[quote author=Michael Ayton link=1141784971/0#7 date=1142442295]Very interesting, kylemeister -- thanks!
I'd actually seen this game, but hadn't considered the implications of Iordachescu's 11 Bd2 idea! My first thought (and question) is: does Iordachescu give a line that's advantageous for White after 10 ...0-0? This, I believe, is more common than 10 ...d6 here, partly because the position is often reached via move orders such as 3 ...Nge7 4 0-0 g6 5 c3 a6 6 Ba4 Bg7 7 d4 ed 8 cd, and now 8 ...0-0!? 9 d5!? (9 Nc3 b5 10 Bb3 d6 would transpose to the older line) b5!? 10 Bc2 Na5. I assume the point of I's 11 Bd2 is to sac the exchange with 11 ...Bb2 12 Bc3, but does this work if Black has castled instead of having played ...d6?
My second, related ‘solution’ would be again to adopt the 7 …ed 8 cd 0-0!? move order, but to meet 9 d5!? with 9 …Na5!?, which Varga has played a lot. Now 10 Nc3 and 10 Nbd2 seem invariably to be played. I’m not sure why 10 Bc2 might be bad, but in response -- in case I’s idea does work if Black has castled -- Black might have options other than 10 …b5 transposing to the above.
My third question is, after 7 …ed 8 cd b5, why can’t Black meet 9 d5 with 9 …ba? This seems never to have been played. What’s wrong with it?
A fourth idea might be to defer …exd4 until White has played Ba4--c2. This might give Black additional options. For example, 7 …b5 8 Bc2 ed 9 cd d5!? (9 …0-0 10 d5 Na5, as played by Arkhipov, transposes to my first line) has been played once or twice, and might be OK?
There might, earlier, be some subtle move order whereby Black can time …b7--b5 such that Ba4--c2 isn’t critical or dangerous, but if so I haven’t yet seen it. But does Iordachescu comment on any of the lines I’ve mentioned? -- if so I’d love to hear what he says. [/quote]
Well, Iordachescu doesn't mention 11. Bd2 after 10...0-0 (instead of 10...d6). He gives instead 11. a4, leading to a slight advantage for White.
As for 9. d5 ba, he thinks that is as good for Black as anything (i.e. it should lead to a slight advantage for White).
In the position after e.g. 9. Bc2 (instead of 9. d5 as played) 0-0 10. d5, Iordi suggests 10...Nb4 11. Bb3 a5.
BTW, I'm still waiting to see if Mamedyarov plays your "predicted" ...exd4 line in the Neo-Steinitz. Perhaps he is taking a break from the N-S; he played some other Ruy line in Iceland a week or so ago.
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