[Event ""] [White "Open Spanish"] [Black "9.c3 Bc5!? and 9.Nbd2 Nc5"] [Site ""] [Round ""] [Annotator "Srinath,Tanmay"] [Result "*"] [Date "2022.04.30"] [PlyCount "78"] {[%evp 0,60,18,34,12,23,17,26,18,0,15,8,31,16,17,25,28,28,11,7,4,4,32,32,32,32,32,10,48,51,48,48,48,24,68,30,30,30,32,24,48,21,21,25,20,23,10,0,18,9,9,33,33,17,16,16,0,0,0,2,36,3,132]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 {The starting position of the Open Spanish. Black accepts a slight structural weakness in exchange for active piece play. In this survey, I will check the two most critical lines - 9.c3 and 9.Nbd2. As far as my analysis goes, Black is in excellent shape and I wonder why people play the Berlin when life here is so simple.} 9. c3 {The absolute main line and what I expect well-prepared White players to do. I used to consider this variation to be quite tricky, but recently a new line has come to the fore that promises Black excellent winning chances while keeping the objective balance.} (9. Nbd2 {I would consider this move to be slightly less challenging than 9.c3, as the path to equality demands less precision.} Nc5 {Keeping with my policy of putting a piece on c5 against almost everything!} 10. c3 d4 { All this has been seen 1000s of times before. Black is doing quite well according to modern theory.} 11. Bxe6 {The only real try.} (11. Bc2 d3 12. Bb1 Qd5 13. Re1 O-O-O 14. Ng5 $5 $146 {Perhaps White's best chance.} (14. Re3 { was Wesley's move, but here we deviate with a strong novelty.} g5 $1 {is already better for Black.} )Nxe5 $1 {Now the complications end as usual in equality.} 15. a4 Bg4 16. f3 Bh5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ba2 Qd6 19. Kh1 h6 20. Nge4 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Qc6 $11 {So far everything was forced. White has few moves he can try but they all end in equality. You can check the rest :)} )(11. Ng5 $5 {Kasparov's famous novelty. While it caught Anand by surprise, I don't think it's a particularly great move.} Qxg5 $1 {What Vishy didn't know in 1995 and what we now know - this is harmless.} 12. Qf3 O-O-O 13. Bxe6+ fxe6 { The most principled. The other move is really risky.} (13... Nxe6 {If you want to make this line work, investingate the following complications} 14. Qxc6 Qxe5 15. Qxa6+ Kd7 16. a4 Rb8 17. Nf3 Qd5 18. axb5 Bd6 19. cxd4 Rxb5 20. Bd2 Rhb8 21. Qa4 Ke7 22. Bc3 Nf4 {Black has decent compensation but Stockfish is adamant that White is better.} 23. Rfe1+ Kf8 24. Re3 g5 25. Qc2 Qf5 26. Qxf5 Rxf5 $132 {The final position is still a bit better for White but Black can hold. Still, this feels like a very big gamble for nothing.} )14. Qxc6 Qxe5 15. a4 (15. b4 Qd5 $1 {This is already slightly better for Black.} 16. Qxd5 exd5 17. bxc5 dxc3 18. Nb3 d4 $15 {The pawns are too strong.} )bxa4 $1 $146 { The only way to play on without undue risk.} (15... dxc3 {is just a draw -} 16. Nf3 Qd5 17. axb5 Rd6 $11 {White has to force the draw.} )16. b4 (16. Nc4 Qe4 17. Qxe4 Nxe4 18. cxd4 Rxd4 19. Rxa4 Bc5 {This position seems playable for both sides but it should objectively be drawn.} )Qd5 $5 {Stockfish is now royally confused after my latest crazy piece sacrifice!} (16... axb3 { is another forced draw.} 17. Rxa6 Nxa6 18. Nc4 Qc5 19. Qxa6+ Kd7 20. Qa4+ Kc8 $11 )17. Qxd5 exd5 18. bxc5 dxc3 19. c6 cxd2 20. Rxa4 dxc1=Q 21. Rxc1 Rd6 22. Rxa6 {White threatens mate so we have to give up the exchange soon.} Kd8 23. Re1 Rxc6 24. Rxc6 Kd7 {I checked this endgame really deeply. It always ended with equality. However this already feels more pleasant for Black since the pawns are a real force.} 25. Ra6 (25. Rec1 Bd6 $44 {is fine.} )Bc5 26. Rb1 Rf8 27. Rb2 Bb6 28. Rd2 Kd6 $44 {Stockfish calms down quite quickly once it is show this point. Black can try for a while but objectively White should hold.} )Nxe6 12. cxd4 {Once again White doesn't have much of a choice if he wants something from the opening.} (12. Nb3 {is not great - after} dxc3 13. Qe2 Qd5 14. bxc3 O-O-O $132 {Black has a great game.} )Ncxd4 13. Ne4 (13. a4 Bb4 14. axb5 a5 $5 $146 {Just to give something different. The main line is obviously fine. Now for example check the following lines just to see how play goes.} 15. Nc4 (15. Ne4 O-O 16. Nxd4 Qxd4 17. Qxd4 Nxd4 {Obviously this ending is fine for Black.} 18. Be3 Nxb5 19. Nc5 Rfe8 20. Nd3 Be7 21. Rfc1 f6 $132 { Once the e5 pawn goes away Black argues that the queenside majority means something.} )Nxb5 16. Qb3 Nc5 17. Qc2 Qd3 {The queen exchange is beneficial for Black.} 18. Qxd3 Nxd3 19. Be3 Ke7 20. Rfd1 Rhd8 21. Kf1 a4 $11 { With equality in the ending.} )(13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Qf3 {Hari tried this line once from the White side but it isn't a serious test.} Rd8 15. Qc6+ Qd7 16. Qxa6 Bb4 $5 {Playing active chess.} 17. Qb7 (17. Nf3 {Now Black gets a lot of activity for the pawn.} Nc5 18. Qa7 O-O $132 {White has to be careful not to lose control.} )O-O 18. Nb3 Qd5 {A novelty and quite a natural one - Black trades queens and despite the pawn minus the ending is tenable.} 19. Qxd5 Rxd5 $11 {With equality as White struggles to get developed.} )(13. Nb3 Nxb3 14. Qxb3 Be7 {Exchanges favour Black who has the queenside majority.} 15. Rd1 (15. a4 c6 $1 {Retaining the queenside majority.} )Qc8 $1 $132 {Black retains fighting chances. The queen heads to b7 and Black castles 'into the storm' on the kingside.} )Qd5 $1 {Far more forcing than the alternative with Be7.} 14. Nxd4 Nxd4 15. Nc3 Qc4 16. Be3 O-O-O $1 $146 {A strong novelty that Stockfish eventually understands. The king is pretty safe on c8.} 17. Bxd4 {Perhaps White's best try.} (17. Rc1 {is initially given a high eval, but the engine returns to zeroes at high depths.} Bc5 $1 {White has two serious moves here.} 18. Re1 {The more testing try.} (18. Kh1 Bb6 19. Qg4+ Qe6 20. Qe4 Kb8 $13 {With fighting chances. White can choose to liquidate into a drawn ending but that's not much of a problem for us.} )Ne6 19. Qf3 Bxe3 20. Rxe3 Kb8 21. b3 Qf4 $1 $11 {Black is doing well with or without the impending queen exchange.} )Rxd4 18. Qf3 Kb8 19. b3 Qe6 $1 {The easiest. Here I checked a lot of different lines and everywhere Black was holding up fine.} (19... Qd3 $5 20. Qxf7 Ba3 {Needs some exploration as well but my line seems to be simpler.} )20. Ne2 {The most serious try. The knight on c3 is a target so White reroutes it.} (20. a4 b4 {This inclusion seems to work out well for Black as b3 is a serious weakness.} 21. Ne2 Rd8 22. Qe3 (22. Rac1 Qxe5 $11 { is easy enough.} )f6 $1 {Breaking up the strong central presence.} 23. Rad1 (23. Rfd1 Be7 24. Nd4 Qd5 25. Qe2 Bc5 $11 {With full equality.} )Be7 $1 {Simply developing.} 24. Nd4 Qd5 25. Qe2 Bc5 $13 {White has to give up some material in the short term and that's not easy to do.} )(20. Rad1 Bc5 21. Ne4 Qxe5 22. Nxc5 Qxc5 $132 {It can be argued that Black already has the better side of equality due to the queenside majority.} )Rd8 21. Qc3 (21. a4 Qd5 $1 22. Qf4 (22. Qxd5 Rxd5 23. axb5 Rxb5 24. Nd4 Rb6 25. Rfc1 Kb7 $11 {Full equality again.} )b4 23. g3 Bc5 24. Rac1 Bb6 25. Rcd1 Qxb3 $11 {White has to be careful not to lose the plot.} )(21. Rad1 Bc5 $132 {As usual once this bishop comes out White has to start being careful.} )Qd5 $1 { Well, It feels good that sometimes human intuition can over-rule the Fish.} 22. Rac1 (22. Rfc1 Rd7 23. h3 Be7 24. Rd1 Qxd1+ {transposes.} )Rd7 23. h3 (23. h4 Be7 24. Rfd1 Qxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 26. Kh2 Rhd8 {The presence of the pawn on h4 means Black has an additional target. This is obviously fine for the 2nd player.} )Be7 24. Rcd1 Qxd1 $1 {This is what attracted me to my novelty. If this works then nothing like it!} 25. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 26. Kh2 Rhd8 27. Qc6 R1d5 $1 28. f4 (28. Qxa6 Rxe5 $11 {is of course fine for Black.} )g5 $1 {Forcing stuff.} 29. Ng1 $1 {Apparently White's best move.} h5 30. Qh6 { Until here Stockfish was giving an edge for White, but then I showed it a beautiful point} g4 $1 $132 {and immediately the eval dropped to 3 zeroes. Black is obviously fine in this ending - in fact I prefer the two rooks already.} )Bc5 $5 {This is the line! Previously Black exclusively brought the bishop to e7, but this gambit line, where Black gives up the two pieces for a rook and pawn has risen in popularity. As far as I can tell, the current state of theory shows nothing for the 1st player here.} (9... Be7 {is also a possible setup. For example after} 10. Nbd2 Nc5 11. Bc2 d4 12. Nb3 d3 13. Bb1 Nxb3 14. axb3 Bf5 $132 {Black seems to be in excellent shape, but I like the main line a bit more as it's a newer and more promising direction.} )10. Nbd2 { The main move by far.} (10. Bc2 {is simply transpositional after} O-O {When White has to play Nbd2.} )(10. Qd3 {10.Qe2 more often than not leads to similar positions after 10.Qe2 0-0 11.Be3.} O-O 11. Be3 {White's point - he wants to exchange Black's good bishop. Here there are many ways to play, but I quite like following the Beast with} (11. Nbd2 f5 $1 {This advance helps Black get a great game.} 12. exf6 {Feels like the most sensible response, since leaving the pawn on f5 does White no good.} (12. Bc2 Kh8 $1 {A powerful move. Black gets out of the way of any tactics along a2-g8 and prepares the d4 advance.} 13. Nb3 d4 14. Nbxd4 Bc4 $1 15. Qe3 Bxd4 16. cxd4 Nb4 $1 $132 { We don't take the exchange but instead threaten the bishop on c2. Black has excellent play.} )(12. a4 b4 13. Bc2 Be7 $132 {Leads to a more comfortable middlegame for Black.} )Nxf6 13. Bc2 {The bishop was hitting a wall on b3 so it is rerouted to greener pastures.} (13. a4 Bf7 $1 {Protecting the bishop by retreating it from the exposed e-file.} 14. Ng5 Ne5 15. Qh3 Qc8 $1 { Endgames are good for the 2nd player.} 16. Qxc8 Raxc8 $11 {With a complex but balanced ending.} )(13. Ng5 {Is not so threatening as Black gets to develop quickly.} Ne5 14. Qg3 Qd6 15. Re1 Nfg4 $132 {With a playable middlegame.} )Qd6 14. Nb3 Bb6 15. Be3 Bxe3 {The simplest response.} 16. Qxe3 Bg4 $13 { With a complex position where Black is no worse.} )Bxe3 12. Qxe3 f5 $5 { Which leads to really fighting positions.} 13. Nbd2 {The engines prefer not to take on f6, which is understandable, but now Black gets his own play going on the kingside.} (13. exf6 Qxf6 {Transposes to a main branch where Black is doing really well.} 14. Nbd2 {The main move in the database.} (14. Re1 Rad8 15. Nbd2 {is popular in the CC domain, but Black seems to be holding his own after} Nxd2 16. Nxd2 Bf7 17. Qg3 {and now we can improve over - Hladecek,M -Rynkevich, S ICCF email 2009 with} Qd6 18. Nf3 Qxg3 19. hxg3 d4 $1 $11 {with full equality.} )Nxd2 15. Qxd2 Rad8 {Perhaps starting with this is more precise.} (15... Kh8 {is also possible. The game went} 16. Rfe1 Rad8 17. Nd4 Bg8 $13 {Adhiban later went to win in Xiong,J -Adhiban,B Douglas 2019} )16. Rae1 Kh8 17. Nd4 Bg8 18. Nxc6 Qxc6 19. Re7 Qd6 $132 {Black has enough counterplay to hold the balance.} )Qe8 {Getting away from any tactics on the d-file and supporting the bishop on e6.} 14. a4 {The only serious try.} (14. Rfe1 Kh8 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Bxe6 Qxe6 17. Nd4 Qd5 $13 {leads to typical positions where Black is doing fine.} )(14. Rfd1 Rd8 15. a4 b4 $132 {is also fine for Black.} )Rd8 15. Rfe1 Kh8 16. Nd4 f4 $1 $132 {With powerful counterplay on the kingside.} )(10. Qe2 O-O {with possible tr.} )O-O 11. Bc2 {Once again if White wants something he has to accept the sacrifice.} (11. Qc2 Bf5 {Leads to very comfortable play for Black. For example} 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 { The bishop is now a very powerful presence on e4.} 13. Qd1 Qd7 14. Re1 Rad8 15. Bg5 Be7 {Exchanging off the good bishop, but it's one more piece off the board. } 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 $11 {Black still has enough complexity to try and outplay the opponent.} )(11. Qe2 Bf5 {Is also fine for Black. For example after} 12. a4 Rb8 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Ng5 Nxe5 15. Nxe4 {I propose that we deviate from existing theory with} Bg4 16. Qc2 bxa4 17. Bxa4 Bb6 $13 {with a playable middlegame.} )Bxf2+ $1 {The entire point behind Black's opening concept.} 12. Rxf2 Nxf2 13. Kxf2 f6 {We can call this the real starting point of the 9.c3 line. White has two principal ways to play, but in both of them the 2nd player gets a comfortable game.} 14. Nf1 $1 {I have to say that I initially underestimated this move. It looked stupid to me - White gives up another pawn just to co-ordinate his pieces. However, the ripple effect eventually dawned on me - once White co-ordinates the extra firepower will tell. I would go as far to say that this is the line that will make or break Black's opening concept.} (14. exf6 Qxf6 {This has been the mainline for quite sometime now. Here White has tried everything under the sun, but only a few moves are worth checking.} 15. Nf1 {The main move and the only one worth checking seriously.} (15. Kg1 Rae8 $1 {This move promises Black very easy play.} 16. Nf1 (16. Nb3 {The knight has very little to do on the queenside.} Ne5 {The same pattern as before.} 17. Be3 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 Qxf3 19. gxf3 Rxf3 20. Bf2 Bh3 $132 {I would argue that this is a better version for Black since the knight on b3 has no influence, but either ways White gets nothing here.} )(16. h3 Ne5 $1 {The move h3 was not very useful.} 17. Nxe5 (17. Qf1 Bd7 $1 $17 {This move promises Black a big advantage.} )Qxe5 18. Nf3 Qg3 {White has to force a slightly worse ending now.} 19. Qe1 Qxe1+ 20. Nxe1 Bxh3 $1 $132 {With good play for Black.} )Ne5 $1 {White can't take and has to liquidate into the ending.} 17. Be3 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 Qxf3 19. gxf3 Rxf3 20. Bf2 Bh3 $11 {With equal chances. Subjectively I would already take Black as the rooks grow in power in the ending.} )Rae8 $5 {The 2nd most popular move in the database. Turns out it is just a transposition, though it can get White to make a few stupid decisions.} 16. Be3 (16. Qd3 g6 $1 {is simple enough.} )Ne5 17. Bc5 { Once again the only serious move.} (17. Bd4 Bg4 $1 {Gives Black a very good game. For example} 18. N1d2 Qg5 19. Bxe5 Qxe5 20. Kg1 Qe3+ 21. Kh1 Qf2 $132 { With very clear counterplay on the kingside.} )Nxf3 $1 {Insisting on damaging the White structure.} 18. gxf3 (18. Bxf8 $2 Nh4+ 19. Kg1 Rxf8 $19 { is just crushing for Black due to the initiative and extra pawn.} )Rf7 19. Ng3 (19. Kg2 d4 $1 {is a very powerful resource. For example} 20. Ng3 (20. Bxd4 Qg5+ 21. Kh1 Bd5 22. Bb3 c5 $1 $132 {with serious attacking chances.} )Qg5 21. Bxd4 c5 22. Bf2 Rxf3 $1 {An insane number of CC draws here, but the path to equality is quite thorny for White.} 23. Be4 $1 {Strictly the only move.} Rf6 $1 {Asking more questions} 24. Qh5 $1 {Another only move.} Bh3+ 25. Qxh3 $1 {Once more the only move.} Rxe4 $13 {Even here White has only one comfortable move to make. The tests continue.} )Bg4 $1 20. Kg1 $1 { The best move for White.} Qxf3 21. Qxf3 Rxf3 {Almost by force we reach this ending on Black's 21st move. Is it drawn or can White use the two pieces? I spent a lot of time checking the intricacies and it turns out that Black has full equality.} 22. Rf1 {Perhaps the most testing move. White removes his rook from the board.} (22. a4 Bh3 $1 {is Black's idea. Now both the rooks have to stay on the board.} 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ne2 c6 25. Nd4 Rf6 26. Bd3 h5 {Black has very easy play and White has to be careful not to get mated.} 27. Kh1 h4 28. Rg1 Re3 $13 {With equal chances.} )(22. Kg2 h5 $1 {Getting the h-pawn involved. } 23. Bg6 Re6 24. Bxh5 Rxg3+ 25. Kxg3 Bxh5 $11 {This ending is balanced but clearly Black is the one trying with the extra pawn.} )Rxf1+ 23. Kxf1 { This is perhaps another critical position. Different engines give different evaluations. For the sake of this survey I will keep it really simple with my recommendation.} a5 $1 {What I had in my notes seems the cleanest. Black liquidates the queenside.} 24. Bd3 {Perhaps the most testing. White goes to win a pawn.} (24. Kf2 Re6 $1 {The rook on the 6th is incredibly nasty.} 25. a3 Rf6+ 26. Ke1 Rh6 27. Nf1 Bh3 28. Ne3 Be6 $11 {White has nothing better than to repeat.} )(24. a3 Re6 {The same idea again. For example} 25. Bd4 g6 26. Bd3 c6 27. Kf2 Re7 28. Nf1 Rf7+ 29. Kg1 Bf5 30. Be2 h5 $11 {Black is very solid and White can't do much.} )b4 $1 {The pawn must be given up.} 25. cxb4 (25. Ne2 Bxe2+ $1 {The pesky knight is removed from the board.} 26. Bxe2 bxc3 27. bxc3 Kf7 28. Bb5 Re6 $132 {suddenly Black is trying here, even though White should hold.} )axb4 26. Bxb4 Rb8 $1 27. Ba3 {White tries to keep the tension.} (27. a3 c5 $1 28. Bxc5 Rb3 $1 29. Ba6 Rxb2 $132 {WIth excellent counterplay thanks to the active rook.} )Kf7 28. Ne2 {Perhaps the only serious plan that White has.} c5 29. Nf4 c4 $1 {The pawn on h7 is worthless.} 30. Bxh7 d4 31. h3 Bd7 $132 {Black has very active piece play even in this ending. White can't do much.} )fxe5 15. Kg1 {The critical position of the line.} Qd6 $1 {After long hours of analysis, I decided to give this move. Quite simply, the old main line with 15...Bg4 was untenable. Black's idea is to keep developing as quickly as possible instead of giving White tempi to build up.} (15... Bg4 {I didn't really see a need to deviate from the main recommendation, but White gets an advantage by force after this move.} 16. Ne3 $1 {The only serious try and the only move needed to make me go back to the drawing board.} (16. Bg5 {Was a crazy try by Jorden, but Mamedyarov was excellently prepared -} Bxf3 $1 17. Qd2 Qd6 $1 18. gxf3 e4 $1 {A fantastic series of moves.} 19. fxe4 Ne5 20. Kh1 {Jorden goes wrong, which is understandable.} (20. Bd1 {is probably safer though after} c6 $11 {Black has nothing to worry about.} )Nf3 21. Qg2 {Here we deviate from Van Foreest, J -Mamedyarov,S Zagreb 2021 with} Nxg5 $1 22. Qxg5 Rf2 $1 23. Bb3 Kh8 $1 $15 { White has to be careful not to get steamrolled.} )(16. Bb3 Ne7 $1 $15 {[%cal Gc7c6] Leaves White struggling for equality.} )Be6 17. b3 $1 {I initially underestimated this move. It turns out Black can't equalise here.} (17. b4 {I had only checked this move but Black appears to be fine here.} h6 18. Bb2 Qd6 19. a4 Rae8 20. Qe1 Ne7 $132 {With nice counterplay.} )e4 $5 { When in doubt, trust the correspondence players! However, even here I don't see how Black equalises.} (17... d4 {was played by Vidit, but he was clearly not using the best engines as after} 18. cxd4 $1 {Improving over Alireza's 18. Qd3.} Nxd4 (18... exd4 19. Qd3 $1 {is White's point.} )19. Nxd4 Qxd4 20. Rb1 $1 $14 {Black is struggling to equalise.} )(17... a5 {was my last attempt, but Leela laughed in my face with} 18. Bb2 Rb8 19. Qe1 e4 20. Nd4 Nxd4 21. cxd4 c6 22. Bd1 $1 {The move NNUE engines missed when checking the line.} b4 23. Rc1 $14 {Who will ever want to play Black here?} )18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. Qxd4 Qd6 20. b4 $1 {The fun is just beginning!} (20. Bb2 c5 $1 $132 {is fine for Black.} )Qf4 {I was following top CC players, but it turns out that modern engines have turned the previous evals upside down!} (20... a5 {was my attempted improvement. However, after} 21. Bd2 $1 Rf7 22. Be1 $1 {I was left struggling for equality.} c6 23. Bg3 Qe7 24. h4 $5 $36 {I believe that with precise play Black can neutralise the White initiative, but it is no fun to play this position.} )21. Bd2 Qf2+ 22. Kh1 a5 23. Bb3 c6 24. Be1 $1 {My improvement.} (24. Rg1 $5 {is also given a big eval by Stockfish.} )Qb2 25. Rd1 Bg4 26. Qd2 Qxd2 27. Rxd2 Be6 28. Kg1 $14 {Black has to suffer for a long time and even then I don't see how he equalises. This came as a bit of a shock, as I had decided to give Bg4 as my main line.} )(15... Qd7 16. a4 b4 17. Ng5 $1 $36 )16. Be3 {The only real try for an opening advantage. This move also has Fabi's stamp of approval.} (16. Ng5 Bf5 17. Bxf5 Rxf5 $132 {gives Black a very good game.} )Rad8 {The critical position of the entire line beginning with 9. c3 Bc5!?. Here White has a number of options.} 17. Qe1 {The critical move, planning to reroute the queen to the kingside.} (17. Ng3 Bg4 $1 $17 {leaves White struggling to equalise.} )(17. Ng5 Bf5 {is simple enough. Once the light squared bishop is off the board Black has little to fear.} 18. Bxf5 Rxf5 19. Ng3 Rff8 $1 {This is better than Rf6 as White is forced to keep more pieces on the board.} 20. Qg4 Rf6 $5 {Strange maneuvering, but I guess Ne6 has to be stopped like this. An additional point is that after} 21. Rd1 Qd7 22. Qh5 Rh6 23. Qe2 Rg6 $13 {The black rook is really active on the 6th rank. Chances are approximately balanced and Stockfish cools down after a while.} )(17. h3 $5 $146 {Not a particularly scary novelty.} e4 $1 {Simpler than Bf7 which also equalises.} 18. Nd4 (18. N3d2 d4 $1 $11 {brute-forcing it. Black is fine here.} )Nxd4 19. Qxd4 Bxh3 $1 {A piece sacrifice to play for an attack.} 20. gxh3 Rf3 $44 {White can try to play on but he entails as much risk as us. Black is fine here.} )(17. a4 h6 $1 18. axb5 (18. Qe1 b4 $132 {is also fine.} )axb5 19. Qe1 b4 $132 {With counterplay on the queenside and center.} )(17. Qe2 d4 $1 {With good counterplay. For example} 18. Rd1 Bc4 19. Qe1 d3 20. Bb3 Na5 21. N3d2 Qd5 $132 {The d-pawn is very strong.} )Bf5 $1 {Once again this idea. Black has to try and exchange White's powerful bishop on c2.} 18. Bb3 {The critical move, avoiding the exchange and taking aim at d5.} (18. Bd1 Bd3 $1 {is very comfortable for Black. For example} 19. Ng3 Rde8 20. a3 d4 21. Bf2 e4 22. Nxd4 e3 23. Bb3+ Kh8 $132 {Black has fighting chances.} )(18. Bxf5 Rxf5 {Is already quite comfortable for Black as the two rooks will soon start working their magic.} 19. Rd1 Rf7 20. Bf2 Rdf8 21. Bg3 Qc5+ 22. Bf2 Qd6 $11 {White either has to repeat or play a balanced middlegame.} )Na5 19. Qf2 $1 {Once again White has to be precise.} (19. Bf2 Rde8 $1 {A strong centralisation.} 20. Qe3 Nxb3 21. axb3 Bg4 $13 {With an unclear middlegame.} )(19. Qg3 Rde8 20. Re1 (20. Qf2 Rf7 21. Bc5 Qc6 22. Qe3 h6 $13 {An unclear middlegame with chances for both sides.} )c5 $1 {The pawns look quite menacing.} 21. Bf2 Nxb3 22. axb3 Be4 $132 {With strong counterplay.} )(19. Ba7 Be4 $1 $11 {is also fine for Black.} )Nb7 $1 {Preventing Bc5.} 20. Re1 $1 {Once again the critical move. Anything else allows Black easy equality.} (20. Qg3 Rde8 21. Re1 a5 $132 {is quite fine for Black.} )(20. Ng3 Bg6 21. Bg5 Rd7 22. Qe2 h6 $1 $13 {With good counter-chances.} )Rde8 21. Qd2 $1 {This was the line that initially worried me, but letting the engine for hours solved all the problems I had.} (21. Ng3 Bd3 $1 $13 {is quite clear-cut, even if the poor Stockfish is quite confused initially.} )c6 22. Bd1 (22. Ng3 Bg4 $1 {The main idea.} 23. Bd1 h6 24. b3 e4 25. Nd4 Bxd1 {This exchange relieves Black from a lot of pressure.} 26. Rxd1 Rf7 $132 {Balck has enough play to maintain the balance.} )a5 23. b4 axb4 $1 {Finally Stockfish proved useful! It is important to include this exchange.} 24. cxb4 Bg4 { This is the final critical position. I checked this quite extensively upto to insane depths, and I was pretty happy with my conclusions. I give the following two lines as examples.} 25. h3 {Insane depth time! This took about 4-5 hours to run!} (25. Bf2 e4 26. Nd4 Bxd1 27. Rxd1 h6 28. Ne3 Qd7 29. Qc2 (29. Qc3 Rc8 30. Bg3 Nd6 31. Bxd6 Qxd6 32. Rc1 Qf4 $132 {With enough counterplay to equalise.} )Rc8 30. a4 bxa4 31. Qxa4 Rf7 $1 32. Qa2 Kh7 33. Bg3 c5 34. bxc5 Nxc5 35. Qxd5 Qxd5 36. Nxd5 Rd8 37. Nc2 Nd3 38. Nce3 Rc8 $11 {With an equal endgame.} )Bxf3 {Illustrative line goes as follows} 26. Bxf3 Qg6 27. Qe2 Qf6 28. Bb6 g6 29. Qc2 h5 30. Bd1 Re6 31. Qc3 Nd6 32. Bb3 Kh7 $1 33. Ng3 Qg5 34. Ne4 Nxe4 35. Rxe4 dxe4 36. Bxe6 Qf6 37. Bc5 Qf1+ 38. Kh2 Rf2 39. Qg3 Re2 $132 {White has to either force a perpetual or get mated. Nice times!} *