2 Recent Riga Variation games. First game is not critical, but may be interesting because Black's position is ugly looking and looks impossible to hold, but a nice resource appears!
The second game is more critical as it follows some analysis published in NIC YB 86. The position looks grim indeed for black after 26 Rh6, but despite being in a pickle barrel, black holds in this game because of superior king position.
GAME 1
White Rating 2155
Black Rating (Provisional) 1800
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 exd4 7.Re1 d5 8.Bg5 f6 9.Nxd4 Bc5 10.Nxc6 Bxf2+ 11.Kf1 Qd7 12.Nc3 bxc6 13.Nxe4 Bxe1 14.Nxf6+ gxf6 15.Qh5+ Kf8 16.Bh6+?! (Stronger is 16.Re1 as seen in GAME 2) Ke7 17.Rxe1+ Kd8 18.Qf3 Qf5 19.Qxf5 Bxf5 20.Bxc6 Rb8 21.Bg7 Rg8 22.Bxf6+ Kc8 23.Bxd5 Rf8 24.Bg7 Rd8 25.c4 Kd7 26.Kf2 c6 27.Bf3 Rg8 28.Be5 Rbf8 29.h3 Rg6 30.b3 Re6 31.c5 Kc8 32.Bd6 Rff6 33.Re5 Kb7 34.Ke3 Rxe5+ 35.Bxe5 Re6 36.Kf4 Bc2 37.g4 Re8 38.g5 Rf8+ 39.Bf6 a5 40.h4 Re8 41.h5 Re1 42.Kg3 a4 43.Kf2 Rb1 44.bxa4 Rb4 45.a5 Ra4 46.Bd8 Rxa2 47.Kg3 Ra3 48.Kf4 Rxf3+ 49.Kxf3 Bd1+ 50.Ke4 Bxh5 51.Kd4 1/2- 1/2
This next game is more crtical test of the line, and black is fine!
GAME 2
White Rating 2387
Black Rating (Provisional) 1800
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 exd4 7.Re1 d5 8.Bg5 f6 9.Nxd4 Bc5 10.Nxc6 Bxf2+ 11.Kf1 Qd7 12.Nc3 bxc6 13.Nxe4 Bxe1 14.Nxf6+ gxf6 15.Qh5+ Kf8 16 Re1 ! Strongest for white, so far, but perhaps still not the path to a forced win! 16... fxg5 17. Qh6+ Kf7 18. Bxc6 Qd6 19. Qh5+ Qg6 20. Bxd5+ Be6 21. Qf3+ Qf6 22. Qxf6+ Kxf6 23. Rxe6+ Kf5 24. g4+ Kxg4 25. Bxa8 Rxa8 26. Rh6 (This position was given as +/= and sometimes +/- in previous analysis) Rb8 27. b3 Rf8+ 28. Ke2 Rf7 29. Rxa6 h5 30. a4 Re7+ 31. Kf1 Rf7+ 32. Kg2 Kf4 33. a5 g4 34. Re6 Rd7 35. Rf6+ Ke5 36. Rf8 Rd2+ 37. Kg3 Rxc2 38. a6 Ra2 39. Rh8 Rxa6 40. Rxh5+ Ke4 41. Rc5 Rh6 42. Rxc7 Rh3+ 43. Kxg4 Rxh2 44. b4 Rb2 45. Rb7 Kd5 46. Kf4 Kc4 1/2-1/2
Long live the Riga.
I am still checking both games for possible improvements. Both games played on ICCF 10 moves/50 days.
Please point out mistakes, improves and even critique format of post !
~ drkodos