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Analysis by Houdini 1.03a x64 4_CPU (28-ply):

1. = (0.09): 15...Nxf6 16.Ne5 Bb7 17.Qa4 a6 18.Qb3 c5 19.dxc5 Bxc5 20.cxd5 exd5 21.Nd3 Qe7 22.Nb1 Ba8 23.e3 Rfd8 24.Nxc5 bxc5 25.Qa3 Ng4 26.h3 Ne5 27.Qxa6 Rb8

2. = (0.11): 15...Bxf6 16.b4 Bb7 17.Qb3 Ra8 18.e4 Re8 19.e5 Be7 20.Ne1 a5 21.a3 Nf8 22.Nd3 axb4 23.axb4 Qd7 24.Qc3 Red8 25.c5 Qc7

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Analysis by Houdini 1.03a x64 4_CPU (25-ply):

1. = (0.10): 15.e4 h6 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.Ne5 c5 18.exd5 exd5 19.Nb3 cxd4 20.Nxd4 Bd6 21.Qf5 Rc5 22.cxd5 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Bxe5 24.Qxe5 Re8 25.Qf5 Bxd5 26.Bxd5 Nxd5 27.Nf3 Nf6 28.Kg2 Qb8

2. = (0.03): 15.Qb1 h6 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.b4 Ba8 18.c5 Rb8 19.Qd3 Qc7 20.a3 Nd7 21.e4 Rfe8 22.Re1 bxc5 23.exd5 exd5 24.bxc5

3. = (0.00): 15.Ne5 h6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nxd7 Qxd7 18.e3 Be7 19.Nf3 c5 20.Ne5 Qd6 21.cxd5 exd5 22.Qe2 Rc7 23.Qh5 c4 24.Rc3

4. = (0.00): 15.e3 c5 16.Qa4 h6 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.cxd5 exd5 19.dxc5 bxc5 20.e4 Bc6 21.Qa3 d4 22.Ne5 Bb5 23.Qxa7 Ra8 24.Qb7 Rb8 25.Qa7

5. = (0.00): 15.a3 h6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.e4 c5 18.dxc5 Rxc5 19.exd5 exd5 20.Ne1 Ne5 21.b4 Rc8 22.Qb1 Qd7 23.cxd5 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Bxd5 25.Bxd5 Qxd5 26.Ne4 Be7 27.Nc3 Qd2 28.Qc2 Qxc2 29.Rxc2 Rd8

6. = (-0.03): 15.Qa4 a6 16.Nb3 h6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.cxd5 exd5 19.Bh3 Re8 20.e3 a5 21.Nbd2 Re7 22.Nb1 b5 23.Qc2 b4 24.b3

<13.Be3 Nhf6 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.b4>

16...Bb7

(16...Be7 17.Qb3 Bb7 18.e3 Re8 19.a3 Ra8 20.Ne1 a5 21.Nd3 axb4 22.axb4 Qb8 23.Qb2 Rd8 24.Ra1 Qd6 [+0.11] 16...Bb7 & Be7 may transpose.)

17.Qb3 Be7 18.e3 Re8 19.a3 Ra8 20.Ne1 a5 21.Nd3 axb4 22.axb4 Qb8 23.Qb2 Rd8 24.Ra1 Qd6 [+0.11]

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Analysis by Houdini 1.03a x64 4_CPU (27-ply):

1. = (0.09): 16.Ne5 Bb7 17.e4 c5 18.exd5 exd5 19.Qa4 cxd4 20.Qxa7 Qc7 21.cxd5 Qxe5 22.Qxb7 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Qe2 24.Nb3 d3 25.Bf1 Qxb2 26.Bxd3 Qxa2 27.Qxb6 Nxd5 28.Qb5 Rd8 29.Bc4 Nf6 30.Qa5 Qxa5 31.Nxa5 Rd2

2. = (0.09): 16.e4 Bb7 17.Ne5 c5 18.exd5 exd5 19.Qa4 cxd4 20.Qxa7 Qc7 21.cxd5 Qxe5 22.Qxb7 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Qe2 24.Nb3 d3 25.Bf1 Qxb2 26.Bxd3 Qxa2 27.Qxb6 Nxd5 28.Qb5 Rd8 29.Bc4 Nf6 30.Qa5 Qxa5 31.Nxa5 Rd2

3. = (0.05): 16.a3 Bb7 17.e4 c5 18.cxd5 exd5 19.e5 Nd7 20.Qf5 cxd4 21.Bf1 Rc7 22.Nb3 d3 23.Bxd3 g6 24.Qf4 Bg5 25.Nxg5 hxg5 26.Qe3 Re8 27.f4 Rxc1

4. = (0.00): 16.e3 Bb7 17.Ne5 c5 18.cxd5 exd5 19.Qf5 Rc7 20.dxc5 bxc5 21.Ne4 Bc8 22.Nxf6+ gxf6 23.Qh5 fxe5 24.Bxd5 Rd7 25.Qg6+ Kh8 26.Qxh6+ Kg8 27.Qg6+ Kh8 28.Qh6+ Kg8

5. = (-0.04): 16.Ne1 Qd7 17.Nd3 c5 18.dxc5 Bxc5 19.Nxc5 Rxc5 20.Qb1 Rfc8 21.cxd5 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 23.Qxc1 exd5 24.Bf3 Qd6 25.Qc2 Qe5 26.e3 d4

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Analysis by Stockfish 1.8 JA 64bit (30-ply):

1. = (0.16): 16.Ne5 Bb7 17.Qa4 a5 18.Qb3 c5 19.dxc5 Rxc5 20.cxd5 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 exd5 22.Qb5 Bd6 23.Nd3 Re8 24.e3 Re7 25.Nb3 Rc7 26.Rd1 Rc2 27.Nd4 Rc4 28.Nf4 Bc7 29.Nf5

2. = (0.00): 16.e4 Nd7 17.Qd3 Bb7 18.Qb3 Rc7 19.Qc2 Rc8 20.Qb3

3. = (0.00): 16.a3 Qe8 17.e4 c5 18.e5 Nh7 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Bh3 Rc7 21.Bg2 Rc8

4. = (-0.12): 16.e3 Bb7 17.Ne5 c5 18.Nb1 cxd4 19.exd4 Qc7 20.Qa4 a6 21.Qb3 Ba8 22.Nd2 Qa7 23.Qd3 dxc4 24.Ndxc4 Bxg2 25.Kxg2 Qb8 26.Kg1 Rfd8 27.Rc2 Bc5 28.Qe3 Qb7

5. = (-0.20): 16.Qb3 Rc7 17.Ne5 Qc8 18.e3 Bb7 19.Qa4 b5 20.Qxa7 bxc4 21.b3 cxb3 22.Nxb3 Bd6 23.Nc5 Bxe5 24.dxe5 Nd7 25.Nxd7 Qxd7 26.Qb6 Ra8 27.e4 Rcc8 28.Rc2 Ba6 29.a4 Qa7 30.Qxa7 Rxa7 31.Rc5 Be2

<<Creeping forward slowly with d=25 or d > 25 per half move with fritz 11. 12. Rac1 Nh5 13. Be3 Nhf6 14. Bg5 h6
(14...Bb7 is an alternative)

15. Bxf6 Bxf6
(15...Nxf6 is an alternative)

16. e4 Bb7 17. Qb3

d=27, 179853 mN

A: +0,13 17...Re8 18. e5 Be7 19. Ne1 Nb8 20. Nd3 Na6 21. Nf4 Nb4>

I was checking this position to see if white is having good chances here

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d=29, fritz 11, 396462 mN

+0,33; 22. h4 dxc4 23. Nxc4 Nd5 24. Qf3 Rc7

+0,32; 22. a3 dxc4 23. Nxc4 Nd5

winking, i like this "idea"/plan much better than boomie's 18. a4 (hence, 17. Qb3 isn't wrong in itself, but rather as part of a4-b5 plans). after the nice manouver ne1-d3 white tries to keep dominating the key squares c5 and e5:

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after 19... Rb8 i think the correct evaluation of this position is crucial: 20. e4! dxe4 21. Nxe4 c5 22. Nc3 cxb4 23. axb4 a5 24. bxa5 bxa5 25. Qc2

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(black to move - 25... Qb6!? maybe)

the white position looks good, with control over the center, rooks behind both pawns, control over c5 and e5, and a potentially dangerous passer in the c-file. space advantage and better development.

the position has opened up slightly, though, so black's bishop pair might start to pick up pace from here, and if black manages to undermine white's hanging central pawns, we might be in trouble.

i still feel that we if possible should try to keep the game closed and give as little space to the black bishops as possible. unless we can go really deep in the kind of position i gave in this post and be <sure> that our current initiative doesn't run out.

14.Bf4 h6

15.e4 (+0.21) d=22 shredder 12

15...g5 16.Be3 Ng4 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.Qa4 (+0.03) d=22

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18...Be2 19.Re1 Nxe3 20.fxe3 b5 21.Rxc8 Qxc8 22.Qb3 Bc4 23.Nxc4 bxc4 24.Qc2 (0.00) d=23

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24...dxe4 25.Qxe4 Qa6 26.Ra1 f5 27.Qc2 g4 28.Nd2 (0.00) d=20

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 c6 7.O-O O-O 8.Qc2 b6 9.Rd1 Nbd7 10.Bf4 Ba6 11.Nbd2 Rc8 12.Rac1 Nh5 13.Be3 Nhf6 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxf6

As always, variations in brackets are weaker alternatives. The line follows the moves not given in brackets, and the process of sandpapering is shown at work:

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 c6 7.O-O O-O 8.Qc2 b6 9.Rd1 Nbd7 10.Bf4 Ba6 11.Nbd2 Rc8 12.Rac1 Nh5 13.Be3 Nhf6 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxf6

15...Bxf6 16.e4 Bb7 17.Qb3 a5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.e5 Be7 20.Bf1 Bc6 21.Bb5 Bxb5 22.Qxb5 f6 23.Rxc8 Qxc8 24.exf6 Rxf6 25.Re1 Qc7 26.a3 Bd6 27.Qd3 Stockfish 1 6 JA : +0.16. Depth: 18. ♘odes: 204.9 M

(15...Nxf6 16.Ne5 Bb7 17.e4 Nd7 18.Nd3 a5 19.Qb3 Ba6 20.Nf4 dxe4 21.Nxe4 Qc7 22.c5 bxc5 23.dxc5 Rfd8 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.Qxe6+ Kf8 Stockfish 1 6 JA : +0.20. Depth: 18. ♘odes: 205.6 M – needs thorough exploration)

16.Qb3 Bb7 17.e4 Be7 18.Ne1 Nf6 19.e5 dxc4 20.Nxc4 Nd5 21.Ne3 Ba6 22.Be4 Be2 23.Rd2 Bb5 24.Nd3 Qd7 Stockfish 1 6 JA : 0. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 62 M

(16.e4 Bb7 17.Qb3 Be7 18.Ne1 Nf6 19.e5 dxc4 20.Nxc4 Nd5 21.Ne3 Ba6 22.Be4 Be2 23.Rd2 Bh5 24.Nd3 Qd7 25.a3 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.04. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 62.8 M)

(16.e3 Bb7 17.Qb3 c5 18.cxd5 Bxd5 19.Qa3 a6 20.e4 Ba8 21.e5 Be7 22.Qxa6 cxd4 23.Nxd4 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Bxg2 25.Kxg2 Nxe5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.08. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 63.5 M)

What about Frogbert’s 16.b4!? :

16...Bb7 17.e4 Re8 18.Qb2 Be7 19.Re1 Ra8 20.Qb3 a6 21.a4 dxe4 22.Nxe4 a5 23.bxa5 Rxa5 24.c5 Ba6 25.Nd6 Rf8 26.Ne5 Nxe5 27.Rxe5 bxc5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.12. Depth: 18. ♘odes: 256.4 M

(16...Be7 17.Qb3 Bb7 18.e4 b5 19.c5 a5 20.a4 bxa4 21.Qxa4 axb4 22.Ra1 Ra8 23.Qxb4 Qc7 24.Rdb1 Rfb8 25.Qc3 Rxa1 26.Rxa1 Ra8 27.Rxa8+ Bxa8 28.Qe3 Nf6 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.16. Depth: 18. ♘odes: 257.5 M)

(16...Re8 17.e4 Bb7 18.Qb2 Be7 19.Re1 b5 20.c5 a5 21.a4 bxa4 22.bxa5 Ba6 23.exd5 exd5 24.Bh3 Rb8 25.Qa3 Bb5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.16. Depth: 18. ♘odes: 258.4 M)

17.Qb3 Bb7 18.a4 h5 19.Qb2 Rb8 20.cxd5 cxd5 21.e3 Re8 22.b5 Rc8 23.Rxc8 Qxc8 24.Rc1 Qd8 25.Qc3 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.08. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 110.3 M

(17.Rb1 Bb7 18.e3 Ra8 19.c5 Bf6 20.Bf1 Qc7 21.Nb3 e5 22.dxe5 Nxe5 23.Nxe5 Bxe5 24.Nd4 Rae8 25.b5 Bxd4 26.Rxd4 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.12. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 115.4 M)

also possible is

(17.Qb2 Bb7 18.Ne1 b5 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.Nd3 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Qb8 22.Nc5 Nb6 23.Qc3 Rc8 24.Nf3 Nc4 25.Ne5 Nxe5 26.dxe5 a5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.20. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 117.4 M)

at this stage there aren’t many forcing lines and we have to think strategically as opposed to tactically. Moving our queen away from the same file as her rook makes sense, but we are probably hoping to keep the c file closed, so perhaps this is alright. We also have to ask ourselves how we are going to break through into the black position, or at least generate some initiative/get strongly posted pieces – in particular our knights. Naturally we want to keep the position closed, having given GMP the bishop pair, but at the same time we need to find good squares for our knights and if this involves opening up the position a little it’s okay to do so. e4 is the obvious push, although this is weakening, especially on the d file. Our d4 pawn (and square) could very easily become targets later. Perhaps, in that case, e3 is more prudent for now – we want to place our pawns on dark squares anyway, given our remaining bishop. Regarding where to generate play, it’s clear we should focus on the queenside, and given we’re probably going to keep the c file closed, I think

17.Rb1 could well be the best move here. It also discourages Bb7, which is one of the strongest moves given by Stockfish.

17.Rb1…

17...Re8 18.e3 Bb7 19.c5 Qc7 20.Nb3 Bf6 21.a4 Rb8 22.Bh3 Ba6 23.Bf1 Bxf1 24.Rxf1 e5 25.cxb6 Rxb6 26.Na5 e4 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.16. Depth: 15. ♘odes: 52.5 M

(17...Bb7 18.Rdc1 Re8 19.a4 Bf6 20.Bh3 Be7 21.e3 Ba6 22.e4 Bb7 23.Re1 Qc7 24.Rec1 Qb8 25.c5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.16. Depth: 15. ♘odes: 52.9 M)

18.e3 g5 19.Bh3 Bb7 20.c5 h5 21.g4 hxg4 22.Bxg4 Qc7 23.Bxe6 fxe6 24.Qg6+ Kh8 25.Qh6+ Kg8 26.Qg6+ Stockfish 1 6 JA : 0. Depth: 15. ♘odes: 50 M

(18.Bf1 Bb7 19.e3 dxc4 20.Bxc4 b5 21.Bf1 a5 22.bxa5 Qxa5 23.Nc4 Qc7 24.Nce5 Nxe5 25.Nxe5 Bd6 26.Qe4 c5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.08. Depth: 15. ♘odes: 50.5 M)

18...Bb7 19.Rdc1 h5 20.Qa4 Ra8 21.cxd5 cxd5 22.Rc2 a6 23.Rbc1 b5 24.Qb3 Bd6 25.Bf1 Ra7 26.a4 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.16. Depth: 15. ♘odes: 57.8 M

19.Rdc1 Bf6 20.Qb3 Ra8 21.a4 Qb8 22.Ne1 a5 23.b5 c5 24.cxd5 cxd4 25.dxe6 Rxe6 26.Bxb7 Qxb7 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.04. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 41.5 M

(19.c5 Qc7 20.Bf1 Bf6 21.Bd3 g6 22.Qa4 e5 23.dxe5 b5 24.Qa3 Nxe5 25.Nxe5 Bxe5 26.Nf3 Bf6 27.Nd4 Ra8 28.Qb2 Qd7 29.Qa3 Bxd4 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.16. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 42.4 M – may be good, to lock things up)

(19.Bf1 Bf6 20.c5 Qc7 21.Bd3 g6 22.Qa4 b5 23.Qa3 a6 24.e4 e5 25.Qb2 Ra8 26.Rbc1 exd4 27.Nxd4 Bxd4 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.16. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 44.1 M Thus far, there doesn’t seem to be much for white in this line. But further examination is needed. Next let’s look at 16…Re8:

16...Be7 17.Qb3 Bb7 18.Ne1 Nf6 19.e5 dxc4 20.Nxc4 Nd5 21.Na5 Ba8 22.Nc4 Bb7 Stockfish 1 6 JA : 0. Depth: 18. ♘odes: 145.8 M

(16...Bb7 17.Qa4 a6 18.Qb3 b5 19.c5 Be7 20.e5 a5 21.Nf1 Qc7 22.Ne3 Ra8 23.Qc2 Rfe8 24.Qe2 Ba6 25.Rd3 b4 Stockfish 1 6 JA : +0.12. Depth: 18. ♘odes: 146.6 M)

(16...Re8 17.exd5 cxd5 18.Qa4 Nb8 19.cxd5 Qxd5 20.Ne5 Qb5 21.Qxb5 Bxb5 22.Bf1 Bxf1 23.Kxf1 Red8 24.Ke2 Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Rxd4 26.f4 Rd8 27.Rc7 Bxe5 28.fxe5 Nd7 29.Nf3 Stockfish 1 6 JA : +0.20. Depth: 18. ♘odes: 147.3 M)

17.exd5 cxd5 18.Qa4 Bb7 19.cxd5 Bxd5 20.Nf1 a6 21.Ne3 Bb7 22.Ne5 b5 23.Rxc8 Bxc8 24.Qb3 Nxe5 25.dxe5 Qc7 26.f4 Rd8 27.Rxd8+ Qxd8 28.Qc2 g5 29.fxg5 hxg5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : +0.08. Depth: 17. ♘odes: 70.4 M

(17.Qb3 Bb7 18.Ne1 Nf6 19.e5 dxc4 20.Qxc4 Nd5 21.Nd3 Qd7 22.Ne4 a5 23.Bf3 Rfd8 24.a3 Qc7 25.Re1 Ra8 26.Qa4 Rac8 27.Qb3 Ba6 Stockfish 1 6 JA : +0.04. Depth: 17. ♘odes: 71.3 M)

17…cxd5 18.Qa4 clearly best

18…Bb7 must also be best, the only decent alternative is Nb8

19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.dxe5 Bc6 21.Qb3 Qd7 22.Qe3 Bc5 23.Qe2 d4 24.Bxc6 Qxc6 25.Nf3 Rfd8 26.a3 a5 27.Rd2 Rc7 28.Rcd1 Rcd7 29.Rd3 Stockfish 1 6 JA : 0. Depth: 17. ♘odes: 50.9 M

(19.cxd5 Bxd5 20.Ne1 Bxg2 21.Nxg2 Rc7 22.Ne3 Nf6 23.Nf3 Qc8 24.Rxc7 Qxc7 25.Ne5 Rc8 26.Qa6 Ne4 27.Qd3 Nd6 28.Qb3 b5 29.Qd3 f6 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.16. Depth: 17. ♘odes: 51.7 M)

19...Nxe5 20.dxe5 Bc6 21.Qc2 Qd7 22.Qb1 Bb7 23.cxd5 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Bxd5 25.Qd3 Rd8 26.Bxd5 Qxd5 27.Qxd5 Rxd5 28.Nf3 Rc5 29.Rxc5 Bxc5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.20. Depth: 17. ♘odes: 33.5 M

and now two repetitions:

20...Bc6 21.Qc2 Ba8 22.Qa4 Bc6 Stockfish 1 6 JA : 0. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 68.5 M

There are a few potential queen moves here: a6, c2, b3. They will need close study but initial analysis gives a small edge to black in every line (although this may be simply due to the bishop pair; I see nothing concrete in the position):

21.Qa6 Qd7 22.Nb3 Ba4 23.Bh3 Bxb3 24.axb3 d4 25.Rd3 Rc7 26.Rcd1 Rd8 27.Bg2 Bc5 28.Be4 Qc8 29.Qxc8 Rdxc8 30.Ra1 a5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.08. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 57 M

21.Qc2 Ba8 22.Qd3 dxc4 23.Qxd8 Rfxd8 24.Bxa8 Rxa8 25.Nxc4 Rac8 26.Rxd8+ Rxd8 27.Kg2 Kh7 28.b3 Bc5 29.Kf3 Kg6 30.Ne3 Rd2 31.a4 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.12. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 58.5 M

21.Qb3 Qd7 22.Qd3 Rfd8 23.cxd5 exd5 24.Nb3 Bb5 25.Qb1 Rxc1 26.Qxc1 Bc4 27.Nd4 Bc5 28.b3 Ba6 29.Bf1 Bxf1 30.Kxf1 Re8 31.f4 Rc8 32.Qe3 a6 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.16. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 57.8 M

21.Qb3 seems to make the most sense (pressurizing d5 and not in tactical danger compared to if moved to c2 – a6 appears passive and serves little purpose).

21...Qd7 22.Qe3 Bc5 23.Qe2 d4 24.Bxc6 Qxc6 25.Nf3 Rfd8 26.a3 a5 27.Rd2 Rd7 28.Rcd1 Rcd8 29.b3 Bxa3 30.Nxd4 Qb7 31.Qg4 Bc5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.04. Depth: 17. ♘odes: 36.7 M

22.Qe3 Bc5 23.Qd3 (how is encouraging black to play Bc5 useful?) Ba4 24.b3 Bc6 25.cxd5 exd5 26.Nf3 Bb7 27.Nd4 Rfe8 28.f4 Ba6 29.Qd2 Ba3 30.Rc3 Bc5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.20. Depth: 17. ♘odes: 41 M

(22.Qd3 Rfd8 23.cxd5 Bb5 24.Qd4 exd5 25.Nb3 Rxc1 26.Nxc1 Qf5 27.Nb3 Bc4 28.Re1 Bxb3 29.axb3 Bc5 30.Qf4 Qxf4 31.gxf4 d4 32.Be4 d3 33.Rd1 Rd4 34.Bxd3 Rxf4 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.28. Depth: 17. ♘odes: 42.2 M)

22...Bc5 23.Qe2 Ba4 24.b3 Bc6 25.cxd5 exd5 26.Ne4 Be7 27.Nd6 Bxd6 28.exd6 Qxd6 29.Qd2 Rfd8 30.Bxd5 Bxd5 31.Rxc8 Rxc8 32.Qxd5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.08. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 28 M

(22…Bb7 and Rfd8 are 0.0)

Qf4, Qe1 and Qe2 all have the same evaluations:

23.Qf4 Ba4 24.b3 Bc6 25.Ne4 d4 26.Qg4 Bxe4 27.Bxe4 Rfd8 28.Rc2 a6 29.Re2 Bb4 30.Rc2 b5 31.Rcc1 bxc4 32.Rxc4 Rxc4 33.bxc4 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.12. Depth: 15. ♘odes: 33.5 M

23.Qe1 Bd4 24.Rc2 dxc4 25.Bxc6 Qxc6 26.Rxc4 Qd7 27.b3 Rfd8 28.Rxc8 Qxc8 29.Nf3 Bc5 30.Rxd8+ Qxd8 31.Kg2 Qd5 32.Qd2 Qe4 33.Qd8+ Kh7 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.12. Depth: 15. ♘odes: 34.7 M

23.Qe2 Ba4 24.b3 Bc6 25.Ne4 d4 26.Qg4 Bxe4 27.Bxe4 Rfd8 28.Rc2 a6 29.Re2 Bb4 30.Rc2 b5 31.Rcc1 bxc4 32.Rxc4 Rxc4 33.bxc4 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.12. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 35.4 M

Qe2 looks best to the eye.

Analysis is ongoing, but the prospects are not good.

I see you took care of this - thanks, I was away =0)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 c6 7.O-O O-O 8.Qc2 b6 9.Rd1 Nbd7 10.Bf4 Ba6 11.Nbd2 Rc8 12.Rac1 Nh5 13.Be3 Nhf6 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.b4 Re8

17.e4 Bb7 18.Re1 Be7 19.a3 b5 20.exd5 exd5 21.cxd5 cxd5 22.Qd3 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Qb6 24.Bh3 Rc8 25.Rxc8+ Bxc8 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.08. Depth: 17. ♘odes: 100 M

(17.Re1 Be7 18.a3 Bb7 19.e4 dxe4 20.Nxe4 a5 21.bxa5 b5 22.Qc3 Ra8 23.c5 Qxa5 24.Nd6 Bxd6 25.cxd6 Qxa3 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.16. Depth: 17. ♘odes: 101.2 M)

(17.Qb2 Bb7 18.e3 Rc7 19.Qa3 Qb8 20.Re1 Be7 21.c5 Bf6 22.Bh3 e5 23.Bxd7 Rxd7 24.dxe5 Bxe5 25.Nxe5 Rxe5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.16. Depth: 17. ♘odes: 102.9 M)

17...Bb7 18.Rb1 Be7 19.c5 Ra8 20.Bf1 dxe4 21.Nxe4 Qc7 22.a4 Red8 23.Qb2 Nf6 24.Nxf6+ Bxf6 25.Ne5 Bg5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.12. Depth: 17. ♘odes: 80.5 M

18.Bf1!? Be7 19.c5 Qc7 20.Bd3 bxc5 21.exd5 exd5 22.bxc5 g6 23.Qa4 Bf6 24.Re1 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Ra8 26.Nb3 Stockfish 1 6 JA : +0.04. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 50.8 M

(18.e5 Be7 19.Qb2 Ra8 20.Ne1 a5 21.b5 c5 22.cxd5 exd5 23.Nd3 Rc8 24.Nf4 cxd4 25.Bxd5 Bxd5 26.Nxd5 Nxe5 27.Rxc8 Qxc8 28.Qxd4 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.12. Depth: 15. ♘odes: 55.3 M)

18...Be7 19.Rb1 Qc7 20.c5 Rb8 21.exd5 exd5 22.Bd3 Bf6 23.Re1 g6 24.Qa4 Ba8 25.Nb3 Bg7 26.Qa3 Nf6 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.08. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 53.1 M

19.Qb1/Rb1 and c5 all playable. I think c5 is most consistent with our plans to date.

19.c5 and we can continue putting pressure on the queenside:

19...a5 20.a3 axb4 21.axb4 Qc7 22.Bd3 Ra8 23.Re1 g6 24.e5 Kh7 25.Nb3 Ra3 26.cxb6 Qxb6 27.Nc5 Nxc5 28.bxc5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.04. Depth: 15. ♘odes: 48.8 M

(19...Ra8 20.Rb1 Qc7 21.Bd3 dxe4 22.Nxe4 Red8 23.Re1 Kf8 24.Qb2 Kg8 25.Qc2 Stockfish 1 6 JA : 0. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 51 M)

(19...Qc7 20.Bd3 dxe4 21.Bxe4 Nf6 22.Ne5 Rf8 23.Ndc4 Rcd8 24.Bf3 Nd5 25.Rb1 Ba6 26.Ne3 Bb5 27.Nxd5 cxd5 Stockfish 1 6 JA : +0.20. Depth: 16. ♘odes: 52.3 M)

The line with 20.bxa5 looks very interesting, creating two outside passed pawns for white but allowing black to open the position. Hmm….

This line could do with a look. If it turns out not to be good, then 20.a3 and 20.exd5 are good alternatives.

Sandpapering continued: (After 20.Ba8)

22.dxc5 Nxc5 23.exd5 cxd5 24.Nb3 Qb6 25.Nxc5 Rxc5 26.Qb3 Qc7 27.Rxc5 Bxc5 28.Qc2 Rc8 29.Bb5 Rb8 30.Bd3 Qd6 31.Rc1 Rc8 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.20. Depth: 13. ♘odes: 24.6 M

(22.exd5 cxd5 23.dxc5 Rxc5 24.Qb1 Qc7 25.Bb5 Qa7 26.Bxd7 Qxd7 27.Rxc5 Bxc5 28.Ne4 Ba7 29.Ne5 Qe7 30.Nd2 Qc5 31.Nd3 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.36. Depth: 13. ♘odes: 29.8 M)

22...Nxc5 23.exd5 cxd5 24.Nb3 Qb6 25.Nxc5 Rxc5 26.Qb3 Qc7 27.Rxc5 Bxc5 28.Qc2 Rc8 29.Bb5 Qa7 30.Rb1 Qb6 31.a4 Qc7 32.Qc3 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.28. Depth: 14. ♘odes: 28.5 M

(22...Bxc5 23.exd5 cxd5 24.Nb3 Bb6 25.Qxc8 Qxc8 26.Rxc8 Rxc8 27.Bb5 Nf6 28.Nbd4 Ne4 29.Kg2 Kf8 30.Ne5 Ke7 31.Bd7 Rc3 32.f3 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.28. Depth: 14. ♘odes: 29.5 M – white probably has good endgame chances, but this line needs sandpapering)

23.Qc3 Nd7 24.exd5 exd5 25.Re1 c5 26.Bb5 Qc7 27.Qc2 Bd6 28.Rxe8+ Rxe8 29.Qf5 Re7 30.Bxd7 Rxd7 31.Nd4 g6 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.48. Depth: 14. ♘odes: 38 M

(23.exd5 cxd5 24.Nb3 Ne4 25.Qxc8 Qxc8 26.Rxc8 Rxc8 27.Bb5 Kf8 28.Rc1 Rxc1+ 29.Nxc1 Nc3 30.a4 Bf6 31.Nb3 Ke7 32.Nfd4 Kd6 33.Kg2 g6 34.Kf3 Stockfish 1 6 JA : -0.56. Depth: 14. ♘odes: 39.3 M)

And it’s not looking so good.

Back to 19…a5

20.a3 looks good, keeping things locked on the queenside. Maybe if we can jam here we can prepare for a kingside pawn push??

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 c6 7.O-O O-O 8.Qc2 b6 9.Rd1 Nbd7 10.Bf4 Ba6 11.Nbd2 Rc8 12.Rac1 Nh5 13.Be3 Nhf6 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.b4 Re8 17.e4 Bb7 18.Bf1 Be7 19.c5 a5 20.a3

This is a very interesting line - I've been looking into it for the last 24 hours and will be posting results soon.

1)= (0.06) 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Ne5 bb7 17.Qa4 a6 18.Nd3 c5 19.dxc5 bxc5 20.cxd5 exd5 21.e4 Re8 22.exd5 Bxd5 23.Bf3 Bf6

2) = (0.18) 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.b4 Bb7 17.e4 c5 18.exd5 exd5 19.dxc5 bxc5 20.b5 d4 21.Ng5 Bxg5 22.Bxb7 Rb8 23.Be4 Re8

3) (0.38) 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.e4 Kg7 17.h3 Bb7 18.Re1 a6 19.a3 dxc4 20.Nxc4 b5 21.Ne3 c5 22.d5 Ne5 23.Red1

click for larger view

15... Nxf6 16. e4 Bb7 17. Ne5 Nd7 18. Nd3 dxe4 19. Nxe4 Qc7 20. c5 Ba6

click for larger view

This position has a very high branching factor:

+0.04 moves:
21. Qa4 (21... Bb5 22. Qa3 Bxd3 23. Rxd3 b5 24. Qb4 a5 25. Qe1 Nf6 26. Rcd1...etc *)

21. Nb4 (21... Bb7 22. Nd3 Ba6 23. Qa4 Bb5 24. Qa3 Bxd3 25. Rxd3 ... ect *)

0.00 moves:
(21. a3)
(21. f4)
(21. b3)
(21. Qb3)
(21. h4)
(21. h3)
(21. b4)
(21. Qc3)
(21. Kh1)
(21. Bf3)
(21. Qb1)

-0.04 moves:
(21. cxb6)
(21. Qd2)
(21. Bh3)
(21. Ne5)
(21. Rd2)
(21. Nf4)
(21. a4)
(21. f3)
(21. Bh1)

-0.15 move:
(21. Re1) *

I have all of these played out to deeper ply than shown above.

click for larger view

21... Bb5 22. Qa3 Bxd3 23. Rxd3 b5 24. Qb4 a5 25. Qe1 Nf6 26. Rcd1 Rfd8 27. Qe2 a4 28. Nc3 Qb7 29. Bf3 Rc7 30. a3 Rdc8

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