Paul Cumbers wrote on 12/01/17 at 22:33:52:


Yes with 14.Kd1 which is still equal however.  Looking at it with Stockfish 8 it appeared Black had to be more accurate to maintain equal chances.  I'm not that excited about this, however, since there are so many deviations and now I think White may have trouble keeping things equal after 7...Bb4.

While looking at various tries for White against the Modern my computer (Stockfish) came up with an idea I haven't seen before.  It's only equal but still interesting.

1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 exf4 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bb5+ c6 6.dxc6 Nxc6 7.Nc3 (Shaw only analyzed 7.d4 in his book.) 7...Bd6 (7...Bb4!?) 8.Qe2+ Be6 (8...Kf8 is probably about equal too but with lots of play for both sides.) 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.Ng5 O-O (guarding the Bishop on e6 with the Queen is = too) 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.b3!? (of course taking the pawn is good for Black) 12...Nd5! 13.Bb2 (13.Ne4=) and while the position is equal both sides have to play accurately.  With his weak pawns Black must be careful not to go into a bad endgame.  Perhaps the variation has some practical value.