4...Qe7 as in J Berkvens vs Ian Rogers, 2002

4...c5 as in A Riazantsev vs Y Kuzubov, 2003 and Lautier vs Ivanchuk, 2001 and Mecking vs Korchnoi, 2001

At first, I was looking at 10.Qxc3!!, but then I noticed black was a piece up and realized I had too much champagne last night.

Fritz 8 analyzes the position as level after 9...Nxc3!? <surprisingly the best move per Fritz, although I prefer 9...f5 or 9...d5> 10. Ng5 Ne4 11. Bxe4 Bxe4 12. Qxe4 Qxg5 13. Qxa8 Nc6! 14. Qb7 Nxd4 15. Rd1. And now Fritz indicates Black equalizes with 15...Qe5 = (@ 17/51 depth & 708kN/s).

For those interested, Fritz's analysis continues
15...Qe5 16. e3 Nc2+ 17. Kf1 d5 18. cxd5 Qe4 19. Kg1 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Qxe3+ 21. Kg2 Qe2+ 22. Kh3 Qh5+ = (0.16 @ 17/51 depth & 708kN/s) with White faced with the unpleasant choice of accepting a draw by perpetual check or a superior Black position.

So, if Fritz's analysis is indeed best play, then Black may well have a draw in the game solution to today's problem (10. ?).

And even if there is a sure White win in this Fritz 8 line, then there is still the Crafty line to consider which may be offer an even better chance for equality for Black.

However, I must agree with much of your sentiment here as I personally like White's side of this position (even if it is "equal") because White's moves are easier to find than Black's. Also Black is fighting for drawing chances, while White has winning chances with a draw pretty much in hand. And as I stated earlier, as a human player looking for the best practical chances, I would have preferred to have played 9...f5 or 9...d5 and have avoided Fritz 8's 9...Nxc6!? and all of these complications.

Still I think Fritz 8 has found a clever resource that gives Black drawing chances, and makes the dogmatic "white to move and win" statement about this position (10?) premature at best.

However, I must confess that with an even pawn count and the exchange, it is my opinion here that White may well be able to get the queen into play with a timely Qa3 and slowly increase his advantage without going in for the exchange sacrifice and an extra pawn.

Yet, despite the even pawn count, with a centralized Knight and the more active Queen, Black still has practical drawing chances. But all the winning chances remain with White.

Given this outcome (White having an even pawn count for the exchange or Black fighting for a draw a pawn down), it seems Crafty's line, given as level (Jan 1) above, may be worth pursuing. Especially, since it keeps the position more closed than in this Fritz line, without quickly giving up the extra pawn.

Also, this line seems to confirm my earlier assessment that Black should have played 9...f5! or 9...d5! to equalize (with winning chances) and avoided these complications altogether.

Conclusion: White appears to be slightly better (and with almost all of the winning chances in the position) after 13...Nc6 14.Qb7 Nxd4, but Black has good practical drawing chances (though the play is extremely tricky and complicated). Better to have avoided 9...Nxc6!? and played 9...f5! or 9...d5! and avoided these complications. However, the 9...Nxc6!? line is a line worthy of study because (1) it illustrates positions where computer assessment may not always be best (e.g. complicating with 9...Nxc6?!) and (2) because it provides a good study in tactics and positional play (fighting for the draw) with the exchange down (knight vs. rook) in the middle game.

The games below have already been kibitzed. But the context is worth noting – these were not casual games for experimentation. In 1931, a match was played in Amsterdam between two masters seeking to bolster their claim to a championship match with Alekhine:

Euwe vs Capablanca, 1931
This was the 8th game of the match (8 July 1931). Capa was ahead, having won the third game of the match, so Euwe would have drawn even, if he had won.

Capa won the 9th game of the match, with white, of course.

Euwe vs Capablanca, 1931 This was the 10th and last game of the match (10 July 1931). Capa drew more easily the second time. (Note the change of move 15:…..c5).

Consider – (1) Capa put the match lead on the line in game 8 by going into the Monticelli trap; (2) He went into it twice in succession (3) The opposition was a top GM in his prime, one noted for his hard work and devotion to the openings!

See this game -