patzer2: Here's my look at today's Monday puzzle (32...?) and game with the chessgames.com opening explorer, Deep Fritz 15, Stockfish 8 and others:<1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Bf5 6. dxc5 !?> I suppose this is playable and with perfect play might be good for equality, but in seeking an advantage for White I prefer the popular move 6. Be3
to = (+0.45 @ 27 depth, Houdini 5.01 x 64) as in White's win in M Vachier-Lagrave vs D Daulyte, 2017)
<6... Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 O-O-O+ 8. Ke1> Of the five games in the chessgames.com opening explorer after the forcing moves 6...Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 0-0-0+ 8. Ke1, Black won four and drew one.
If these practical results are any guide, 6. dxc5!? should perhaps be avoided in serious play -- even though 6. dxc5!? does look like a fun try for skittles and blitz.
<8...Nf6 9. b4> Here the computers recommend 9. Bb5 e5 10. Be3 Nd5 = (0.00 @ 34 depth, Komodo 10) as in Black's win in
D Spence vs M Sebag, 2014.
<9... Nd5 10. Bd2 e5 11. Na3?!> This turns the game in Black's
favor after 11...a5
(-0.37 @ 33 depth, Stockfish 8.)
Instead, White can hold it level with 11. Be2 = (-0.14 @ 31 depth, Komodo 10.3)
<11... a5 12. Nh4 Be6 13. Nc2 e4 14. g3 Be7 15. Rc1?> This loses because it allows 15...Ne5
(-1.88 @ 27
depth, Komdo 10.3)
Instead, Black can still fight on with hope for a draw after 15. bxa5 Bxc5
(-0.74 @ 28 depth, Stockfish 8)
<15... Ne5 16. Be2 Bh3>
(-2.25
@ 31 depth, Stockfish 8) White's position is hopelessly lost.
<17. Ne3 Nxe3 18. Bxe3 g5> This works out fine for Black, but even stronger here is 18... axb4 19. Rb1 g5
(-2.43 @ 30 depth, Stockfish 080417)
<19. f4 Nd3+ 20. Bxd3 Rxd3 21. Bd4 Rd8 22. fxg5 Bxg5 23. Rb1 axb4 24. Rxb4 Bg4 25. Rb1 Bd2+ 26. Kf2 e3+ 27. Kg2 e2 28. Bf2 Be6 29. Rhg1 Bd5+ 30. Kh3 Be6+ 31. Kg2 Bxc3 32. Rbc1 Bd5+ 33. Kh3 Be6+ 34. Kg2 Bd5+ 35. Kh3 Rd1 36. g4 Bc6 37. Rxc3 Rxg1 38. Re3 Rf1 39. Rxe2 Rxf2! 0-1> This solves the Monday May 15, 2017 chessgames.com puzzle. White resigns in lieu of 40. Rxf2 Rd3+ 41. Nf3 Rxf3+ 42. Kg2 Rxf2+ 43. Kxf2 Kd7
(-6.66 @ 23 depth, Deep Fritz 15)