Ah, I missed Qc2.

Oh well, the line is still dead for black. It's a good thing I don't play it, anyway. 

g3g6 wrote on 06/06/09 at 14:18:16:


I completely agree, provided that 19...Qa1 was meant to be  19...Qxh1+ and 20.Ba1 to be 20.Kxh1. 

Hopefully that satisfies Paulsen's query. 

Tops

BPaulsen wrote on 06/05/09 at 07:42:00:


Stll no engine?

Tops

TN wrote on 06/05/09 at 22:00:00:


Well, at least black isn't flat-out dead after 12. Qe2 now, of course I could still be missing something.

12. h5 of course is still a problem, but I'm not sure what the critical line is for white. The 12...f6 13. Nxg6 variation looks unclear to me, and 13. hxg6 fxe5 gxh7 is has similarities to the Winawer Poison Pawn (white, of course, should have a slight edge, with black only having minimal compensation).

I spent some time looking at 6...b5, if white responds with 7. Bd3 then I like 7...g6 where I think the positions are unclear. 7. Bb3, on the other hand, is a real problem with 0-0/Re1/Ne5/Nxf7 themes being a constant problem. White should keep a slight edge there for sure.

@BPaulsen

15...Qd4 looks like an improvement over 15...Bc2 - neither myself nor Fritz could find anything better than 16.Qe3 Qe3 17.Be3 f6 when Black has no problems.

However, the 6...Bf5 variation still seems to be too dangerous for Black because of 12.h5 instead of 12.Qe2.

In my opinion, 6...b5 is stronger, playing in similar fashion to a Meran with 7.Bb3 e6, although to be honest I have no doubt that White has a small edge here as well. 7.Bd3!? is rare but also seems like a solid += for White.

g3g6 wrote on 08/10/06 at 08:06:11:


Yes Van Wissen - Del Rio Angelis is a very important game, and I dont think that Del Rio repeated 3...Qd8 again after that defeat. And yes  16. Qb5+ is very strong, maybe winning by force.

Lets hope that many players take up Kogan's S.O.S, which in this case would have the traditional meaning. 

Topster 

Are you sure about 12.Qe2?, probably based on Kotronias-Candela Perez Linares 2003. I dont know easy truth about interesting 12...Bxc3 13.bxc3 Qa5 14.h5 Qxc3 15.Kf2!? as was played Van Wissen-Del Rio Angelis Presov 2001, 15...Bxc2 as only move,  but after "normal" moves 14.Rb1 or similliar black is probably less or more playable.

Good point, TopNotch. Kogan says, that 9...Bb4 is bad for 10.f3 (+/- Kogan), but 10...Nd5 11.Bxd5 cxd5 12.h5 is maybe not to bad for black (closely to +/= than to +/-). On opposite Kogan offer 9..Nbd7!, but now 10.f3! (g3g6 mark ) 10...Nxe5 11.dxe5 is probably bad for black - +/-