FightingDragon wrote on 06/14/06 at 16:36:33:
I've analysed the position a bit an came to the following variation against 25.Kb1:
25.Kb1 a5 26.Ba3 Rd2: 27.Rd2: Rd2: 28.Nd2: Qd5 with unclear play.
And against 25.b3 Nd4 26.c3 what about the exchange sacrifice 26. ... Rd6: 27.Nd6: Rd6: 28.cd4: ed4:
It seems that black has adequate compensation (at least he is a pawn up and has the safer king).
By the way, nice to see TopNotch back in the forum!
Did you have any dragon games in Torino?
Actually I did, and am very pleased to report that the Chinese Dragon is alive and very well.
In fact I think overall the Dragon fared quite well in Turin....perhaps the fast time control helped.
Regarding 9.0-0-0 I agree it continues to be a nuisance for ambitious Black players, but theoretically I think black is fine at the moment in the 9...d5 lines, nevertheless the search continues for ways to avoid those tedious drawing lines u mentioned. Sadly forced draws seem to plague all ultra sharp openings, its the nature of the beast.
I suppose if u need to play for a win at all costs the Hippo is your best bet....and no I am not joking....ok, maybe just a little
Perhaps Eric will eventually get around to revealing some sparkling and promising new avenue for black after 9.0-0-0, in the meantime posters could check the Olympiad games to see if there were any interesting developments.
Should all else fail there is also the Dragadorf to consider, which on current evidence appears to be quite a promising avenue for black and could render the whole 9.0-0-0 vs 9.Bc4 argument moot. Time will tell.
Till next time fellow Dragonneers, keep the flame burning brightly.
Toppers