XChess1971 wrote on 02/26/11 at 15:38:36:


The Merovingian-Swiss_Dragon game was aborted after 13...b5 14.Ndxb5 Qb6 15.Nd4 Rc5 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nd5 Rxd5, since there was no move from White's side for a very long time. In the pgn-file I have included some analysis of this line, which indicates that Black is at least equal and has very good chances for the full point if White doesn't play the most precise moves. 
From a human point of view, this line is still the one which you are most likely to encounter in practical play. Of course this is likely to change as soon as there appears a sicilian or dragon book featuring the 13...b5!?-line.

XChess1971 wrote on 02/26/11 at 03:50:36:


The games are completely finished since January 31. Check out post #30 of this thread.

OrangeCounty wrote on 02/18/11 at 18:52:44:


Well, if Black was forced to react to 14.g4 with 14...b4, you would be perfectly right. However Black plays 14...a5! with the idea of harrassing the bishop on b3. For example 15.gxh5 a4 and the position is very concrete. The idea of 13...b5 is not so much to follow up with 14...b4, but to play a5 next without giving White the opportunity to lock up the position with a4.

That said, White may consider to wait for one move (without weakening his f3-pawn) and only take on b5 after Black has played 14...a5. For example 14.Kb1!? is an interesting move. Then 14...b4? runs into 15.Nd5 and 14...a5 can be met by 15.Ndxb5 with idea 16.a4. However Black can play 14...Nc4 15.Bxc4 Rxc4, which is perfectly fine. If Black really wants a sharp game, he can also play 14...a5!? 15.Ndxb5 a4 16.Bxa4 Nc4, which gives Black good compensation for the pawns. Even after the stronger 15.Ncxb5! a4 16.Bxa4 Black obtains reasonable compensation with 16...Qb6 or 16...Rc5.

Thank you very much for your analysis on the match.

I am analyzing the possition that starts on 17. h7+ in our game, and will post the analysis soon.

ArKheiN wrote on 01/31/11 at 17:18:37:


There are several solutions to this issue:

1) Only play Ne5 if White has already committed himself to h4. Otherwise play the Topalov-variation (9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Nxd4), which is theoretically very sound, although maybe not as exciting as the Soltis lines.

2) Play the Burnett variation (12.Kb1 Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.g4 b5 15.b3 b4). It leads to very complicated positions and it still looks playable to me after analyzing my game with Heiduczek in more details. However don't expect a clean equalizer.

3) Play 12.Kb1 Re8. As far as I know, there is no refutation of this line.


I do not recommend to play 12.Kb1 a6 at the moment, because I don't see how to get a position with equal chances if White plays 13.h4 h5 14.g4! Maybe new ideas for Black will be found here.

Hello Swiss_Dragon, recently I asked in this thread a question about the Kb1 line instead of Bg5, but I still wonder something. I thought it was one of the biggest challenge at the moment, have you a good line as Black against that? I did not participate to this challenge because I am quite busy and because I don't like to defend a move I don't like much(Bg5)

Swiss Dragon, can i participate in the challenge and test MamboVipi's 15.Na3? If the answer is yes please PM me your email. I hope that i'll be able to play the 10 moves before the work gets a lot.

@Swiss Dragon:

We have a different opinion on that. I still like White's chances in this line. But i also like your fantastic analysis and passion on the ...b5 gambit and the great idea of this challenge concept. And thank you for sharing this with all of us. I like participating in good tries.

@MamboVipi:

It seems that the corr game i pasted inspired you! Yes, indeed that is an interesting try. 15.Na3 Be6 16.Rhe1 and f4-f5 (you give e5 which i have to analyse before i express my opinion) looks good for White. If Black plays Bxb3 after axb3 White has a good defensive formation. Black still has comp and in practice a Dragon player should feel fine, as he does in other positions where he is objectively worse but the counterplay hasn't evaporated yet.