Stinging like a bee and dancing like a butterfly...

[Carolus Rex]

Sorry about that...

...but now I'm back.

Happy New Year everybody!

Carolus

[Julius Brenzaida]

1 e4 ... e5
2 Nf3 ... Nc6
3 d4 ... exd4
4 Nxd4 ... Nf6
5 Nxc6 ... bxc6
6 e5 ... Qe7
7 Qe2 ... Nd5
8 c4 ... Ba6
9 b3 ... g6
10 Ba3 ... Qg5
11 h4

[Julius Brenzaida]

A novelty and maybe an improvement from a Kasparov-Ivanchuk encounter which saw white play 11 g3. 11 h4 looks stronger to me. It’s up to you to prove that I missed something ...
The game was played in 1994, since then, almost everybody plays 9 g5 as black ...
But then it's because white has good play with 10 f4

[Carolus Rex]

Originally posted by Julius Brenzaida
The game was played in 1994, since then, almost everybody plays 9 g5 as black ...

How will 9 ... g5 change things? White can still play 10. Ba3, can't he/she? In which case Black can play 10 ... d6 (which was the move I was thinking about instead of 10 ... Qg5).

I don't think I can prove anything. So far (until 11. h4, at least) it has all been according to book. I'm surprised nobody has played it before, it looks like a natural move. Maybe there is some nasty trap Black can exploit?

Carolus

[Julius Brenzaida]

Well, I don't know. 10 Ba3 is out of fashion, everybody now plays 10 f4 or maybe 10 g3. 9 g5 is seen as the best for black because it stops f4 usually (but of course not always) a good move for white. But yeah, 11 h4 looks logical enough

[Carolus Rex]

1. e4 ... e5
2. Nf3 ... Nc6
3. d4 ... exd4
4. Nxd4 ... Nf6
5. Nxc6 ... bxc6
6. e5 ... Qe7
7. Qe2 ... Nd5
8. c4 ... Ba6
9. b3 ... g6
10. Ba3 ... Qg5
11. h4 ... Qf4

Carolus

[Carolus Rex]

If the pawn to f4 is such a good move for White, I better put a piece on that square to prevent it (for now)!

I was thinking about stirring things up a little with 11 ... Bb4+. Problem is that I didn't find anything sharp (for me! ) after 12 Bxb4 ... Qc1+ 13. Qd1. Maybe 13 ... Qb2 would have been an option but it looked dangerous and uncertain.

Hence I'm sticking to 11 ... Qf4!

Carolus

[Julius Brenzaida]

1 e4 ... e5
2 Nf3 ... Nc6
3 d4 ... exd4
4 Nxd4 ... Nf6
5 Nxc6 ... bxc6
6 e5 ... Qe7
7 Qe2 ... Nd5
8 c4 ... Ba6
9 b3 ... g6
10 Ba3 ... Qg5
11 h4 ... Qf4
12 Bb2

[Julius Brenzaida]

Hmm, your other variation looked too risky for black indeed. I shoulnd't give too many variations, as they may appear again, but 14 cxd5 taking a second piece, threatening Bc3 capturing the queen and attacking the undefended bishop on a6 looked quiite deadly in your 11 Bb4+ variation. But now, other moves, other story, maybe

[Carolus Rex]

Continuing with the speculation in the 11 ... Bb4+ variation.

No worry about the Queen (I think).

But after

13 ... Qb2
14. cxd5 ... Qxa1
15. Bxa6 ... Qxe5+
16. Qe2 ... Qxe2+
17. Kxe2 ... cxd5

I figure I am worse off (two pawns and a rook versus a knight and two bishops).

We will see what your move brings with it. My answer will probably come tomorrow.

Carolus

[Carolus Rex]

...and

18. Bb7

looks strong, so maybe the balance of pieces would move against me even more.

Carolus

[Carolus Rex]

1. e4 ... e5
2. Nf3 ... Nc6
3. d4 ... exd4
4. Nxd4 ... Nf6
5. Nxc6 ... bxc6
6. e5 ... Qe7
7. Qe2 ... Nd5
8. c4 ... Ba6
9. b3 ... g6
10. Ba3 ... Qg5
11. h4 ... Qf4
12. Bb2 ... Bb4+

Carolus

[Julius Brenzaida]

1 e4 ... e5
2 Nf3 ... Nc6
3 d4 ... exd4
4 Nxd4 ... Nf6
5 Nxc6 ... bxc6
6 e5 ... Qe7
7 Qe2 ... Nd5
8 c4 ... Ba6
9 b3 ... g6
10 Ba3 ... Qg5
11 h4 ... Qf4
12 Bb2 ... Bb4+
13 Kd1

[Julius Brenzaida]

Yeah, as I said 11 Bb4+ was bad. Hopefully 12 Bb4+ is better. I won’t be able to castle as 13 Nd2 is definitely not to my liking. This is a really messy position with strenghts and weaknesses everywhere

[Carolus Rex]

Originally posted by Julius Brenzaida
This is a really messy position with strenghts and weaknesses everywhere

I agree. Hopefully they (i.e. the strenghts and weaknesses) are evenly split between the colours...

I definitely feel vulnerable with my Queen out there strolling. Although White's pieces are not well developed and there is no fast way to get the rooks into play, I fear my Queen's vulnerable position will help you develop soon enough...

Carolus