess.com 2022 Black should have played} Bxc5 $1 $146 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $1 {allowing} 11. Ng5 Ne5 12. f4 Nd3 $1 {the point behind Black idea} 13. Nxf7+ Ke7 14. Nxh8 Nxc1 15. Rfxc1 Bxe3+ 16. Kf1 Bxc1 17. Rxc1 Bd7 $15) (7. dxc5 Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 Bxc5 9. Ne3 {White best move} (9. O-O Nd5 $1 10. e4 Ndb4 11. Be3 {Rendboe-Meskenas, Denmark 2023} Be7 $1 $146 12. Nd2 Na5 $17) 9... Bxe3 10. Bxe3 Nd5 11. Bd2 {Ivanov-Farago, Osterskars 1995} O-O $146 12. O-O b5 13. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) (7. Be3 $6 Ng4 $1 8. O-O {not dangeorus for Black} (8. d5 Nxe3 9. fxe3 exd5 10. Nxd5 {Radjabov-Grischuk, Krasnogorsk 2023 and now Black could play} g6 $1 $146 11. Nd2 Bg7 12. Nxc4 O-O $15) 8... Nxe3 9. fxe3 Be7 10. Qa4 {A strong improvement I suggest} ({One game continued} 10. d5 exd5 11. Nxd5 {Krasenkow-Praggnanandhaa, Krasnaya Polyana 2021 Black should have played} O-O $146 12. Nd2 Bh3 $1 13. Nxc4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 b5 15. Na3 Rb8 $17) 10... Rb8 $1 $146 11. Ne5 {critical move, another line I checked} (11. Rfd1 O-O 12. dxc5 b5 $1 13. Rxd8 {or} (13. Nxb5 Qa5 $1 14. Qxa5 Nxa5 15. Nc3 Bxc5 $15) 13... bxa4 14. Rxf8+ Kxf8 15. Nxa4 Bd7 16. Nd2 Ne5 $15) (11. Qxc4 $6 b5 $1 12. Qd3 (12. Nxb5 $140 $2 Na5 13. Qa4 Bd7 $19) 12... O-O $17) 11... O-O 12. Bxc6 cxd4 $1 13. Rfd1 bxc6 14. Qxa7 (14. Nxc6 $2 Bd7 15. Rxd4 Bg5 $1 $17) 14... Rb7 15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. exd4 c5 $15) 7... Bd7 {Black reaches easy equality after} (7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 9. Bxc6+ Bd7 $1 10. Bxd7+ {or} (10. Be3 Bxc6 {worthy of consideration} (10... Qd6 $5 $146 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. Qxc4 Rc8 13. Qb3 Bc5 14. Bxc5 Rxc5 15. Rd1 Qc6 16. O-O O-O $11) 11. Qxc6+ bxc6 12. Bxd4 Nd5 13. Rc1 {Sokolin-Kaidanov, New York 1997 Black should have played} c5 $1 $146 14. Be5 f6 15. Bf4 Kd7 16. O-O Be7 $15) 10... Qxd7 11. Qxc4 Rc8 12. Qb3 {inferior square} (12. Qf4 $6 Bd6 13. Qf3 {Panjer-Ilinca Ilinca, Benidorm 2022. A nice improvement would be} Be5 $146 14. O-O O-O 15. Bf4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qd5 $1 $15) 12... Bc5 13. O-O O-O (13... Qc6 $5 {deserves attention as well}) 14. Bg5 {main move. I also examined} (14. Bf4 Rfd8 15. Rad1 Qc6 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 $11 {Keil-Gebigke, Berlin 2003}) 14... Qc6 15. Rac1 Ne4 $1 16. Nxe4 Qxe4 17. Rxc5 Rxc5 18. Be7 {Klyszcz-Moench, Wiesbaden 2013 and now the most precise would be} Rfc8 $146 19. Bxc5 Rxc5 $11) 8. Qxc4 (8. dxc5 $6 {happeened in two games. In both cases Black missed strong} Nd4 $1 $146 9. Qd1 Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 Bxc5 11. O-O O-O 12. Bxb7 Rb8 13. Bf3 h6 {I would prefer Black position.}) 8... b5 9. Qd3 {Black b5-pawn is untouchable} (9. Nxb5 $2 Na5 10. Qa4 (10. Qd3 c4 $19) 10... a6 $19) (9. Qxb5 $2 Nb4 $19) 9... c4 10. Qc2 Be7 11. O-O ({I checked also} 11. a3 Qb6 12. Be3 Nd5 $13) 11... b4 12. Ne4 Rc8 $1 13. Bf4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 O-O 15. Rac1 Na5 16. Ne5 Be8 17. h4 f6 18. Nf3 Bf7 19. Rfd1 Qb6 $15 {Ax-Radloff, GER email 2011}) 5... a6 $1 6. a4 (6. e4 b5 {see 5.e4 b5 6.Bg5 line}) ({The main alternative} 6. e3 b5 7. a4 c6 8. axb5 {I also checked} (8. Ne5 Bb7 9. Be2 {or} (9. Qf3 {two games arrived to this position. I would suggest the following new idea} h6 $146 10. Bh4 Be7 {and it's transposed to one game} 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Bxf6 (13. Be2 Nbd7 $17) 13... gxf6 $1 14. Nxf7 Kxf7 15. Qh5+ Kf8 $19 {Hardaway-Turzo, Chess.com 2021}) 9... Nbd7 10. Qc2 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. dxe5 Nd5 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Ne4 Nb4 16. Qc3 c5 $17 {Akobian-Sarana, Chess.com 2020}) 8... cxb5 9. Nxb5 {the alternative is} (9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nxb5 axb5 $1 {thematic exchange sacrifice} 11. Rxa8 Bb7 12. Ra1 {another line} (12. Ra7 Bb4+ 13. Nd2 (13. Ke2 Be4 $1 14. Nd2 {Piket-Lobron, Amsterdam 1994 after} Bd5 $146 {Black has powerful initaitve.}) 13... Qb6 14. Ra1 {in case of} (14. Rxb7 Qxb7 15. Be2 {Black can take g2-pawn} Qxg2 16. Bf3 {Czerwonski-Poysti, Bohumin 2020 and now preicse would have been} Qg6 $1 $146 17. Bh5 Qd3 18. Be2 Qf5 $17) 14... e5 $1 15. Qg4 (15. dxe5 {occured in two games a very strong idea} Ke7 $1 $146 16. exf6+ Qxf6 17. Qc2 Rd8 18. Rd1 Qe6 $1 $17) 15... Nc6 16. Qg7 Rf8 17. Qxf6 exd4 18. exd4 {Afloarei-Rotaru, ICCF email 2017 a nice improvement here} Rg8 $1 $146 19. d5 Qd4 20. Qxd4 Nxd4 21. Kd1 Bxd5 $17) 12... Bb4+ 13. Nd2 {the alternative is} (13. Ke2 O-O 14. Ne1 {a wonderful model game here} (14. Qc2 f5 15. Nd2 Nc6 16. Rd1 Qxd4 $1 17. Nf3 Qf6 $19 {Mamedyarov-Nakamura, Kolkata 2018}) 14... Nc6 15. Nc2 Ba5 16. Rg1 Qb6 17. g4 Rd8 18. g5 f5 19. f4 e5 $1 20. fxe5 Nxe5 21. Bg2 Bxg2 22. Rxg2 b4 $1 $40 {Egorov-Mashchenko, LSS email 2014}) 13... e5 14. Be2 (14. Qh5 {happened in six games} Bc6 $1 $146 15. Qh4 O-O 16. Be2 exd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. exd4 Rd8 $17) 14... exd4 15. O-O dxe3 16. Nf3 exf2+ 17. Kh1 {occured in two games . Black can play} O-O $146 18. Rxf2 Nc6 19. Qxd8 Rxd8 $44) 9... axb5 10. Rxa8 Bb7 11. Ra1 (11. Bxf6 gxf6 {see 9. Bxf6}) 11... Bb4+ 12. Nd2 {one game featured} (12. Ke2 {Zhao-Orndahl, Taby 2007} O-O $1 $146 13. Ne1 h6 14. Bh4 Nc6 15. f3 Be7 $17) 12... e5 $1 13. dxe5 {I also examined} (13. Be2 Qd5 $1 14. f3 {or} (14. Bf3 e4 15. Bxf6 exf3 16. Bxg7 fxg2 17. Rg1 Rg8 18. Be5 Nc6 $17) 14... exd4 15. Bf4 O-O 16. e4 Nxe4 $1 17. O-O (17. fxe4 Qxe4 $19) 17... Nxd2 18. Bxd2 Bc5 19. Kh1 d3 $1 $19 {Satkar-Raja, Mumbai 2018}) 13... Bxd2+ 14. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Ne4+ 16. Kc2 Nxg5 17. b3 Ne6 18. bxc4 b4 $15 {Napalkov-Churkin, ICCF email 2017}) 6... Nc6 7. e3 {another line here} (7. e4 Na5 8. e5 (8. Qc2 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Rd1 Nxg3 12. hxg3 Bg7 13. Be2 Qe7 $17 {Krejci-Cernousek, Slovakia 2020}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 (9. Bd2 {happened in two games} Nd7 $1 $146 10. Ne4 c5 11. Nd6+ Bxd6 12. exd6 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 $17) 9... g5 10. Nxg5 {the alternative line} (10. Bg3 Nd5 11. Be2 Bb4 12. Qc2 {Larrosa-Benitez, Rio Negro 2022 Black should have played} Bd7 $1 $146 13. O-O Bc6 $17) 10... Nd5 $1 11. Nf3 Be7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nd2 {another game featured} (13. Be2 Bd7 14. O-O {Muljadi-Hassim, ICCF email 2017 and now} Bc6 $1 $146 {promsing for Black}) 13... Qb4 14. Qc2 Bd7 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Qc3 Qb6 17. Be2 {Balta-Kopeikin, ICCF email 2016 Black missed} O-O-O $1 $146 18. O-O f6 $36) 7... Na5 8. Ne5 {other moves:} (8. Nd2 c5 9. dxc5 {another line here} (9. Nxc4 cxd4 10. exd4 {or} (10. Nxa5 Qxa5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qxd4 {Anderson-Archer, FICGS email 2014 here I like the following new idea} Qe5 $146 13. O-O-O (13. Qd3 Bd7 $15) 13... Qxd4 14. Rxd4 Bd7 15. Be2 Bc6 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rc8 $11) (10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. exd4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Bb4 13. Bd2 $6 Bd7 $15 {Sahidi-Urazayev, Lichess.org 2021}) 10... Bb4 11. Ne5 {occured in two games} h6 $146 12. Bh4 $140 (12. Be3 Nd5 $15) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nf3 Rg8 $17) 9... Bxc5 10. Bxc4 {an alternative variation} (10. Nxc4 Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Bd7 {Black has no problems, one good model game here} 13. Ke2 Rc8 14. Bb3 {Krimbacher-Sherwood, ICCF email 2017 and now} Bc6 $146 15. f3 h6 16. Bh4 Ke7 $15) 10... Bd7 11. O-O {another line} (11. Be2 Bc6 12. O-O O-O 13. Rb1 Bb4 $1 14. Bh4 {Hinz-Baranowski, ICCF email 2017 here I like} Qd6 $146 15. Qc2 Nd5 16. Nde4 Qd7 $15) 11... Be7 12. Bd3 {Meissner-Buchan, ICCF email 2021 after natural} Qb6 $146 13. Rb1 Qb4 {I prefer Black position.}) (8. Be2 c5 9. dxc5 Qxd1+ 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. O-O {four games arrived to this position} Be7 $146 12. Ne5 Nd5 13. Bxe7 Kxe7 14. Rd4 (14. Nxd5+ $140 exd5 15. Rxd5 b5 $1 16. axb5 Be6 17. Rdd1 axb5 $15) 14... Nb6 15. Nxc4 Nbxc4 16. Bxc4 Nc6 17. Rd2 Bd7 {with more pleasant endgame for Black.}) 8... Bb4 9. Be2 {other moves:} (9. Nxc4 Qd5 $1 10. Bxf6 {much worse} (10. Nxa5 $2 Qxa5 (10... Ne4 $5) 11. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qxc3+ 13. Ke2 gxf6 $17 {Muradli -Erigaisi, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Nxc4 11. Qb3 {other moves} (11. Bxc4 Qxg2 $1 12. Rf1 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 gxf6 14. Qb3 Qxh2 15. O-O-O Qd6 $17 {Szabolcsi, J-Milikow, E Budapest 2022}) (11. Bxg7 Rg8 12. Bf6 Rg6 $1 13. Bh8 Bd7 14. Qc2 O-O-O 15. O-O-O Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Nd6 17. Be5 Bxa4 $15 {Peiro Aparisi-Ordobas Martinez, ICCF email 2021}) 11... Nxe3 $1 12. Qxb4 Nc2+ 13. Kd2 Nxb4 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. Be5 f6 17. Bg3 {Yanchenko-Gonzalez, Chess.com 2022} Rg4 $1 $146 18. f4 Nxf4 19. Re1 Nd5 $17) (9. Bxf6 gxf6 ({Worthy alternative} 9... Qxf6 10. Nxc4 b6 $5 11. Nxa5 bxa5 12. Bd3 c5 {with nice play for Black Cramling-Javakhishvili, Mulhouse 2017}) 10. Nxc4 c5 {one good illustraitve game} 11. Qc2 Bd7 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Rd1 Be7 14. Nd6+ Kf8 $1 $15 {Krimbacher-Zolochevsky, ICCF email 2017}) 9... c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. exd4 h6 (11... Nb3 $5 12. Ra2 Nxd4 13. Bh5 $1 $132 {Balta-Byrne, ICCF email 2018}) 12. Bxf6 (12. Bh4 Nb3 13. Rb1 Qxd4 $15) 12... Qxf6 13. Bxc4 O-O 14. Ne4 {Furguzz-Mary, LSS email 2018 here my new suggestion} Qe7 $146 15. Ba2 Rd8 16. Rc1 Bd7 17. Rc7 Rac8 18. Rxd7 Rxd7 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. d5 exd5 21. Qxd5 $11 * [Event "N20226_0517D"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.17"] [Round "5.1"] [Board "1"] [White "5) 5.g3"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "A34"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "38"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,40,25,13,27,-9,-12,-6,6,12,52,45,83,73,73,70,70,47,55,64,46,43,40,45,72,68,79,60,47,54,50,44,51,43,48,36,33,22,66,65,57,58,66]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. g3 c5 6. Bg2 {other moves} (6. Qa4+ Bd7 7. Qxc4 b5 $5 $146 {a regular theoretical line here} (7... Bc6 8. dxc5 Nbd7 {with many games}) 8. Nxb5 {crtical} (8. Qd3 Bc6 $15) 8... Qb6 {I checked three moves here} 9. Nc3 (9. a4 a6 10. Na3 {or} (10. Nc3 Nc6 $1 11. e3 Na5 12. Qe2 Bc6 13. Bg2 Nb3 14. Rb1 Qb7 $1 $44) 10... Nc6 11. Bg2 (11. dxc5 $2 Bxc5 12. e3 Na5 $19) 11... cxd4 12. O-O Rc8 {with complex , but balanced play.}) (9. Na3 Nc6 10. Bg2 {worse for White} (10. dxc5 $6 Bxc5 11. e3 O-O 12. Be2 e5 13. Qb5 Bh3 $36) 10... cxd4 11. O-O Rc8 12. Bd2 $5 Bxa3 (12... Qxb2 13. Nb5 $44) 13. bxa3 Ne5 14. Qb3 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 O-O $11) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 (10. Qxd4 $2 Bc5 $19) 10... Nc6 11. Nxc6 {another line} (11. e3 Nxd4 12. exd4 Qb7 {only not} (12... Bc6 $2 13. Qxc6+ Qxc6 14. Bb5 $16) 13. d5 {in case of} (13. Rg1 Bb4 14. a3 Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 O-O $44) 13... Nxd5 14. Bg2 Rc8 $1 15. Qd4 Qb4 16. Qxb4 Nxb4 $5 ({obviously equalizes} 16... Bxb4 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. O-O $11) 17. O-O Nd3 18. Rd1 Nxc1 19. Raxc1 Be7 $13 {with balanced endgame}) 11... Bxc6 12. Be3 (12. f3 $2 Bc5 $36) 12... Qb7 13. f3 Rc8 14. Qb3 Bb4 $44) (6. dxc5 $6 Qxd1+ 7. Nxd1 Bxc5 8. Be3 {Burnett-Orr, Edinburgh 2022 Black could play} Bxe3 $146 9. Nxe3 c3 $1 10. bxc3 b6 11. Bg2 Bb7 12. O-O Ke7 $15) 6... Nc6 7. Qa4 {main move without any doubts. Other options:} (7. e3 Rb8 $1 8. O-O b5 9. dxc5 {Silva-Papp, Chess.com 2022 Black should have played} Bxc5 $1 $146 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $1 {allowing} 11. Ng5 Ne5 12. f4 Nd3 $1 {the point behind Black idea} 13. Nxf7+ Ke7 14. Nxh8 Nxc1 15. Rfxc1 Bxe3+ 16. Kf1 Bxc1 17. Rxc1 Bd7 $15) (7. dxc5 Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 Bxc5 9. Ne3 {White best move} (9. O-O Nd5 $1 10. e4 Ndb4 11. Be3 {Rendboe-Meskenas, Denmark 2023} Be7 $1 $146 12. Nd2 Na5 $17) 9... Bxe3 10. Bxe3 Nd5 11. Bd2 {Ivanov-Farago, Osterskars 1995} O-O $146 12. O-O b5 13. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) (7. Be3 $6 Ng4 $1 8. O-O {not dangeorus for Black} (8. d5 Nxe3 9. fxe3 exd5 10. Nxd5 {Radjabov-Grischuk, Krasnogorsk 2023 and now Black could play} g6 $1 $146 11. Nd2 Bg7 12. Nxc4 O-O $15) 8... Nxe3 9. fxe3 Be7 10. Qa4 {A strong improvement I suggest} ({One game continued} 10. d5 exd5 11. Nxd5 {Krasenkow-Praggnanandhaa, Krasnaya Polyana 2021 Black should have played} O-O $146 12. Nd2 Bh3 $1 13. Nxc4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 b5 15. Na3 Rb8 $17) 10... Rb8 $1 $146 11. Ne5 {critical move, another line I checked} (11. Rfd1 O-O 12. dxc5 b5 $1 13. Rxd8 {or} (13. Nxb5 Qa5 $1 14. Qxa5 Nxa5 15. Nc3 Bxc5 $15) 13... bxa4 14. Rxf8+ Kxf8 15. Nxa4 Bd7 16. Nd2 Ne5 $15) (11. Qxc4 $6 b5 $1 12. Qd3 (12. Nxb5 $140 $2 Na5 13. Qa4 Bd7 $19) 12... O-O $17) 11... O-O 12. Bxc6 cxd4 $1 13. Rfd1 bxc6 14. Qxa7 (14. Nxc6 $2 Bd7 15. Rxd4 Bg5 $1 $17) 14... Rb7 15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. exd4 c5 $15) 7... Bd7 {Black reaches easy equality after} (7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 9. Bxc6+ Bd7 $1 10. Bxd7+ {or} (10. Be3 Bxc6 {worthy of consideration} (10... Qd6 $5 $146 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. Qxc4 Rc8 13. Qb3 Bc5 14. Bxc5 Rxc5 15. Rd1 Qc6 16. O-O O-O $11) 11. Qxc6+ bxc6 12. Bxd4 Nd5 13. Rc1 {Sokolin-Kaidanov, New York 1997 Black should have played} c5 $1 $146 14. Be5 f6 15. Bf4 Kd7 16. O-O Be7 $15) 10... Qxd7 11. Qxc4 Rc8 12. Qb3 {inferior square} (12. Qf4 $6 Bd6 13. Qf3 {Panjer-Ilinca Ilinca, Benidorm 2022. A nice improvement would be} Be5 $146 14. O-O O-O 15. Bf4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qd5 $1 $15) 12... Bc5 13. O-O O-O (13... Qc6 $5 {deserves attention as well}) 14. Bg5 {main move. I also examined} (14. Bf4 Rfd8 15. Rad1 Qc6 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 $11 {Keil-Gebigke, Berlin 2003}) 14... Qc6 15. Rac1 Ne4 $1 16. Nxe4 Qxe4 17. Rxc5 Rxc5 18. Be7 {Klyszcz-Moench, Wiesbaden 2013 and now the most precise would be} Rfc8 $146 19. Bxc5 Rxc5 $11) 8. Qxc4 (8. dxc5 $6 {happeened in two games. In both cases Black missed strong} Nd4 $1 $146 9. Qd1 Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 Bxc5 11. O-O O-O 12. Bxb7 Rb8 13. Bf3 h6 {I would prefer Black position.}) 8... b5 9. Qd3 {Black b5-pawn is untouchable} (9. Nxb5 $2 Na5 10. Qa4 (10. Qd3 c4 $19) 10... a6 $19) (9. Qxb5 $2 Nb4 $19) 9... c4 10. Qc2 Be7 11. O-O ({I checked also} 11. a3 Qb6 12. Be3 Nd5 $13) 11... b4 12. Ne4 Rc8 $1 13. Bf4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 O-O 15. Rac1 Na5 16. Ne5 Be8 17. h4 f6 18. Nf3 Bf7 19. Rfd1 Qb6 $15 {Ax-Radloff, GER email 2011} * [Event "N2026_0517D1"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.17"] [Round "1.1"] [Board "1"] [White "1) 5.e4 b5"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "40"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,40,25,13,27,-9,-12,-6,6,12,52,45,83,73,73,70,70,47,55,64,46,43,40,45,72,68,79,60,47,54,50,44,51,43,48,36,33,22,66,65,57,58,66] N2026_0517D1} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 {[#]} {N2026_0517D1} 5. e4 b5 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) {N2026_0517D1} 7... Nb6 {[%mdl 1] The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} 8. Be2 (8. Be3 Nc6 9. a3 (9. Be2 {will be covered through 8.Be2 move order}) (9. Nc3 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O {once again covered through 8.Be2 move order}) 9... Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Be2 {White also tried} (11. Qc2 Ne7 $5 12. Nd2 Nf5 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. Qa4+ c6 17. O-O {Kuzubov-Pichot, Linares 2022 I like the following improvement for Black} Bc5 $146 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Rad1 Qf4 $1 $11) 11... Na5 {I would like to suggest another ideas as well} (11... Ne7 $5 12. O-O Nf5 13. b3 {second game here featured} (13. Qc1 Be7 14. Rd1 O-O 15. d5 Nxe3 16. dxe6 {Santos Latasa-Yuffa, Linares 2022} Qc6 $1 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. fxe3 (18. Qxe3 Raf8 $36) 18... Raf8 $44) 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3 {Koelle-Zelcic, Terme Catez 2022 now accurate} Bc6 $146 15. Rfc1 Be7 $11 {would lead to reliable position for Black.}) 12. h4 (12. Qc2 Be7 {see 8.Be2 move order}) 12... f5 $1 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Bf3 {Maltsevskaya-Kostenko, Cheliabinsk 2022} f5 $146 16. O-O Bd6 $15) (8. a4 Qd7 $1 9. Be2 {I checked also} (9. Na3 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxa3 {worth considering} (10... Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxa4 {after} 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O Qb4 $1 14. Qc3 O-O 15. Nxc4 Nd5 $11) 11. Rxa3 a5 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 {Vachier Lagrave-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021 I like the following improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rh4 f5 $1 $13) 9... Nc6 10. O-O {another line} (10. Be3 Bb7 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 Bb4 13. Nc3 O-O $15 {Aditya-Pranav, chess24. com 2022}) 10... Na5 11. Ng5 {worse option for White} (11. Ra2 $6 Bb7 12. Qc2 a6 13. Nc3 {Grozdanovic-Djukic, Novi Banovci 2023 and now} Qc6 $1 $146 14. Rd1 Bb4 {would secure better position for Black.}) 11... h6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Nd5 $1 15. Ra3 a6 16. Nd4 Ne7 17. Qd2 {Carlsen-Nakamura, chess24.com 2020 and now the logical improvement would be} O-O-O $1 $146 {with the following illustrative line} 18. Qxa5 Qxd4 19. Bf3 Nc6 $1 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxa6+ Bb7 22. Qb5 Qd5 $1 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Qa5 Rhg8 $11) (8. a3 Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Nc6 {transpose to 8.Be3}) (8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15) 8... Nc6 9. O-O {I examined four alternatives here:} ({The main alternative is} 9. Be3 Be7 10. a3 {other important moves:} (10. h4 $5 {played twice by Gukesh} Bb7 11. h5 Qd7 12. Nc3 {Gukesh-Abdusattorov, Warsaw 2021 Black play can be improved by means of} O-O-O $1 $146 13. Qd2 Kb8 14. Kf1 f5 $1 $15) (10. O-O {covered through 10.Be3}) 10... Bb7 11. Qc2 {the main move. In case of} (11. Nc3 Na5 {White has nothing better than} 12. Qc2 Qd7 {which takes us back to 11.Qc2}) 11... Qd7 12. Nc3 {one game saw} (12. Rd1 $6 {Rustemov-Xiong, Chess. com 2022 this allowed tactical solution} Nxe5 $1 $146 13. Nxe5 {or} (13. Nxc7+ Qxc7 14. dxe5 Rc8 $15) 13... Qxb5 14. O-O O-O 15. Nxc4 Qc6 $15) 12... Na5 13. Rd1 {other possibilitites:} (13. O-O {happened in three games. I don't see the reason to refrain from natural} O-O $146 14. Nd2 Rab8 $13 {with complex game.}) (13. h4 {is well met by} f5 $1 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Rd1 O-O-O 16. Bf4 {Maghsoodloo-Pichot, Chess.com 2023 Black could have played} ({Much worse} 16. Ne4 $6 {In the game Unuk-Guichard, Petrovac 2023 Black missed fantastic} Qa4 $1 $146 17. Qb1 Nd5 $17) 16... h5 $1 $146 17. O-O Rdg8 $36 18. Bg3 Bd6 $15) 13... f5 $5 14. exf6 {only one game featured} (14. h4 $6 O-O 15. Rg1 Rad8 $17 {Gajewski-Kollars, Legnica 2021}) 14... gxf6 15. O-O ({Once again} 15. Ne4 {met by} Qa4 $1 16. Qxa4+ $2 {better would have been} (16. Qb1 O-O-O $15) 16... Nxa4 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 {Ostlund-Crevatin, Stockholm 2022 and now the most precise would be} Bd5 $1 $146) 15... O-O-O 16. Nd2 {not working for White} (16. d5 $2 exd5 17. Nd4 {Gunina-Kosteniuk, Almaty 2022} Rhg8 $17) 16... f5 17. Bf3 Rhg8 18. g3 {White best try} (18. Kh1 {Koelle-Murphy, Arandjelovac 2022} Bxf3 $146 19. Nxf3 Bf6 $13) (18. Bxb7+ Kxb7 19. Nf3 $6 {stronger would be} (19. b4 $1 $146 cxb3 20. Nxb3 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 Qc6 $13) 19... Qc6 20. Qe2 Nb3 $15 {Martirosyan-Martin Duque, La Roda 2022}) 18... Bd6 19. Bxb7+ Kxb7 20. Nf3 {another game here continued: Harsha-Girel, Rochefort 2023 Black should have just played} (20. Rfe1 {Lazavik-Azarov, Cheliabinsk 2021 an immediate improvement might be} Rdf8 $146 21. f4 Qc6 $13) 20... Nb3 $1 $146 {with the following nice point} 21. d5 e5 22. Qe2 c5 $1 23. dxc6+ Qxc6 $13) ({Interesting idea} 9. h4 Bb7 10. Rh3 $1 {no problems for Black} (10. h5 Qd7 11. Be3 {Gunina-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022 a natural improvement would be} Bb4+ $1 $146 12. Nc3 (12. Kf1 Ne7 $15) 12... Ne7 13. Qc2 h6 {and now it's transposed to one game} 14. Rd1 Nf5 $15 {Makarian-Seo, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Bb4+ ({deserves attention} 10... Qd7 $5) 11. Kf1 Qd7 12. a3 Be7 13. Nc3 {Krysa-Mareco, Tornelo INT 2021 I like the new} O-O-O $146 14. Be3 f5 $1 15. exf6 Bxf6 $132) (9. Bg5 Be7 10. Qd2 $6 {Sarana-Tomashevsky, Satka 2018 and now simple} Bxg5 $146 11. Qxg5 Qxg5 12. Nxg5 Ke7 $1 13. Nxc7 Rb8 14. Nf3 a6 $15) (9. a3 Be7 10. Be3 {see 9.Be3}) 9... Be7 10. Qd2 {This will be our main continuation. I will examine 5 alternatives as well:} (10. Be3 O-O 11. Nc3 {other options:} (11. Qc2 Nb4 12. Qe4 (12. Qc1 Bb7 $11) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Nc3 Qxe4 14. Nxe4 {Wichmann-Poetsch, Leipzig 2018 and now my minor improvement would be} a5 $5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba6 16. a3 {or} (16. Nfd2 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 (17. Rc2 h6 $13) 17... cxd3 18. Rxc7 Nd5 19. Rcc1 Rfb8 $44 {with excellent compensation.}) 16... N4d5 17. Rc2 Rfb8 18. Nfd2 Ra7 $1 $13) (11. Qc1 Bb7 {an interesting alternative could be} (11... Nb4 $5 12. Nc3 (12. Rd1 {another important line} Bb7 {see 11...Bb7}) 12... a5 $5 13. Rd1 Ba6 14. a3 N4d5 15. Nxd5 $6 {Mishra-Velten, Budapest 2021 and now the right recapture would have been} exd5 $1 $146 16. h3 Bc8 17. Qc2 a4 18. Nh2 Be6 $15) 12. Rd1 ({In case of} 12. Nc3 Nb4 13. Rd1 Rb8 {see via 11. Nc3 move roder}) ({Black main idea can be seen from the following line} 12. Bxc4 a6 $1 13. Na3 Nxc4 14. Nxc4 {or} (14. Qxc4 Nb4 15. Qe2 a5 16. Nc4 Qd7 $44) 14... Qd5 $1 15. Rd1 h6 $44) 12... Nb4 13. a3 {after} (13. Na3 {runs into} Nd3 14. Bxd3 Bxf3 $1 15. gxf3 cxd3 16. Rxd3 c5 17. Nc4 $6 Qd5 $1 18. Nxb6 axb6 $36 {Hardarson-Ivic, Reykjavik 2021}) (13. Ne1 N4d5 14. Bxc4 Nxe3 15. fxe3 Bg5 16. b3 {two games arrived to this position. I suggest the following new idea} Nxc4 $146 17. bxc4 f6 $1 $44 {easier play for Black.}) 13... N4d5 14. Nc3 (14. Bxc4 $2 Nxe3 15. fxe3 a6 $19) 14... Rb8 15. Nxd5 {clearly worse for White} (15. Nd2 $2 Nxe3 16. fxe3 c5 $1 $36 17. Nxc4 $140 Nxc4 18. Bxc4 cxd4 19. exd4 Bg5 $1 20. Qc2 Be3+ 21. Kh1 Qh4 $19 {Zadruzny-Ochsner, Kragero 2022}) 15... Qxd5 16. Bf1 {Sturt-Park, Budapest 2022 a simple} Bc6 $146 17. Nd2 Rfc8 $11 {would lead to balanced game.}) 11... Rb8 12. a3 {I examined White other possibilities:} (12. Qc1 Nb4 13. Rd1 {another line here} (13. Nd2 Ba6 14. b3 (14. Re1 $6 Nd3 $1 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Nce4 Nd5 17. a3 Bb7 $15 {Mendonca-Stoyanov, Kavala 2021}) 14... cxb3 15. Bxa6 b2 $1 16. Qxb2 Nxa6 17. Nb3 Nd5 18. Ne4 {Lombaers-Rakotomaharo, Belgium 2022 and now I like} Qe8 $146 {with equal play.}) 13... Bb7 14. Nd2 (14. a3 N4d5 {covered via 13. a3}) (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 a6 16. Nd2 N6d5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. Bf3 {Real de Azua-Flores, Buenos Aires 2017 and now natural} Qd7 $146 19. Ne4 Rfd8 {with comfortable play for Black.}) 14... Qe8 {very similar to 14...Qd7, I like the idea just be away from d-file just in case} 15. a3 {other moves:} (15. Nde4 N6d5 16. Nxd5 {Now I really like to recapture with bishop} (16. Bxc4 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bxe4 18. cxb4 Bxb4 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Qd7 $11 {Dessaules-Van Habberney, ICCF email 2018}) 16... Bxd5 $146 17. f3 {or} (17. Nc3 Bb7 18. Bf1 (18. Bxc4 {see 15. Nxc4}) 18... Qc6 19. b3 cxb3 20. axb3 a6 21. Qd2 Rfd8 {with complex but balanced play.}) 17... Qb5 18. Kh1 a5 19. b3 Qc6 $1 20. Bxc4 {or} (20. bxc4 Bxe4 21. fxe4 Qxe4 22. Bf3 Qf5 $1 23. Rd2 c5 $132) 20... a4 $44) ({The main idea can be seen from the folowng line} 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 Bxg2 $1 17. a3 {critical continuation} (17. Kxg2 $6 Qc6+ 18. d5 $6 (18. Kg1 $142 Qxc4 $15) 18... Qxc4 19. Rd4 Qa6 20. a3 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Qxc7 Qe6 $36 {Brynell-Ochsner, Germany 2022}) 17... Bd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Qxc7 f5 $11) 15... Nd3 16. Qc2 f5 $1 17. exf6 Qg6 $1 {the point} 18. Bf1 Rxf6 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Qxd3 Nxe3 21. Qxg6 $2 (21. Qxe3 $142 Rbf8 $44) 21... Rxg6 22. fxe3 Bxg2 $1 $19 {Rasmussen-Ochsner, Denmark 2022}) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. Qb1 {only one game saw} (14. Qd2 {Stefansson-Royal, Nova Gorica 2022 I like here} a5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba8 $13 {with complicated middlegame.}) 14... a5 15. Rd1 {Nguyen-Hassemeier, Pardubice 2022 an important improvement here} (15. Qe4 {happened in Aditya-Indjic, Tashkent 2022} Nb4 $146 16. Qg4 Kh8 17. Rxa5 N6d5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bc4 c5 20. Ra4 Nc2 $44) 15... Nb4 $146 16. Rxa5 {another line} (16. Ne4 h6 $1 17. Rxa5 Ra8 $1 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. Nc5 Bd5 $44) 16... N6d5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Bc4 Qd7 $44) (12. Rc1 Bb7 13. Na4 {I would like to mention also} (13. Qc2 $6 Nb4 14. Qb1 {occured in two games} Bxf3 $1 {looks like a nice improvement upon Black play} 15. Bxf3 (15. gxf3 f5 $1 16. exf6 Rxf6 $36) 15... Nd3 16. Rcd1 c5 17. Be4 (17. dxc5 Nd7 $15) 17... cxd4 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 Nc4 {interesting to check} (19... dxe3 $5 20. Rxd8 exf2+ 21. Rxf2 Rfxd8 $44) 20. Rxd4 Qc7 21. Bc1 Rfd8 $11) (13. Qd2 Nb4 14. Rfd1 {another example here} (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 {Sarana-Alekseenko, Yaroslavl 2019} N4d5 $15) 14... Qd7 15. Bg5 Bxf3 $1 16. Bxe7 ({bettwe would have been} 16. gxf3 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 f5 $1 $15) (16. Bxf3 $2 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 Nd3 $17) 16... Qxe7 17. Bxf3 Nd3 18. Rb1 {Andreikin-Nakamura, Chess.com 2023} c5 $1 $15) 13... Na5 {interesting to check} (13... Nb4 $5 14. Nxb6 cxb6 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bb3 a5 $44) 14. Nc5 (14. Bd2 {Gharibyan-Bjerre, Porto Carras 2018 I would recommend} Nc6 $146 {and it seems like White has nothing better than} 15. Be3 {with repetition}) (14. Nxb6 $6 cxb6 15. Nd2 b5 $15 {Sharavdorj-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 14... Bxc5 15. dxc5 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 {Checa-Tabatabaei, Chess.com 2020 a very strong improvement} Na4 $1 $146 17. Bd2 Nc6 18. Bc3 Rfd8 $1 19. Bxc4 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Na5 21. Be2 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Nc4 $15) (12. Qc2 Nb4 13. Qd2 {Mamedyarov-Firouzja, Zagreb 2022 a natural improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rfd1 Ba8 $13) 12... Na5 13. Qc2 Nd5 {a good alternative} (13... Bb7 $5 {for example} 14. Rad1 Qd7 15. Rfe1 h6 16. Nd2 {Assaubayeva-Svane, chess24.com 2022 and now} Rfd8 $146 17. h3 Ba8 $13 {with complex game.}) 14. Rad1 Ba6 15. Bd2 Nb3 16. Ne4 Nxd2 17. Rxd2 (17. Nfxd2 {would run into} c3 $1 18. Bxa6 Rxb2 19. Qc1 Rb6 $1 20. Be2 cxd2 21. Rxd2 Qd7 $11) 17... Rb3 $146 {the game has continued} (17... Nf4 $5 18. Bxc4 Rxb2 {the point} 19. Qxb2 Bxc4 20. Rc1 Bd5 $44 {with interesting compensation Radjabov-Firouzja, Madrid 2022:} (20... Nd3 $5 21. Rxd3 Bxd3 22. Nc5 Bf5 $13)) 18. Bxc4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qb8 20. Qc2 Qb7 21. Ne1 Nf4 22. h4 {or} (22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 g5 $1 24. c6 Qb5 $44) 22... Rb8 23. g3 Nd5 24. Nd3 Ne3 $1 25. fxe3 Qxe4 26. Re1 g5 $1 $132) (10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be3 {see 10.Be3} (11. Qd2 Bb7 {see 10.Qd2 11.Nc3 line}) (11. b3 $6 cxb3 12. axb3 Bb7 13. Be3 Nb4 14. Qd2 a5 15. Rfd1 N6d5 $15 {Seel-Shimanov, Chess.com 2021})) (10. Qc2 a6 11. Nc3 {I also checked} (11. Na3 Bxa3 12. bxa3 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 (14. Bb2 Qc5 15. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) 14... Qxe5 15. Bf3 Rb8 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Bc5 Qg5 $1 18. Bxb6 (18. Bb4 a5 $1 $15) 18... Rxb6 19. Qxc4 Qe7 20. Rac1 $11) 11... Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bf3 Rb8 14. Qe2 $6 Qd3 $1 15. Qe1 Bb7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. Be3 O-O 18. Rd1 Qf5 $17 {Aronian-Maghsoodloo, Kolkata 2021}) (10. a3 $5 {Two games reached this position} Bb7 $146 11. Be3 Na5 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Rad1 {one game featured} (13. Rac1 {Rustemov-Kosteniuk, Chess.com 2022} Qd7 $146 14. Nc3 Nb3 15. Rcd1 Qc6 $13) 13... Qd7 14. Nc3 Qc6 15. Ne1 (15. Rfe1 Rfd8 16. Bf1 {Anton Guijarro-Del Rio de Angelis, Linares 2015 Black should have played} Nb3 $146 17. Bg5 Qe8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 $13) 15... Rab8 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Bd2 Rfb8 $11 {Narayanan-Bartel, El Prat de Llobregat 2019}) (10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 O-O 13. Qd2 {another line} (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc1 {Pogorelov-Abdusattorov, Castelldefels 2021 now simple} Rfd8 $146 15. Rd1 h6 $15) 13... a6 14. Nc3 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 Qe7 16. Rfa1 Qb4 $1 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Rozum, Kazan 2018}) 10... Bb7 (10... O-O 11. Rd1 {scores amazingly for White on practice.}) 11. Qf4 {Two alternatives are:} (11. Rd1 Qd7 {here I checked five continuations:} 12. Nc3 (12. Qf4 g5 $5 {more aggressive than} (12... Nb4 13. Nc3 {see 12.Nc3}) 13. Qg3 {dangeorus for White to accept pawn sacrifice} (13. Nxg5 $6 Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Ne7 15. d5 Nbxd5 {one good example here} 16. a4 Rg8 17. Qd2 a6 18. Nd4 O-O-O 19. f3 Ng6 20. Bxc4 c5 21. Nc2 $2 Nh4 $19 {Erdos-Xiong, Saint Louis 2019}) 13... O-O-O 14. b3 (14. d5 $5 {happened in Dubov-Matlakov, St Petersburg 2018 after correct} Nxd5 $146 15. Bxc4 Rhg8 $13 {with double-edged play.}) 14... cxb3 15. axb3 Nd5 16. Bd2 Kb8 17. Ra4 $2 {Maerevoet-Tilicheev, Primorsko 2021} ({Better for White would have been} 17. Nc3 Rhg8 $13) 17... Rhg8 $17 18. Nc3 g4 19. Ne1 Nb6 $17) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Nb4 14. Nc3 O-O 15. Bb2 {other move are less impressive:} (15. Qb2 $6 {Zhang-Sethuraman, Tianjin 2020} Rfb8 $15) (15. Qf4 $2 N4d5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qd2 Bb4 18. Qc2 Nc3 19. Ng5 Nxe2+ 20. Qxe2 {Siddharth-Ibrahimli, Chess.com 2022 Black missed powerful} Qd5 $1 $146 21. f3 Qxb3 $17) 15... a5 16. Rac1 Rfc8 $15 {Urkedal-Hillarp Persson, Fagernes 2021} (16... Rfb8 $5)) (12. a4 Nb4 13. Na3 $6 {Bu-Xiong, chess24. com 2020 I don't see the reason to refrain from} ({A better idea for White would be} 13. Qf4 {here I checked the following line} O-O 14. Qg4 Kh8 $1 15. Na3 Qxa4 $1 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Nxc4 Nxc4 19. Bxc4 h6 $15 {with comfortable position for Black.}) 13... Qxa4 $146 {for instance} 14. Qf4 Nc2 15. Nxc2 Qxc2 16. Bd2 O-O $17) (12. Na3 $6 Bxa3 13. bxa3 Ne7 $1 14. Qc2 {Novikov-Papp, Germany 2022 and now simple} O-O $15 {would give Black excellent position.}) 12... Nb4 13. Qf4 {other moves} (13. a3 N4d5 {Very interesting idea could be} (13... a5 $146 {unfortunately White has very powerful} 14. b3 $1 {Black idea works really well after} (14. axb4 axb4 15. Rxa8+ Bxa8 16. Nb1 Be4 $1 $15) 14... cxb3 15. axb4 axb4 16. Rxa8+ Bxa8 17. Bb5 Bc6 $1 (17... c6 $2 18. Na4 $18) 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. Ne2 O-O $14 {although I am not sure it's objectively sufficient for Black.}) 14. Ne4 Qc6 15. Re1 {Two games reached this position. I have a new idea here} (15. Qc2 {here Black has} Nb4 $1 16. axb4 Qxe4 17. Qxe4 Bxe4 18. b5 {Ding-Praggnanandhaa, chess24. com 2021 here I like} Bc2 $5 $146 19. Re1 O-O 20. Bd2 Ba4 21. Bxc4 Nxc4 22. Rxa4 Nxd2 23. Nxd2 Rfb8 24. Rea1 Rxb5 25. Rxa7 Rxa7 26. Rxa7 Rxb2 27. Nf1 Rc2 $11) 15... h6 $5 $146 16. Bf1 (16. Ng3 $2 g5) (16. Qc2 {allows} Nb4 $1) 16... O-O 17. Qc2 Rab8 18. Bd2 Rfd8 19. Qc1 (19. Rac1 Qb5 $1) 19... Bf8 {with very complex play.}) (13. b3 cxb3 14. axb3 {see 12.b3}) 13... f5 $1 14. exf6 {the main continuation. Other moves} (14. h4 O-O-O 15. b3 {Obsivac-Mica, Olomouc 2022 I found a remarkable novelty here} g5 $3 $146 16. hxg5 {or} (16. Nxg5 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 cxd3 18. Rxd3 Bb4 19. Bd2 Rhg8 $40) 16... N4d5 17. Qd2 Bb4 18. Bb2 cxb3 19. axb3 a5 20. Qc2 h6 $40) (14. Qg3 {featured in Ding-Caruana, Saint Louis 2019 once again Black missed a remarkable} g5 $1 $146 15. Nxg5 {or} (15. b3 g4 16. Ne1 cxb3 17. axb3 h5 $15) 15... O-O-O 16. Bf3 N6d5 $44) 14... gxf6 15. Qh6 {White other options:} ({Very interesting} 15. d5 $5 {Li-Narayanan, Changsha 2019 Black should have played} N4xd5 $1 $146 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. b3 $1 e5 18. Qh4 Qe6 $1 19. bxc4 Bxc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Qh5+ Qf7 22. Qh3 Rd8 ({a bit dangeorus} 22... O-O 23. Bh6 Rfd8 24. Nh4 $44) 23. Rxd8+ Kxd8 24. Be3 Bd6 $44 {White definitely has compensation, but Black is pretty solid.}) (15. b3 {Cheparinov-Moiseenko, chess24.com 2020 Black had to play} N4d5 $146 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qh6 O-O-O 18. Bxc4 (18. bxc4 $2 Nc3 $17) 18... Rhg8 {with double-edged play.}) (15. Qg4 $6 O-O-O 16. Bf4 h5 17. Qh3 {Borhy-Brkic, Mali Losinj 2021 Black had a very nice idea} Nd3 $146 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 $140 $2 e5 $19) 15... O-O-O 16. Bf4 Rdg8 {I prefer this move to} (16... Nd3 17. Bg3 $1 Nxb2 18. Rdc1 N2a4 19. Rab1 Nxc3 20. Rxc3 Qc6 21. Bf1 $44 {Pelletier-Praggnanandhaa, Chennai 2022}) 17. Bg3 {Dreev-Sjugirov, Chess. com 2022 Black should have played} Rg6 $146 {here I checked two variations} 18. Qd2 {or} (18. Qh5 f5 19. Ne5 {or} (19. b3 Bf6 $1 20. Ne5 Qg7 21. Bf3 Ba6 $1 22. Bf4 Nd3 23. Nxd3 cxd3 24. Rac1 Bg5 25. Be5 Bf6 $11) 19... Qe8 $1 20. a3 (20. Rd2 $6 f4 21. Bxf4 Rxg2+ 22. Kf1 Rg7 $15) 20... N4d5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Bf3 Qf8 $1 23. Nxg6 hxg6 24. Qxg6 Rh6 $19) 18... h5 19. d5 $1 {critical} Rg7 $1 {this is stronger than} (19... N4xd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Nh4 Rg5 22. b3 cxb3 23. axb3 $44) 20. b3 {or} (20. dxe6 Qxd2 21. Rxd2 h4 22. Bf4 Rhg8 23. g3 hxg3 24. fxg3 Bc5+ 25. Kf1 Nd3 $36) 20... exd5 21. bxc4 d4 $1 22. Qf4 (22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. Nxd4 h4 24. Nf5 hxg3 25. Nxg7 Rg8 $1 26. Bg4+ Kb8 27. Nf5 Bc5 28. h3 gxf2+ 29. Kf1 Nxc4 $44) 22... d3 23. Bxd3 Bd6 $1 24. Qf5 Nxd3 25. Qxd3 Bxg3 26. hxg3 Qxd3 27. Rxd3 Nxc4 $11) (11. Nc3 O-O 12. Rd1 {another line} (12. Qf4 Nb4 13. Qg4 {another game featured} (13. Rd1 f5 $1 14. Qg3 Qe8 15. b3 {another game here saw} (15. h4 Nc2 (15... N4d5 $5 {worth considering}) 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 $1 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Nxd4 21. Rxd4 (21. Bf1 $5 c5 $11) 21... Rxd4 22. Nxe6 Rxh4 23. Nxf8 Kxf8 $15 {Garriga Cazorla-Sosa, Castelldefels 2021}) 15... Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Kf7 20. Bxe7 Kxe7 21. Rbc1 Bxf3 22. Rxc2 (22. Bxf3 $2 Nxd4 $17) 22... cxb3 23. axb3 Bxe2 24. Nxe2 Nd5 25. h4 Rb8 $11 {Goreczny-Chumanov, LSS email 2019}) 13... Kh8 14. Rd1 {five game arrived to this position. I would like to recommend a new idea} Qe8 $5 $146 15. Bf4 {another direction here} (15. Qh3 Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 f6 19. Be3 Nxe3 20. Qxe3 Qg6 21. Bf1 Rf7 $13) 15... Rb8 16. Rac1 Ba8 17. h4 a5 ({a good alternative would be} 17... N4d5 $5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxc4 Rxb2 20. Ng5 c5 $132) 18. Nd2 Nd3 $1 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Nde4 Na4 $1 21. Rxd3 Nxc3 22. Nxc3 Rxb2 23. d5 (23. Rg3 Rg8 $13) 23... Rb4 $1 24. Qg3 Qd7 25. d6 cxd6 26. exd6 Bd8 $13) 12... Nb4 13. a3 (13. Qf4 {see 13. Rd1}) 13... a5 $1 $146 {this time it looks working well for Black. The game continued} (13... N4d5 14. Ne4 $14 {Narayanan-Erenberg, Sitges 2019}) 14. Re1 ({after} 14. Qf4 {Black has} N4d5 15. Qg4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Kh8 17. Ng5 Rb8 18. Qh5 $140 $6 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Qd5 20. Bf3 Qb5 $15) 14... Nd3 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Qxd3 c5 17. Be3 Rb8 $44) 11... a6 ({A very popular move} 11... Qd7 {unfortunately runs into} 12. d5 $1 $146 Nxd5 (12... exd5 13. e6 $18) 13. Qxc4 $14 {with White retaining better pawnstructure.}) 12. Nc3 g5 $1 {[#]} 13. Nxg5 {I checked also} (13. Qg3 $146 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Bxg5 (15. Rd1 $6 Qh4 16. Qe3 Nd5 $15) 15... Rg8 16. Rfd1 Qxd1+ $1 17. Rxd1 Rxg5 18. Qe3 Rxg2+ 19. Kf1 Rxh2 20. Ke1 Nd7 $44) 13... Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Qxg5 15. Bxg5 Nxd4 {[#]} 16. f4 {other move White has tried} (16. f3 Rg8 17. h4 Nd7 $1 18. Rad1 Nxe2+ 19. Nxe2 Nxe5 20. Kh2 {Aleksandrov-Esipenko, Minsk 2019} Nd7 $1 $146 {looks like a nice improvement} 21. Nf4 e5 22. Nd5 (22. Nh5 Rg6 $15) 22... Bxd5 23. Rxd5 f6 24. Be3 O-O-O 25. Rc1 e4 $5 26. f4 Nb6 27. Rxd8+ Kxd8 28. Bxb6 cxb6 29. Rxc4 f5 $11) (16. Bh4 Rg8 $1 17. f3 Nd5 18. Kf2 $2 {the only move maintaining equality: Zoler-Zanan, Israel 2022} ({the only move maintaining equality} 18. Rae1 $1) 18... Nxc3 19. bxc3 Nxe2 20. Kxe2 Rxg2+ 21. Rf2 Rg6 $17) 16... Nxe2+ $146 {this is more accurate than} (16... Rg8 {Erenberg-Kasimdzhanov, Douglas 2019} 17. Rf2 $1 $14) 17. Nxe2 h6 18. Bh4 a5 19. Nc3 a4 20. a3 Nd5 $11 * [Event "FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss"] [Site "Douglas"] [Date "2019.10.10"] [Round "1"] [White "Erenberg, Ariel"] [Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Llanos,Guillermo"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "2463"] [BlackElo "2657"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "59"] [GameId "2310851370604795"] [EventDate "2019.10.10"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "IOM"] [SourceTitle "CBM 193"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2019.12.31"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.12.31"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,59,19,25,29,-10,-8,4,6,14,64,50,87,69,56,59,53,49,62,49,49,19,44,61,61,57,70,62,59,46,42,58,65,48,84,30,117,86,58,58,77,72,61,52,65,52,82,65,76,62,53,52,57,56,19,19,11,19,14,17,9,0]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nxb5 Nb6 8. Be2 Be7 9. O-O Nc6 10. Qd2 Bb7 11. Qf4 a6 12. Nc3 g5 13. Nxg5 Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Qxg5 15. Bxg5 Nxd4 16. f4 Rg8 (16... Nxe2+ $11) 17. g3 (17. Rf2 $16) 17... a5 18. Kf2 a4 19. a3 c5 20. Rad1 Bc6 21. Rd2 Rb8 22. Rfd1 Bd5 23. h4 Rb7 24. h5 Kd7 25. h6 Kc6 26. Bh5 Nb3 27. Re2 Nd4 28. Red2 Nb3 29. Re2 Nd4 30. Red2 1/2-1/2 [Event "?N2026??0518L?"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.18"] [Round "1.1"] [Board "1"] [White "1) 5.e4 b5 (8.Be2)"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "40"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,40,22,22,28,12,12,12,12,15,56,50,59,55,52,52,45,45,45,46,45,54,57,61,58,64,87,60,69,66,45,50,25,56,33,39,46,38,79,52,54,42,77] ??N2026??0518L??} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 {[#]} {N2026_0517D1} 5. e4 b5 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) {N2026_0517D1} 7... Nb6 {[%mdl 1] The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} 8. Be2 (8. Be3 Nc6 9. a3 (9. Be2 {will be covered through 8.Be2 move order}) (9. Nc3 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O {once again covered through 8.Be2 move order}) 9... Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Be2 {White also tried} (11. Qc2 Ne7 $5 12. Nd2 Nf5 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. Qa4+ c6 17. O-O {Kuzubov-Pichot, Linares 2022 I like the following improvement for Black} Bc5 $146 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Rad1 Qf4 $1 $11) 11... Na5 {I would like to suggest another ideas as well} (11... Ne7 $5 12. O-O Nf5 13. b3 {second game here featured} (13. Qc1 Be7 14. Rd1 O-O 15. d5 Nxe3 16. dxe6 {Santos Latasa-Yuffa, Linares 2022} Qc6 $1 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. fxe3 (18. Qxe3 Raf8 $36) 18... Raf8 $44) 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3 {Koelle-Zelcic, Terme Catez 2022 now accurate} Bc6 $146 15. Rfc1 Be7 $11 {would lead to reliable position for Black.}) 12. h4 (12. Qc2 Be7 {see 8.Be2 move order}) 12... f5 $1 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Bf3 {Maltsevskaya-Kostenko, Cheliabinsk 2022} f5 $146 16. O-O Bd6 $15) (8. a4 Qd7 $1 9. Be2 {I checked also} (9. Na3 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxa3 {worth considering} (10... Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxa4 {after} 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O Qb4 $1 14. Qc3 O-O 15. Nxc4 Nd5 $11) 11. Rxa3 a5 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 {Vachier Lagrave-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021 I like the following improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rh4 f5 $1 $13) 9... Nc6 10. O-O {another line} (10. Be3 Bb7 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 Bb4 13. Nc3 O-O $15 {Aditya-Pranav, chess24. com 2022}) 10... Na5 11. Ng5 {worse option for White} (11. Ra2 $6 Bb7 12. Qc2 a6 13. Nc3 {Grozdanovic-Djukic, Novi Banovci 2023 and now} Qc6 $1 $146 14. Rd1 Bb4 {would secure better position for Black.}) 11... h6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Nd5 $1 15. Ra3 a6 16. Nd4 Ne7 17. Qd2 {Carlsen-Nakamura, chess24.com 2020 and now the logical improvement would be} O-O-O $1 $146 {with the following illustrative line} 18. Qxa5 Qxd4 19. Bf3 Nc6 $1 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxa6+ Bb7 22. Qb5 Qd5 $1 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Qa5 Rhg8 $11) (8. a3 Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Nc6 {transpose to 8.Be3}) (8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15) 8... Nc6 9. O-O {I examined four alternatives here:} ({The main alternative is} 9. Be3 Be7 10. a3 {other important moves:} (10. h4 $5 {played twice by Gukesh} Bb7 11. h5 Qd7 12. Nc3 {Gukesh-Abdusattorov, Warsaw 2021 Black play can be improved by means of} O-O-O $1 $146 13. Qd2 Kb8 14. Kf1 f5 $1 $15) (10. O-O {covered through 10.Be3}) 10... Bb7 11. Qc2 {the main move. In case of} (11. Nc3 Na5 {White has nothing better than} 12. Qc2 Qd7 {which takes us back to 11.Qc2}) 11... Qd7 12. Nc3 {one game saw} (12. Rd1 $6 {Rustemov-Xiong, Chess. com 2022 this allowed tactical solution} Nxe5 $1 $146 13. Nxe5 {or} (13. Nxc7+ Qxc7 14. dxe5 Rc8 $15) 13... Qxb5 14. O-O O-O 15. Nxc4 Qc6 $15) 12... Na5 13. Rd1 {other possibilitites:} (13. O-O {happened in three games. I don't see the reason to refrain from natural} O-O $146 14. Nd2 Rab8 $13 {with complex game.}) (13. h4 {is well met by} f5 $1 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Rd1 O-O-O 16. Bf4 {Maghsoodloo-Pichot, Chess.com 2023 Black could have played} ({Much worse} 16. Ne4 $6 {In the game Unuk-Guichard, Petrovac 2023 Black missed fantastic} Qa4 $1 $146 17. Qb1 Nd5 $17) 16... h5 $1 $146 17. O-O Rdg8 $36 18. Bg3 Bd6 $15) 13... f5 $5 14. exf6 {only one game featured} (14. h4 $6 O-O 15. Rg1 Rad8 $17 {Gajewski-Kollars, Legnica 2021}) 14... gxf6 15. O-O ({Once again} 15. Ne4 {met by} Qa4 $1 16. Qxa4+ $2 {better would have been} (16. Qb1 O-O-O $15) 16... Nxa4 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 {Ostlund-Crevatin, Stockholm 2022 and now the most precise would be} Bd5 $1 $146) 15... O-O-O 16. Nd2 {not working for White} (16. d5 $2 exd5 17. Nd4 {Gunina-Kosteniuk, Almaty 2022} Rhg8 $17) 16... f5 17. Bf3 Rhg8 18. g3 {White best try} (18. Kh1 {Koelle-Murphy, Arandjelovac 2022} Bxf3 $146 19. Nxf3 Bf6 $13) (18. Bxb7+ Kxb7 19. Nf3 $6 {stronger would be} (19. b4 $1 $146 cxb3 20. Nxb3 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 Qc6 $13) 19... Qc6 20. Qe2 Nb3 $15 {Martirosyan-Martin Duque, La Roda 2022}) 18... Bd6 19. Bxb7+ Kxb7 20. Nf3 {another game here continued: Harsha-Girel, Rochefort 2023 Black should have just played} (20. Rfe1 {Lazavik-Azarov, Cheliabinsk 2021 an immediate improvement might be} Rdf8 $146 21. f4 Qc6 $13) 20... Nb3 $1 $146 {with the following nice point} 21. d5 e5 22. Qe2 c5 $1 23. dxc6+ Qxc6 $13) ({Interesting idea} 9. h4 Bb7 10. Rh3 $1 {no problems for Black} (10. h5 Qd7 11. Be3 {Gunina-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022 a natural improvement would be} Bb4+ $1 $146 12. Nc3 (12. Kf1 Ne7 $15) 12... Ne7 13. Qc2 h6 {and now it's transposed to one game} 14. Rd1 Nf5 $15 {Makarian-Seo, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Bb4+ ({deserves attention} 10... Qd7 $5) 11. Kf1 Qd7 12. a3 Be7 13. Nc3 {Krysa-Mareco, Tornelo INT 2021 I like the new} O-O-O $146 14. Be3 f5 $1 15. exf6 Bxf6 $132) (9. Bg5 Be7 10. Qd2 $6 {Sarana-Tomashevsky, Satka 2018 and now simple} Bxg5 $146 11. Qxg5 Qxg5 12. Nxg5 Ke7 $1 13. Nxc7 Rb8 14. Nf3 a6 $15) (9. a3 Be7 10. Be3 {see 9.Be3}) 9... Be7 10. Qd2 {This will be our main continuation. I will examine 5 alternatives as well:} (10. Be3 O-O 11. Nc3 {other options:} (11. Qc2 Nb4 12. Qe4 (12. Qc1 Bb7 $11) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Nc3 Qxe4 14. Nxe4 {Wichmann-Poetsch, Leipzig 2018 and now my minor improvement would be} a5 $5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba6 16. a3 {or} (16. Nfd2 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 (17. Rc2 h6 $13) 17... cxd3 18. Rxc7 Nd5 19. Rcc1 Rfb8 $44 {with excellent compensation.}) 16... N4d5 17. Rc2 Rfb8 18. Nfd2 Ra7 $1 $13) (11. Qc1 Bb7 {an interesting alternative could be} (11... Nb4 $5 12. Nc3 (12. Rd1 {another important line} Bb7 {see 11...Bb7}) 12... a5 $5 13. Rd1 Ba6 14. a3 N4d5 15. Nxd5 $6 {Mishra-Velten, Budapest 2021 and now the right recapture would have been} exd5 $1 $146 16. h3 Bc8 17. Qc2 a4 18. Nh2 Be6 $15) 12. Rd1 ({In case of} 12. Nc3 Nb4 13. Rd1 Rb8 {see via 11. Nc3 move roder}) ({Black main idea can be seen from the following line} 12. Bxc4 a6 $1 13. Na3 Nxc4 14. Nxc4 {or} (14. Qxc4 Nb4 15. Qe2 a5 16. Nc4 Qd7 $44) 14... Qd5 $1 15. Rd1 h6 $44) 12... Nb4 13. a3 {after} (13. Na3 {runs into} Nd3 14. Bxd3 Bxf3 $1 15. gxf3 cxd3 16. Rxd3 c5 17. Nc4 $6 Qd5 $1 18. Nxb6 axb6 $36 {Hardarson-Ivic, Reykjavik 2021}) (13. Ne1 N4d5 14. Bxc4 Nxe3 15. fxe3 Bg5 16. b3 {two games arrived to this position. I suggest the following new idea} Nxc4 $146 17. bxc4 f6 $1 $44 {easier play for Black.}) 13... N4d5 14. Nc3 (14. Bxc4 $2 Nxe3 15. fxe3 a6 $19) 14... Rb8 15. Nxd5 {clearly worse for White} (15. Nd2 $2 Nxe3 16. fxe3 c5 $1 $36 17. Nxc4 $140 Nxc4 18. Bxc4 cxd4 19. exd4 Bg5 $1 20. Qc2 Be3+ 21. Kh1 Qh4 $19 {Zadruzny-Ochsner, Kragero 2022}) 15... Qxd5 16. Bf1 {Sturt-Park, Budapest 2022 a simple} Bc6 $146 17. Nd2 Rfc8 $11 {would lead to balanced game.}) 11... Rb8 12. a3 {I examined White other possibilities:} (12. Qc1 Nb4 13. Rd1 {another line here} (13. Nd2 Ba6 14. b3 (14. Re1 $6 Nd3 $1 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Nce4 Nd5 17. a3 Bb7 $15 {Mendonca-Stoyanov, Kavala 2021}) 14... cxb3 15. Bxa6 b2 $1 16. Qxb2 Nxa6 17. Nb3 Nd5 18. Ne4 {Lombaers-Rakotomaharo, Belgium 2022 and now I like} Qe8 $146 {with equal play.}) 13... Bb7 14. Nd2 (14. a3 N4d5 {covered via 13. a3}) (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 a6 16. Nd2 N6d5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. Bf3 {Real de Azua-Flores, Buenos Aires 2017 and now natural} Qd7 $146 19. Ne4 Rfd8 {with comfortable play for Black.}) 14... Qe8 {very similar to 14...Qd7, I like the idea just be away from d-file just in case} 15. a3 {other moves:} (15. Nde4 N6d5 16. Nxd5 {Now I really like to recapture with bishop} (16. Bxc4 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bxe4 18. cxb4 Bxb4 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Qd7 $11 {Dessaules-Van Habberney, ICCF email 2018}) 16... Bxd5 $146 17. f3 {or} (17. Nc3 Bb7 18. Bf1 (18. Bxc4 {see 15. Nxc4}) 18... Qc6 19. b3 cxb3 20. axb3 a6 21. Qd2 Rfd8 {with complex but balanced play.}) 17... Qb5 18. Kh1 a5 19. b3 Qc6 $1 20. Bxc4 {or} (20. bxc4 Bxe4 21. fxe4 Qxe4 22. Bf3 Qf5 $1 23. Rd2 c5 $132) 20... a4 $44) ({The main idea can be seen from the folowng line} 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 Bxg2 $1 17. a3 {critical continuation} (17. Kxg2 $6 Qc6+ 18. d5 $6 (18. Kg1 $142 Qxc4 $15) 18... Qxc4 19. Rd4 Qa6 20. a3 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Qxc7 Qe6 $36 {Brynell-Ochsner, Germany 2022}) 17... Bd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Qxc7 f5 $11) 15... Nd3 16. Qc2 f5 $1 17. exf6 Qg6 $1 {the point} 18. Bf1 Rxf6 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Qxd3 Nxe3 21. Qxg6 $2 (21. Qxe3 $142 Rbf8 $44) 21... Rxg6 22. fxe3 Bxg2 $1 $19 {Rasmussen-Ochsner, Denmark 2022}) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. Qb1 {only one game saw} (14. Qd2 {Stefansson-Royal, Nova Gorica 2022 I like here} a5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba8 $13 {with complicated middlegame.}) 14... a5 15. Rd1 {Nguyen-Hassemeier, Pardubice 2022 an important improvement here} (15. Qe4 {happened in Aditya-Indjic, Tashkent 2022} Nb4 $146 16. Qg4 Kh8 17. Rxa5 N6d5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bc4 c5 20. Ra4 Nc2 $44) 15... Nb4 $146 16. Rxa5 {another line} (16. Ne4 h6 $1 17. Rxa5 Ra8 $1 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. Nc5 Bd5 $44) 16... N6d5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Bc4 Qd7 $44) (12. Rc1 Bb7 13. Na4 {I would like to mention also} (13. Qc2 $6 Nb4 14. Qb1 {occured in two games} Bxf3 $1 {looks like a nice improvement upon Black play} 15. Bxf3 (15. gxf3 f5 $1 16. exf6 Rxf6 $36) 15... Nd3 16. Rcd1 c5 17. Be4 (17. dxc5 Nd7 $15) 17... cxd4 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 Nc4 {interesting to check} (19... dxe3 $5 20. Rxd8 exf2+ 21. Rxf2 Rfxd8 $44) 20. Rxd4 Qc7 21. Bc1 Rfd8 $11) (13. Qd2 Nb4 14. Rfd1 {another example here} (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 {Sarana-Alekseenko, Yaroslavl 2019} N4d5 $15) 14... Qd7 15. Bg5 Bxf3 $1 16. Bxe7 ({bettwe would have been} 16. gxf3 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 f5 $1 $15) (16. Bxf3 $2 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 Nd3 $17) 16... Qxe7 17. Bxf3 Nd3 18. Rb1 {Andreikin-Nakamura, Chess.com 2023} c5 $1 $15) 13... Na5 {interesting to check} (13... Nb4 $5 14. Nxb6 cxb6 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bb3 a5 $44) 14. Nc5 (14. Bd2 {Gharibyan-Bjerre, Porto Carras 2018 I would recommend} Nc6 $146 {and it seems like White has nothing better than} 15. Be3 {with repetition}) (14. Nxb6 $6 cxb6 15. Nd2 b5 $15 {Sharavdorj-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 14... Bxc5 15. dxc5 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 {Checa-Tabatabaei, Chess.com 2020 a very strong improvement} Na4 $1 $146 17. Bd2 Nc6 18. Bc3 Rfd8 $1 19. Bxc4 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Na5 21. Be2 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Nc4 $15) (12. Qc2 Nb4 13. Qd2 {Mamedyarov-Firouzja, Zagreb 2022 a natural improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rfd1 Ba8 $13) 12... Na5 13. Qc2 Nd5 {a good alternative} (13... Bb7 $5 {for example} 14. Rad1 Qd7 15. Rfe1 h6 16. Nd2 {Assaubayeva-Svane, chess24.com 2022 and now} Rfd8 $146 17. h3 Ba8 $13 {with complex game.}) 14. Rad1 Ba6 15. Bd2 Nb3 16. Ne4 Nxd2 17. Rxd2 (17. Nfxd2 {would run into} c3 $1 18. Bxa6 Rxb2 19. Qc1 Rb6 $1 20. Be2 cxd2 21. Rxd2 Qd7 $11) 17... Rb3 $146 {the game has continued} (17... Nf4 $5 18. Bxc4 Rxb2 {the point} 19. Qxb2 Bxc4 20. Rc1 Bd5 $44 {with interesting compensation Radjabov-Firouzja, Madrid 2022:} (20... Nd3 $5 21. Rxd3 Bxd3 22. Nc5 Bf5 $13)) 18. Bxc4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qb8 20. Qc2 Qb7 21. Ne1 Nf4 22. h4 {or} (22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 g5 $1 24. c6 Qb5 $44) 22... Rb8 23. g3 Nd5 24. Nd3 Ne3 $1 25. fxe3 Qxe4 26. Re1 g5 $1 $132) (10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be3 {see 10.Be3} (11. Qd2 Bb7 {see 10.Qd2 11.Nc3 line}) (11. b3 $6 cxb3 12. axb3 Bb7 13. Be3 Nb4 14. Qd2 a5 15. Rfd1 N6d5 $15 {Seel-Shimanov, Chess.com 2021})) (10. Qc2 a6 11. Nc3 {I also checked} (11. Na3 Bxa3 12. bxa3 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 (14. Bb2 Qc5 15. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) 14... Qxe5 15. Bf3 Rb8 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Bc5 Qg5 $1 18. Bxb6 (18. Bb4 a5 $1 $15) 18... Rxb6 19. Qxc4 Qe7 20. Rac1 $11) 11... Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bf3 Rb8 14. Qe2 $6 Qd3 $1 15. Qe1 Bb7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. Be3 O-O 18. Rd1 Qf5 $17 {Aronian-Maghsoodloo, Kolkata 2021}) (10. a3 $5 {Two games reached this position} Bb7 $146 11. Be3 Na5 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Rad1 {one game featured} (13. Rac1 {Rustemov-Kosteniuk, Chess.com 2022} Qd7 $146 14. Nc3 Nb3 15. Rcd1 Qc6 $13) 13... Qd7 14. Nc3 Qc6 15. Ne1 (15. Rfe1 Rfd8 16. Bf1 {Anton Guijarro-Del Rio de Angelis, Linares 2015 Black should have played} Nb3 $146 17. Bg5 Qe8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 $13) 15... Rab8 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Bd2 Rfb8 $11 {Narayanan-Bartel, El Prat de Llobregat 2019}) (10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 O-O 13. Qd2 {another line} (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc1 {Pogorelov-Abdusattorov, Castelldefels 2021 now simple} Rfd8 $146 15. Rd1 h6 $15) 13... a6 14. Nc3 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 Qe7 16. Rfa1 Qb4 $1 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Rozum, Kazan 2018}) 10... Bb7 (10... O-O 11. Rd1 {scores amazingly for White on practice.}) {??N2026??0518L??} 11. Qf4 {Two alternatives are:} ({??N2026??0518L??} 11. Rd1 Qd7 {here I checked five continuations:} {??N2026??0518L??} 12. Nc3 {[%mdl 32768]} (12. Qf4 g5 $5 {more aggressive than} (12... Nb4 13. Nc3 {see 12.Nc3}) 13. Qg3 {dangeorus for White to accept pawn sacrifice} (13. Nxg5 $6 Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Ne7 15. d5 Nbxd5 {one good example here} 16. a4 Rg8 17. Qd2 a6 18. Nd4 O-O-O 19. f3 Ng6 20. Bxc4 c5 21. Nc2 $2 Nh4 $19 {Erdos-Xiong, Saint Louis 2019}) 13... O-O-O 14. b3 (14. d5 $5 {happened in Dubov-Matlakov, St Petersburg 2018 after correct} Nxd5 $146 15. Bxc4 Rhg8 $13 {with double-edged play.}) 14... cxb3 15. axb3 Nd5 16. Bd2 Kb8 17. Ra4 $2 {Maerevoet-Tilicheev, Primorsko 2021} ({Better for White would have been} 17. Nc3 Rhg8 $13) 17... Rhg8 $17 18. Nc3 g4 19. Ne1 Nb6 $17) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Nb4 14. Nc3 O-O 15. Bb2 {other move are less impressive:} (15. Qb2 $6 {Zhang-Sethuraman, Tianjin 2020} Rfb8 $15) (15. Qf4 $2 N4d5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qd2 Bb4 18. Qc2 Nc3 19. Ng5 Nxe2+ 20. Qxe2 {Siddharth-Ibrahimli, Chess.com 2022 Black missed powerful} Qd5 $1 $146 21. f3 Qxb3 $17) 15... a5 16. Rac1 Rfc8 $15 {Urkedal-Hillarp Persson, Fagernes 2021} (16... Rfb8 $5)) (12. a4 Nb4 13. Na3 $6 {Bu-Xiong, chess24. com 2020 I don't see the reason to refrain from} ({A better idea for White would be} 13. Qf4 {here I checked the following line} O-O 14. Qg4 Kh8 $1 15. Na3 Qxa4 $1 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Nxc4 Nxc4 19. Bxc4 h6 $15 {with comfortable position for Black.}) 13... Qxa4 $146 {for instance} 14. Qf4 Nc2 15. Nxc2 Qxc2 16. Bd2 O-O $17) (12. Na3 $6 Bxa3 13. bxa3 Ne7 $1 14. Qc2 {Novikov-Papp, Germany 2022 and now simple} O-O $15 {would give Black excellent position.}) 12... Nb4 13. Qf4 {other moves} (13. a3 N4d5 {Very interesting idea could be} (13... a5 $146 {unfortunately White has very powerful} 14. b3 $1 {Black idea works really well after} (14. axb4 axb4 15. Rxa8+ Bxa8 16. Nb1 Be4 $1 $15) 14... cxb3 15. axb4 axb4 16. Rxa8+ Bxa8 17. Bb5 Bc6 $1 (17... c6 $2 18. Na4 $18) 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. Ne2 O-O $14 {although I am not sure it's objectively sufficient for Black.}) 14. Ne4 Qc6 15. Re1 {Two games reached this position. I have a new idea here} (15. Qc2 {here Black has} Nb4 $1 16. axb4 Qxe4 17. Qxe4 Bxe4 18. b5 {Ding-Praggnanandhaa, chess24. com 2021 here I like} Bc2 $5 $146 19. Re1 O-O 20. Bd2 Ba4 21. Bxc4 Nxc4 22. Rxa4 Nxd2 23. Nxd2 Rfb8 24. Rea1 Rxb5 25. Rxa7 Rxa7 26. Rxa7 Rxb2 27. Nf1 Rc2 $11) 15... h6 $5 $146 16. Bf1 (16. Ng3 $2 g5) (16. Qc2 {allows} Nb4 $1) 16... O-O 17. Qc2 Rab8 18. Bd2 Rfd8 19. Qc1 (19. Rac1 Qb5 $1) 19... Bf8 {with very complex play.}) (13. b3 cxb3 14. axb3 {see 12.b3}) 13... f5 $1 14. exf6 {the main continuation. Other moves} (14. h4 O-O-O 15. b3 {Obsivac-Mica, Olomouc 2022 I found a remarkable novelty here} g5 $3 $146 16. hxg5 {or} (16. Nxg5 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 cxd3 18. Rxd3 Bb4 19. Bd2 Rhg8 $40) 16... N4d5 17. Qd2 Bb4 18. Bb2 cxb3 19. axb3 a5 20. Qc2 h6 $40) (14. Qg3 {featured in Ding-Caruana, Saint Louis 2019 once again Black missed a remarkable} g5 $1 $146 15. Nxg5 {or} (15. b3 g4 16. Ne1 cxb3 17. axb3 h5 $15) 15... O-O-O 16. Bf3 N6d5 $44) 14... gxf6 15. Qh6 {White other options:} ({Very interesting} 15. d5 $5 {Li-Narayanan, Changsha 2019 Black should have played} N4xd5 $1 $146 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. b3 $1 e5 18. Qh4 Qe6 $1 19. bxc4 Bxc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Qh5+ Qf7 22. Qh3 Rd8 ({a bit dangeorus} 22... O-O 23. Bh6 Rfd8 24. Nh4 $44) 23. Rxd8+ Kxd8 24. Be3 Bd6 $44 {White definitely has compensation, but Black is pretty solid.}) (15. b3 {Cheparinov-Moiseenko, chess24.com 2020 Black had to play} N4d5 $146 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qh6 O-O-O 18. Bxc4 (18. bxc4 $2 Nc3 $17) 18... Rhg8 {with double-edged play.}) (15. Qg4 $6 O-O-O 16. Bf4 h5 17. Qh3 {Borhy-Brkic, Mali Losinj 2021 Black had a very nice idea} Nd3 $146 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 $140 $2 e5 $19) 15... O-O-O 16. Bf4 Rdg8 {I prefer this move to} (16... Nd3 17. Bg3 $1 Nxb2 18. Rdc1 N2a4 19. Rab1 Nxc3 20. Rxc3 Qc6 21. Bf1 $44 {Pelletier-Praggnanandhaa, Chennai 2022}) 17. Bg3 {Dreev-Sjugirov, Chess. com 2022 Black should have played} Rg6 $146 {here I checked two variations} 18. Qd2 {or} (18. Qh5 f5 19. Ne5 {or} (19. b3 Bf6 $1 20. Ne5 Qg7 21. Bf3 Ba6 $1 22. Bf4 Nd3 23. Nxd3 cxd3 24. Rac1 Bg5 25. Be5 Bf6 $11) 19... Qe8 $1 20. a3 (20. Rd2 $6 f4 21. Bxf4 Rxg2+ 22. Kf1 Rg7 $15) 20... N4d5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Bf3 Qf8 $1 23. Nxg6 hxg6 24. Qxg6 Rh6 $19) 18... h5 19. d5 $1 {critical} Rg7 $1 {this is stronger than} (19... N4xd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Nh4 Rg5 22. b3 cxb3 23. axb3 $44) 20. b3 {or} (20. dxe6 Qxd2 21. Rxd2 h4 22. Bf4 Rhg8 23. g3 hxg3 24. fxg3 Bc5+ 25. Kf1 Nd3 $36) 20... exd5 21. bxc4 d4 $1 22. Qf4 (22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. Nxd4 h4 24. Nf5 hxg3 25. Nxg7 Rg8 $1 26. Bg4+ Kb8 27. Nf5 Bc5 28. h3 gxf2+ 29. Kf1 Nxc4 $44) 22... d3 23. Bxd3 Bd6 $1 24. Qf5 Nxd3 25. Qxd3 Bxg3 26. hxg3 Qxd3 27. Rxd3 Nxc4 $11) (11. Nc3 O-O 12. Rd1 {another line} (12. Qf4 Nb4 13. Qg4 {another game featured} (13. Rd1 f5 $1 14. Qg3 Qe8 15. b3 {another game here saw} (15. h4 Nc2 (15... N4d5 $5 {worth considering}) 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 $1 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Nxd4 21. Rxd4 (21. Bf1 $5 c5 $11) 21... Rxd4 22. Nxe6 Rxh4 23. Nxf8 Kxf8 $15 {Garriga Cazorla-Sosa, Castelldefels 2021}) 15... Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Kf7 20. Bxe7 Kxe7 21. Rbc1 Bxf3 22. Rxc2 (22. Bxf3 $2 Nxd4 $17) 22... cxb3 23. axb3 Bxe2 24. Nxe2 Nd5 25. h4 Rb8 $11 {Goreczny-Chumanov, LSS email 2019}) 13... Kh8 14. Rd1 {five game arrived to this position. I would like to recommend a new idea} Qe8 $5 $146 15. Bf4 {another direction here} (15. Qh3 Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 f6 19. Be3 Nxe3 20. Qxe3 Qg6 21. Bf1 Rf7 $13) 15... Rb8 16. Rac1 Ba8 17. h4 a5 ({a good alternative would be} 17... N4d5 $5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxc4 Rxb2 20. Ng5 c5 $132) 18. Nd2 Nd3 $1 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Nde4 Na4 $1 21. Rxd3 Nxc3 22. Nxc3 Rxb2 23. d5 (23. Rg3 Rg8 $13) 23... Rb4 $1 24. Qg3 Qd7 25. d6 cxd6 26. exd6 Bd8 $13) 12... Nb4 13. a3 (13. Qf4 {see 13. Rd1}) 13... a5 $1 $146 {this time it looks working well for Black. The game continued} (13... N4d5 14. Ne4 $14 {Narayanan-Erenberg, Sitges 2019}) 14. Re1 ({after} 14. Qf4 {Black has} N4d5 15. Qg4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Kh8 17. Ng5 Rb8 18. Qh5 $140 $6 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Qd5 20. Bf3 Qb5 $15) 14... Nd3 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Qxd3 c5 17. Be3 Rb8 $44) 11... a6 ({A very popular move} 11... Qd7 {unfortunately runs into} 12. d5 $1 $146 Nxd5 (12... exd5 13. e6 $18) 13. Qxc4 $14 {with White retaining better pawnstructure.}) 12. Nc3 g5 $1 {[#]} 13. Nxg5 {I checked also} (13. Qg3 $146 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Bxg5 (15. Rd1 $6 Qh4 16. Qe3 Nd5 $15) 15... Rg8 16. Rfd1 Qxd1+ $1 17. Rxd1 Rxg5 18. Qe3 Rxg2+ 19. Kf1 Rxh2 20. Ke1 Nd7 $44) 13... Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Qxg5 15. Bxg5 Nxd4 {[#]} 16. f4 {other move White has tried} (16. f3 Rg8 17. h4 Nd7 $1 18. Rad1 Nxe2+ 19. Nxe2 Nxe5 20. Kh2 {Aleksandrov-Esipenko, Minsk 2019} Nd7 $1 $146 {looks like a nice improvement} 21. Nf4 e5 22. Nd5 (22. Nh5 Rg6 $15) 22... Bxd5 23. Rxd5 f6 24. Be3 O-O-O 25. Rc1 e4 $5 26. f4 Nb6 27. Rxd8+ Kxd8 28. Bxb6 cxb6 29. Rxc4 f5 $11) (16. Bh4 Rg8 $1 17. f3 Nd5 18. Kf2 $2 {the only move maintaining equality: Zoler-Zanan, Israel 2022} ({the only move maintaining equality} 18. Rae1 $1) 18... Nxc3 19. bxc3 Nxe2 20. Kxe2 Rxg2+ 21. Rf2 Rg6 $17) 16... Nxe2+ $146 {this is more accurate than} (16... Rg8 {Erenberg-Kasimdzhanov, Douglas 2019} 17. Rf2 $1 $14) 17. Nxe2 h6 18. Bh4 a5 19. Nc3 a4 20. a3 Nd5 $11 * [Event "?N2026??0518L?"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.18"] [Round "1.1"] [Board "1"] [White "1) 5.e4 b5 (8.Be2)"] [Black "1)11.Qf4"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "40"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,40,22,28,20,12,15,15,15,23,56,56,52,52,55,63,47,49,49,49,45,36,56,47,58,60,70,44,36,26,28,28,28,31,34,34,36,44,75,62,74,54,69] ??N2026??0518L??} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 {[#]} {N2026_0517D1} 5. e4 b5 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) {N2026_0517D1} 7... Nb6 {[%mdl 1] The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} 8. Be2 (8. Be3 Nc6 9. a3 (9. Be2 {will be covered through 8.Be2 move order}) (9. Nc3 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O {once again covered through 8.Be2 move order}) 9... Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Be2 {White also tried} (11. Qc2 Ne7 $5 12. Nd2 Nf5 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. Qa4+ c6 17. O-O {Kuzubov-Pichot, Linares 2022 I like the following improvement for Black} Bc5 $146 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Rad1 Qf4 $1 $11) 11... Na5 {I would like to suggest another ideas as well} (11... Ne7 $5 12. O-O Nf5 13. b3 {second game here featured} (13. Qc1 Be7 14. Rd1 O-O 15. d5 Nxe3 16. dxe6 {Santos Latasa-Yuffa, Linares 2022} Qc6 $1 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. fxe3 (18. Qxe3 Raf8 $36) 18... Raf8 $44) 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3 {Koelle-Zelcic, Terme Catez 2022 now accurate} Bc6 $146 15. Rfc1 Be7 $11 {would lead to reliable position for Black.}) 12. h4 (12. Qc2 Be7 {see 8.Be2 move order}) 12... f5 $1 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Bf3 {Maltsevskaya-Kostenko, Cheliabinsk 2022} f5 $146 16. O-O Bd6 $15) (8. a4 Qd7 $1 9. Be2 {I checked also} (9. Na3 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxa3 {worth considering} (10... Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxa4 {after} 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O Qb4 $1 14. Qc3 O-O 15. Nxc4 Nd5 $11) 11. Rxa3 a5 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 {Vachier Lagrave-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021 I like the following improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rh4 f5 $1 $13) 9... Nc6 10. O-O {another line} (10. Be3 Bb7 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 Bb4 13. Nc3 O-O $15 {Aditya-Pranav, chess24. com 2022}) 10... Na5 11. Ng5 {worse option for White} (11. Ra2 $6 Bb7 12. Qc2 a6 13. Nc3 {Grozdanovic-Djukic, Novi Banovci 2023 and now} Qc6 $1 $146 14. Rd1 Bb4 {would secure better position for Black.}) 11... h6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Nd5 $1 15. Ra3 a6 16. Nd4 Ne7 17. Qd2 {Carlsen-Nakamura, chess24.com 2020 and now the logical improvement would be} O-O-O $1 $146 {with the following illustrative line} 18. Qxa5 Qxd4 19. Bf3 Nc6 $1 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxa6+ Bb7 22. Qb5 Qd5 $1 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Qa5 Rhg8 $11) (8. a3 Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Nc6 {transpose to 8.Be3}) (8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15) 8... Nc6 9. O-O {I examined four alternatives here:} ({The main alternative is} 9. Be3 Be7 10. a3 {other important moves:} (10. h4 $5 {played twice by Gukesh} Bb7 11. h5 Qd7 12. Nc3 {Gukesh-Abdusattorov, Warsaw 2021 Black play can be improved by means of} O-O-O $1 $146 13. Qd2 Kb8 14. Kf1 f5 $1 $15) (10. O-O {covered through 10.Be3}) 10... Bb7 11. Qc2 {the main move. In case of} (11. Nc3 Na5 {White has nothing better than} 12. Qc2 Qd7 {which takes us back to 11.Qc2}) 11... Qd7 12. Nc3 {one game saw} (12. Rd1 $6 {Rustemov-Xiong, Chess. com 2022 this allowed tactical solution} Nxe5 $1 $146 13. Nxe5 {or} (13. Nxc7+ Qxc7 14. dxe5 Rc8 $15) 13... Qxb5 14. O-O O-O 15. Nxc4 Qc6 $15) 12... Na5 13. Rd1 {other possibilitites:} (13. O-O {happened in three games. I don't see the reason to refrain from natural} O-O $146 14. Nd2 Rab8 $13 {with complex game.}) (13. h4 {is well met by} f5 $1 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Rd1 O-O-O 16. Bf4 {Maghsoodloo-Pichot, Chess.com 2023 Black could have played} ({Much worse} 16. Ne4 $6 {In the game Unuk-Guichard, Petrovac 2023 Black missed fantastic} Qa4 $1 $146 17. Qb1 Nd5 $17) 16... h5 $1 $146 17. O-O Rdg8 $36 18. Bg3 Bd6 $15) 13... f5 $5 14. exf6 {only one game featured} (14. h4 $6 O-O 15. Rg1 Rad8 $17 {Gajewski-Kollars, Legnica 2021}) 14... gxf6 15. O-O ({Once again} 15. Ne4 {met by} Qa4 $1 16. Qxa4+ $2 {better would have been} (16. Qb1 O-O-O $15) 16... Nxa4 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 {Ostlund-Crevatin, Stockholm 2022 and now the most precise would be} Bd5 $1 $146) 15... O-O-O 16. Nd2 {not working for White} (16. d5 $2 exd5 17. Nd4 {Gunina-Kosteniuk, Almaty 2022} Rhg8 $17) 16... f5 17. Bf3 Rhg8 18. g3 {White best try} (18. Kh1 {Koelle-Murphy, Arandjelovac 2022} Bxf3 $146 19. Nxf3 Bf6 $13) (18. Bxb7+ Kxb7 19. Nf3 $6 {stronger would be} (19. b4 $1 $146 cxb3 20. Nxb3 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 Qc6 $13) 19... Qc6 20. Qe2 Nb3 $15 {Martirosyan-Martin Duque, La Roda 2022}) 18... Bd6 19. Bxb7+ Kxb7 20. Nf3 {another game here continued: Harsha-Girel, Rochefort 2023 Black should have just played} (20. Rfe1 {Lazavik-Azarov, Cheliabinsk 2021 an immediate improvement might be} Rdf8 $146 21. f4 Qc6 $13) 20... Nb3 $1 $146 {with the following nice point} 21. d5 e5 22. Qe2 c5 $1 23. dxc6+ Qxc6 $13) ({Interesting idea} 9. h4 Bb7 10. Rh3 $1 {no problems for Black} (10. h5 Qd7 11. Be3 {Gunina-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022 a natural improvement would be} Bb4+ $1 $146 12. Nc3 (12. Kf1 Ne7 $15) 12... Ne7 13. Qc2 h6 {and now it's transposed to one game} 14. Rd1 Nf5 $15 {Makarian-Seo, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Bb4+ ({deserves attention} 10... Qd7 $5) 11. Kf1 Qd7 12. a3 Be7 13. Nc3 {Krysa-Mareco, Tornelo INT 2021 I like the new} O-O-O $146 14. Be3 f5 $1 15. exf6 Bxf6 $132) (9. Bg5 Be7 10. Qd2 $6 {Sarana-Tomashevsky, Satka 2018 and now simple} Bxg5 $146 11. Qxg5 Qxg5 12. Nxg5 Ke7 $1 13. Nxc7 Rb8 14. Nf3 a6 $15) (9. a3 Be7 10. Be3 {see 9.Be3}) 9... Be7 10. Qd2 {This will be our main continuation. I will examine 5 alternatives as well:} (10. Be3 O-O 11. Nc3 {other options:} (11. Qc2 Nb4 12. Qe4 (12. Qc1 Bb7 $11) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Nc3 Qxe4 14. Nxe4 {Wichmann-Poetsch, Leipzig 2018 and now my minor improvement would be} a5 $5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba6 16. a3 {or} (16. Nfd2 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 (17. Rc2 h6 $13) 17... cxd3 18. Rxc7 Nd5 19. Rcc1 Rfb8 $44 {with excellent compensation.}) 16... N4d5 17. Rc2 Rfb8 18. Nfd2 Ra7 $1 $13) (11. Qc1 Bb7 {an interesting alternative could be} (11... Nb4 $5 12. Nc3 (12. Rd1 {another important line} Bb7 {see 11...Bb7}) 12... a5 $5 13. Rd1 Ba6 14. a3 N4d5 15. Nxd5 $6 {Mishra-Velten, Budapest 2021 and now the right recapture would have been} exd5 $1 $146 16. h3 Bc8 17. Qc2 a4 18. Nh2 Be6 $15) 12. Rd1 ({In case of} 12. Nc3 Nb4 13. Rd1 Rb8 {see via 11. Nc3 move roder}) ({Black main idea can be seen from the following line} 12. Bxc4 a6 $1 13. Na3 Nxc4 14. Nxc4 {or} (14. Qxc4 Nb4 15. Qe2 a5 16. Nc4 Qd7 $44) 14... Qd5 $1 15. Rd1 h6 $44) 12... Nb4 13. a3 {after} (13. Na3 {runs into} Nd3 14. Bxd3 Bxf3 $1 15. gxf3 cxd3 16. Rxd3 c5 17. Nc4 $6 Qd5 $1 18. Nxb6 axb6 $36 {Hardarson-Ivic, Reykjavik 2021}) (13. Ne1 N4d5 14. Bxc4 Nxe3 15. fxe3 Bg5 16. b3 {two games arrived to this position. I suggest the following new idea} Nxc4 $146 17. bxc4 f6 $1 $44 {easier play for Black.}) 13... N4d5 14. Nc3 (14. Bxc4 $2 Nxe3 15. fxe3 a6 $19) 14... Rb8 15. Nxd5 {clearly worse for White} (15. Nd2 $2 Nxe3 16. fxe3 c5 $1 $36 17. Nxc4 $140 Nxc4 18. Bxc4 cxd4 19. exd4 Bg5 $1 20. Qc2 Be3+ 21. Kh1 Qh4 $19 {Zadruzny-Ochsner, Kragero 2022}) 15... Qxd5 16. Bf1 {Sturt-Park, Budapest 2022 a simple} Bc6 $146 17. Nd2 Rfc8 $11 {would lead to balanced game.}) 11... Rb8 12. a3 {I examined White other possibilities:} (12. Qc1 Nb4 13. Rd1 {another line here} (13. Nd2 Ba6 14. b3 (14. Re1 $6 Nd3 $1 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Nce4 Nd5 17. a3 Bb7 $15 {Mendonca-Stoyanov, Kavala 2021}) 14... cxb3 15. Bxa6 b2 $1 16. Qxb2 Nxa6 17. Nb3 Nd5 18. Ne4 {Lombaers-Rakotomaharo, Belgium 2022 and now I like} Qe8 $146 {with equal play.}) 13... Bb7 14. Nd2 (14. a3 N4d5 {covered via 13. a3}) (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 a6 16. Nd2 N6d5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. Bf3 {Real de Azua-Flores, Buenos Aires 2017 and now natural} Qd7 $146 19. Ne4 Rfd8 {with comfortable play for Black.}) 14... Qe8 {very similar to 14...Qd7, I like the idea just be away from d-file just in case} 15. a3 {other moves:} (15. Nde4 N6d5 16. Nxd5 {Now I really like to recapture with bishop} (16. Bxc4 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bxe4 18. cxb4 Bxb4 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Qd7 $11 {Dessaules-Van Habberney, ICCF email 2018}) 16... Bxd5 $146 17. f3 {or} (17. Nc3 Bb7 18. Bf1 (18. Bxc4 {see 15. Nxc4}) 18... Qc6 19. b3 cxb3 20. axb3 a6 21. Qd2 Rfd8 {with complex but balanced play.}) 17... Qb5 18. Kh1 a5 19. b3 Qc6 $1 20. Bxc4 {or} (20. bxc4 Bxe4 21. fxe4 Qxe4 22. Bf3 Qf5 $1 23. Rd2 c5 $132) 20... a4 $44) ({The main idea can be seen from the folowng line} 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 Bxg2 $1 17. a3 {critical continuation} (17. Kxg2 $6 Qc6+ 18. d5 $6 (18. Kg1 $142 Qxc4 $15) 18... Qxc4 19. Rd4 Qa6 20. a3 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Qxc7 Qe6 $36 {Brynell-Ochsner, Germany 2022}) 17... Bd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Qxc7 f5 $11) 15... Nd3 16. Qc2 f5 $1 17. exf6 Qg6 $1 {the point} 18. Bf1 Rxf6 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Qxd3 Nxe3 21. Qxg6 $2 (21. Qxe3 $142 Rbf8 $44) 21... Rxg6 22. fxe3 Bxg2 $1 $19 {Rasmussen-Ochsner, Denmark 2022}) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. Qb1 {only one game saw} (14. Qd2 {Stefansson-Royal, Nova Gorica 2022 I like here} a5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba8 $13 {with complicated middlegame.}) 14... a5 15. Rd1 {Nguyen-Hassemeier, Pardubice 2022 an important improvement here} (15. Qe4 {happened in Aditya-Indjic, Tashkent 2022} Nb4 $146 16. Qg4 Kh8 17. Rxa5 N6d5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bc4 c5 20. Ra4 Nc2 $44) 15... Nb4 $146 16. Rxa5 {another line} (16. Ne4 h6 $1 17. Rxa5 Ra8 $1 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. Nc5 Bd5 $44) 16... N6d5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Bc4 Qd7 $44) (12. Rc1 Bb7 13. Na4 {I would like to mention also} (13. Qc2 $6 Nb4 14. Qb1 {occured in two games} Bxf3 $1 {looks like a nice improvement upon Black play} 15. Bxf3 (15. gxf3 f5 $1 16. exf6 Rxf6 $36) 15... Nd3 16. Rcd1 c5 17. Be4 (17. dxc5 Nd7 $15) 17... cxd4 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 Nc4 {interesting to check} (19... dxe3 $5 20. Rxd8 exf2+ 21. Rxf2 Rfxd8 $44) 20. Rxd4 Qc7 21. Bc1 Rfd8 $11) (13. Qd2 Nb4 14. Rfd1 {another example here} (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 {Sarana-Alekseenko, Yaroslavl 2019} N4d5 $15) 14... Qd7 15. Bg5 Bxf3 $1 16. Bxe7 ({bettwe would have been} 16. gxf3 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 f5 $1 $15) (16. Bxf3 $2 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 Nd3 $17) 16... Qxe7 17. Bxf3 Nd3 18. Rb1 {Andreikin-Nakamura, Chess.com 2023} c5 $1 $15) 13... Na5 {interesting to check} (13... Nb4 $5 14. Nxb6 cxb6 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bb3 a5 $44) 14. Nc5 (14. Bd2 {Gharibyan-Bjerre, Porto Carras 2018 I would recommend} Nc6 $146 {and it seems like White has nothing better than} 15. Be3 {with repetition}) (14. Nxb6 $6 cxb6 15. Nd2 b5 $15 {Sharavdorj-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 14... Bxc5 15. dxc5 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 {Checa-Tabatabaei, Chess.com 2020 a very strong improvement} Na4 $1 $146 17. Bd2 Nc6 18. Bc3 Rfd8 $1 19. Bxc4 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Na5 21. Be2 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Nc4 $15) (12. Qc2 Nb4 13. Qd2 {Mamedyarov-Firouzja, Zagreb 2022 a natural improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rfd1 Ba8 $13) 12... Na5 13. Qc2 Nd5 {a good alternative} (13... Bb7 $5 {for example} 14. Rad1 Qd7 15. Rfe1 h6 16. Nd2 {Assaubayeva-Svane, chess24.com 2022 and now} Rfd8 $146 17. h3 Ba8 $13 {with complex game.}) 14. Rad1 Ba6 15. Bd2 Nb3 16. Ne4 Nxd2 17. Rxd2 (17. Nfxd2 {would run into} c3 $1 18. Bxa6 Rxb2 19. Qc1 Rb6 $1 20. Be2 cxd2 21. Rxd2 Qd7 $11) 17... Rb3 $146 {the game has continued} (17... Nf4 $5 18. Bxc4 Rxb2 {the point} 19. Qxb2 Bxc4 20. Rc1 Bd5 $44 {with interesting compensation Radjabov-Firouzja, Madrid 2022:} (20... Nd3 $5 21. Rxd3 Bxd3 22. Nc5 Bf5 $13)) 18. Bxc4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qb8 20. Qc2 Qb7 21. Ne1 Nf4 22. h4 {or} (22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 g5 $1 24. c6 Qb5 $44) 22... Rb8 23. g3 Nd5 24. Nd3 Ne3 $1 25. fxe3 Qxe4 26. Re1 g5 $1 $132) (10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be3 {see 10.Be3} (11. Qd2 Bb7 {see 10.Qd2 11.Nc3 line}) (11. b3 $6 cxb3 12. axb3 Bb7 13. Be3 Nb4 14. Qd2 a5 15. Rfd1 N6d5 $15 {Seel-Shimanov, Chess.com 2021})) (10. Qc2 a6 11. Nc3 {I also checked} (11. Na3 Bxa3 12. bxa3 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 (14. Bb2 Qc5 15. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) 14... Qxe5 15. Bf3 Rb8 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Bc5 Qg5 $1 18. Bxb6 (18. Bb4 a5 $1 $15) 18... Rxb6 19. Qxc4 Qe7 20. Rac1 $11) 11... Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bf3 Rb8 14. Qe2 $6 Qd3 $1 15. Qe1 Bb7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. Be3 O-O 18. Rd1 Qf5 $17 {Aronian-Maghsoodloo, Kolkata 2021}) (10. a3 $5 {Two games reached this position} Bb7 $146 11. Be3 Na5 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Rad1 {one game featured} (13. Rac1 {Rustemov-Kosteniuk, Chess.com 2022} Qd7 $146 14. Nc3 Nb3 15. Rcd1 Qc6 $13) 13... Qd7 14. Nc3 Qc6 15. Ne1 (15. Rfe1 Rfd8 16. Bf1 {Anton Guijarro-Del Rio de Angelis, Linares 2015 Black should have played} Nb3 $146 17. Bg5 Qe8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 $13) 15... Rab8 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Bd2 Rfb8 $11 {Narayanan-Bartel, El Prat de Llobregat 2019}) (10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 O-O 13. Qd2 {another line} (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc1 {Pogorelov-Abdusattorov, Castelldefels 2021 now simple} Rfd8 $146 15. Rd1 h6 $15) 13... a6 14. Nc3 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 Qe7 16. Rfa1 Qb4 $1 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Rozum, Kazan 2018}) 10... Bb7 (10... O-O 11. Rd1 {scores amazingly for White on practice.}) {??N2026??0518L??} 11. Qf4 {Two alternatives are:} ({??N2026??0518L??} 11. Rd1 Qd7 {here I checked five continuations:} {??N2026??0518L??} 12. Nc3 {[%mdl 32768]} (12. Qf4 g5 $5 {more aggressive than} (12... Nb4 13. Nc3 {see 12.Nc3}) 13. Qg3 {dangeorus for White to accept pawn sacrifice} (13. Nxg5 $6 Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Ne7 15. d5 Nbxd5 {one good example here} 16. a4 Rg8 17. Qd2 a6 18. Nd4 O-O-O 19. f3 Ng6 20. Bxc4 c5 21. Nc2 $2 Nh4 $19 {Erdos-Xiong, Saint Louis 2019}) 13... O-O-O 14. b3 (14. d5 $5 {happened in Dubov-Matlakov, St Petersburg 2018 after correct} Nxd5 $146 15. Bxc4 Rhg8 $13 {with double-edged play.}) 14... cxb3 15. axb3 Nd5 16. Bd2 Kb8 17. Ra4 $2 {Maerevoet-Tilicheev, Primorsko 2021} ({Better for White would have been} 17. Nc3 Rhg8 $13) 17... Rhg8 $17 18. Nc3 g4 19. Ne1 Nb6 $17) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Nb4 14. Nc3 O-O 15. Bb2 {other move are less impressive:} (15. Qb2 $6 {Zhang-Sethuraman, Tianjin 2020} Rfb8 $15) (15. Qf4 $2 N4d5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qd2 Bb4 18. Qc2 Nc3 19. Ng5 Nxe2+ 20. Qxe2 {Siddharth-Ibrahimli, Chess.com 2022 Black missed powerful} Qd5 $1 $146 21. f3 Qxb3 $17) 15... a5 16. Rac1 Rfc8 $15 {Urkedal-Hillarp Persson, Fagernes 2021} (16... Rfb8 $5)) (12. a4 Nb4 13. Na3 $6 {Bu-Xiong, chess24. com 2020 I don't see the reason to refrain from} ({A better idea for White would be} 13. Qf4 {here I checked the following line} O-O 14. Qg4 Kh8 $1 15. Na3 Qxa4 $1 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Nxc4 Nxc4 19. Bxc4 h6 $15 {with comfortable position for Black.}) 13... Qxa4 $146 {for instance} 14. Qf4 Nc2 15. Nxc2 Qxc2 16. Bd2 O-O $17) (12. Na3 $6 Bxa3 13. bxa3 Ne7 $1 14. Qc2 {Novikov-Papp, Germany 2022 and now simple} O-O $15 {would give Black excellent position.}) 12... Nb4 13. Qf4 {other moves} (13. a3 N4d5 {Very interesting idea could be} (13... a5 $146 {unfortunately White has very powerful} 14. b3 $1 {Black idea works really well after} (14. axb4 axb4 15. Rxa8+ Bxa8 16. Nb1 Be4 $1 $15) 14... cxb3 15. axb4 axb4 16. Rxa8+ Bxa8 17. Bb5 Bc6 $1 (17... c6 $2 18. Na4 $18) 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. Ne2 O-O $14 {although I am not sure it's objectively sufficient for Black.}) 14. Ne4 Qc6 15. Re1 {Two games reached this position. I have a new idea here} (15. Qc2 {here Black has} Nb4 $1 16. axb4 Qxe4 17. Qxe4 Bxe4 18. b5 {Ding-Praggnanandhaa, chess24. com 2021 here I like} Bc2 $5 $146 19. Re1 O-O 20. Bd2 Ba4 21. Bxc4 Nxc4 22. Rxa4 Nxd2 23. Nxd2 Rfb8 24. Rea1 Rxb5 25. Rxa7 Rxa7 26. Rxa7 Rxb2 27. Nf1 Rc2 $11) 15... h6 $5 $146 16. Bf1 (16. Ng3 $2 g5) (16. Qc2 {allows} Nb4 $1) 16... O-O 17. Qc2 Rab8 18. Bd2 Rfd8 19. Qc1 (19. Rac1 Qb5 $1) 19... Bf8 {with very complex play.}) (13. b3 cxb3 14. axb3 {see 12.b3}) 13... f5 $1 14. exf6 {the main continuation. Other moves} (14. h4 O-O-O 15. b3 {Obsivac-Mica, Olomouc 2022 I found a remarkable novelty here} g5 $3 $146 16. hxg5 {or} (16. Nxg5 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 cxd3 18. Rxd3 Bb4 19. Bd2 Rhg8 $40) 16... N4d5 17. Qd2 Bb4 18. Bb2 cxb3 19. axb3 a5 20. Qc2 h6 $40) (14. Qg3 {featured in Ding-Caruana, Saint Louis 2019 once again Black missed a remarkable} g5 $1 $146 15. Nxg5 {or} (15. b3 g4 16. Ne1 cxb3 17. axb3 h5 $15) 15... O-O-O 16. Bf3 N6d5 $44) 14... gxf6 15. Qh6 {White other options:} ({Very interesting} 15. d5 $5 {Li-Narayanan, Changsha 2019 Black should have played} N4xd5 $1 $146 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. b3 $1 e5 18. Qh4 Qe6 $1 19. bxc4 Bxc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Qh5+ Qf7 22. Qh3 Rd8 ({a bit dangeorus} 22... O-O 23. Bh6 Rfd8 24. Nh4 $44) 23. Rxd8+ Kxd8 24. Be3 Bd6 $44 {White definitely has compensation, but Black is pretty solid.}) (15. b3 {Cheparinov-Moiseenko, chess24.com 2020 Black had to play} N4d5 $146 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qh6 O-O-O 18. Bxc4 (18. bxc4 $2 Nc3 $17) 18... Rhg8 {with double-edged play.}) (15. Qg4 $6 O-O-O 16. Bf4 h5 17. Qh3 {Borhy-Brkic, Mali Losinj 2021 Black had a very nice idea} Nd3 $146 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 $140 $2 e5 $19) 15... O-O-O 16. Bf4 Rdg8 {I prefer this move to} (16... Nd3 17. Bg3 $1 Nxb2 18. Rdc1 N2a4 19. Rab1 Nxc3 20. Rxc3 Qc6 21. Bf1 $44 {Pelletier-Praggnanandhaa, Chennai 2022}) 17. Bg3 {Dreev-Sjugirov, Chess. com 2022 Black should have played} Rg6 $146 {here I checked two variations} 18. Qd2 {or} (18. Qh5 f5 19. Ne5 {or} (19. b3 Bf6 $1 20. Ne5 Qg7 21. Bf3 Ba6 $1 22. Bf4 Nd3 23. Nxd3 cxd3 24. Rac1 Bg5 25. Be5 Bf6 $11) 19... Qe8 $1 20. a3 (20. Rd2 $6 f4 21. Bxf4 Rxg2+ 22. Kf1 Rg7 $15) 20... N4d5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Bf3 Qf8 $1 23. Nxg6 hxg6 24. Qxg6 Rh6 $19) 18... h5 19. d5 $1 {critical} Rg7 $1 {this is stronger than} (19... N4xd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Nh4 Rg5 22. b3 cxb3 23. axb3 $44) 20. b3 {or} (20. dxe6 Qxd2 21. Rxd2 h4 22. Bf4 Rhg8 23. g3 hxg3 24. fxg3 Bc5+ 25. Kf1 Nd3 $36) 20... exd5 21. bxc4 d4 $1 22. Qf4 (22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. Nxd4 h4 24. Nf5 hxg3 25. Nxg7 Rg8 $1 26. Bg4+ Kb8 27. Nf5 Bc5 28. h3 gxf2+ 29. Kf1 Nxc4 $44) 22... d3 23. Bxd3 Bd6 $1 24. Qf5 Nxd3 25. Qxd3 Bxg3 26. hxg3 Qxd3 27. Rxd3 Nxc4 $11) (11. Nc3 O-O 12. Rd1 {another line} (12. Qf4 Nb4 13. Qg4 {another game featured} (13. Rd1 f5 $1 14. Qg3 Qe8 15. b3 {another game here saw} (15. h4 Nc2 (15... N4d5 $5 {worth considering}) 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 $1 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Nxd4 21. Rxd4 (21. Bf1 $5 c5 $11) 21... Rxd4 22. Nxe6 Rxh4 23. Nxf8 Kxf8 $15 {Garriga Cazorla-Sosa, Castelldefels 2021}) 15... Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Kf7 20. Bxe7 Kxe7 21. Rbc1 Bxf3 22. Rxc2 (22. Bxf3 $2 Nxd4 $17) 22... cxb3 23. axb3 Bxe2 24. Nxe2 Nd5 25. h4 Rb8 $11 {Goreczny-Chumanov, LSS email 2019}) 13... Kh8 14. Rd1 {five game arrived to this position. I would like to recommend a new idea} Qe8 $5 $146 15. Bf4 {another direction here} (15. Qh3 Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 f6 19. Be3 Nxe3 20. Qxe3 Qg6 21. Bf1 Rf7 $13) 15... Rb8 16. Rac1 Ba8 17. h4 a5 ({a good alternative would be} 17... N4d5 $5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxc4 Rxb2 20. Ng5 c5 $132) 18. Nd2 Nd3 $1 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Nde4 Na4 $1 21. Rxd3 Nxc3 22. Nxc3 Rxb2 23. d5 (23. Rg3 Rg8 $13) 23... Rb4 $1 24. Qg3 Qd7 25. d6 cxd6 26. exd6 Bd8 $13) 12... Nb4 13. a3 (13. Qf4 {see 13. Rd1}) 13... a5 $1 $146 {this time it looks working well for Black. The game continued} (13... N4d5 14. Ne4 $14 {Narayanan-Erenberg, Sitges 2019}) 14. Re1 ({after} 14. Qf4 {Black has} N4d5 15. Qg4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Kh8 17. Ng5 Rb8 18. Qh5 $140 $6 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Qd5 20. Bf3 Qb5 $15) 14... Nd3 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Qxd3 c5 17. Be3 Rb8 $44) 11... a6 ({A very popular move} 11... Qd7 {unfortunately runs into} 12. d5 $1 $146 Nxd5 (12... exd5 13. e6 $18) 13. Qxc4 $14 {with White retaining better pawnstructure.}) 12. Nc3 g5 $1 {[#]} 13. Nxg5 {I checked also} (13. Qg3 $146 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Bxg5 (15. Rd1 $6 Qh4 16. Qe3 Nd5 $15) 15... Rg8 16. Rfd1 Qxd1+ $1 17. Rxd1 Rxg5 18. Qe3 Rxg2+ 19. Kf1 Rxh2 20. Ke1 Nd7 $44) 13... Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Qxg5 15. Bxg5 Nxd4 {[#]} 16. f4 {other move White has tried} (16. f3 Rg8 17. h4 Nd7 $1 18. Rad1 Nxe2+ 19. Nxe2 Nxe5 20. Kh2 {Aleksandrov-Esipenko, Minsk 2019} Nd7 $1 $146 {looks like a nice improvement} 21. Nf4 e5 22. Nd5 (22. Nh5 Rg6 $15) 22... Bxd5 23. Rxd5 f6 24. Be3 O-O-O 25. Rc1 e4 $5 26. f4 Nb6 27. Rxd8+ Kxd8 28. Bxb6 cxb6 29. Rxc4 f5 $11) (16. Bh4 Rg8 $1 17. f3 Nd5 18. Kf2 $2 {the only move maintaining equality: Zoler-Zanan, Israel 2022} ({the only move maintaining equality} 18. Rae1 $1) 18... Nxc3 19. bxc3 Nxe2 20. Kxe2 Rxg2+ 21. Rf2 Rg6 $17) 16... Nxe2+ $146 {this is more accurate than} (16... Rg8 {Erenberg-Kasimdzhanov, Douglas 2019} 17. Rf2 $1 $14) 17. Nxe2 h6 18. Bh4 a5 19. Nc3 a4 20. a3 Nd5 $11 * [Event "?N2026??0518L?"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.18"] [Round "1.2"] [Board "1"] [White "1) 5.e4 b5 (8.Be2)"] [Black "2)11.Rd1"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "54"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,54,28,16,18,15,15,15,15,26,52,54,56,47,47,47,49,49,49,41,49,47,47,43,60,30,47,46,58,33,42,3,-8,-8,7,12,40,48,20,5,110,-6,48,5,-5,-44,63,9,12,13,19,41,38,49,39,39,52] ??N2026??0518L??} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 {[#]} {N2026_0517D1} 5. e4 b5 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) {N2026_0517D1} 7... Nb6 {[%mdl 1] The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} 8. Be2 (8. Be3 Nc6 9. a3 (9. Be2 {will be covered through 8.Be2 move order}) (9. Nc3 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O {once again covered through 8.Be2 move order}) 9... Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Be2 {White also tried} (11. Qc2 Ne7 $5 12. Nd2 Nf5 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. Qa4+ c6 17. O-O {Kuzubov-Pichot, Linares 2022 I like the following improvement for Black} Bc5 $146 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Rad1 Qf4 $1 $11) 11... Na5 {I would like to suggest another ideas as well} (11... Ne7 $5 12. O-O Nf5 13. b3 {second game here featured} (13. Qc1 Be7 14. Rd1 O-O 15. d5 Nxe3 16. dxe6 {Santos Latasa-Yuffa, Linares 2022} Qc6 $1 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. fxe3 (18. Qxe3 Raf8 $36) 18... Raf8 $44) 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3 {Koelle-Zelcic, Terme Catez 2022 now accurate} Bc6 $146 15. Rfc1 Be7 $11 {would lead to reliable position for Black.}) 12. h4 (12. Qc2 Be7 {see 8.Be2 move order}) 12... f5 $1 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Bf3 {Maltsevskaya-Kostenko, Cheliabinsk 2022} f5 $146 16. O-O Bd6 $15) (8. a4 Qd7 $1 9. Be2 {I checked also} (9. Na3 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxa3 {worth considering} (10... Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxa4 {after} 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O Qb4 $1 14. Qc3 O-O 15. Nxc4 Nd5 $11) 11. Rxa3 a5 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 {Vachier Lagrave-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021 I like the following improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rh4 f5 $1 $13) 9... Nc6 10. O-O {another line} (10. Be3 Bb7 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 Bb4 13. Nc3 O-O $15 {Aditya-Pranav, chess24. com 2022}) 10... Na5 11. Ng5 {worse option for White} (11. Ra2 $6 Bb7 12. Qc2 a6 13. Nc3 {Grozdanovic-Djukic, Novi Banovci 2023 and now} Qc6 $1 $146 14. Rd1 Bb4 {would secure better position for Black.}) 11... h6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Nd5 $1 15. Ra3 a6 16. Nd4 Ne7 17. Qd2 {Carlsen-Nakamura, chess24.com 2020 and now the logical improvement would be} O-O-O $1 $146 {with the following illustrative line} 18. Qxa5 Qxd4 19. Bf3 Nc6 $1 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxa6+ Bb7 22. Qb5 Qd5 $1 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Qa5 Rhg8 $11) (8. a3 Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Nc6 {transpose to 8.Be3}) (8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15) 8... Nc6 9. O-O {I examined four alternatives here:} ({The main alternative is} 9. Be3 Be7 10. a3 {other important moves:} (10. h4 $5 {played twice by Gukesh} Bb7 11. h5 Qd7 12. Nc3 {Gukesh-Abdusattorov, Warsaw 2021 Black play can be improved by means of} O-O-O $1 $146 13. Qd2 Kb8 14. Kf1 f5 $1 $15) (10. O-O {covered through 10.Be3}) 10... Bb7 11. Qc2 {the main move. In case of} (11. Nc3 Na5 {White has nothing better than} 12. Qc2 Qd7 {which takes us back to 11.Qc2}) 11... Qd7 12. Nc3 {one game saw} (12. Rd1 $6 {Rustemov-Xiong, Chess. com 2022 this allowed tactical solution} Nxe5 $1 $146 13. Nxe5 {or} (13. Nxc7+ Qxc7 14. dxe5 Rc8 $15) 13... Qxb5 14. O-O O-O 15. Nxc4 Qc6 $15) 12... Na5 13. Rd1 {other possibilitites:} (13. O-O {happened in three games. I don't see the reason to refrain from natural} O-O $146 14. Nd2 Rab8 $13 {with complex game.}) (13. h4 {is well met by} f5 $1 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Rd1 O-O-O 16. Bf4 {Maghsoodloo-Pichot, Chess.com 2023 Black could have played} ({Much worse} 16. Ne4 $6 {In the game Unuk-Guichard, Petrovac 2023 Black missed fantastic} Qa4 $1 $146 17. Qb1 Nd5 $17) 16... h5 $1 $146 17. O-O Rdg8 $36 18. Bg3 Bd6 $15) 13... f5 $5 14. exf6 {only one game featured} (14. h4 $6 O-O 15. Rg1 Rad8 $17 {Gajewski-Kollars, Legnica 2021}) 14... gxf6 15. O-O ({Once again} 15. Ne4 {met by} Qa4 $1 16. Qxa4+ $2 {better would have been} (16. Qb1 O-O-O $15) 16... Nxa4 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 {Ostlund-Crevatin, Stockholm 2022 and now the most precise would be} Bd5 $1 $146) 15... O-O-O 16. Nd2 {not working for White} (16. d5 $2 exd5 17. Nd4 {Gunina-Kosteniuk, Almaty 2022} Rhg8 $17) 16... f5 17. Bf3 Rhg8 18. g3 {White best try} (18. Kh1 {Koelle-Murphy, Arandjelovac 2022} Bxf3 $146 19. Nxf3 Bf6 $13) (18. Bxb7+ Kxb7 19. Nf3 $6 {stronger would be} (19. b4 $1 $146 cxb3 20. Nxb3 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 Qc6 $13) 19... Qc6 20. Qe2 Nb3 $15 {Martirosyan-Martin Duque, La Roda 2022}) 18... Bd6 19. Bxb7+ Kxb7 20. Nf3 {another game here continued: Harsha-Girel, Rochefort 2023 Black should have just played} (20. Rfe1 {Lazavik-Azarov, Cheliabinsk 2021 an immediate improvement might be} Rdf8 $146 21. f4 Qc6 $13) 20... Nb3 $1 $146 {with the following nice point} 21. d5 e5 22. Qe2 c5 $1 23. dxc6+ Qxc6 $13) ({Interesting idea} 9. h4 Bb7 10. Rh3 $1 {no problems for Black} (10. h5 Qd7 11. Be3 {Gunina-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022 a natural improvement would be} Bb4+ $1 $146 12. Nc3 (12. Kf1 Ne7 $15) 12... Ne7 13. Qc2 h6 {and now it's transposed to one game} 14. Rd1 Nf5 $15 {Makarian-Seo, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Bb4+ ({deserves attention} 10... Qd7 $5) 11. Kf1 Qd7 12. a3 Be7 13. Nc3 {Krysa-Mareco, Tornelo INT 2021 I like the new} O-O-O $146 14. Be3 f5 $1 15. exf6 Bxf6 $132) (9. Bg5 Be7 10. Qd2 $6 {Sarana-Tomashevsky, Satka 2018 and now simple} Bxg5 $146 11. Qxg5 Qxg5 12. Nxg5 Ke7 $1 13. Nxc7 Rb8 14. Nf3 a6 $15) (9. a3 Be7 10. Be3 {see 9.Be3}) 9... Be7 10. Qd2 {This will be our main continuation. I will examine 5 alternatives as well:} (10. Be3 O-O 11. Nc3 {other options:} (11. Qc2 Nb4 12. Qe4 (12. Qc1 Bb7 $11) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Nc3 Qxe4 14. Nxe4 {Wichmann-Poetsch, Leipzig 2018 and now my minor improvement would be} a5 $5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba6 16. a3 {or} (16. Nfd2 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 (17. Rc2 h6 $13) 17... cxd3 18. Rxc7 Nd5 19. Rcc1 Rfb8 $44 {with excellent compensation.}) 16... N4d5 17. Rc2 Rfb8 18. Nfd2 Ra7 $1 $13) (11. Qc1 Bb7 {an interesting alternative could be} (11... Nb4 $5 12. Nc3 (12. Rd1 {another important line} Bb7 {see 11...Bb7}) 12... a5 $5 13. Rd1 Ba6 14. a3 N4d5 15. Nxd5 $6 {Mishra-Velten, Budapest 2021 and now the right recapture would have been} exd5 $1 $146 16. h3 Bc8 17. Qc2 a4 18. Nh2 Be6 $15) 12. Rd1 ({In case of} 12. Nc3 Nb4 13. Rd1 Rb8 {see via 11. Nc3 move roder}) ({Black main idea can be seen from the following line} 12. Bxc4 a6 $1 13. Na3 Nxc4 14. Nxc4 {or} (14. Qxc4 Nb4 15. Qe2 a5 16. Nc4 Qd7 $44) 14... Qd5 $1 15. Rd1 h6 $44) 12... Nb4 13. a3 {after} (13. Na3 {runs into} Nd3 14. Bxd3 Bxf3 $1 15. gxf3 cxd3 16. Rxd3 c5 17. Nc4 $6 Qd5 $1 18. Nxb6 axb6 $36 {Hardarson-Ivic, Reykjavik 2021}) (13. Ne1 N4d5 14. Bxc4 Nxe3 15. fxe3 Bg5 16. b3 {two games arrived to this position. I suggest the following new idea} Nxc4 $146 17. bxc4 f6 $1 $44 {easier play for Black.}) 13... N4d5 14. Nc3 (14. Bxc4 $2 Nxe3 15. fxe3 a6 $19) 14... Rb8 15. Nxd5 {clearly worse for White} (15. Nd2 $2 Nxe3 16. fxe3 c5 $1 $36 17. Nxc4 $140 Nxc4 18. Bxc4 cxd4 19. exd4 Bg5 $1 20. Qc2 Be3+ 21. Kh1 Qh4 $19 {Zadruzny-Ochsner, Kragero 2022}) 15... Qxd5 16. Bf1 {Sturt-Park, Budapest 2022 a simple} Bc6 $146 17. Nd2 Rfc8 $11 {would lead to balanced game.}) 11... Rb8 12. a3 {I examined White other possibilities:} (12. Qc1 Nb4 13. Rd1 {another line here} (13. Nd2 Ba6 14. b3 (14. Re1 $6 Nd3 $1 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Nce4 Nd5 17. a3 Bb7 $15 {Mendonca-Stoyanov, Kavala 2021}) 14... cxb3 15. Bxa6 b2 $1 16. Qxb2 Nxa6 17. Nb3 Nd5 18. Ne4 {Lombaers-Rakotomaharo, Belgium 2022 and now I like} Qe8 $146 {with equal play.}) 13... Bb7 14. Nd2 (14. a3 N4d5 {covered via 13. a3}) (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 a6 16. Nd2 N6d5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. Bf3 {Real de Azua-Flores, Buenos Aires 2017 and now natural} Qd7 $146 19. Ne4 Rfd8 {with comfortable play for Black.}) 14... Qe8 {very similar to 14...Qd7, I like the idea just be away from d-file just in case} 15. a3 {other moves:} (15. Nde4 N6d5 16. Nxd5 {Now I really like to recapture with bishop} (16. Bxc4 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bxe4 18. cxb4 Bxb4 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Qd7 $11 {Dessaules-Van Habberney, ICCF email 2018}) 16... Bxd5 $146 17. f3 {or} (17. Nc3 Bb7 18. Bf1 (18. Bxc4 {see 15. Nxc4}) 18... Qc6 19. b3 cxb3 20. axb3 a6 21. Qd2 Rfd8 {with complex but balanced play.}) 17... Qb5 18. Kh1 a5 19. b3 Qc6 $1 20. Bxc4 {or} (20. bxc4 Bxe4 21. fxe4 Qxe4 22. Bf3 Qf5 $1 23. Rd2 c5 $132) 20... a4 $44) ({The main idea can be seen from the folowng line} 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 Bxg2 $1 17. a3 {critical continuation} (17. Kxg2 $6 Qc6+ 18. d5 $6 (18. Kg1 $142 Qxc4 $15) 18... Qxc4 19. Rd4 Qa6 20. a3 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Qxc7 Qe6 $36 {Brynell-Ochsner, Germany 2022}) 17... Bd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Qxc7 f5 $11) 15... Nd3 16. Qc2 f5 $1 17. exf6 Qg6 $1 {the point} 18. Bf1 Rxf6 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Qxd3 Nxe3 21. Qxg6 $2 (21. Qxe3 $142 Rbf8 $44) 21... Rxg6 22. fxe3 Bxg2 $1 $19 {Rasmussen-Ochsner, Denmark 2022}) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. Qb1 {only one game saw} (14. Qd2 {Stefansson-Royal, Nova Gorica 2022 I like here} a5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba8 $13 {with complicated middlegame.}) 14... a5 15. Rd1 {Nguyen-Hassemeier, Pardubice 2022 an important improvement here} (15. Qe4 {happened in Aditya-Indjic, Tashkent 2022} Nb4 $146 16. Qg4 Kh8 17. Rxa5 N6d5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bc4 c5 20. Ra4 Nc2 $44) 15... Nb4 $146 16. Rxa5 {another line} (16. Ne4 h6 $1 17. Rxa5 Ra8 $1 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. Nc5 Bd5 $44) 16... N6d5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Bc4 Qd7 $44) (12. Rc1 Bb7 13. Na4 {I would like to mention also} (13. Qc2 $6 Nb4 14. Qb1 {occured in two games} Bxf3 $1 {looks like a nice improvement upon Black play} 15. Bxf3 (15. gxf3 f5 $1 16. exf6 Rxf6 $36) 15... Nd3 16. Rcd1 c5 17. Be4 (17. dxc5 Nd7 $15) 17... cxd4 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 Nc4 {interesting to check} (19... dxe3 $5 20. Rxd8 exf2+ 21. Rxf2 Rfxd8 $44) 20. Rxd4 Qc7 21. Bc1 Rfd8 $11) (13. Qd2 Nb4 14. Rfd1 {another example here} (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 {Sarana-Alekseenko, Yaroslavl 2019} N4d5 $15) 14... Qd7 15. Bg5 Bxf3 $1 16. Bxe7 ({bettwe would have been} 16. gxf3 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 f5 $1 $15) (16. Bxf3 $2 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 Nd3 $17) 16... Qxe7 17. Bxf3 Nd3 18. Rb1 {Andreikin-Nakamura, Chess.com 2023} c5 $1 $15) 13... Na5 {interesting to check} (13... Nb4 $5 14. Nxb6 cxb6 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bb3 a5 $44) 14. Nc5 (14. Bd2 {Gharibyan-Bjerre, Porto Carras 2018 I would recommend} Nc6 $146 {and it seems like White has nothing better than} 15. Be3 {with repetition}) (14. Nxb6 $6 cxb6 15. Nd2 b5 $15 {Sharavdorj-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 14... Bxc5 15. dxc5 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 {Checa-Tabatabaei, Chess.com 2020 a very strong improvement} Na4 $1 $146 17. Bd2 Nc6 18. Bc3 Rfd8 $1 19. Bxc4 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Na5 21. Be2 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Nc4 $15) (12. Qc2 Nb4 13. Qd2 {Mamedyarov-Firouzja, Zagreb 2022 a natural improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rfd1 Ba8 $13) 12... Na5 13. Qc2 Nd5 {a good alternative} (13... Bb7 $5 {for example} 14. Rad1 Qd7 15. Rfe1 h6 16. Nd2 {Assaubayeva-Svane, chess24.com 2022 and now} Rfd8 $146 17. h3 Ba8 $13 {with complex game.}) 14. Rad1 Ba6 15. Bd2 Nb3 16. Ne4 Nxd2 17. Rxd2 (17. Nfxd2 {would run into} c3 $1 18. Bxa6 Rxb2 19. Qc1 Rb6 $1 20. Be2 cxd2 21. Rxd2 Qd7 $11) 17... Rb3 $146 {the game has continued} (17... Nf4 $5 18. Bxc4 Rxb2 {the point} 19. Qxb2 Bxc4 20. Rc1 Bd5 $44 {with interesting compensation Radjabov-Firouzja, Madrid 2022:} (20... Nd3 $5 21. Rxd3 Bxd3 22. Nc5 Bf5 $13)) 18. Bxc4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qb8 20. Qc2 Qb7 21. Ne1 Nf4 22. h4 {or} (22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 g5 $1 24. c6 Qb5 $44) 22... Rb8 23. g3 Nd5 24. Nd3 Ne3 $1 25. fxe3 Qxe4 26. Re1 g5 $1 $132) (10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be3 {see 10.Be3} (11. Qd2 Bb7 {see 10.Qd2 11.Nc3 line}) (11. b3 $6 cxb3 12. axb3 Bb7 13. Be3 Nb4 14. Qd2 a5 15. Rfd1 N6d5 $15 {Seel-Shimanov, Chess.com 2021})) (10. Qc2 a6 11. Nc3 {I also checked} (11. Na3 Bxa3 12. bxa3 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 (14. Bb2 Qc5 15. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) 14... Qxe5 15. Bf3 Rb8 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Bc5 Qg5 $1 18. Bxb6 (18. Bb4 a5 $1 $15) 18... Rxb6 19. Qxc4 Qe7 20. Rac1 $11) 11... Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bf3 Rb8 14. Qe2 $6 Qd3 $1 15. Qe1 Bb7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. Be3 O-O 18. Rd1 Qf5 $17 {Aronian-Maghsoodloo, Kolkata 2021}) (10. a3 $5 {Two games reached this position} Bb7 $146 11. Be3 Na5 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Rad1 {one game featured} (13. Rac1 {Rustemov-Kosteniuk, Chess.com 2022} Qd7 $146 14. Nc3 Nb3 15. Rcd1 Qc6 $13) 13... Qd7 14. Nc3 Qc6 15. Ne1 (15. Rfe1 Rfd8 16. Bf1 {Anton Guijarro-Del Rio de Angelis, Linares 2015 Black should have played} Nb3 $146 17. Bg5 Qe8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 $13) 15... Rab8 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Bd2 Rfb8 $11 {Narayanan-Bartel, El Prat de Llobregat 2019}) (10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 O-O 13. Qd2 {another line} (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc1 {Pogorelov-Abdusattorov, Castelldefels 2021 now simple} Rfd8 $146 15. Rd1 h6 $15) 13... a6 14. Nc3 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 Qe7 16. Rfa1 Qb4 $1 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Rozum, Kazan 2018}) 10... Bb7 (10... O-O 11. Rd1 {scores amazingly for White on practice.}) {??N2026??0518L??} 11. Rd1 (11. Nc3 O-O 12. Rd1 {another line} (12. Qf4 Nb4 13. Qg4 {another game featured} (13. Rd1 f5 $1 14. Qg3 Qe8 15. b3 {another game here saw} (15. h4 Nc2 (15... N4d5 $5 {worth considering}) 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 $1 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Nxd4 21. Rxd4 (21. Bf1 $5 c5 $11) 21... Rxd4 22. Nxe6 Rxh4 23. Nxf8 Kxf8 $15 {Garriga Cazorla-Sosa, Castelldefels 2021}) 15... Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Kf7 20. Bxe7 Kxe7 21. Rbc1 Bxf3 22. Rxc2 (22. Bxf3 $2 Nxd4 $17) 22... cxb3 23. axb3 Bxe2 24. Nxe2 Nd5 25. h4 Rb8 $11 {Goreczny-Chumanov, LSS email 2019}) 13... Kh8 14. Rd1 {five game arrived to this position. I would like to recommend a new idea} Qe8 $5 $146 15. Bf4 {another direction here} (15. Qh3 Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 f6 19. Be3 Nxe3 20. Qxe3 Qg6 21. Bf1 Rf7 $13) 15... Rb8 16. Rac1 Ba8 17. h4 a5 ({a good alternative would be} 17... N4d5 $5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxc4 Rxb2 20. Ng5 c5 $132) 18. Nd2 Nd3 $1 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Nde4 Na4 $1 21. Rxd3 Nxc3 22. Nxc3 Rxb2 23. d5 (23. Rg3 Rg8 $13) 23... Rb4 $1 24. Qg3 Qd7 25. d6 cxd6 26. exd6 Bd8 $13) 12... Nb4 13. a3 (13. Qf4 {see 13. Rd1}) 13... a5 $1 $146 {this time it looks working well for Black. The game continued} (13... N4d5 14. Ne4 $14 {Narayanan-Erenberg, Sitges 2019}) 14. Re1 ({after} 14. Qf4 {Black has} N4d5 15. Qg4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Kh8 17. Ng5 Rb8 18. Qh5 $140 $6 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Qd5 20. Bf3 Qb5 $15) 14... Nd3 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Qxd3 c5 17. Be3 Rb8 $44) 11... Qd7 {here I checked five continuations:} {??N2026??0518L??} 12. Nc3 {[%mdl 32768]} (12. Qf4 g5 $5 {more aggressive than} (12... Nb4 13. Nc3 {see 12.Nc3}) 13. Qg3 {dangeorus for White to accept pawn sacrifice} (13. Nxg5 $6 Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Ne7 15. d5 Nbxd5 {one good example here} 16. a4 Rg8 17. Qd2 a6 18. Nd4 O-O-O 19. f3 Ng6 20. Bxc4 c5 21. Nc2 $2 Nh4 $19 {Erdos-Xiong, Saint Louis 2019}) 13... O-O-O 14. b3 (14. d5 $5 {happened in Dubov-Matlakov, St Petersburg 2018 after correct} Nxd5 $146 15. Bxc4 Rhg8 $13 {with double-edged play.}) 14... cxb3 15. axb3 Nd5 16. Bd2 Kb8 17. Ra4 $2 {Maerevoet-Tilicheev, Primorsko 2021} ({Better for White would have been} 17. Nc3 Rhg8 $13) 17... Rhg8 $17 18. Nc3 g4 19. Ne1 Nb6 $17) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Nb4 14. Nc3 O-O 15. Bb2 {other move are less impressive:} (15. Qb2 $6 {Zhang-Sethuraman, Tianjin 2020} Rfb8 $15) (15. Qf4 $2 N4d5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qd2 Bb4 18. Qc2 Nc3 19. Ng5 Nxe2+ 20. Qxe2 {Siddharth-Ibrahimli, Chess.com 2022 Black missed powerful} Qd5 $1 $146 21. f3 Qxb3 $17) 15... a5 16. Rac1 Rfc8 $15 {Urkedal-Hillarp Persson, Fagernes 2021} (16... Rfb8 $5)) (12. a4 Nb4 13. Na3 $6 {Bu-Xiong, chess24. com 2020 I don't see the reason to refrain from} ({A better idea for White would be} 13. Qf4 {here I checked the following line} O-O 14. Qg4 Kh8 $1 15. Na3 Qxa4 $1 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Nxc4 Nxc4 19. Bxc4 h6 $15 {with comfortable position for Black.}) 13... Qxa4 $146 {for instance} 14. Qf4 Nc2 15. Nxc2 Qxc2 16. Bd2 O-O $17) (12. Na3 $6 Bxa3 13. bxa3 Ne7 $1 14. Qc2 {Novikov-Papp, Germany 2022 and now simple} O-O $15 {would give Black excellent position.}) 12... Nb4 13. Qf4 {other moves} (13. a3 N4d5 {Very interesting idea could be} (13... a5 $146 {unfortunately White has very powerful} 14. b3 $1 {Black idea works really well after} (14. axb4 axb4 15. Rxa8+ Bxa8 16. Nb1 Be4 $1 $15) 14... cxb3 15. axb4 axb4 16. Rxa8+ Bxa8 17. Bb5 Bc6 $1 (17... c6 $2 18. Na4 $18) 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. Ne2 O-O $14 {although I am not sure it's objectively sufficient for Black.}) 14. Ne4 Qc6 15. Re1 {Two games reached this position. I have a new idea here} (15. Qc2 {here Black has} Nb4 $1 16. axb4 Qxe4 17. Qxe4 Bxe4 18. b5 {Ding-Praggnanandhaa, chess24. com 2021 here I like} Bc2 $5 $146 19. Re1 O-O 20. Bd2 Ba4 21. Bxc4 Nxc4 22. Rxa4 Nxd2 23. Nxd2 Rfb8 24. Rea1 Rxb5 25. Rxa7 Rxa7 26. Rxa7 Rxb2 27. Nf1 Rc2 $11) 15... h6 $5 $146 16. Bf1 (16. Ng3 $2 g5) (16. Qc2 {allows} Nb4 $1) 16... O-O 17. Qc2 Rab8 18. Bd2 Rfd8 19. Qc1 (19. Rac1 Qb5 $1) 19... Bf8 {with very complex play.}) (13. b3 cxb3 14. axb3 {see 12.b3}) 13... f5 $1 14. exf6 {the main continuation. Other moves} (14. h4 O-O-O 15. b3 {Obsivac-Mica, Olomouc 2022 I found a remarkable novelty here} g5 $3 $146 16. hxg5 {or} (16. Nxg5 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 cxd3 18. Rxd3 Bb4 19. Bd2 Rhg8 $40) 16... N4d5 17. Qd2 Bb4 18. Bb2 cxb3 19. axb3 a5 20. Qc2 h6 $40) (14. Qg3 {featured in Ding-Caruana, Saint Louis 2019 once again Black missed a remarkable} g5 $1 $146 15. Nxg5 {or} (15. b3 g4 16. Ne1 cxb3 17. axb3 h5 $15) 15... O-O-O 16. Bf3 N6d5 $44) 14... gxf6 15. Qh6 {White other options:} ({Very interesting} 15. d5 $5 {Li-Narayanan, Changsha 2019 Black should have played} N4xd5 $1 $146 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. b3 $1 e5 18. Qh4 Qe6 $1 19. bxc4 Bxc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Qh5+ Qf7 22. Qh3 Rd8 ({a bit dangeorus} 22... O-O 23. Bh6 Rfd8 24. Nh4 $44) 23. Rxd8+ Kxd8 24. Be3 Bd6 $44 {White definitely has compensation, but Black is pretty solid.}) (15. b3 {Cheparinov-Moiseenko, chess24.com 2020 Black had to play} N4d5 $146 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qh6 O-O-O 18. Bxc4 (18. bxc4 $2 Nc3 $17) 18... Rhg8 {with double-edged play.}) (15. Qg4 $6 O-O-O 16. Bf4 h5 17. Qh3 {Borhy-Brkic, Mali Losinj 2021 Black had a very nice idea} Nd3 $146 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 $140 $2 e5 $19) 15... O-O-O 16. Bf4 Rdg8 {I prefer this move to} (16... Nd3 17. Bg3 $1 Nxb2 18. Rdc1 N2a4 19. Rab1 Nxc3 20. Rxc3 Qc6 21. Bf1 $44 {Pelletier-Praggnanandhaa, Chennai 2022}) 17. Bg3 {Dreev-Sjugirov, Chess. com 2022 Black should have played} Rg6 $146 {here I checked two variations} 18. Qd2 {or} (18. Qh5 f5 19. Ne5 {or} (19. b3 Bf6 $1 20. Ne5 Qg7 21. Bf3 Ba6 $1 22. Bf4 Nd3 23. Nxd3 cxd3 24. Rac1 Bg5 25. Be5 Bf6 $11) 19... Qe8 $1 20. a3 (20. Rd2 $6 f4 21. Bxf4 Rxg2+ 22. Kf1 Rg7 $15) 20... N4d5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Bf3 Qf8 $1 23. Nxg6 hxg6 24. Qxg6 Rh6 $19) 18... h5 19. d5 $1 {critical} Rg7 $1 {this is stronger than} (19... N4xd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Nh4 Rg5 22. b3 cxb3 23. axb3 $44) 20. b3 {or} (20. dxe6 Qxd2 21. Rxd2 h4 22. Bf4 Rhg8 23. g3 hxg3 24. fxg3 Bc5+ 25. Kf1 Nd3 $36) 20... exd5 21. bxc4 d4 $1 22. Qf4 (22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. Nxd4 h4 24. Nf5 hxg3 25. Nxg7 Rg8 $1 26. Bg4+ Kb8 27. Nf5 Bc5 28. h3 gxf2+ 29. Kf1 Nxc4 $44) 22... d3 23. Bxd3 Bd6 $1 24. Qf5 Nxd3 25. Qxd3 Bxg3 26. hxg3 Qxd3 27. Rxd3 Nxc4 $11 * [Event "?N2026??0518L?"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.18"] [Round "1.3"] [Board "1"] [White "1) 5.e4 b5 (8.Be2)"] [Black "3)11.Nc3"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "34"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,34,29,25,15,3,3,12,20,11,46,53,68,82,74,64,56,52,53,61,44,60,59,39,39,41,41,15,73,24,45,40,25,25,30,22,38] ??N2026??0518L??} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 {[#]} {N2026_0517D1} 5. e4 b5 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) {N2026_0517D1} 7... Nb6 {[%mdl 1] The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} 8. Be2 (8. Be3 Nc6 9. a3 (9. Be2 {will be covered through 8.Be2 move order}) (9. Nc3 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O {once again covered through 8.Be2 move order}) 9... Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Be2 {White also tried} (11. Qc2 Ne7 $5 12. Nd2 Nf5 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. Qa4+ c6 17. O-O {Kuzubov-Pichot, Linares 2022 I like the following improvement for Black} Bc5 $146 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Rad1 Qf4 $1 $11) 11... Na5 {I would like to suggest another ideas as well} (11... Ne7 $5 12. O-O Nf5 13. b3 {second game here featured} (13. Qc1 Be7 14. Rd1 O-O 15. d5 Nxe3 16. dxe6 {Santos Latasa-Yuffa, Linares 2022} Qc6 $1 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. fxe3 (18. Qxe3 Raf8 $36) 18... Raf8 $44) 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3 {Koelle-Zelcic, Terme Catez 2022 now accurate} Bc6 $146 15. Rfc1 Be7 $11 {would lead to reliable position for Black.}) 12. h4 (12. Qc2 Be7 {see 8.Be2 move order}) 12... f5 $1 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Bf3 {Maltsevskaya-Kostenko, Cheliabinsk 2022} f5 $146 16. O-O Bd6 $15) (8. a4 Qd7 $1 9. Be2 {I checked also} (9. Na3 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxa3 {worth considering} (10... Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxa4 {after} 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O Qb4 $1 14. Qc3 O-O 15. Nxc4 Nd5 $11) 11. Rxa3 a5 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 {Vachier Lagrave-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021 I like the following improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rh4 f5 $1 $13) 9... Nc6 10. O-O {another line} (10. Be3 Bb7 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 Bb4 13. Nc3 O-O $15 {Aditya-Pranav, chess24. com 2022}) 10... Na5 11. Ng5 {worse option for White} (11. Ra2 $6 Bb7 12. Qc2 a6 13. Nc3 {Grozdanovic-Djukic, Novi Banovci 2023 and now} Qc6 $1 $146 14. Rd1 Bb4 {would secure better position for Black.}) 11... h6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Nd5 $1 15. Ra3 a6 16. Nd4 Ne7 17. Qd2 {Carlsen-Nakamura, chess24.com 2020 and now the logical improvement would be} O-O-O $1 $146 {with the following illustrative line} 18. Qxa5 Qxd4 19. Bf3 Nc6 $1 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxa6+ Bb7 22. Qb5 Qd5 $1 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Qa5 Rhg8 $11) (8. a3 Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Nc6 {transpose to 8.Be3}) (8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15) 8... Nc6 9. O-O {I examined four alternatives here:} ({The main alternative is} 9. Be3 Be7 10. a3 {other important moves:} (10. h4 $5 {played twice by Gukesh} Bb7 11. h5 Qd7 12. Nc3 {Gukesh-Abdusattorov, Warsaw 2021 Black play can be improved by means of} O-O-O $1 $146 13. Qd2 Kb8 14. Kf1 f5 $1 $15) (10. O-O {covered through 10.Be3}) 10... Bb7 11. Qc2 {the main move. In case of} (11. Nc3 Na5 {White has nothing better than} 12. Qc2 Qd7 {which takes us back to 11.Qc2}) 11... Qd7 12. Nc3 {one game saw} (12. Rd1 $6 {Rustemov-Xiong, Chess. com 2022 this allowed tactical solution} Nxe5 $1 $146 13. Nxe5 {or} (13. Nxc7+ Qxc7 14. dxe5 Rc8 $15) 13... Qxb5 14. O-O O-O 15. Nxc4 Qc6 $15) 12... Na5 13. Rd1 {other possibilitites:} (13. O-O {happened in three games. I don't see the reason to refrain from natural} O-O $146 14. Nd2 Rab8 $13 {with complex game.}) (13. h4 {is well met by} f5 $1 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Rd1 O-O-O 16. Bf4 {Maghsoodloo-Pichot, Chess.com 2023 Black could have played} ({Much worse} 16. Ne4 $6 {In the game Unuk-Guichard, Petrovac 2023 Black missed fantastic} Qa4 $1 $146 17. Qb1 Nd5 $17) 16... h5 $1 $146 17. O-O Rdg8 $36 18. Bg3 Bd6 $15) 13... f5 $5 14. exf6 {only one game featured} (14. h4 $6 O-O 15. Rg1 Rad8 $17 {Gajewski-Kollars, Legnica 2021}) 14... gxf6 15. O-O ({Once again} 15. Ne4 {met by} Qa4 $1 16. Qxa4+ $2 {better would have been} (16. Qb1 O-O-O $15) 16... Nxa4 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 {Ostlund-Crevatin, Stockholm 2022 and now the most precise would be} Bd5 $1 $146) 15... O-O-O 16. Nd2 {not working for White} (16. d5 $2 exd5 17. Nd4 {Gunina-Kosteniuk, Almaty 2022} Rhg8 $17) 16... f5 17. Bf3 Rhg8 18. g3 {White best try} (18. Kh1 {Koelle-Murphy, Arandjelovac 2022} Bxf3 $146 19. Nxf3 Bf6 $13) (18. Bxb7+ Kxb7 19. Nf3 $6 {stronger would be} (19. b4 $1 $146 cxb3 20. Nxb3 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 Qc6 $13) 19... Qc6 20. Qe2 Nb3 $15 {Martirosyan-Martin Duque, La Roda 2022}) 18... Bd6 19. Bxb7+ Kxb7 20. Nf3 {another game here continued: Harsha-Girel, Rochefort 2023 Black should have just played} (20. Rfe1 {Lazavik-Azarov, Cheliabinsk 2021 an immediate improvement might be} Rdf8 $146 21. f4 Qc6 $13) 20... Nb3 $1 $146 {with the following nice point} 21. d5 e5 22. Qe2 c5 $1 23. dxc6+ Qxc6 $13) ({Interesting idea} 9. h4 Bb7 10. Rh3 $1 {no problems for Black} (10. h5 Qd7 11. Be3 {Gunina-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022 a natural improvement would be} Bb4+ $1 $146 12. Nc3 (12. Kf1 Ne7 $15) 12... Ne7 13. Qc2 h6 {and now it's transposed to one game} 14. Rd1 Nf5 $15 {Makarian-Seo, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Bb4+ ({deserves attention} 10... Qd7 $5) 11. Kf1 Qd7 12. a3 Be7 13. Nc3 {Krysa-Mareco, Tornelo INT 2021 I like the new} O-O-O $146 14. Be3 f5 $1 15. exf6 Bxf6 $132) (9. Bg5 Be7 10. Qd2 $6 {Sarana-Tomashevsky, Satka 2018 and now simple} Bxg5 $146 11. Qxg5 Qxg5 12. Nxg5 Ke7 $1 13. Nxc7 Rb8 14. Nf3 a6 $15) (9. a3 Be7 10. Be3 {see 9.Be3}) 9... Be7 10. Qd2 {This will be our main continuation. I will examine 5 alternatives as well:} (10. Be3 O-O 11. Nc3 {other options:} (11. Qc2 Nb4 12. Qe4 (12. Qc1 Bb7 $11) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Nc3 Qxe4 14. Nxe4 {Wichmann-Poetsch, Leipzig 2018 and now my minor improvement would be} a5 $5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba6 16. a3 {or} (16. Nfd2 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 (17. Rc2 h6 $13) 17... cxd3 18. Rxc7 Nd5 19. Rcc1 Rfb8 $44 {with excellent compensation.}) 16... N4d5 17. Rc2 Rfb8 18. Nfd2 Ra7 $1 $13) (11. Qc1 Bb7 {an interesting alternative could be} (11... Nb4 $5 12. Nc3 (12. Rd1 {another important line} Bb7 {see 11...Bb7}) 12... a5 $5 13. Rd1 Ba6 14. a3 N4d5 15. Nxd5 $6 {Mishra-Velten, Budapest 2021 and now the right recapture would have been} exd5 $1 $146 16. h3 Bc8 17. Qc2 a4 18. Nh2 Be6 $15) 12. Rd1 ({In case of} 12. Nc3 Nb4 13. Rd1 Rb8 {see via 11. Nc3 move roder}) ({Black main idea can be seen from the following line} 12. Bxc4 a6 $1 13. Na3 Nxc4 14. Nxc4 {or} (14. Qxc4 Nb4 15. Qe2 a5 16. Nc4 Qd7 $44) 14... Qd5 $1 15. Rd1 h6 $44) 12... Nb4 13. a3 {after} (13. Na3 {runs into} Nd3 14. Bxd3 Bxf3 $1 15. gxf3 cxd3 16. Rxd3 c5 17. Nc4 $6 Qd5 $1 18. Nxb6 axb6 $36 {Hardarson-Ivic, Reykjavik 2021}) (13. Ne1 N4d5 14. Bxc4 Nxe3 15. fxe3 Bg5 16. b3 {two games arrived to this position. I suggest the following new idea} Nxc4 $146 17. bxc4 f6 $1 $44 {easier play for Black.}) 13... N4d5 14. Nc3 (14. Bxc4 $2 Nxe3 15. fxe3 a6 $19) 14... Rb8 15. Nxd5 {clearly worse for White} (15. Nd2 $2 Nxe3 16. fxe3 c5 $1 $36 17. Nxc4 $140 Nxc4 18. Bxc4 cxd4 19. exd4 Bg5 $1 20. Qc2 Be3+ 21. Kh1 Qh4 $19 {Zadruzny-Ochsner, Kragero 2022}) 15... Qxd5 16. Bf1 {Sturt-Park, Budapest 2022 a simple} Bc6 $146 17. Nd2 Rfc8 $11 {would lead to balanced game.}) 11... Rb8 12. a3 {I examined White other possibilities:} (12. Qc1 Nb4 13. Rd1 {another line here} (13. Nd2 Ba6 14. b3 (14. Re1 $6 Nd3 $1 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Nce4 Nd5 17. a3 Bb7 $15 {Mendonca-Stoyanov, Kavala 2021}) 14... cxb3 15. Bxa6 b2 $1 16. Qxb2 Nxa6 17. Nb3 Nd5 18. Ne4 {Lombaers-Rakotomaharo, Belgium 2022 and now I like} Qe8 $146 {with equal play.}) 13... Bb7 14. Nd2 (14. a3 N4d5 {covered via 13. a3}) (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 a6 16. Nd2 N6d5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. Bf3 {Real de Azua-Flores, Buenos Aires 2017 and now natural} Qd7 $146 19. Ne4 Rfd8 {with comfortable play for Black.}) 14... Qe8 {very similar to 14...Qd7, I like the idea just be away from d-file just in case} 15. a3 {other moves:} (15. Nde4 N6d5 16. Nxd5 {Now I really like to recapture with bishop} (16. Bxc4 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bxe4 18. cxb4 Bxb4 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Qd7 $11 {Dessaules-Van Habberney, ICCF email 2018}) 16... Bxd5 $146 17. f3 {or} (17. Nc3 Bb7 18. Bf1 (18. Bxc4 {see 15. Nxc4}) 18... Qc6 19. b3 cxb3 20. axb3 a6 21. Qd2 Rfd8 {with complex but balanced play.}) 17... Qb5 18. Kh1 a5 19. b3 Qc6 $1 20. Bxc4 {or} (20. bxc4 Bxe4 21. fxe4 Qxe4 22. Bf3 Qf5 $1 23. Rd2 c5 $132) 20... a4 $44) ({The main idea can be seen from the folowng line} 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 Bxg2 $1 17. a3 {critical continuation} (17. Kxg2 $6 Qc6+ 18. d5 $6 (18. Kg1 $142 Qxc4 $15) 18... Qxc4 19. Rd4 Qa6 20. a3 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Qxc7 Qe6 $36 {Brynell-Ochsner, Germany 2022}) 17... Bd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Qxc7 f5 $11) 15... Nd3 16. Qc2 f5 $1 17. exf6 Qg6 $1 {the point} 18. Bf1 Rxf6 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Qxd3 Nxe3 21. Qxg6 $2 (21. Qxe3 $142 Rbf8 $44) 21... Rxg6 22. fxe3 Bxg2 $1 $19 {Rasmussen-Ochsner, Denmark 2022}) (12. b3 cxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. Qb1 {only one game saw} (14. Qd2 {Stefansson-Royal, Nova Gorica 2022 I like here} a5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba8 $13 {with complicated middlegame.}) 14... a5 15. Rd1 {Nguyen-Hassemeier, Pardubice 2022 an important improvement here} (15. Qe4 {happened in Aditya-Indjic, Tashkent 2022} Nb4 $146 16. Qg4 Kh8 17. Rxa5 N6d5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bc4 c5 20. Ra4 Nc2 $44) 15... Nb4 $146 16. Rxa5 {another line} (16. Ne4 h6 $1 17. Rxa5 Ra8 $1 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. Nc5 Bd5 $44) 16... N6d5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Bc4 Qd7 $44) (12. Rc1 Bb7 13. Na4 {I would like to mention also} (13. Qc2 $6 Nb4 14. Qb1 {occured in two games} Bxf3 $1 {looks like a nice improvement upon Black play} 15. Bxf3 (15. gxf3 f5 $1 16. exf6 Rxf6 $36) 15... Nd3 16. Rcd1 c5 17. Be4 (17. dxc5 Nd7 $15) 17... cxd4 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 Nc4 {interesting to check} (19... dxe3 $5 20. Rxd8 exf2+ 21. Rxf2 Rfxd8 $44) 20. Rxd4 Qc7 21. Bc1 Rfd8 $11) (13. Qd2 Nb4 14. Rfd1 {another example here} (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 {Sarana-Alekseenko, Yaroslavl 2019} N4d5 $15) 14... Qd7 15. Bg5 Bxf3 $1 16. Bxe7 ({bettwe would have been} 16. gxf3 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 f5 $1 $15) (16. Bxf3 $2 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 Nd3 $17) 16... Qxe7 17. Bxf3 Nd3 18. Rb1 {Andreikin-Nakamura, Chess.com 2023} c5 $1 $15) 13... Na5 {interesting to check} (13... Nb4 $5 14. Nxb6 cxb6 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bb3 a5 $44) 14. Nc5 (14. Bd2 {Gharibyan-Bjerre, Porto Carras 2018 I would recommend} Nc6 $146 {and it seems like White has nothing better than} 15. Be3 {with repetition}) (14. Nxb6 $6 cxb6 15. Nd2 b5 $15 {Sharavdorj-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 14... Bxc5 15. dxc5 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 {Checa-Tabatabaei, Chess.com 2020 a very strong improvement} Na4 $1 $146 17. Bd2 Nc6 18. Bc3 Rfd8 $1 19. Bxc4 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Na5 21. Be2 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Nc4 $15) (12. Qc2 Nb4 13. Qd2 {Mamedyarov-Firouzja, Zagreb 2022 a natural improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rfd1 Ba8 $13) 12... Na5 13. Qc2 Nd5 {a good alternative} (13... Bb7 $5 {for example} 14. Rad1 Qd7 15. Rfe1 h6 16. Nd2 {Assaubayeva-Svane, chess24.com 2022 and now} Rfd8 $146 17. h3 Ba8 $13 {with complex game.}) 14. Rad1 Ba6 15. Bd2 Nb3 16. Ne4 Nxd2 17. Rxd2 (17. Nfxd2 {would run into} c3 $1 18. Bxa6 Rxb2 19. Qc1 Rb6 $1 20. Be2 cxd2 21. Rxd2 Qd7 $11) 17... Rb3 $146 {the game has continued} (17... Nf4 $5 18. Bxc4 Rxb2 {the point} 19. Qxb2 Bxc4 20. Rc1 Bd5 $44 {with interesting compensation Radjabov-Firouzja, Madrid 2022:} (20... Nd3 $5 21. Rxd3 Bxd3 22. Nc5 Bf5 $13)) 18. Bxc4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qb8 20. Qc2 Qb7 21. Ne1 Nf4 22. h4 {or} (22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 g5 $1 24. c6 Qb5 $44) 22... Rb8 23. g3 Nd5 24. Nd3 Ne3 $1 25. fxe3 Qxe4 26. Re1 g5 $1 $132) (10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be3 {see 10.Be3} (11. Qd2 Bb7 {see 10.Qd2 11.Nc3 line}) (11. b3 $6 cxb3 12. axb3 Bb7 13. Be3 Nb4 14. Qd2 a5 15. Rfd1 N6d5 $15 {Seel-Shimanov, Chess.com 2021})) (10. Qc2 a6 11. Nc3 {I also checked} (11. Na3 Bxa3 12. bxa3 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 (14. Bb2 Qc5 15. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) 14... Qxe5 15. Bf3 Rb8 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Bc5 Qg5 $1 18. Bxb6 (18. Bb4 a5 $1 $15) 18... Rxb6 19. Qxc4 Qe7 20. Rac1 $11) 11... Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bf3 Rb8 14. Qe2 $6 Qd3 $1 15. Qe1 Bb7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. Be3 O-O 18. Rd1 Qf5 $17 {Aronian-Maghsoodloo, Kolkata 2021}) (10. a3 $5 {Two games reached this position} Bb7 $146 11. Be3 Na5 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Rad1 {one game featured} (13. Rac1 {Rustemov-Kosteniuk, Chess.com 2022} Qd7 $146 14. Nc3 Nb3 15. Rcd1 Qc6 $13) 13... Qd7 14. Nc3 Qc6 15. Ne1 (15. Rfe1 Rfd8 16. Bf1 {Anton Guijarro-Del Rio de Angelis, Linares 2015 Black should have played} Nb3 $146 17. Bg5 Qe8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 $13) 15... Rab8 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Bd2 Rfb8 $11 {Narayanan-Bartel, El Prat de Llobregat 2019}) (10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 O-O 13. Qd2 {another line} (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc1 {Pogorelov-Abdusattorov, Castelldefels 2021 now simple} Rfd8 $146 15. Rd1 h6 $15) 13... a6 14. Nc3 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 Qe7 16. Rfa1 Qb4 $1 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Rozum, Kazan 2018}) 10... Bb7 (10... O-O 11. Rd1 {scores amazingly for White on practice.}) {N2026?0518L} 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Rd1 {another line} (12. Qf4 Nb4 13. Qg4 {another game featured} (13. Rd1 f5 $1 14. Qg3 (14. exf6 $6 {[%mdl 32768]} Rxf6 $15) 14... Qe8 15. b3 {another game here saw} (15. h4 Nc2 (15... N4d5 $5 {worth considering}) 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 $1 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Nxd4 21. Rxd4 (21. Bf1 $5 c5 $11) 21... Rxd4 22. Nxe6 Rxh4 23. Nxf8 Kxf8 $15 {Garriga Cazorla-Sosa, Castelldefels 2021}) 15... Nc2 (15... cxb3 $5 {[%mdl 32768]} 16. axb3 a5 17. Bh6 Qf7 $11) 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Bh6 Qg6 18. Qxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Kf7 20. Bxe7 Kxe7 21. Rbc1 (21. bxc4 $6 {[%mdl 32768]} Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Nxd4 $15) 21... Bxf3 22. Rxc2 (22. Bxf3 $2 Nxd4 $17) 22... cxb3 23. axb3 Bxe2 24. Nxe2 Nd5 25. h4 Rb8 $11 {Goreczny-Chumanov, LSS email 2019}) 13... Kh8 14. Rd1 {five game arrived to this position. I would like to recommend a new idea} Qe8 $5 $146 15. Bf4 {another direction here} (15. Qh3 Nc2 16. Rb1 Rd8 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 f6 19. Be3 Nxe3 20. Qxe3 Qg6 21. Bf1 Rf7 $13) 15... Rb8 16. Rac1 Ba8 17. h4 a5 ({a good alternative would be} 17... N4d5 $5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxc4 Rxb2 20. Ng5 c5 $132) 18. Nd2 Nd3 $1 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Nde4 Na4 $1 21. Rxd3 Nxc3 22. Nxc3 Rxb2 23. d5 (23. Rg3 Rg8 $13) 23... Rb4 $1 24. Qg3 Qd7 25. d6 cxd6 26. exd6 Bd8 $13) 12... Nb4 13. a3 (13. Qf4 {see 13. Rd1}) 13... a5 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] this time it looks working well for Black. The game continued} (13... N4d5 14. Ne4 $14 {Narayanan-Erenberg, Sitges 2019}) 14. Re1 ({after} 14. Qf4 {Black has} N4d5 15. Qg4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Kh8 $1 $11 {[%mdl 256]} 17. Ng5 Rb8 (17... h6 {[%mdl 32768]} 18. Ne4 Na4 19. Bd2 Rb8 20. Rab1 Bxe4 21. Qxe4 Nb2 22. Rf1 Nd3 23. a4 Qd7 24. Bxd3 cxd3 25. Rxb8 Rxb8 26. Ra1 c5 27. Qxd3 cxd4 28. cxd4 Qd5 29. Be3 {½-½ Deues,E-Figura,A Team-ch L21K2-H(1-3) freechess.de 2023}) 18. Qh5 $140 $6 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Qd5 20. Bf3 Qb5 $15) (14. axb4 {[%mdl 32768]} axb4 15. Rxa8 Qxa8 16. Nb5 Qa4 17. Nxc7 Qc6 18. d5 exd5 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 $15) ({Stockfish 18: 1)} 14. Re1 Nd3 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Qxd3 c5 17. Ne4 h6 18. h3 Qd5 19. Bf4 cxd4 20. Nd6 Bxd6 21. exd6 f6 22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. Nxd4 e5 24. Ne6 exf4 25. Nxf8 Kxf8 26. Rac1 Rd8 27. Rc5 a4 28. Rd1 Ba8 29. Rd4 g5 30. Rb5 Nd7 31. Ra5 Ne5 32. Raxa4 Kf7 33. b4 Nc6 34. Rc4 Ne5 35. Rc7+ Ke6 36. Raa7 {[%eval 30,39]}) ({Stockfish 18: 2)} 14. h4 Qd7 15. Re1 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Nd3 17. Bxa8 Nxe1 18. Be4 Nd3 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Qxd3 Bxh4 21. Be3 Be7 22. Rd1 Rd8 23. Qa6 a4 24. Qb7 h6 25. Rd2 Rf8 26. Rc2 Rd8 27. Ne2 Nd5 28. Nf4 Nxe3 29. fxe3 Bg5 30. Rxc7 Qe8 31. Qb4 Rb8 32. Qc4 Bxf4 33. exf4 Qd8 34. Qc3 Qh4 35. Qd2 Qg4 36. Rc4 Qg6 37. Rb4 Rxb4 38. axb4 Qb1+ 39. Kf2 {[%eval 23,39]}) ({Stockfish 18: 3)} 14. Qf4 N4d5 15. Qg4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Kh8 17. Re1 c5 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Bg5 Be7 20. h4 Rb8 21. Nd4 Qd7 22. Bxe7 Qxe7 23. a4 h6 24. Qg3 Bd5 25. Red1 Rfd8 26. Rdb1 Nd7 27. Rxb8 Rxb8 28. Nb5 Nc5 29. Nd6 Qc7 30. Rd1 Ne4 31. Nxe4 Bxe4 32. Rd4 Bd5 33. Rg4 Rg8 34. Kh2 Qc6 35. Bd1 Qb7 36. Bc2 {[%eval 17,39]}) ({Stockfish 18: 4)} 14. h3 Qd7 15. Re1 Nd3 16. Bxd3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 cxd3 18. Qxd3 Rab8 19. Rd1 Nd5 20. Nxd5 Qxd5 21. Qe4 Rfd8 22. Be3 Rxb2 23. Rdc1 Rc8 24. Rc3 Qd7 25. Kg2 a4 26. Rb1 Rxb1 27. Qxb1 h5 28. Qe4 Rb8 29. Qc2 Rc8 30. Qb1 Qd5 31. Qb2 Bf8 32. Qc2 Qd7 33. Rc4 Bxa3 34. Qxa4 Qxa4 35. Rxa4 Be7 36. Ra1 {[%eval 14,39]}) ({Stockfish 18: 5)} 14. Rb1 Qd7 15. b3 cxb3 16. Rxb3 N4d5 17. Ne4 Bc6 18. Ne1 f5 19. exf6 Nxf6 20. Nxf6+ Bxf6 21. Rh3 Ba4 22. Bd3 g6 23. Bc2 e5 24. Bxa4 Nxa4 25. dxe5 Qxd2 26. Bxd2 Bxe5 27. Nf3 Bb2 28. Rb1 Rfb8 29. Rh4 Nc5 30. g3 Rb6 31. Be3 Bf6 32. Rxb6 cxb6 33. Rc4 Bb2 {[%eval 7,39]}) 14... Nd3 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Qxd3 c5 17. Be3 ({Stockfish 18: 1)} 17. Ne4 Ba6 18. Qd1 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Bb7 20. Qg4 h5 21. Qf4 Bxe4 22. Qxe4 Qd5 23. Nf3 Qxe4 24. Rxe4 Rfc8 25. g3 Nd5 26. Kf1 Rab8 27. Ra4 Rc5 28. Rd4 Rcc8 29. Ne1 Rb3 30. Rd3 Rb7 31. Nf3 f6 32. Rd4 Rbc7 33. Bd2 Rc2 {[%eval 24,31]}) ({Stockfish 18: 2)} 17. Rd1 Nd5 18. Be3 Nxc3 19. Qxc3 cxd4 20. Nxd4 Qd5 21. Nf3 Qb5 22. Qc7 Rfe8 23. a4 Qb4 24. Bd2 Qb3 25. Qc3 Qb6 26. Nd4 Red8 27. Be3 Bb4 28. Qc4 Bd5 29. Qe2 Qc7 30. Bg5 Rdc8 31. h3 h6 32. Bf4 Qb7 33. Qg4 Kh7 34. Nb5 Rc2 35. Be3 {[%eval 16,31]}) ({Stockfish 18: 3)} 17. Be3 cxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Ra7 20. Qe4 Rd7 21. Ne2 Nc4 22. Kg2 Nd2 23. Qe3 Nc4 24. Qc1 Nb6 25. Qf4 Nd5 26. Qe4 Qb8 27. Rac1 Bd8 28. Rc5 Rb7 29. Rc4 Bb6 30. b3 h6 31. Rec1 Rd7 32. h4 Kh8 33. Rd1 {[%eval 16,30]}) ({Stockfish 18: 4)} 17. h3 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 cxd4 19. Rd1 Nc4 20. Qe4 Qc7 21. Rxd4 Rac8 22. Nd1 Rfd8 23. Bf4 Rxd4 24. Qxd4 g5 25. Be3 Nxe3 26. Nxe3 Rd8 27. Qe4 Qc5 28. Rd1 Rxd1+ 29. Nxd1 h6 30. g3 Qb6 31. Kg2 Kg7 32. Qc4 Bf8 {[%eval 6,30]}) ({Stockfish 18: 5)} 17. Bf4 Nd5 18. Bd2 Nxc3 19. Bxc3 h6 20. Rac1 Rc8 21. h3 Qb6 22. Red1 Rfd8 23. Qd2 Ra8 24. Qf4 Rac8 25. Qd2 {[%eval 0,30]}) 17... Rb8 $44 (17... cxd4 18. Nxd4 Qc7 19. Rac1 Qxe5 20. Nxe6 Qxe6 21. Bxb6 Qxb6 22. Rxe7 Qxb2 23. Rb1 Ba6 {Stockfish 18: 1)} 24. Qxh7+ ({Stockfish 18: 2)} 24. Rxb2 Bxd3 25. Rbb7 Rfc8 26. Rbc7 Rxc7 27. Rxc7 Rb8 28. Rc5 f5 29. h3 Rb3 30. a4 Ra3 31. Kh2 f4 32. f3 h6 33. h4 Kf7 34. g3 {[%eval 13,25]}) ({Stockfish 18: 3)} 24. Re3 Qxa3 25. Qd4 Rad8 26. Qe5 Rd3 27. Rg3 Rxg3 28. hxg3 Bd3 29. Rb7 Qa1+ 30. Kh2 h6 31. Ra7 Rc8 32. Rc7 Rxc7 33. Qxc7 Bf5 34. Nd5 Be6 35. Nf4 a4 {[%eval 0,25]}) ({Stockfish 18: 4)} 24. Qd4 Qxa3 25. Re3 Rad8 26. Qe5 Rd3 27. Rg3 Rxg3 28. hxg3 Bd3 29. Rb7 Qa1+ 30. Kh2 h6 31. Ra7 Rc8 32. Rc7 Rxc7 33. Qxc7 Bf5 34. Nd5 Be6 35. Nf4 Qb2 {[%eval 0,25]}) ({Stockfish 18: 5)} 24. Nd1 Qa2 25. Qb3 Qxb3 26. Rxb3 Rfc8 27. Rc3 Rxc3 28. Nxc3 Kf8 29. Rc7 Rc8 30. Rxc8+ Bxc8 31. f3 Ke7 32. Kf2 Kd6 33. Ke3 Kc5 34. Na4+ Kb5 35. Nb2 h5 36. Kd4 Bb7 37. Nd3 Ba8 38. h3 {[%eval -8,24]}) 24... Kxh7 25. Rxb2 Rac8 26. Re3 Rfd8 27. h3 Rd3 28. Ne4 Rxe3 29. fxe3 f6 30. Rb3 Rc4 31. Nd6 Rc1+ 32. Kh2 Rc2 33. e4 a4 34. Rg3 Rc7 35. h4 Rd7 36. e5 fxe5 37. Ne4 Rd4 {[%eval 18,25]}) * [Event "?N2026??0518L?"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.18"] [Round "1.3"] [Board "2"] [White "1) 5.e4 b5 (8.Be2)"] [Black "2) 10.Be3 (fin 10.Qd2)"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "52"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,52,28,18,15,15,15,15,21,25,48,55,52,47,49,49,49,49,57,43,46,38,45,44,38,36,32,27,26,10,51,45,45,34,31,39,88,99,101,90,68,42,56,53,57,53,34,42,73,79,79,49,54,32,80] ??N2026??0518L??} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 {[#]} {N2026_0517D1} 5. e4 b5 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) {N2026_0517D1} 7... Nb6 {[%mdl 1] The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} 8. Be2 (8. Be3 Nc6 9. a3 (9. Be2 {will be covered through 8.Be2 move order}) (9. Nc3 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O {once again covered through 8.Be2 move order}) 9... Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Be2 {White also tried} (11. Qc2 Ne7 $5 12. Nd2 Nf5 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. Qa4+ c6 17. O-O {Kuzubov-Pichot, Linares 2022 I like the following improvement for Black} Bc5 $146 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Rad1 Qf4 $1 $11) 11... Na5 {I would like to suggest another ideas as well} (11... Ne7 $5 12. O-O Nf5 13. b3 {second game here featured} (13. Qc1 Be7 14. Rd1 O-O 15. d5 Nxe3 16. dxe6 {Santos Latasa-Yuffa, Linares 2022} Qc6 $1 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. fxe3 (18. Qxe3 Raf8 $36) 18... Raf8 $44) 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3 {Koelle-Zelcic, Terme Catez 2022 now accurate} Bc6 $146 15. Rfc1 Be7 $11 {would lead to reliable position for Black.}) 12. h4 (12. Qc2 Be7 {see 8.Be2 move order}) 12... f5 $1 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Bf3 {Maltsevskaya-Kostenko, Cheliabinsk 2022} f5 $146 16. O-O Bd6 $15) (8. a4 Qd7 $1 9. Be2 {I checked also} (9. Na3 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxa3 {worth considering} (10... Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxa4 {after} 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O Qb4 $1 14. Qc3 O-O 15. Nxc4 Nd5 $11) 11. Rxa3 a5 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 {Vachier Lagrave-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021 I like the following improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rh4 f5 $1 $13) 9... Nc6 10. O-O {another line} (10. Be3 Bb7 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 Bb4 13. Nc3 O-O $15 {Aditya-Pranav, chess24. com 2022}) 10... Na5 11. Ng5 {worse option for White} (11. Ra2 $6 Bb7 12. Qc2 a6 13. Nc3 {Grozdanovic-Djukic, Novi Banovci 2023 and now} Qc6 $1 $146 14. Rd1 Bb4 {would secure better position for Black.}) 11... h6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Nd5 $1 15. Ra3 a6 16. Nd4 Ne7 17. Qd2 {Carlsen-Nakamura, chess24.com 2020 and now the logical improvement would be} O-O-O $1 $146 {with the following illustrative line} 18. Qxa5 Qxd4 19. Bf3 Nc6 $1 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxa6+ Bb7 22. Qb5 Qd5 $1 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Qa5 Rhg8 $11) (8. a3 Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Nc6 {transpose to 8.Be3}) (8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15) 8... Nc6 9. O-O {I examined four alternatives here:} ({The main alternative is} 9. Be3 Be7 10. a3 {other important moves:} (10. h4 $5 {played twice by Gukesh} Bb7 11. h5 Qd7 12. Nc3 {Gukesh-Abdusattorov, Warsaw 2021 Black play can be improved by means of} O-O-O $1 $146 13. Qd2 Kb8 14. Kf1 f5 $1 $15) (10. O-O {covered through 10.Be3}) 10... Bb7 11. Qc2 {the main move. In case of} (11. Nc3 Na5 {White has nothing better than} 12. Qc2 Qd7 {which takes us back to 11.Qc2}) 11... Qd7 12. Nc3 {one game saw} (12. Rd1 $6 {Rustemov-Xiong, Chess. com 2022 this allowed tactical solution} Nxe5 $1 $146 13. Nxe5 {or} (13. Nxc7+ Qxc7 14. dxe5 Rc8 $15) 13... Qxb5 14. O-O O-O 15. Nxc4 Qc6 $15) 12... Na5 13. Rd1 {other possibilitites:} (13. O-O {happened in three games. I don't see the reason to refrain from natural} O-O $146 14. Nd2 Rab8 $13 {with complex game.}) (13. h4 {is well met by} f5 $1 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Rd1 O-O-O 16. Bf4 {Maghsoodloo-Pichot, Chess.com 2023 Black could have played} ({Much worse} 16. Ne4 $6 {In the game Unuk-Guichard, Petrovac 2023 Black missed fantastic} Qa4 $1 $146 17. Qb1 Nd5 $17) 16... h5 $1 $146 17. O-O Rdg8 $36 18. Bg3 Bd6 $15) 13... f5 $5 14. exf6 {only one game featured} (14. h4 $6 O-O 15. Rg1 Rad8 $17 {Gajewski-Kollars, Legnica 2021}) 14... gxf6 15. O-O ({Once again} 15. Ne4 {met by} Qa4 $1 16. Qxa4+ $2 {better would have been} (16. Qb1 O-O-O $15) 16... Nxa4 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 {Ostlund-Crevatin, Stockholm 2022 and now the most precise would be} Bd5 $1 $146) 15... O-O-O 16. Nd2 {not working for White} (16. d5 $2 exd5 17. Nd4 {Gunina-Kosteniuk, Almaty 2022} Rhg8 $17) 16... f5 17. Bf3 Rhg8 18. g3 {White best try} (18. Kh1 {Koelle-Murphy, Arandjelovac 2022} Bxf3 $146 19. Nxf3 Bf6 $13) (18. Bxb7+ Kxb7 19. Nf3 $6 {stronger would be} (19. b4 $1 $146 cxb3 20. Nxb3 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 Qc6 $13) 19... Qc6 20. Qe2 Nb3 $15 {Martirosyan-Martin Duque, La Roda 2022}) 18... Bd6 19. Bxb7+ Kxb7 20. Nf3 {another game here continued: Harsha-Girel, Rochefort 2023 Black should have just played} (20. Rfe1 {Lazavik-Azarov, Cheliabinsk 2021 an immediate improvement might be} Rdf8 $146 21. f4 Qc6 $13) 20... Nb3 $1 $146 {with the following nice point} 21. d5 e5 22. Qe2 c5 $1 23. dxc6+ Qxc6 $13) ({Interesting idea} 9. h4 Bb7 10. Rh3 $1 {no problems for Black} (10. h5 Qd7 11. Be3 {Gunina-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022 a natural improvement would be} Bb4+ $1 $146 12. Nc3 (12. Kf1 Ne7 $15) 12... Ne7 13. Qc2 h6 {and now it's transposed to one game} 14. Rd1 Nf5 $15 {Makarian-Seo, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Bb4+ ({deserves attention} 10... Qd7 $5) 11. Kf1 Qd7 12. a3 Be7 13. Nc3 {Krysa-Mareco, Tornelo INT 2021 I like the new} O-O-O $146 14. Be3 f5 $1 15. exf6 Bxf6 $132) (9. Bg5 Be7 10. Qd2 $6 {Sarana-Tomashevsky, Satka 2018 and now simple} Bxg5 $146 11. Qxg5 Qxg5 12. Nxg5 Ke7 $1 13. Nxc7 Rb8 14. Nf3 a6 $15) (9. a3 Be7 10. Be3 {see 9.Be3}) 9... Be7 {N2026?0518L} 10. Be3 (10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be3 {see 10.Be3} (11. Qd2 Bb7 {see 10.Qd2 11.Nc3 line}) (11. b3 $6 cxb3 12. axb3 Bb7 13. Be3 Nb4 14. Qd2 a5 15. Rfd1 N6d5 $15 {Seel-Shimanov, Chess.com 2021})) (10. Qc2 a6 11. Nc3 {I also checked} (11. Na3 Bxa3 12. bxa3 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 (14. Bb2 Qc5 15. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) 14... Qxe5 15. Bf3 Rb8 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Bc5 Qg5 $1 18. Bxb6 (18. Bb4 a5 $1 $15) 18... Rxb6 19. Qxc4 Qe7 20. Rac1 $11) 11... Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bf3 Rb8 14. Qe2 $6 Qd3 $1 15. Qe1 Bb7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. Be3 O-O 18. Rd1 Qf5 $17 {Aronian-Maghsoodloo, Kolkata 2021}) (10. a3 $5 {Two games reached this position} Bb7 $146 11. Be3 Na5 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Rad1 {one game featured} (13. Rac1 {Rustemov-Kosteniuk, Chess.com 2022} Qd7 $146 14. Nc3 Nb3 15. Rcd1 Qc6 $13) 13... Qd7 14. Nc3 Qc6 15. Ne1 (15. Rfe1 Rfd8 16. Bf1 {Anton Guijarro-Del Rio de Angelis, Linares 2015 Black should have played} Nb3 $146 17. Bg5 Qe8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 $13) 15... Rab8 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Bd2 Rfb8 $11 {Narayanan-Bartel, El Prat de Llobregat 2019}) (10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 O-O 13. Qd2 {another line} (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc1 {Pogorelov-Abdusattorov, Castelldefels 2021 now simple} Rfd8 $146 15. Rd1 h6 $15) 13... a6 14. Nc3 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 Qe7 16. Rfa1 Qb4 $1 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Rozum, Kazan 2018}) 10... O-O 11. Nc3 {[%mdl 1] other options:} (11. Qc2 {[%mdl 1]} Nb4 12. Qe4 (12. Qc1 Bb7 $11) 12... Qd5 $1 13. Nc3 Qxe4 14. Nxe4 {Wichmann-Poetsch, Leipzig 2018 and now my minor improvement would be} a5 $5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba6 16. a3 {or} (16. Nfd2 Nd3 $1 17. Bxd3 (17. Rc2 h6 $13) 17... cxd3 18. Rxc7 Nd5 19. Rcc1 Rfb8 $44 {with excellent compensation.}) 16... N4d5 17. Rc2 Rfb8 18. Nfd2 Ra7 $1 $13) (11. Qc1 {[%mdl 1]} Bb7 {an interesting alternative could be} (11... Nb4 $5 12. Nc3 (12. Rd1 {another important line} Bb7 {see 11...Bb7}) 12... a5 $5 13. Rd1 Ba6 14. a3 N4d5 15. Nxd5 $6 {Mishra-Velten, Budapest 2021 and now the right recapture would have been} exd5 $1 $146 16. h3 Bc8 17. Qc2 a4 18. Nh2 Be6 $15) 12. Rd1 ({In case of} 12. Nc3 {[%mdl 1]} Nb4 13. Rd1 Rb8 {see via 11. Nc3 move roder}) ({Black main idea can be seen from the following line} 12. Bxc4 {[%mdl 1]} a6 $1 13. Na3 Nxc4 14. Nxc4 {or} (14. Qxc4 Nb4 15. Qe2 a5 16. Nc4 Qd7 $44) 14... Qd5 $1 15. Rd1 h6 $44) 12... Nb4 13. a3 {after} (13. Na3 {[%mdl 1] runs into} Nd3 14. Bxd3 Bxf3 $1 15. gxf3 cxd3 16. Rxd3 c5 17. Nc4 $6 Qd5 $1 18. Nxb6 axb6 $36 {Hardarson-Ivic, Reykjavik 2021}) (13. Ne1 {[%mdl 1]} N4d5 14. Bxc4 Nxe3 15. fxe3 Bg5 16. b3 {two games arrived to this position. I suggest the following new idea} Nxc4 $146 17. bxc4 f6 $1 $44 {easier play for Black.}) 13... N4d5 14. Nc3 (14. Bxc4 $2 {[%mdl 1]} Nxe3 15. fxe3 a6 $19) 14... Rb8 15. Nxd5 {clearly worse for White} (15. Nd2 $2 {[%mdl 1]} Nxe3 16. fxe3 c5 $1 $36 17. Nxc4 $140 Nxc4 18. Bxc4 cxd4 19. exd4 Bg5 $1 20. Qc2 Be3+ 21. Kh1 Qh4 $19 {Zadruzny-Ochsner, Kragero 2022}) 15... Qxd5 16. Bf1 {Sturt-Park, Budapest 2022 a simple} Bc6 $146 17. Nd2 Rfc8 $11 {would lead to balanced game.}) 11... Rb8 12. a3 {[%mdl 1] I examined White other possibilities:} (12. Qc1 {[%mdl 1]} Nb4 13. Rd1 {another line here} (13. Nd2 Ba6 14. b3 (14. Re1 $6 Nd3 $1 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Nce4 Nd5 17. a3 Bb7 $15 {Mendonca-Stoyanov, Kavala 2021}) 14... cxb3 15. Bxa6 b2 $1 16. Qxb2 Nxa6 17. Nb3 Nd5 18. Ne4 {Lombaers-Rakotomaharo, Belgium 2022 and now I like} Qe8 $146 {with equal play.}) 13... Bb7 14. Nd2 (14. a3 N4d5 {covered via 13. a3}) (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 a6 16. Nd2 N6d5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. Bf3 {Real de Azua-Flores, Buenos Aires 2017 and now natural} Qd7 $146 19. Ne4 Rfd8 {with comfortable play for Black.}) 14... Qe8 {very similar to 14...Qd7, I like the idea just be away from d-file just in case} 15. a3 {other moves:} (15. Nde4 N6d5 16. Nxd5 {Now I really like to recapture with bishop} (16. Bxc4 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bxe4 18. cxb4 Bxb4 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Qd7 $11 {Dessaules-Van Habberney, ICCF email 2018}) 16... Bxd5 $146 17. f3 {or} (17. Nc3 Bb7 18. Bf1 (18. Bxc4 {see 15. Nxc4}) 18... Qc6 19. b3 cxb3 20. axb3 a6 21. Qd2 Rfd8 {with complex but balanced play.}) 17... Qb5 18. Kh1 a5 19. b3 Qc6 $1 20. Bxc4 {or} (20. bxc4 Bxe4 21. fxe4 Qxe4 22. Bf3 Qf5 $1 23. Rd2 c5 $132) 20... a4 $44) ({The main idea can be seen from the folowng line} 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 Bxg2 $1 17. a3 {critical continuation} (17. Kxg2 $6 Qc6+ 18. d5 $6 (18. Kg1 $142 Qxc4 $15) 18... Qxc4 19. Rd4 Qa6 20. a3 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Qxc7 Qe6 $36 {Brynell-Ochsner, Germany 2022}) 17... Bd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Qxc7 f5 $11 {[%mdl 32768];0-1 Guretchii,K (2112)-Razafindratsima,T (2465) EU-ch 25th Eforie Nord 2025 (1)}) 15... Nd3 16. Qc2 f5 $1 17. exf6 Qg6 $1 {the point} 18. Bf1 Rxf6 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Qxd3 Nxe3 21. Qxg6 $2 (21. Qxe3 $142 Rbf8 $44) 21... Rxg6 22. fxe3 Bxg2 $1 $19 {Rasmussen-Ochsner, Denmark 2022}) (12. b3 {[%mdl 1]} cxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. Qb1 {only one game saw} (14. Qd2 {Stefansson-Royal, Nova Gorica 2022 I like here} a5 $146 15. Rfc1 Ba8 $13 {with complicated middlegame.}) 14... a5 15. Rd1 {Nguyen-Hassemeier, Pardubice 2022 an important improvement here} (15. Qe4 {happened in Aditya-Indjic, Tashkent 2022} Nb4 $146 16. Qg4 Kh8 17. Rxa5 N6d5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bc4 c5 20. Ra4 Nc2 $44) 15... Nb4 $146 16. Rxa5 {another line} (16. Ne4 h6 $1 17. Rxa5 Ra8 $1 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. Nc5 Bd5 $44 {Stockfish 18: 1)} 20. Qb2 ({Stockfish 18: 2)} 20. Bd2 Qa3 21. Bxb4 Qxb4 22. Na6 Qxb3 23. Nxc7 Qxb1 24. Rxb1 Rc8 25. Nxd5 Nxd5 26. g3 g5 27. Kg2 Nb4 28. h3 Kg7 29. Rd1 Nd5 30. Bd3 Bd8 31. Rb1 h5 32. Rb2 g4 33. Ng1 Nc3 34. hxg4 hxg4 35. Rc2 Ba5 36. Ne2 {[%eval 25,34]}) ({Stockfish 18: 3)} 20. h3 Rb8 21. Qc1 Qa2 22. Rd2 Qa8 23. Kh2 Qc6 24. Rd1 Nd7 25. Nxd7 Qxd7 26. Bc4 Be4 27. Ne1 Qc6 28. Qd2 Nd5 29. Nd3 Nb6 30. f3 Bf5 31. Nc5 Qa8 32. Qc3 Nd5 33. Qe1 Nxe3 34. Qxe3 c6 35. Na6 Rb7 36. Rc1 Ra7 37. Nc5 {[%eval 16,33]}) ({Stockfish 18: 4)} 20. h4 Rd8 21. h5 Nd7 22. Nxd7 Rxd7 23. Qb2 Be4 24. Ra1 Qb7 25. Ne1 Nd5 26. Bd2 Rd8 27. Ra5 c6 28. Bc4 Nb6 29. Bd3 Bxd3 30. Nxd3 Nd5 31. Ra1 Rb8 32. b4 Qb6 33. g3 Bf8 34. Rc1 Bxb4 35. Bxb4 Nxb4 36. Rb1 Nd5 {[%eval 13,33]}) ({Stockfish 18: 5)} 20. Qa1 Qxa1 21. Rxa1 Rb8 22. g3 Nc6 23. Nd2 Bxc5 24. dxc5 Nc8 25. Bc4 N8e7 26. f4 Kf8 27. Kf1 Nf5 28. Bf2 Nfe7 29. Ke2 g5 30. Be3 gxf4 31. gxf4 Ke8 32. Ra4 Nb4 33. Nb1 Nbc6 34. Nc3 Bxc4+ 35. bxc4 Rb2+ 36. Bd2 {[%eval 10,33]}) 20... Rb8 21. Ra1 Qc6 22. Ne1 Nd7 23. Na4 Nb6 24. h3 Qb7 25. Bf1 Be4 26. Qe2 Bg6 27. Nxb6 cxb6 28. g3 Ra8 29. Bg2 Nd5 30. Rc1 Ba3 31. Rd1 Bb4 32. Nd3 Qa6 33. Bxd5 exd5 34. g4 Be4 35. f3 Bh7 36. Kg2 Be7 37. Bf2 Qb5 38. Qc2 Ra3 39. Qc8+ Bf8 {[%eval 26,34]}) 16... N6d5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Bc4 Qd7 $44) (12. Rc1 {[%mdl 1]} Bb7 13. Na4 {[%mdl 1] I would like to mention also} (13. Qc2 $6 {[%mdl 1]} Nb4 14. Qb1 {occured in two games} Bxf3 $1 {looks like a nice improvement upon Black play} 15. Bxf3 (15. gxf3 {[%mdl 1]} f5 $1 16. exf6 Rxf6 $36) 15... Nd3 16. Rcd1 c5 17. Be4 (17. dxc5 Nd7 $15) 17... cxd4 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Rxd3 Nc4 {interesting to check} (19... dxe3 $5 {[%mdl 1]} 20. Rxd8 exf2+ $11 {[%mdl 32768]} 21. Rxf2 ({Stockfish 18: 1)} 21. Kxf2 Bxd8 22. Qd3 Bc7 23. Re1 Rfd8 24. Qe2 Nd5 25. Rd1 Nxc3 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. bxc3 Rd5 28. Qe4 g6 29. c4 Bb6+ 30. Kf1 Ra5 31. Qe2 Bc7 32. Qf2 Bb6 33. Qb2 Bc7 34. Qc3 Rxa2 35. c5 h5 36. h3 a5 37. g3 Kg7 38. c6 h4 {[%eval 9,37]}) ({Stockfish 18: 2)} 21. Rxf2 Rfxd8 22. Ne4 Nc4 23. Qc1 Nxe5 24. Qc7 Ng6 25. Rd2 Rf8 26. Kf1 Rfc8 27. Qxa7 Ra8 28. Qb7 Rcb8 29. Qc7 Rc8 {[%eval 0,36]}) ({Stockfish 18: 3)} 21. Kh1 Rfxd8 22. Rxf2 Nc4 23. Re2 Bc5 24. b3 Bd4 25. Ne4 Nxe5 26. h3 h6 27. Rd2 Nc6 28. g4 Rd5 29. Ng3 Ne7 30. Ne2 Bb6 31. Rxd5 Nxd5 32. b4 Rc8 33. Qb3 Ne3 34. a4 Rd8 35. a5 Rd1+ 36. Ng1 Bd4 37. b5 Nxg4 38. hxg4 Rxg1+ 39. Kh2 Rxg4 40. b6 axb6 41. a6 b5 42. Qxb5 g6 43. Qe8+ Kg7 44. Qd7 Bg1+ 45. Kh3 {[%eval -16,36]}) 21... Rfxd8 $44) 20. Rxd4 Qc7 21. Bc1 Rfd8 $11) (13. Qd2 {[%mdl 1]} Nb4 14. Rfd1 {another example here} (14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 {Sarana-Alekseenko, Yaroslavl 2019} N4d5 $15) 14... Qd7 15. Bg5 Bxf3 $1 16. Bxe7 ({bettwe would have been} 16. gxf3 {[%mdl 1]} Bxg5 17. Qxg5 f5 $1 $15) (16. Bxf3 $2 {[%mdl 1]} Bxg5 17. Qxg5 Nd3 $17) 16... Qxe7 17. Bxf3 Nd3 18. Rb1 {Andreikin-Nakamura, Chess.com 2023} c5 $1 $15 {Stockfish 18: 1)} 19. Be2 ({Stockfish 18: 2)} 19. Ne4 cxd4 20. Be2 Nxe5 21. Qxd4 f6 22. Nc3 Rfd8 23. Qe3 h6 24. h3 Rbc8 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. b3 cxb3 27. Rxb3 Nbc4 28. Qc1 Kh7 29. Ne4 Nb6 30. Qa3 Rd7 31. Qxe7 Rxe7 32. Ra3 Rc7 33. Nd6 Rc6 34. f4 Ng6 {[%eval -65,26]}) ({Stockfish 18: 3)} 19. Qe3 Nd7 20. dxc5 Qxc5 21. Qxc5 N7xc5 22. Be2 Nxe5 23. f4 Ned3 24. b4 Nxb4 25. Rd4 Nbd3 26. Rxc4 Rxb1+ 27. Nxb1 Rb8 28. Nd2 g5 29. Nb3 Nxf4 30. Rxc5 Nxe2+ 31. Kf2 Nf4 32. Rxg5+ Kf8 33. Ra5 Rb7 34. g4 Rd7 35. Kf3 Ng6 36. Ke3 Ne7 37. Nd2 Nd5+ 38. Kf3 Nf6 39. Ne4 Rd3+ 40. Ke2 {[%eval -70,26]}) ({Stockfish 18: 4)} 19. dxc5 Qxc5 20. b3 Rbd8 21. Ne4 Qxe5 22. Qc3 Qxc3 23. Nxc3 cxb3 24. axb3 Ne5 25. Be2 g6 26. Bf1 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 a5 28. Ra1 Ra8 29. Ne2 Nd5 30. Nd4 Kf8 31. g3 Ke7 32. Bg2 Kd6 {[%eval -74,26]}) ({Stockfish 18: 5)} 19. Be4 cxd4 20. Ne2 Nxe5 21. Nxd4 Rfd8 22. Qa5 Qc7 23. h3 Rd7 24. Nf3 Rbd8 25. Rdc1 Nd3 26. Bxd3 Rxd3 27. Qe5 Qc6 28. Qe2 Qd5 29. Rc2 h6 30. Rbc1 Kf8 31. Ne5 Rd1+ 32. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 33. Qxd1 Rxd1+ 34. Kh2 {[%eval -105,26]}) 19... cxd4 20. Ne4 Nxe5 21. Qxd4 f6 22. Nc3 Rfd8 23. Qe3 Rbc8 24. h3 h6 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. b3 Rc8 27. Qd4 Qc5 28. Qxc5 Rxc5 29. bxc4 Ra5 30. Rb4 g5 31. a4 Kf8 32. Kf1 f5 33. Rb5 Nexc4 34. Bxc4 Nxc4 {[%eval -60,26]}) 13... Na5 {interesting to check} (13... Nb4 $5 {[%mdl 1]} 14. Nxb6 cxb6 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bb3 a5 $44 17. a3 a4 18. axb4 axb3 $11 {[%mdl 32768]} 19. Nd2 {0-1 Han,Q (2104)-Travadon,L (2492) London Classic op 15th 2025 (8)} ({Stockfish 18: 1)} 19. Ne1 Bd5 20. Nd3 Bc4 21. Qd2 Qd5 22. Nf4 Qc6 23. Rfd1 Rbd8 24. f3 f6 25. Nd3 Qd5 26. Qc3 f5 27. Ra1 g5 28. Ra7 Rd7 29. Rxd7 Qxd7 30. Ra1 Qb7 31. Nc5 Bxc5 32. bxc5 f4 33. Bf2 {[%eval 30,31]}) ({Stockfish 18: 2)} 19. Nd2 Qd5 20. f3 Bxb4 21. Nxb3 Rfc8 22. Bf2 Rxc1 23. Nxc1 Be7 24. Nd3 h6 25. h3 Qa2 26. Qa1 Ra8 27. Qxa2 Rxa2 28. Rc1 Bg5 29. Rb1 Be7 30. Kf1 Bd5 31. Be3 Bc4 32. Ke2 Bb4 33. Bc1 Ra4 34. Bd2 Be7 35. Rc1 {[%eval 19,31]}) ({Stockfish 18: 3)} 19. Qxb3 Bd5 20. Qc3 Rc8 21. Qd2 Rc4 22. Rxc4 bxc4 23. Bg5 h6 24. Bxe7 Qxe7 25. Ne1 Rb8 26. Nc2 Be4 27. Ne3 Rxb4 28. Rc1 Bd5 29. Rc2 Qb7 30. f3 Rb3 31. Qe2 Qb6 32. Rd2 c3 33. bxc3 Rxc3 34. h4 Qb3 35. Kf2 h5 36. Nxd5 Qxd5 37. Qe4 {[%eval 19,31]}) ({Stockfish 18: 4)} 19. h3 Bd5 20. Ne1 f5 21. Nd3 Rc8 22. Rxc8 Qxc8 23. Nf4 Qd7 24. Qh5 Bc4 25. Rd1 g5 26. Ng6 hxg6 27. Qxg6+ Kh8 28. Qh6+ Kg8 29. Qg6+ {[%eval 0,31]}) ({Stockfish 18: 5)} 19. Qd2 Rc8 20. Rxc8 Qxc8 21. Rc1 Qa8 22. Ne1 Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Qxc8 24. Nd3 Qc4 25. f3 h6 26. Kf2 Bd5 27. Ke1 Bh4+ 28. Bf2 Bg5 29. Be3 {[%eval 0,31]})) 14. Nc5 (14. Bd2 {[%mdl 1] Gharibyan-Bjerre, Porto Carras 2018 I would recommend} Nc6 $146 {and it seems like White has nothing better than} 15. Be3 {with repetition}) (14. Nxb6 $6 {[%mdl 1]} cxb6 15. Nd2 b5 $15 {Sharavdorj-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 14... Bxc5 15. dxc5 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 {Checa-Tabatabaei, Chess.com 2020 a very strong improvement} Na4 $1 $146 17. Bd2 Nc6 18. Bc3 Rfd8 $1 19. Bxc4 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Na5 21. Be2 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Nc4 $15 {[%mdl 1]}) (12. Qc2 {[%mdl 1]} Nb4 13. Qd2 {Mamedyarov-Firouzja, Zagreb 2022 a natural improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rfd1 Ba8 $13) 12... Na5 13. Qc2 Nd5 {a good alternative} (13... Bb7 $5 {for example} 14. Rad1 Qd7 15. Rfe1 h6 16. Nd2 {Assaubayeva-Svane, chess24.com 2022 and now} Rfd8 $146 17. h3 Ba8 $13 {with complex game.}) (13... Bd7 $5 {[%mdl 32768]} 14. Rad1 Bc6 15. Nd2 Qd7 {0-1 Giri,A (2745)-Pichot,A (2644) Titled Tuesday intern op 23rd Apr Early Chess.com INT blitz 2024 (8)}) 14. Rad1 Ba6 15. Bd2 Nb3 16. Ne4 Nxd2 17. Rxd2 (17. Nfxd2 {would run into} c3 $1 18. Bxa6 Rxb2 19. Qc1 Rb6 $1 20. Be2 cxd2 21. Rxd2 Qd7 $11) 17... Rb3 $146 {the game has continued} (17... Nf4 $5 18. Bxc4 Rxb2 {the point} 19. Qxb2 Bxc4 20. Rc1 Bd5 $44 {½-½ Radjabov,T (2753)-Firouzja,A (2793) Candidates Tournament Madrid 2022 (1) with interesting compensation Radjabov-Firouzja, Madrid 2022:} (20... Nd3 $5 21. Rxd3 Bxd3 22. Nc5 Bf5 $13)) 18. Bxc4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qb8 20. Qc2 Qb7 21. Ne1 Nf4 22. h4 {or} (22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 g5 $1 24. c6 Qb5 $44 {Stockfish 18: 1)} 25. h4 ({Stockfish 18: 2)} 25. g3 Ng6 26. a4 Qxa4 27. Nd3 Qa5 28. Nc5 Rb5 29. Ne4 Rfb8 30. Qd1 Kg7 31. Nxg5 Rxe5 32. Nf3 Rd5 33. Rxd5 Qxd5 34. Qxd5 exd5 35. Ra1 Rb6 36. Rxa7 Rxc6 37. h4 Rc1+ 38. Kg2 Ne7 39. h5 Rc2 40. b4 Nc8 41. Ra5 Nb6 42. Nd4 {[%eval 2,28]}) ({Stockfish 18: 3)} 25. Nf3 Rxf3 26. gxf3 Nh3+ 27. Kg2 Nf4+ 28. Kg1 {[%eval 0,28]}) ({Stockfish 18: 4)} 25. a4 Qxa4 26. Nd3 Rfb8 27. g3 Nxd3 28. Rxd3 Qb5 29. Rxb3 Qxb3 30. Qd2 h6 31. Qd7 Qb6 32. Rd1 Qa5 33. Qe7 Qxe5 34. Rd7 Qe1+ 35. Kg2 Qe4+ 36. Kg1 Qe1+ {[%eval 0,28]}) ({Stockfish 18: 5)} 25. Qe4 Rxb2 26. Rxb2 Qxb2 27. Nf3 Ng6 28. Rb1 Qc3 29. Nxg5 Qxe5 30. Qxe5 Nxe5 31. f4 Nxc6 32. Rc1 Nd4 33. Rxc7 Nb5 34. Rb7 Nxa3 35. Rxa7 Nc4 36. Ne4 Rb8 37. h3 h6 38. g4 Kg7 39. Ng3 Rb1+ 40. Kf2 Rb2+ 41. Ke1 {[%eval -7,28]}) 25... gxh4 26. Nf3 h3 27. Qe4 Ng6 28. Nd4 h2+ 29. Kxh2 Qxf1 30. Nxb3 Qb5 31. Qe3 Qxe5+ 32. Qxe5 Nxe5 33. Na5 Rb8 34. b4 Kg7 35. f4 Ng4+ 36. Kh3 Nf6 37. Nb7 Nd5 38. g3 Kf6 39. Re2 Ke7 40. b5 {[%eval 14,28]}) ({Stockfish 18: 1)} 22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 g5 24. c6 Qb5 25. h4 Rh3 26. gxh3 Nxh3+ 27. Kh2 Qxf1 28. Ng2 g4 29. Qd1 Qxd1 30. Rxd1 Rb8 31. Rd7 Rxb2 32. Rxc7 Rc2 33. h5 Kg7 34. Kg3 Nxf2 35. Ne3 h6 {[%eval 18,26]}) ({Stockfish 18: 2)} 22. h4 Rb8 23. g3 Nd5 24. Nd3 Ne3 25. fxe3 Qxe4 26. Re1 g5 27. Nb4 Qxc2 28. Rxc2 Bxb4 29. axb4 R8xb4 30. Rxc7 gxh4 31. gxh4 Rxb2 32. Rf1 Re2 33. Rcxf7 Rxe3 34. Rf8+ Kg7 35. R1f7+ Kh6 36. Rxa7 Rxd4 37. Rf6+ Kh5 38. Rxh7+ Kg4 39. Rg7+ Kh5 40. Rg2 {[%eval 4,26]}) ({Stockfish 18: 3)} 22. g3 Nh3+ 23. Kh1 Rb8 24. f3 Ng5 25. Nc3 Rxb2 26. Qxb2 Qxb2 27. Rxb2 Rxb2 28. h4 Nh3 29. Ne4 g5 30. Nd3 Re2 31. hxg5 Nxg5 32. Nxg5 Bxg5 33. f4 Rd2 34. Nb4 Be7 35. Rc1 Rxd4 36. Rxc7 Bxb4 37. axb4 Rxb4 38. Rxa7 Rc4 39. Kh2 {[%eval -7,26]}) ({Stockfish 18: 4)} 22. f3 Qb6 23. g3 Nd5 24. Rff2 Rb8 25. Qc4 Ne3 26. Qa4 Rb5 27. Nc2 Nd5 28. Ne1 c5 29. dxc5 Bxc5 30. Nxc5 Qxc5 31. Nd3 Qb6 32. Nf4 Ne3 33. Ng2 Nf5 34. h4 {[%eval -18,26]}) ({Stockfish 18: 5)} 22. Nc3 Rb8 23. Nd1 g5 24. h3 h5 25. Kh2 c5 26. dxc5 Rc8 27. Ne3 Rxc5 28. Nc4 Qb5 29. Rd4 Ng6 30. f4 Rd5 31. a4 Qb8 32. Rxd5 exd5 33. Nd6 Rxb2 34. Qf5 Bxd6 35. exd6 Qxd6 36. Qxg5 Rb1 37. Qf5 Ra1 38. Qxh5 Nxf4 39. Qf3 Ng6+ 40. Kg1 {[%eval -28,26]}) 22... Rb8 23. g3 Nd5 24. Nd3 Ne3 $1 25. fxe3 Qxe4 26. Re1 {N2026?0518L} g5 $1 $132 {[%mdl 1]} * [Event "?N2026??0518L?"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.18"] [Round "1.3"] [Board "3"] [White "1) 5.e4 b5 (8.Be2)"] [Black "3) 10.Nc3"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "21"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,21,20,15,17,23,23,7,19,27,55,49,49,49,49,57,63,43,52,46,47,38,30,36] ??N2026??0518L??} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 {[#]} {N2026_0517D1} 5. e4 b5 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) {N2026_0517D1} 7... Nb6 {[%mdl 1] The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} 8. Be2 (8. Be3 Nc6 9. a3 (9. Be2 {will be covered through 8.Be2 move order}) (9. Nc3 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O {once again covered through 8.Be2 move order}) 9... Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Be2 {White also tried} (11. Qc2 Ne7 $5 12. Nd2 Nf5 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. Qa4+ c6 17. O-O {Kuzubov-Pichot, Linares 2022 I like the following improvement for Black} Bc5 $146 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Rad1 Qf4 $1 $11) 11... Na5 {I would like to suggest another ideas as well} (11... Ne7 $5 12. O-O Nf5 13. b3 {second game here featured} (13. Qc1 Be7 14. Rd1 O-O 15. d5 Nxe3 16. dxe6 {Santos Latasa-Yuffa, Linares 2022} Qc6 $1 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. fxe3 (18. Qxe3 Raf8 $36) 18... Raf8 $44) 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3 {Koelle-Zelcic, Terme Catez 2022 now accurate} Bc6 $146 15. Rfc1 Be7 $11 {would lead to reliable position for Black.}) 12. h4 (12. Qc2 Be7 {see 8.Be2 move order}) 12... f5 $1 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Bf3 {Maltsevskaya-Kostenko, Cheliabinsk 2022} f5 $146 16. O-O Bd6 $15) (8. a4 Qd7 $1 9. Be2 {I checked also} (9. Na3 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxa3 {worth considering} (10... Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxa4 {after} 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O Qb4 $1 14. Qc3 O-O 15. Nxc4 Nd5 $11) 11. Rxa3 a5 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 {Vachier Lagrave-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021 I like the following improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rh4 f5 $1 $13) 9... Nc6 10. O-O {another line} (10. Be3 Bb7 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 Bb4 13. Nc3 O-O $15 {Aditya-Pranav, chess24. com 2022}) 10... Na5 11. Ng5 {worse option for White} (11. Ra2 $6 Bb7 12. Qc2 a6 13. Nc3 {Grozdanovic-Djukic, Novi Banovci 2023 and now} Qc6 $1 $146 14. Rd1 Bb4 {would secure better position for Black.}) 11... h6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Nd5 $1 15. Ra3 a6 16. Nd4 Ne7 17. Qd2 {Carlsen-Nakamura, chess24.com 2020 and now the logical improvement would be} O-O-O $1 $146 {with the following illustrative line} 18. Qxa5 Qxd4 19. Bf3 Nc6 $1 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxa6+ Bb7 22. Qb5 Qd5 $1 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Qa5 Rhg8 $11) (8. a3 Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Nc6 {transpose to 8.Be3}) (8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15) 8... Nc6 9. O-O {I examined four alternatives here:} ({The main alternative is} 9. Be3 Be7 10. a3 {other important moves:} (10. h4 $5 {played twice by Gukesh} Bb7 11. h5 Qd7 12. Nc3 {Gukesh-Abdusattorov, Warsaw 2021 Black play can be improved by means of} O-O-O $1 $146 13. Qd2 Kb8 14. Kf1 f5 $1 $15) (10. O-O {covered through 10.Be3}) 10... Bb7 11. Qc2 {the main move. In case of} (11. Nc3 Na5 {White has nothing better than} 12. Qc2 Qd7 {which takes us back to 11.Qc2}) 11... Qd7 12. Nc3 {one game saw} (12. Rd1 $6 {Rustemov-Xiong, Chess. com 2022 this allowed tactical solution} Nxe5 $1 $146 13. Nxe5 {or} (13. Nxc7+ Qxc7 14. dxe5 Rc8 $15) 13... Qxb5 14. O-O O-O 15. Nxc4 Qc6 $15) 12... Na5 13. Rd1 {other possibilitites:} (13. O-O {happened in three games. I don't see the reason to refrain from natural} O-O $146 14. Nd2 Rab8 $13 {with complex game.}) (13. h4 {is well met by} f5 $1 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Rd1 O-O-O 16. Bf4 {Maghsoodloo-Pichot, Chess.com 2023 Black could have played} ({Much worse} 16. Ne4 $6 {In the game Unuk-Guichard, Petrovac 2023 Black missed fantastic} Qa4 $1 $146 17. Qb1 Nd5 $17) 16... h5 $1 $146 17. O-O Rdg8 $36 18. Bg3 Bd6 $15) 13... f5 $5 14. exf6 {only one game featured} (14. h4 $6 O-O 15. Rg1 Rad8 $17 {Gajewski-Kollars, Legnica 2021}) 14... gxf6 15. O-O ({Once again} 15. Ne4 {met by} Qa4 $1 16. Qxa4+ $2 {better would have been} (16. Qb1 O-O-O $15) 16... Nxa4 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 {Ostlund-Crevatin, Stockholm 2022 and now the most precise would be} Bd5 $1 $146) 15... O-O-O 16. Nd2 {not working for White} (16. d5 $2 exd5 17. Nd4 {Gunina-Kosteniuk, Almaty 2022} Rhg8 $17) 16... f5 17. Bf3 Rhg8 18. g3 {White best try} (18. Kh1 {Koelle-Murphy, Arandjelovac 2022} Bxf3 $146 19. Nxf3 Bf6 $13) (18. Bxb7+ Kxb7 19. Nf3 $6 {stronger would be} (19. b4 $1 $146 cxb3 20. Nxb3 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 Qc6 $13) 19... Qc6 20. Qe2 Nb3 $15 {Martirosyan-Martin Duque, La Roda 2022}) 18... Bd6 19. Bxb7+ Kxb7 20. Nf3 {another game here continued: Harsha-Girel, Rochefort 2023 Black should have just played} (20. Rfe1 {Lazavik-Azarov, Cheliabinsk 2021 an immediate improvement might be} Rdf8 $146 21. f4 Qc6 $13) 20... Nb3 $1 $146 {with the following nice point} 21. d5 e5 22. Qe2 c5 $1 23. dxc6+ Qxc6 $13) ({Interesting idea} 9. h4 Bb7 10. Rh3 $1 {no problems for Black} (10. h5 Qd7 11. Be3 {Gunina-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022 a natural improvement would be} Bb4+ $1 $146 12. Nc3 (12. Kf1 Ne7 $15) 12... Ne7 13. Qc2 h6 {and now it's transposed to one game} 14. Rd1 Nf5 $15 {Makarian-Seo, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Bb4+ ({deserves attention} 10... Qd7 $5) 11. Kf1 Qd7 12. a3 Be7 13. Nc3 {Krysa-Mareco, Tornelo INT 2021 I like the new} O-O-O $146 14. Be3 f5 $1 15. exf6 Bxf6 $132) (9. Bg5 Be7 10. Qd2 $6 {Sarana-Tomashevsky, Satka 2018 and now simple} Bxg5 $146 11. Qxg5 Qxg5 12. Nxg5 Ke7 $1 13. Nxc7 Rb8 14. Nf3 a6 $15) (9. a3 Be7 10. Be3 {see 9.Be3}) 9... Be7 10. Nc3 (10. Qc2 a6 11. Nc3 {I also checked} (11. Na3 Bxa3 12. bxa3 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 (14. Bb2 Qc5 15. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) 14... Qxe5 15. Bf3 Rb8 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Bc5 Qg5 $1 18. Bxb6 (18. Bb4 a5 $1 $15) 18... Rxb6 19. Qxc4 Qe7 20. Rac1 $11) 11... Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bf3 Rb8 14. Qe2 $6 Qd3 $1 15. Qe1 Bb7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. Be3 O-O 18. Rd1 Qf5 $17 {Aronian-Maghsoodloo, Kolkata 2021}) (10. a3 $5 {Two games reached this position} Bb7 $146 11. Be3 Na5 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Rad1 {one game featured} (13. Rac1 {Rustemov-Kosteniuk, Chess.com 2022} Qd7 $146 14. Nc3 Nb3 15. Rcd1 Qc6 $13) 13... Qd7 14. Nc3 Qc6 15. Ne1 (15. Rfe1 Rfd8 16. Bf1 {Anton Guijarro-Del Rio de Angelis, Linares 2015 Black should have played} Nb3 $146 17. Bg5 Qe8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 $13) 15... Rab8 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Bd2 Rfb8 $11 {Narayanan-Bartel, El Prat de Llobregat 2019}) (10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 O-O 13. Qd2 {another line} (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc1 {Pogorelov-Abdusattorov, Castelldefels 2021 now simple} Rfd8 $146 15. Rd1 h6 $15) 13... a6 14. Nc3 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 Qe7 16. Rfa1 Qb4 $1 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Rozum, Kazan 2018}) 10... O-O 11. Be3 {see 10.Be3} (11. Qd2 Bb7 {see 10.Qd2 11.Nc3 line}) (11. b3 $6 cxb3 12. axb3 Bb7 13. Be3 Nb4 14. Qd2 a5 15. Rfd1 N6d5 $15 {Seel-Shimanov, Chess.com 2021}) * [Event "?N2026??0518L?"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.18"] [Round "1.3"] [Board "4"] [White "1) 5.e4 b5 (8.Be2)"] [Black "4) 10.Qc2"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "36"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,36,18,23,23,19,19,19,17,28,49,49,49,57,71,70,49,43,54,47,47,13,12,-8,-13,-21,-29,-19,-24,-41,-34,-65,-70,-65,-70,-57,-63,-65,-65] ??N2026??0518L??} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 {[#]} {N2026_0517D1} 5. e4 b5 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) {N2026_0517D1} 7... Nb6 {[%mdl 1] The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} 8. Be2 (8. Be3 Nc6 9. a3 (9. Be2 {will be covered through 8.Be2 move order}) (9. Nc3 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O {once again covered through 8.Be2 move order}) 9... Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Be2 {White also tried} (11. Qc2 Ne7 $5 12. Nd2 Nf5 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. Qa4+ c6 17. O-O {Kuzubov-Pichot, Linares 2022 I like the following improvement for Black} Bc5 $146 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Rad1 Qf4 $1 $11) 11... Na5 {I would like to suggest another ideas as well} (11... Ne7 $5 12. O-O Nf5 13. b3 {second game here featured} (13. Qc1 Be7 14. Rd1 O-O 15. d5 Nxe3 16. dxe6 {Santos Latasa-Yuffa, Linares 2022} Qc6 $1 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. fxe3 (18. Qxe3 Raf8 $36) 18... Raf8 $44) 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3 {Koelle-Zelcic, Terme Catez 2022 now accurate} Bc6 $146 15. Rfc1 Be7 $11 {would lead to reliable position for Black.}) 12. h4 (12. Qc2 Be7 {see 8.Be2 move order}) 12... f5 $1 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Bf3 {Maltsevskaya-Kostenko, Cheliabinsk 2022} f5 $146 16. O-O Bd6 $15) (8. a4 Qd7 $1 9. Be2 {I checked also} (9. Na3 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxa3 {worth considering} (10... Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxa4 {after} 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O Qb4 $1 14. Qc3 O-O 15. Nxc4 Nd5 $11) 11. Rxa3 a5 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 {Vachier Lagrave-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021 I like the following improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rh4 f5 $1 $13) 9... Nc6 10. O-O {another line} (10. Be3 Bb7 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 Bb4 13. Nc3 O-O $15 {Aditya-Pranav, chess24. com 2022}) 10... Na5 11. Ng5 {worse option for White} (11. Ra2 $6 Bb7 12. Qc2 a6 13. Nc3 {Grozdanovic-Djukic, Novi Banovci 2023 and now} Qc6 $1 $146 14. Rd1 Bb4 {would secure better position for Black.}) 11... h6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Nd5 $1 15. Ra3 a6 16. Nd4 Ne7 17. Qd2 {Carlsen-Nakamura, chess24.com 2020 and now the logical improvement would be} O-O-O $1 $146 {with the following illustrative line} 18. Qxa5 Qxd4 19. Bf3 Nc6 $1 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxa6+ Bb7 22. Qb5 Qd5 $1 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Qa5 Rhg8 $11) (8. a3 Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Nc6 {transpose to 8.Be3}) (8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15) 8... Nc6 9. O-O {I examined four alternatives here:} ({The main alternative is} 9. Be3 Be7 10. a3 {other important moves:} (10. h4 $5 {played twice by Gukesh} Bb7 11. h5 Qd7 12. Nc3 {Gukesh-Abdusattorov, Warsaw 2021 Black play can be improved by means of} O-O-O $1 $146 13. Qd2 Kb8 14. Kf1 f5 $1 $15) (10. O-O {covered through 10.Be3}) 10... Bb7 11. Qc2 {the main move. In case of} (11. Nc3 Na5 {White has nothing better than} 12. Qc2 Qd7 {which takes us back to 11.Qc2}) 11... Qd7 12. Nc3 {one game saw} (12. Rd1 $6 {Rustemov-Xiong, Chess. com 2022 this allowed tactical solution} Nxe5 $1 $146 13. Nxe5 {or} (13. Nxc7+ Qxc7 14. dxe5 Rc8 $15) 13... Qxb5 14. O-O O-O 15. Nxc4 Qc6 $15) 12... Na5 13. Rd1 {other possibilitites:} (13. O-O {happened in three games. I don't see the reason to refrain from natural} O-O $146 14. Nd2 Rab8 $13 {with complex game.}) (13. h4 {is well met by} f5 $1 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Rd1 O-O-O 16. Bf4 {Maghsoodloo-Pichot, Chess.com 2023 Black could have played} ({Much worse} 16. Ne4 $6 {In the game Unuk-Guichard, Petrovac 2023 Black missed fantastic} Qa4 $1 $146 17. Qb1 Nd5 $17) 16... h5 $1 $146 17. O-O Rdg8 $36 18. Bg3 Bd6 $15) 13... f5 $5 14. exf6 {only one game featured} (14. h4 $6 O-O 15. Rg1 Rad8 $17 {Gajewski-Kollars, Legnica 2021}) 14... gxf6 15. O-O ({Once again} 15. Ne4 {met by} Qa4 $1 16. Qxa4+ $2 {better would have been} (16. Qb1 O-O-O $15) 16... Nxa4 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 {Ostlund-Crevatin, Stockholm 2022 and now the most precise would be} Bd5 $1 $146) 15... O-O-O 16. Nd2 {not working for White} (16. d5 $2 exd5 17. Nd4 {Gunina-Kosteniuk, Almaty 2022} Rhg8 $17) 16... f5 17. Bf3 Rhg8 18. g3 {White best try} (18. Kh1 {Koelle-Murphy, Arandjelovac 2022} Bxf3 $146 19. Nxf3 Bf6 $13) (18. Bxb7+ Kxb7 19. Nf3 $6 {stronger would be} (19. b4 $1 $146 cxb3 20. Nxb3 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 Qc6 $13) 19... Qc6 20. Qe2 Nb3 $15 {Martirosyan-Martin Duque, La Roda 2022}) 18... Bd6 19. Bxb7+ Kxb7 20. Nf3 {another game here continued: Harsha-Girel, Rochefort 2023 Black should have just played} (20. Rfe1 {Lazavik-Azarov, Cheliabinsk 2021 an immediate improvement might be} Rdf8 $146 21. f4 Qc6 $13) 20... Nb3 $1 $146 {with the following nice point} 21. d5 e5 22. Qe2 c5 $1 23. dxc6+ Qxc6 $13) ({Interesting idea} 9. h4 Bb7 10. Rh3 $1 {no problems for Black} (10. h5 Qd7 11. Be3 {Gunina-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022 a natural improvement would be} Bb4+ $1 $146 12. Nc3 (12. Kf1 Ne7 $15) 12... Ne7 13. Qc2 h6 {and now it's transposed to one game} 14. Rd1 Nf5 $15 {Makarian-Seo, Chess.com 2021}) 10... Bb4+ ({deserves attention} 10... Qd7 $5) 11. Kf1 Qd7 12. a3 Be7 13. Nc3 {Krysa-Mareco, Tornelo INT 2021 I like the new} O-O-O $146 14. Be3 f5 $1 15. exf6 Bxf6 $132) (9. Bg5 Be7 10. Qd2 $6 {Sarana-Tomashevsky, Satka 2018 and now simple} Bxg5 $146 11. Qxg5 Qxg5 12. Nxg5 Ke7 $1 13. Nxc7 Rb8 14. Nf3 a6 $15) (9. a3 Be7 10. Be3 {see 9.Be3}) 9... Be7 {N2026?0518L} 10. Qc2 (10. a3 $5 {Two games reached this position} Bb7 $146 11. Be3 Na5 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Rad1 {one game featured} (13. Rac1 {Rustemov-Kosteniuk, Chess.com 2022} Qd7 $146 14. Nc3 Nb3 15. Rcd1 Qc6 $13) 13... Qd7 14. Nc3 Qc6 15. Ne1 (15. Rfe1 Rfd8 16. Bf1 {Anton Guijarro-Del Rio de Angelis, Linares 2015 Black should have played} Nb3 $146 17. Bg5 Qe8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 $13) 15... Rab8 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Bd2 Rfb8 $11 {Narayanan-Bartel, El Prat de Llobregat 2019}) (10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 O-O 13. Qd2 {another line} (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc1 {Pogorelov-Abdusattorov, Castelldefels 2021 now simple} Rfd8 $146 15. Rd1 h6 $15) 13... a6 14. Nc3 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 Qe7 16. Rfa1 Qb4 $1 $15 {Faizrakhmanov-Rozum, Kazan 2018}) 10... a6 11. Nc3 {I also checked} (11. Na3 Bxa3 12. bxa3 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 (14. Bb2 Qc5 15. Rfd1 Bb7 $15) 14... Qxe5 15. Bf3 Rb8 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Bc5 Qg5 $1 18. Bxb6 (18. Bb4 a5 $1 $15) 18... Rxb6 19. Qxc4 Qe7 20. Rac1 $11) 11... Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bf3 Rb8 14. Qe2 $6 Qd3 $1 15. Qe1 Bb7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. Be3 O-O 18. Rd1 Qf5 $17 {Aronian-Maghsoodloo, Kolkata 2021} * [Event "?N2026??0519M?"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.19"] [Round "2.3"] [Board "4"] [White "1) 5.e4 b5"] [Black "2) 8.Be3 ( fin 8.Be2)"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "32"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,36,25,18,22,0,-10,2,12,19,60,38,89,90,54,67,60,52,49,45,45,31,23,-41,-39,-39,0,0,-8,-35,-41,-62,-66,-81,-69,-54,-33,-70,-65] ??N2026??0518L??} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 {[#]} {N2026_0517D1} 5. e4 b5 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) {N2026_0517D1} 7... Nb6 {[%mdl 1] The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} {??N2026??0519M??} 8. Be3 (8. a4 Qd7 $1 9. Be2 {I checked also} (9. Na3 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxa3 {worth considering} (10... Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxa4 {after} 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O Qb4 $1 14. Qc3 O-O 15. Nxc4 Nd5 $11) 11. Rxa3 a5 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 {Vachier Lagrave-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021 I like the following improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rh4 f5 $1 $13) 9... Nc6 10. O-O {another line} (10. Be3 Bb7 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 Bb4 13. Nc3 O-O $15 {Aditya-Pranav, chess24. com 2022}) 10... Na5 11. Ng5 {worse option for White} (11. Ra2 $6 Bb7 12. Qc2 a6 13. Nc3 {Grozdanovic-Djukic, Novi Banovci 2023 and now} Qc6 $1 $146 14. Rd1 Bb4 {would secure better position for Black.}) 11... h6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Nd5 $1 15. Ra3 a6 16. Nd4 Ne7 17. Qd2 {Carlsen-Nakamura, chess24.com 2020 and now the logical improvement would be} O-O-O $1 $146 {with the following illustrative line} 18. Qxa5 Qxd4 19. Bf3 Nc6 $1 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxa6+ Bb7 22. Qb5 Qd5 $1 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Qa5 Rhg8 $11) (8. a3 Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Nc6 {transpose to 8.Be3}) (8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15) 8... Nc6 9. a3 (9. Be2 {will be covered through 8.Be2 move order}) (9. Nc3 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O {once again covered through 8.Be2 move order}) 9... Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Be2 {White also tried} (11. Qc2 Ne7 $5 12. Nd2 Nf5 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. Qa4+ c6 17. O-O {Kuzubov-Pichot, Linares 2022 I like the following improvement for Black} Bc5 $146 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Rad1 Qf4 $1 $11) 11... Na5 {I would like to suggest another ideas as well} (11... Ne7 $5 12. O-O Nf5 13. b3 {second game here featured} (13. Qc1 Be7 14. Rd1 O-O 15. d5 Nxe3 16. dxe6 {Santos Latasa-Yuffa, Linares 2022} Qc6 $1 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. fxe3 (18. Qxe3 Raf8 $36) 18... Raf8 $44) 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3 {Koelle-Zelcic, Terme Catez 2022 now accurate} Bc6 $146 15. Rfc1 Be7 $11 {would lead to reliable position for Black.}) 12. h4 (12. Qc2 Be7 {see 8.Be2 move order}) 12... f5 $1 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Bf3 {Maltsevskaya-Kostenko, Cheliabinsk 2022} f5 $146 16. O-O Bd6 $15 * [Event "?N2026??0519M?"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.19"] [Round "3.3"] [Board "4"] [White "1) 5.e4 b5"] [Black "3) 8.a4"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "48"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,36,25,18,22,0,-10,2,12,19,60,38,89,90,54,67,60,52,49,45,45,31,23,-41,-39,-39,0,0,-8,-35,-41,-62,-66,-81,-69,-54,-33,-70,-65] ??N2026??0518L??} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 {[#]} {N2026_0517D1} 5. e4 b5 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) {N2026_0517D1} 7... Nb6 {[%mdl 1] The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} {N2026?0519M} 8. a4 (8. a3 Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Nc6 {transpose to 8.Be3}) (8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15) 8... Qd7 $1 9. Be2 {I checked also} (9. Na3 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxa3 {worth considering} (10... Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxa4 {after} 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O Qb4 $1 14. Qc3 O-O 15. Nxc4 Nd5 $11) 11. Rxa3 a5 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 {Vachier Lagrave-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021 I like the following improvement} Bb7 $146 14. Rh4 f5 $1 $13) 9... Nc6 10. O-O {another line} (10. Be3 Bb7 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 Bb4 13. Nc3 O-O $15 {Aditya-Pranav, chess24. com 2022}) 10... Na5 11. Ng5 {worse option for White} (11. Ra2 $6 Bb7 12. Qc2 a6 13. Nc3 {Grozdanovic-Djukic, Novi Banovci 2023 and now} Qc6 $1 $146 14. Rd1 Bb4 {would secure better position for Black.}) 11... h6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Nd5 $1 15. Ra3 a6 16. Nd4 Ne7 17. Qd2 {Carlsen-Nakamura, chess24.com 2020 and now the logical improvement would be} O-O-O $1 $146 {with the following illustrative line} 18. Qxa5 Qxd4 19. Bf3 Nc6 $1 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxa6+ Bb7 22. Qb5 Qd5 $1 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Qa5 Rhg8 $11 * [Event "?N2026??0519M?"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.19"] [Round "4.3"] [Board "4"] [White "1) 5.e4 b5"] [Black "4) 8.a3"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "20"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,36,25,18,22,0,-10,2,12,19,60,38,89,90,54,67,60,52,49,45,45,31,23,-41,-39,-39,0,0,-8,-35,-41,-62,-66,-81,-69,-54,-33,-70,-65] ??N2026??0518L??} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 {[#]} {N2026_0517D1} 5. e4 b5 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) {N2026_0517D1} 7... Nb6 {[%mdl 1] The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} {N2026?0519M} 8. a3 (8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15) 8... Bb7 9. Be3 Qd7 $1 10. Nc3 Nc6 {transpose to 8.Be3} * [Event "?N2026??0519M?"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "2026.05.19"] [Round "5.3"] [Board "4"] [White "1) 5.e4 b5"] [Black "5) 8.Qc2"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Llanos,G"] [ECO "D24"] [WhiteElo "9999"] [BlackElo "9999"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "22"] [GameId "2307194953855045"] [EventCountry "ARG"] {[%evp 0,36,25,18,22,0,-10,2,12,19,60,38,89,90,54,67,60,52,49,45,45,31,23,-41,-39,-39,0,0,-8,-35,-41,-62,-66,-81,-69,-54,-33,-70,-65] ??N2026??0518L??} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 {[#]} {N2026_0517D1} 5. e4 b5 6. e5 {I also examined White three major alternatives :} ({The only challenging alternative to 6.e5 in my opinion} 6. Nxb5 Nxe4 7. Qa4 {two alternatives are :} (7. Bxc4 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {not good} (8. Bd2 $2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11. O-O O-O $17 {with extra pawn for Black Soetedjo-Badelka, Chess.com 2021}) 8... O-O {I checked all three games here:} 9. Bd3 {Bacallao Alonso-Sosa, Santiago de Compostela 2022} (9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bf4 {Williams,S-Roberson, Chess.com 2020 Black had a very strong idea here} Bd6 $1 $146 11. Bd3 f5 $1 $15) (9. Bf4 {Khademalsharieh-Maghsoodloo, Chess. com 2020 my recommendation would be} Bb7 $1 $146 10. h4 {it appears that} (10. Nxc7 $2 Bd6 $1 11. Bxd6 Nxd6 12. Nxa8 Nxc4 $17) 10... a6 $1 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Bxf3 $1 14. Qxc3 Bd5 $15) 9... f5 $5 $146 10. h4 Nc6 $13) (7. Nc3 Nd6 8. Be2 {dubious} (8. Bxc4 $6 Nxc4 9. Qa4+ {Le-Grischuk, Huaian 2017 Black missed strong} Qd7 $1 $146 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qb3 Nc6 $15) 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {worse for White} (10. Qc2 $6 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nb6 $15 {Barrientos Chavarriaga-Goltseva, Chess.com 2022}) 10... Bb7 {White has tried two moves here:} 11. d5 {and} (11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 $1 13. Be3 (13. d5 $2 {loses pawn after} Na5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne2 {Szustakowski-Schnider, Graz 2018 and now} Qd6 $15 {would secure Black edge.}) 11... Nd7 $1 12. f4 $2 {Zakarias-Meszaros, Hungary 2018 Black failed to discover} Nf5 $1 $146 13. Bxc4 (13. dxe6 {loses to} Bc5+ 14. Kh1 Qh4 $1 15. Qe1 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe1 17. Rxe1 Nh4 $19) 13... Nb6 14. dxe6 $140 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxc4 Nh4 $19) 7... c6 {my choice here} 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba6 $1 10. Bxc4 {the alternative is} (10. Ne5 Bb5 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxc4 {Horvath-Huschenbeth, Reykjavik 2021 after} Nb6 $1 $146 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxb5 cxb5 15. O-O Be7 $11 {Black equalises comfortably.}) 10... Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Bd6 12. O-O O-O {several games reached this position. A good model game here} 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c4 c5 $1 16. d5 exd5 17. Qxd5 (17. cxd5 $6 c4 $15) 17... Nb6 18. Qd3 Rad8 19. Qc2 h6 $11 {Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi, chess24. com 2021}) (6. Bg5 a6 $1 {Here White has two major moves:} 7. e5 {and} (7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5 axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 10. e5 {another line} (10. Nxb5 {Meyer-Perez Leiva, Chess. com 2021 Black should just played} Bxe4 $1 $146 11. Bxc4 Bb4+ $1 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Bxf3 $1 14. Qxf3 {not better for White} (14. gxf3 Nc6) 14... Qxd4 $15) 10... h6 11. Bh4 {another game here} (11. Bd2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli-Del Rio de Angelis, Caleta 2012 I would like to suggest here a new} Nfd7 $146 12. Nxb5 Nb6 {with the following illustrative line} 13. Ba5 Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 (14. Qxf3 Qd7 $1 $17) 14... Nc6 15. Bxb6 Bb4+ $1 16. Nc3 cxb6 17. Qa4 b5 $1 18. Qxb5 O-O 19. Qxc6 Qa5 $36) 11... g5 $1 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Nbd7 14. exf6 {Sevian-So, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} b4 $1 $146 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. h4 Qd5 $15) 7... h6 8. Bh4 {the main alternative} (8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qg5 16. Kd1 (16. Qe3 $2 Qf5 $19 {Vollmer-Wiaderek, email 2021}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 Nc6 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Kxd1 Qxg2 $17 {Zieba-Lubas, ICCF email 2020}) 8... g5 9. Nxg5 {other moves are clearly worse:} (9. Bg3 $6 Nd5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {two games here. Black has never played the best} g4 $1 $146 12. Nd2 h5 13. h4 gxh3 $17) (9. exf6 $6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 {a nice improvement here} Nd7 $146 12. Ng4 {I also checked} (12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. axb5 Rb8 14. Rxa6 (14. bxa6 {loses to} Rxb2 $1 15. Be2 Bb4 $19) 14... h3 $1 15. gxh3 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ $1 17. Nc3 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Qf5 $19) 12... Qf4 13. axb5 Bg7 $17) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 {other options:} (11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 13. Bxb7 {Black is doing great after} (13. dxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 $36) 13... Nd3+ 14. Kf1 Bh6 $1 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne4 Qxd4 17. Bxa8 {Vostrotin-Glazman, ICCF email 2006 Black could play} f5 $146 18. Qh5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kd8 $17) (11. Qf3 Rb8 12. exf6 {worse option for White} (12. Ne4 $6 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 {two games here} (13. Kd1 {Cherniaiev-Llanos, Chess.com 2023 Black should have played} Nxe4 $1 $146 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 13... Nxe4 $1 $146 {the same decisive idea} 14. Bxd8 Bb7 15. Bxc7 Rc8 $19) 12... Bb7 13. Qe3 (13. d5 {occured in three games. Black never played} b4 $1 $146 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Ne4 Bxd5 $17) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O $2 {Muratovic-Palac, Bihac 2016} b4 $1 $146 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {with crushing attack.}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 {another important line} (12. d5 Nc5 $1 {with the following good example} 13. dxe6 Nxe6 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. f3 {Pogosian-Saldano Dayer, Chess.com 2021 in the game Black missed simple} O-O $146 18. Rd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf2 b4 $17) 12... Bh6 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Rxf6 16. Qe4 {Krimbacher-Eldridge, ICCF email 2017 after natural} Nb6 $146 {Black position is very comfortable.}) (6. Be2 b4 7. Na4 $6 {better would have been} (7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Nb6 $15) 7... Nxe4 8. Bxc4 {Sorm-Mager, Hofheim 2015 Black could play} Bd6 $146 9. O-O O-O $15) 6... Nd5 7. Nxb5 {Much worse} (7. a4 $2 b4 8. Ne4 Ba6 $1 9. Be2 {happened in two games} Nc6 $146 10. O-O {or} (10. b3 Na5 $17) 10... Na5 11. Bg5 Qd7 $17) {N2026_0517D1} 7... Nb6 {[%mdl 1] The starting position of our variation. I examined White five major continuations:} {N2026?0519M} 8. Qc2 Bb7 {only one game here} 9. Be2 {Dobrov-Pichot, Chess.com 2022 Black could play} ({In case of} 9. Bxc4 {Black has} Bb4+ $1 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 a6 12. Na3 Nc6 $15) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Nc3 Qxd4 $15 *