29-03-2012, 09:05 PM
[pgn]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nb6 12. Nc3?! c5![/pgn]
Spoiler here>> Slightly embarrassed that I didn't even think of 12. Nc3 as a move order. Nc3 is the type of move Sreeves would make on the basis that it's "principled" - i.e. White doesn't have a pawn on c3 like in the Marshall so white should develop his knight to c3. Luckily enough it doesn't change anything! After 12...c5 he is now almost forced to go d3 and I'm happy with how things will proceed, for now.
I have to say relieved he didn't play the d3, c3 setup as I was really struggling for ideas.
Two lines I envisage are: 13. d3 Bd6 14. Re1 c4 15. dxc4 bxc4 16.Ba4 Nxa4 17.Nxa4 Bb7 - and black has the bishop pair with threats such as Qc7-c6.
The line I'm worried about is 13. d3 Bd6 14. Re2 c4 15. dxc4 bxc4 16. Rd2! ... bxc3 Rxd6 bxc2 Rxd8 cxd1 Rxd1 and I'm a pawn down in the endgame. Not what I want.
Therefore, if Re2, I can't go c4.
EDIT: After Re1, the more I think about it... the more I like Bc7 followed by Qd6. I really am failing to see how white can cope with the threat of Qh2+. The obvious Ne4 fails due to c4 winning the bishop. I think white is in trouble if 13. d3 Bd6 14. Re1 Bc7.
<<Spoiler here
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nb6 12. Nc3?! c5![/pgn]
Spoiler here>> Slightly embarrassed that I didn't even think of 12. Nc3 as a move order. Nc3 is the type of move Sreeves would make on the basis that it's "principled" - i.e. White doesn't have a pawn on c3 like in the Marshall so white should develop his knight to c3. Luckily enough it doesn't change anything! After 12...c5 he is now almost forced to go d3 and I'm happy with how things will proceed, for now.
I have to say relieved he didn't play the d3, c3 setup as I was really struggling for ideas.
Two lines I envisage are: 13. d3 Bd6 14. Re1 c4 15. dxc4 bxc4 16.Ba4 Nxa4 17.Nxa4 Bb7 - and black has the bishop pair with threats such as Qc7-c6.
The line I'm worried about is 13. d3 Bd6 14. Re2 c4 15. dxc4 bxc4 16. Rd2! ... bxc3 Rxd6 bxc2 Rxd8 cxd1 Rxd1 and I'm a pawn down in the endgame. Not what I want.
Therefore, if Re2, I can't go c4.
EDIT: After Re1, the more I think about it... the more I like Bc7 followed by Qd6. I really am failing to see how white can cope with the threat of Qh2+. The obvious Ne4 fails due to c4 winning the bishop. I think white is in trouble if 13. d3 Bd6 14. Re1 Bc7.
<<Spoiler here