[Event "Berlin (source: N.B.SZ 1864, p.240)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1862.08.22"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dr. Pomtow"]
[Black "Schallopp, Emil"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "Stefan Buecker"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2009.07.10"]

1. e4 {3} 1... e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7.
Nbd2 $1 {Criticized ("?") by "Neue Berliner Schach-Zeitung" 1864, but 144
years later the Russian GM Dmitry Chuprov (Elo 2577) played it in two of his
tournament games.} 7... Nxe4 8. Bd5 $2 {To prevent d7-d5 is an original, but
clearly insufficient idea. Critical continuations are 8. d5! or perhaps 8. 0-0,
which are discussed in the last gamefile "POMTOW ATTACK 7...Nxe4 8.d5!".} 8...
Nxd2 (8... Nf6 {is better according to "Neue Berliner Schach-Zeitung" 1864, p.
240: "Der Abtausch foerdert die Entwicklung von Weiss." [The exchange boosts
White's development.] Obviously, if the Bd5 has to retreat after 8...Nf6 - and
in fact there is nothing better -, the move 8.Bd5 only means a serious waste
of time. Thus, the rest of the game is of historical, but no longer of
theoretical interest.}) 9. Bxd2 O-O (9... Bxd2+ $1 10. Qxd2 Qe7+ 11. Kf1 O-O
12. h4 Qd6 {Black is much better, =+ at least}) (9... Qe7+ $1 10. Kf1) 10. O-O
Bxd2 11. Qxd2 Ne7 12. Bb3 d5 13. Rfe1 Bg4 (13... Qd6) 14. Ne5 (14. Qb4 $44 Bxf3
$6 15. Rxe7 Bg4 16. Re5) 14... Bh5 (14... Be6) 15. g4 $6 (15. Qg5 Bg6 16. Nxg6
Nxg6 17. Qxd5 $11) 15... Bg6 16. Nxg6 $2 fxg6 $2 (16... Nxg6 $17) 17. Re5 c6
18. Rae1 Rf7 (18... Nc8 $1) 19. Qg5 (19. Qb4 $14) 19... Kf8 $11 20. Qh4 h6 21.
g5 $2 h5 $2 (21... Nf5 $19) 22. Bc2 $11 Nf5 $2 {
Criticized ("?") by "Neue Berliner Schach-Zeitung" 1864} 23. Bxf5 $18 Rxf5 24.
Rxf5+ gxf5 25. Qxh5 Qa5 26. Re6 Qd2 27. g6 Qh6 28. Qxf5+ Kg8 29. Qf7+ Kh8 30.
Qe8+ Rxe8 31. Rxe8# {Thanks to Dr. Michael Negele for submitting the source.}
1-0

[Event "Internet"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2008.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Stümpfig, Horst"]
[Black "Pieleck, Rudi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "Stefan Buecker"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2008.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nbd2 $1 O-O
{For 7...Nxe4, 7...Bxd2 and 7...d5 see the other games and analyses. The text
move is passive, White gets a comfortable position.} 8. d5 $1 (8. e5 Ne4 (8...
d5 $11) 9. O-O Nxd2 10. Bxd2 d5 11. Bxb4 Nxb4 12. Qb3 a5 (12... dxc4) 13. Bd3
$2 (13. Be2 $14) 13... Nxd3 {
[1/2-1/2, 50] Valickova,K-Vanekova,V, Rimavska Sobota 1996}) (8. O-O Nxe4 {
}
(8... Re8 9. e5 (9. Qb3 Qe7 10. e5 d5 11. Bd3 $16) 9... d5 10. Bb3 Ng4 $2 {
[1-0, 37] Kus,M-Prytz,O, Istanbul 2002} 11. Nb1 $16) (8... Bxd2 9. Qxd2 $2 (9.
Bxd2) (9. Nxd2) 9... Nxe4 10. Qf4 {
Chorley, Damian (1435) - Linger, Paul, Sacramento Chess Club Championship 2002}
10... d5 $17) 9. Nxe4 d5 10. Bg5 $1 (10. Bd3 dxe4 11. Bxe4 Bg4 12. d5 Ne5 13.
Qb3 Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Re8 $11 {
[0-1, 30] Bui Dang Ngoc,M-Hoang T Khanh,T, Phu Dong 2004}) 10... Qd7 (10... f6
$2 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Bb3) 11. Bd3 dxe4 12. Bxe4 $14) 8... Ne7 9. O-O d6 (9...
Bxd2 10. Nxd2 $16) (9... Ng6 $5 {
comes into consideration, since White's advantage isn't large:} 10. a3 Bxd2 11.
Nxd2 Re8 12. Re1 d6 13. h3 Bd7 14. b4 Ne5 15. Qb3 Nxc4 16. Qxc4 Rc8 17. Bb2 $14
) 10. Re1 (10. Nd4 $2 Bxd2 11. Bxd2 Nxe4 12. Re1 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 Bd7 (13... Ng6
14. Re3 (14. Rac1 Bd7 15. Bf1 a6 16. g3 $44 {
and White has (almost) sufficient compensation for the pawn}) 14... Bd7 15.
Rae1 a6 16. Bd3 Ne5 17. Be2 Re8 {
[0-1, 66] Shutova,T-Gvozdeva,A, Oktjabrsky 2004}) 14. Rac1 Re8 $15) 10... c5 (
10... Ng6 11. a3 Ba5 12. h3 Qe7 13. b4 Bb6 14. Bb2 Nd7 (14... Nf4 15. e5) 15.
Bd3 Nde5 16. Nc4 $14) 11. dxc6 Nxc6 12. a3 Bc5 13. b4 Bd4 14. Nxd4 Nxd4 15. Bb2
Nc6 16. Qb3 Qe7 17. f4 Be6 18. Qd3 Bxc4 $2 19. Nxc4 Rfd8 20. Rad1 $18 Ng4 (
20... Ne8 {would be hopeless:} 21. b5 Nb8 22. e5 d5 23. Nd6 Nxd6 24. Qxd5 $18)
21. Qg3 Nf6 22. b5 Nh5 (22... Nb8 23. Ne3 Ne8 24. Nf5 Qf8 25. e5 $18) 23. Qf3
$18 {White wins a piece. After a few more moves:} 1-0

[Event "Argentinian Corr. Championship, final"]
[Site "ICCF"]
[Date "2007.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Saglione, Eduardo"]
[Black "Magallanes, Fabricio Iván"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2404"]
[BlackElo "2168"]
[Annotator "Stefan Buecker"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2007.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nbd2 $1
Bxd2+ {By taking at first on d2, instead of the main move 7...Nxe4, Black
seems to reduce his own options. But White's alternatives are also reduced,
for example he can't take back on d2 with the knight. In most cases the text
move will soon transpose to analyses in the gamefile POMTOW ATTACK 7...Nxe4 8.
d5!.} 8. Bxd2 (8. Qxd2 $2 {[1-0, 23] Ivekovic,J-Racki,B, Busevec 2005} 8...
Nxe4 $17) (8. Nxd2 $6 d5 (8... Nxd4 $2 {
[1-0, 50] Crawford,B-Cornell,J, Detroit 1999} 9. e5 $1) 9. exd5 Qe7+ 10. Kf1
Nxd4 {is rather good for Black}) 8... Nxe4 (8... d5 $2 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 $16
) 9. d5 (9. Qe2 $2 {[1-0, 39] Herrmann,J-Muehle,S, Neumuenster 1999} 9... d5
$17) (9. O-O $2 d5 10. Bd3 O-O 11. Be3 $2 Bg4 $17 {Black has not only an extra
pawn, but stands also much better, [0-1, 27] San Emeterio Cabanes,J-Laniella,I,
Onati 1994}) 9... Ne7 10. Bb4 (10. O-O Nxd2 11. Qxd2 O-O {
[0-1, 23] Lahr,T-Dornhard,O, Pfeddersheim 1998, invites the advance} 12. d6 {
, so maybe 11...d6 is more precise, with a transposition to 7...Nxe4 8.d5 Ne7
9.0-0 Bxd2 10.Bxd2 Nxd2 11.Qxd2 d6, discussed in the file as our main line.})
10... O-O (10... c5 11. dxc6 bxc6 12. O-O $14 O-O (12... d5 13. Bd3) 13. Ne5 d6
14. Qe1 Bf5 15. Rd1) 11. O-O d6 {This position also arises in the main line
file POMTOW ATTACK 7...Nxe4 8.d5! in the side-line 9...Bxd2 10.Bxd2 Nxd2 11.
Qxd2. There are several alternatives, but this side-line seems nevertheless
relevant for the Pomtow Attack - White gets compensation mainly because he has
more space and active pieces. This game is a nice illustration for the lasting
pressure which White exerts thanks to the great activity of his pieces.} 12.
Re1 Nc5 13. Qd2 (13. h3 {gave White sufficient compensation in the other file
POMTOW ATTACK 7...Nxe4 8.d5!, after the further moves} 13... b6 14. Bc3 a5 15.
Qd2 Bd7 16. b3 Ng6 17. Bb2 Re8 18. Rxe8+ Bxe8 19. Re1 $44) 13... b6 14. Bc3 Bd7
15. Nd4 {An ideal position for a knight. From here it "controls" eight legal
moves of black minor pieces...} 15... a5 16. g3 {The first of three quiet, but
powerful pawn moves which systematically restrict the opponent's options.}
16... Re8 17. h4 $1 Qc8 18. h5 $1 {
Only a few moves later this pawn will even advance to h6.} 18... Nf5 19. Nxf5
Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 Bxf5 21. h6 $1 Qd7 22. Qf4 Bg6 23. Bxg7 Qf5 24. Qd4 Qg5 25. Re3
Bh5 26. Bb5 f5 27. f4 Qg6 28. Kg2 Qf7 29. Re6 $1 c6 30. Bxc6 Rc8 31. Re3 Bg4
32. b3 Rb8 33. Bb5 Ne4 34. Qc4 Qe7 35. Bc3 Kf7 36. Qd4 Rg8 37. Bd3 Kf8 38. Bxe4
fxe4 39. Rxe4 Qd8 40. f5 Qg5 41. Rxg4 Qxg4 42. Qf6+ 1-0

[Event "Pardubice (Czech Open "F")"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2008.07.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Chuprov, Dmitry"]
[Black "Genba, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2577"]
[BlackElo "2429"]
[Annotator "Stefan Buecker"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2008.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nbd2 $1 d5
{It is one of the key questions in this opening, whether White can get his
d4-d5 attack rolling. Should Black prevent it by playing d5 himself? Against
both 7.Bd2 Bxd2 8.Nbxd2 and 7.Kf1, the reaction d7-d5 is regarded as the best
defence. In my opinion, against the Pomtow Attack 7...Nxe4 is the main line,
but the text move comes close.} 8. exd5 (8. Bxd5 $2 Nxd5 9. exd5 Qxd5 {
gives Black a dream position:} 10. a3 Ba5 11. b4 Bb6 12. Nb3 Bg4 13. Bb2 {
[1/2-1/2, 41] Fryda,L-Ruzicka,M, Volyne 2003} 13... O-O-O 14. O-O Rhe8 $19) (8.
e5 $2 dxc4 9. exf6 gxf6 $1 (9... Qxf6 {
[0-1, 62] Shutova,T-Shabrina,T, Oktjabrsky 2004}) 10. O-O Qd5 $17) 8... Nxd5 (
8... Qe7+ {is a very interesting in-between check involving the sacrifice of a
pawn which so far happened only in an U18w championship of Badischer
Schachverband:} 9. Kf1 $1 (9. Qe2 $11 Qxe2+ 10. Bxe2 $2 Nxd5 {
[0-1, 38] Scheurer,Valerie-Beier,Nina, U18w Baden 2008}) (9. Be2 $5) 9... Na5
10. Qa4+ Bd7 11. Bb5 $14 {and it remains unclear whether Black's sacrifice can
be justified (11...c6; 11...0-0-0). The += assessment is only a first guess
from the computer.}) 9. O-O (9. Qb3 $2 Na5 10. Qa4+ (10. Qd3 Nxc4 11. Qxc4 {
[1-0, 38] Andersson,T-Ballester Sanz,J, Mamaia 1991;} 11... Qe7+ 12. Ne5 Nb6
$17) 10... Bd7 $1 (10... Nc6 11. Qb3 Na5 12. Qa4+ Nc6 13. Qb3 {
1/2-1/2 Alonso Alvarez,A-Armas Gago,M, Asturias 1997}) 11. Bb5 Qe7+ 12. Kf1 Nc6
$17 13. a3 a6 $1 14. axb4 Nb6 15. Qd1 axb5 $17 {
White's position is a mess, maybe already -+.}) 9... O-O 10. a3 Be7 11. Qc2 Bg4
12. Re1 (12. b4 $1 {seems more precise. The move Rfe1 may be useful in many,
but not in all cases (Rae1 could be preferable, or the c-file might become
more important). On the other hand, the development b2-b4 followed by Bb2
prepares several aggressive ideas like Ne5 or Qb3 or play on the c-file.} 12...
a6 13. Re1 (13. h3 {wastes time:} 13... Bh5 14. Re1 Bg6 15. Qb3 Nb6 16. Bb2 Bf6
{and Black is fine}) (13. Bb2 $5) 13... Qd7 14. Bd3 h6 (14... g6 15. h3 Bxh3 (
15... Be6 16. Ne4 $14) 16. gxh3 Qxh3 17. Re4 f5 18. Bc4 {
with heavy complications, apparently favouring White.}) 15. h3 Be6 16. Bb2 Rae8
$14 {Black is not without resources, but altogether I'd prefer White's
position. Now he can choose between 17.Nc4, 17. Rad1, 17.Nf1 and other good
moves.} (16... Nf4 17. Be4 Bxh3 $6 18. gxh3 Qxh3 19. Nh2 Bd6 20. Ndf1 $16))
12... Bh5 (12... Re8 13. Bd3 Nf6 14. h3 Bh5 15. Bb5 (15. b4 $5 Nxd4 16. Nxd4
Qxd4 17. Bb2 $44) 15... Qd5 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Re5 Qd7 18. Ra5 Bf8 19. Qc4 Rad8
20. b4 Bd6 21. Bb2 Nd5 22. Kf1 Bf4 $1 $17 (22... Re3 $1 $17) 23. Qb3 Bxd2 24.
Nxd2 Re2 25. Nc4 Qf5 $19 26. f3 (26. Qg3 Rc2) 26... Rde8 27. Ne5 Re3 28. Qa4
Bxf3 29. Nxf3 Rxf3+ 30. Kg1 Rg3 31. Qxc6 {
0-1 Chuprov,Dmitry (2577)-Potapov,Pavel (2418), Pardubice 2008 (Czech Open F)})
(12... Bf6 $11 {seems simpler than the moves seen in Chuprov's practice:} 13.
Qe4 Bxf3 14. Nxf3 Nb6 15. Bd3 g6 16. Be3 Re8 $11 {followed by 17...Qd6.}) 13.
b4 (13. Bb5 Bg6 14. Ne4 Re8 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Qxc6 (16. Ne5 Bf6) 16... Bxa3 17.
Bg5 Be7 $11) 13... Bg6 14. Qb3 Nb6 15. Bb2 Bf6 16. Rad1 Ne7 17. Bf1 Qd5 18.
Qxd5 Nexd5 19. Ne5 a5 20. b5 Rfd8 $2 $14 (20... Bf5 $11) 21. Nxg6 hxg6 22. Ne4
Na4 23. Ba1 Be7 24. Rd3 f5 25. Nd2 Bf6 26. Nf3 Nab6 27. Rdd1 Kf7 28. Rc1 $2 Re8
$2 (28... Be7 $1 {attacking the pawn a3, with counter play. White's last move
was inaccurate, but Black missed the opportunity.}) 29. Ne5+ Bxe5 30. dxe5 Ke6
31. Bd4 $16 Rac8 32. g3 Red8 33. Rc2 Rd7 34. Rec1 Rf7 35. f4 Rd7 36. Bf2 g5 37.
fxg5 Kxe5 38. Re1+ 1-0

[Event "Main Line / Analysis"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2009.07.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pomtow Attack 7...Nxe4 8.d5!"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "Stefan Buecker"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2009.07.12"]
[Source "Chess Mail Ltd."]
[SourceDate "2003.04.28"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nbd2 Nxe4 (
{for} 7... d5 {see CHUPROV - GENBA}) ({for} 7... Bxd2+ {
see SAGLIONE - MAGALLANES}) ({for} 7... O-O {see STUeMPFIG - PIELECK}) 8. d5 $1
(8. a3 $2 {forces an exchange, but 8.0-0 does the same more effectively.} 8...
Bxd2+ 9. Bxd2 Nxd2 {[0-1, 38] in Blaskan,I-Moruzzi,M, Chalkidiki 2000, and
[0-1, 64] in Chang,A-Richter,S, Box Hill 2000}) (8. Qe2 $2 d5 9. O-O (9. Bd3
O-O 10. O-O Re8 $19 {[0-1, 22] Delgado,M-Castaneda,K, Bento Goncalves 2000})
9... Bxd2 10. Bxd2 f5 $2 ({Instead,} 10... Bg4 $1 {
would have been more difficult to meet, for example:} 11. Bb5 O-O 12. Bxc6 Bxf3
13. gxf3 Nxd2 $17) 11. Bb5 O-O 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Ne5 Qd6 14. Bf4 $44 {
[1/2-1/2, 29] Ptacek,J-Schovanek,J, Most 1999}) ({The only real alternative to
the text move, though in my opinion less ambitious, is} 8. O-O Nxd2 (8... d5 9.
Nxe4 (9. Bd3 {[1-0, 19] Goldwasser,M-Pigg,C, California 1993} 9... Bf5 $17)
9... O-O $1 (9... dxe4 $2 10. Ng5 $16 O-O $4 11. Qh5 $18) 10. Bd3 dxe4 11. Bxe4
$14) (8... O-O 9. Nxe4 d5 {transposes to variation "a":} 10. Bd3 (10. Bxd5 Qxd5
11. Nc3 Qd8 (11... Qc4 $15) 12. d5 {
[0-1, 22] Klesa,J-Drab,T, Frymburk 2002; 12. Bg5 +=} (12. Bg5)) 10... dxe4 11.
Bxe4 $14) (8... Bxd2 $5 9. Nxd2 (9. Bxd2 $2 d5 {
loses a pawn without compensation, [0-1, 18] Merino,F-Ramirez Rio,J, Spain 1996
}) 9... d5 (9... Nxd2 $2 10. Re1+ $1 Ne7 11. Bxd2 O-O 12. Bg5 Re8 {
[1/2-1/2, 44] Simlova,K-Rehak,M, Plzen 1996} 13. Qb3 $18) 10. Nxe4 O-O (10...
dxe4 11. d5 (11. Re1 $5) 11... Ne5 12. Re1 f5 13. Qb3) 11. Bg5 Qd7 (11... f6 $2
12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Bb3) 12. Bd3 dxe4 13. Bxe4 Qxd4 14. Qc2 h6 15. Be3 Qf6 16.
Rad1 Re8 17. Rfe1 Nb4 18. Qc4 (18. Qxc7 Rxe4 19. Rd8+ Kh7 20. Rxc8 Re7 $1)
18... Nc6 {about =}) 9. Re1+ (9. Bxd2 Bxd2 10. Qxd2 d5 11. Rfe1+ (11. Bb3 O-O
12. Bc2 Qf6 13. h3 $2 Bxh3 {[0-1, 29] Petimezas,M-Gerrits,B, Hengelo 1994})
11... Ne7 {leads to the main line}) 9... Ne7 10. Bxd2 Bxd2 11. Qxd2 d5 $1 (
11... O-O 12. Qg5 $1 ({in another game happened, without a recognizeable plan:
} 12. Qc2 d5 13. Bd3 h6 14. Re3 Nc6 15. h3 Be6 16. Rd1 Re8 17. Nh2 Qd6 $17 {
[0-1, 40] Ho Nguyen Minh,P-Nguyen Ngoc Thanh,T, Ho Chi Minh City 2005}) 12...
d5 (12... Ng6 $2 {[0-1, 40] Sell,G-Rasch,W, Hassloch 1998} 13. Bxf7+ $1 Kh8 14.
Qxd8 Rxd8 15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Re7 $18) 13. Rxe7 dxc4 14. Rae1 $44 {
with an interesting situation}) 12. Bxd5 (12. Bd3 $6 O-O 13. Rac1 c6 14. h3 Nf5
15. b4 $15 {is a dubious kind of "minority attack", rather optimistic
concerning White's material deficit. White's activity here is probably not
enough to compensate for the pawn.}) 12... Qxd5 13. Re5 Qd8 14. Rae1 Be6 15. d5
{about =}) ({for the weak} 8. Bd5 $2 {
see the stem game of the variation, DR. POMTOW - SCHALLOPP}) 8... Ne7 (8... Na5
$6 9. Bd3 Nxd2 10. Bxd2 Qe7+ {is original, but could have been punished:} 11.
Kf1 $1 (11. Be2 $2 Nc4 12. Bc3 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 O-O 14. O-O Nb6 {
and Black was much better, [0-1, 38] Viennois,R-Cristofari,A, Montpellier 1997}
) 11... O-O (11... b6 12. Bxb4 Qxb4 13. Qe2+ Qe7 14. Qc2 Qc5 15. Re1+ Kf8 16.
Qe2 Kg8 17. a3 Qf8 18. b4 Nb7 19. Qc2 $16) 12. Bxh7+ Kxh7 13. Ng5+ Kg6 14. h4
$16) 9. O-O $1 (9. a3 $6 Bxd2+ 10. Bxd2 d6 {loses time, but won a game [1-0,
40] in Kartseva,N-Broeker,S, Wolfsberg 2004. - With the text move we enter the
pure analyses area for which no games had been available.}) 9... Nxd2 (9...
Bxd2 10. Nxd2 $5 (10. Bxd2 O-O (10... Nxd2 11. Qxd2 d6 12. Rfe1 O-O (12... Bg4
$2 13. Rxe7+) 13. Re3 h6 14. Rae1 Ng6 15. Nd4 Ne5 (15... Qf6 $5) 16. Rc1 Ng4
17. Rg3 Kh8 18. Rgc3 Nf6 19. Qc2 Re8 20. Bb3 Re4 21. Rxc7 Rxd4 22. Rxc8 Rd1+
23. Qxd1 Rxc8 24. g3 Kg8 $11) 11. Bb4 d6 12. Re1 Nc5 13. h3 ({for} 13. Qd2 $5 {
see the correspondence game SAGLIONE - MAGELLANES, which White won in 42 moves}
) 13... b6 14. Bc3 a5 15. Qd2 Bd7 16. b3 Ng6 17. Bb2 Re8 18. Rxe8+ Bxe8 19. Re1
$44) 10... Nf6 (10... Nd6 $6 {To refute this move beyond any doubt may be
difficult, but White gets fine chances for an attack.} 11. Bd3 O-O 12. Qc2 h6
13. Ne4 Ne8 14. d6 cxd6 15. Bf4 d5 16. Nd6 Qb6 17. Qe2 Ng6 18. Bxg6 Nxd6 (18...
fxg6 19. Nxe8 Rxf4 20. Qe5 Qd4 (20... Rf7 21. Nc7) 21. Qd6 a5 22. Nc7 Rf6 23.
Qg3 Raa6 24. Nxa6 $16) 19. Bc2 Re8 20. Qd3 Ne4 21. Rae1 Re6 22. Qxd5 Nxf2 $1
23. Be3 Rxe3 24. Rxe3 Qxe3 25. Rxf2 Qe1+ 26. Rf1 Qe3+ 27. Kh1 Qe6 28. Qd3 (28.
Bb3) 28... Qg6 29. Qxg6 fxg6 30. Bb3+ Kh7 31. Rf8 g5 32. Bc4 $1 $16 b5 (32...
b6 $2 33. Bd3+ g6 34. Ba6 Bb7 35. Rf7+ Kg8 36. Bxb7) 33. Bxb5 Kg6 34. Kg1 Bb7
35. Bd3+ Kh5 36. Rf7 $16) 11. Nf3 O-O (11... d6 $2 12. Bg5) 12. Bg5 Ng6 13. d6
cxd6 14. Qxd6 Ne4 15. Bxf7+ Rxf7 16. Qxg6 Qe8 17. Qh5 b6 18. Rfe1 Bb7 $11) (
9... Nf6 10. Qb3 Bd6 11. Re1 O-O 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Rxe4 Ng6 (13... Rb8 14. Bg5)
14. Bd2 c5 15. Rae1 Rb8 16. Qd3 a6 17. a4 b5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Bxb5 Qb6 20. Bc4
Qxb2 21. Rg4 Ra8 (21... Ne5 $2 22. Rxg7+ Kxg7 23. Bc3 $18) 22. Bc3 Qa3 23. Nh4
$16) 10. Nxd2 {An attempt to keep White's bishop pair intact. It isn't clear
whether this is better or worse than to take with the bishop.} (10. Bxd2 Bxd2
11. d6 (11. Qxd2 {transposes to the variation 9...Bxd2 10.Bxd2 Nxd2 11.Qxd2
above. In that line 11.d6 obviously would not have been possible because of 11.
..Nxf3+, so the text move is an attempt to profit from the difference.}) 11...
Bb4 ({less risky:} 11... cxd6 12. Qxd2 O-O {about =}) 12. Ng5 (12. dxe7 Bxe7
13. Qb3 O-O 14. Ne5 c6 15. Bxf7+ Kh8 16. Bg8 d5 17. Nf7+ Rxf7 18. Bxf7 Qc7 $11)
12... cxd6 (12... Bxd6 $4 13. Nxf7 {loses the queen}) 13. Nxf7 Qc7 14. Qb3 d5 (
14... Rf8 $2 15. Qxb4 Rxf7 16. Bxf7+ Kxf7 17. Qf4+ Kg8 18. Rae1 Qd8 19. Qh4 $18
) 15. Bxd5 Rf8 16. Qxb4 Nxd5 17. Nd6+ Kd8 18. Nxb7+ Ke8 19. Nd6+ Kd8 20. Qa3 (
20. Qh4+ Rf6 21. Ne4 Qf4 22. Qxh7 Rh6 23. Qg8+ Kc7 24. Rfc1+ Rc6 $11) 20... Rf6
21. Ne4 Re6 22. Rae1 (22. Rfe1 $6 Bb7 23. Rad1 (23. Ng5 Rxe1+ {the difference
to the main line is that this exchange is accompanied by a check, so White has
no time for 24.Qf8+ etc., mate.} 24. Rxe1 Qf4 $17) 23... Bc6) (22. Ng5 Rf6 23.
Ne4 $11 (23. Rad1 Ba6 24. Rfe1 Bb7)) 22... Qc6 {Of course there are several
other continuations; what follows is only a sample line. Black seems to hold.}
23. Rc1 Qb6 24. Ng5 Rf6 25. Ne4 Re6 26. Qf3 Bb7 27. Nc5 Rf6 28. Qh3 Bc6 29.
Qxh7 Qxb2 30. Qxg7 Rxf2 31. Qg8+ Kc7 32. Qg3+ Nf4 33. Na6+ Kb7 34. Nc5+ Kc7 35.
Na6+ Kb7 $11) 10... O-O (10... Bxd2 11. Bxd2 (11. d6 $6) 11... d6 12. Re1 O-O
13. Rc1 $44 h6 {White has sufficient compensation for the pawn. Of course
there is no forcing variation, the following moves only serve as an example.} (
13... Re8) 14. h3 Re8 (14... Bf5) 15. Qh5 Ng6 16. Rxe8+ Qxe8 17. Bd3 Ne5 18.
Bb1 c6 19. f4 Ng6 20. Re1 Qf8 21. f5 Ne5 22. f6 g6 23. Qh4 $16) 11. a3 Bc5 (
11... Bxd2 {is better than the immediate Bxd2 in the last note, since the
inclusion of a3 and 0-0 improves Black's chances. I believe that White still
gets enough compensation.}) (11... Ba5 12. b4 Bb6 13. d6 cxd6 14. Ne4 d5 15.
Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Qe7 (16... d6) 17. Nd6 Qe6 18. Qd3 Bc7 19. Bf4 Bxd6 20. Bxd6
Re8 21. Qd2 Qf5 22. Rae1 Re6 23. f4 b6 24. Rxe6 fxe6 (24... dxe6 25. Bb8 $3 Qd5
26. Rd1 $14) 25. Be5 Qe4 26. Re1 Qg6 {about =}) 12. Ne4 d6 13. Nxc5 dxc5 14.
Bf4 $44 {With chances for both sides. For the sacrificed pawn, White has
active pieces and the bishop pair.} *

