Jonathan Tait wrote on 02/25/11 at 22:14:40:

 
You have to treat 6...Qf8 a little differently from 6...Rf8 i.e. 7.O-O! d6 8.d3 Bg4 9.Nf3 Nd4 10.Nbd2 Nh5 11.c3 Nxf3ch 12.Nxf3 Qf6 13.Bg5! Qxg5 14.Nxg5 Bxd1 15.Raxd1 +-

Say what?

You're absolutely right. 17.a3 Na6 18.Nf3 wins a safe pawn and 17.a3 f5 18.Bf3 Na6 leaves Black with bad piece coordination. Maybe 14...Rxc6 15.Qxc6 Nb4 16.Qa4 Qxd3 17.Nf3 Qa6 18.Qd1 c5 is possible, but I don't have much faith in it.
This looks like the end, my friend.

Thanks Micawber. There is also this idea: 16.Be2 g5 17.Rd1!? With the idea to defend the kingside with Bf1. Not so clear how Black should continue his counterplay, I have thought of 17.Rd1 Nf4 18.Bf1 g4!? to but the Knight on h3 and get the g-file open but even if Black do that, it's still not clear Black has enough after a future Bxh3 gxh3.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nd4 6. c3 b5 7. Bf1 Nxd5 8. cxd4 Qxg5 9. Bxb5+ Kd8 10. O-O (or 10. Qf3 Bb7 11. O-O Rb8) Bb7 11. Qf3 Rb8 12. dxe5 Ne3 13. Qh3 Qxg2+ 14. Qxg2 Nxg2 15. d4 Be7 16. Be2 g5



Thx Arkhein for your insights on this position.

line 1
17.f4?, gxf! 18.Bxf4 (18.d5,Rb8 -/+) 8....Nxf4 19.Rxf4,Bg5 -+

line 2
17.Nc3!?,Nf4! (Arkhein)
This is a sound improvement over a recent game in this line.
17....f6? 18.d5!,Nf4 19.Bxf,gxf 19.e6!+- Pirrot-Daeubler, Bad Woerishofen, 2010.
note that Black apparently did not find any improvements over 10.0-0,Rb8 in the game Pirro-Daeubler, Bad Woerishofen,2008
18.Bg4
Other moves dont bring White very much
Now Arkhein, mentions that White keeps control over h3.
But I think Black can still get some counterplay
18....h5!?
19.Bf5        (forced in view of 19.Bd1??,Nh3 ++)
19....,Bf3    (Black restricts the movements of the knight on c3 and the f1 rook)
20.Be3
a) 20.Bxf4,gxf 21.Rfb1,c5! unclear (if the d4 pawn is swapped black has the manoeuvre Rg8+ followed by Rg5)
b) 20.b3,Bb4 unclear.

20......., f6
20..Rxb2 backfires after 21.Rfb1
21.Rfb1!
21.Rab1,Rf8! 22.e6,Rb5! unclear
21....., Rf8
21....fxe5 22.fxe5,Rf8?! 23.Rd1+!
22.e6!, Bd6
And Black seems to hold....

line 3
17.f3, Nf4
The line proposed by Papagano. I have two correspondence games [ICCF] in my database that seem to confirm that Black has good drawing chances after 18.Bxf4
18.Bc4!? may be an improvement though.
The idea is that after 18....f6 White controls the important g8 square.
18...f6 19.Bxf4,gxf4 20.Nc3 and Black still has an unpleasant defence ahead

ArKheiN wrote on 02/22/11 at 23:05:52:

I never have understood the difference between the two (don't bother to explain; I am too old and lazy to learn). In my book both mean: avoid as Black at all costs.

ArKheiN wrote on 02/22/11 at 23:05:52:

I looked at that one too, but decided that Black has fewer problems with the safety of His Majesty after Kd7 and 20...Rc8.
I completely agree with your remark about winning pawn d4. In fact I have looked a little further than 17...cxd6. I noted a silicon tendency to lower White's advantage. Reproducing the moves made little sense to me though because of the many branches and the old adagium "long analysis wrong analysis".
So I hesitate between unclear and somewhat better for White and haven't decided yet if this is enough reason to turn to 4...Na5.

MNb, I never said +- but +/- (and not so big "clear advantage" but it seems that White is still superior.)

After 10.0-0 Rb8 11.Bc6 exd4 12.d3 Qf5 13.Re1 Bd6 14.Nd2 Rb6 15.Bxd5 Qxd5 16.Nc4 Ra6 17.Nxd6 cxd6 18.Qe2 Be6 19.b3 is probably an improvement to your line. Ok my computer give something like +0,7 but my human view says: "not so clear". White may win the d4 pawn, but not for free. I would not be surprised to see this game finish in a opposed bishop ending or something like that. At the moment it seems to be the best line for Black.

micawber wrote on 02/22/11 at 17:03:05:

Didn't I mention 12...Qf5 back then? If no I do now. 13.Re1 (13.Qa4 Nb4 14.Be4 Qc5 15.a3 Nc2 16.b4 Bd7 17.Qa6 Rb6 with unclear complications) Bd6 14.Nd2 (a ridiculous, but not so easy silicon recommendation is 14.g4 Bxh2+ 15.Kg2 Qg6 16.Bxd5 Bxg4, I very much would like to have Black here; 14.Na3 Bxa3 15.bxa3 Nc3 with a nice octopus) Rb6 15.Bxd5 Qxd5 16.Nc4 (16.Ne4 might preserve an edge, but I don't see ArKheiN's +-) Ra6 17.Nxd6 cxd6 18.b3 Re8 19.Bb2 Bf5 and I ask: how big is White's advantage? Pawn d4 will be lost, but even then it's hard to win.

Possibly 10...exd4 11.Bc6 Rb8 is more precise.
This time I will save the stuff, so that I won't have to wait for Micawber a fourth time. 
OK, ArKheiN, shoot.