TL Chess Match 4 - Page 80

Although I agree with 13.a3, I highly doubt black will exchange on d2. 13. .. Be7 is far superior imho. Moreover, white has to acknowledge that upon playing b4 black will respond with a5, sacrificing a pawn but opening a file for the rook and making white's life that much more difficult. Without playing b4 however, black can play c5 untroubled. >_>

A couple of lines I went over:

13. a3 Be7

14. b4 a5

15. ba Ba6 16. ??? Seriously, I see no good continuation for white. Nxe4 transposes into what I've written above but worse for white; 16. Nf1 h6 17. Bd2 Rb2 and white might as well concede.


14. Nxe4 de

15. Ng5 f5 16. ef Bxf6 17. Nxe4 Bxd4 with threats of Bb7 and Re8 - black is far better off with a bishop pair in an open position;

15. Ng5 f5 16. b4 h6 17. Nh3 g5 and both bishop and knight are out of play for white;

15. Nd2 f5 16. ef Bxf6 is same as the first variation;

15. Nd2 f5 16. b4 a5 17. ba Ba6 and black is far better despite being two pawns down (f.e. 18. f3 e3 19. Nf1 f4 20. g3 g5);

15. Nd2 f5 16. f3 e3 as above;

15. Nd2 f5 16. Nf1 g5 17. Ng3 Ke6.


14. O-O c5 15. dc Ba6 16. Rd1 Nxc5 17. b4 Nd3 18. Nb3 is what I feel to be the most safe continuation for white. Alternatively,

15. dc Bxc5 16. b4 Bxf2 17. Rxf2 Nxf2 18. Kxf2 Bb7 is rather ambitious and I guess unfounded, but the "safer" 16. .. Be7 allows 17. Nxe4 de 18. Rd1+ Kc7 ( 18. .. Ke8 19. Ng5 Bf5 20. Be3 a6 21. Rac1) 19. Ng5 f6 20. Nxe4 fe are both advantageous to white.