Bibs wrote on 03/10/21 at 00:18:00:
To possibly make for better ‘conversations’, perhaps you could start off with some notes, some comments, as a starting point? What have you found thus far in your resources?
Very friendly on the whole here, but it’s good to show initial input here and in any online community, and avoid possible adverse reactions to what may be seen to be a ‘you feed me’ type post.
All the best to you and all,
B
I understand your point
Bibs (and
an ordinary chessplayer) and agree this is a bad way to start a post. I repent my sins and will try to contribute in a better way going forward!
TopNotch wrote on 03/10/21 at 01:02:13:
@HAJS
Caruana,F vs Akobian,V (2016) & Arenas Vanegas, D vs Bergez, Luc (2019) are still important references and as far as I know and White looks to be better in all lines, how much better though is up for debate.
Both of these games feature 5...Bf5. I feel this move is wrong. The bishop still ends up on c8 eventually without seemingly having performed a concrete task and I do not see the point of provoking g2-g4. Better seems to be to return the bishop to c8 (5...Bc8) after which I would consider 6.Nc3, 6.Bb3 (to play play c2-c4) and 6.Bb5+.
I do not know if there have been any theoretical debate after 6...Bc8 probably not. Nevertheless, to get the conversation going here is some very superficial analysis for anyone to comment on. How much worse is Black in such position in your opinion?
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bc4 Bg4 5. f3 Bc8 6. Nc3 (6. Bb5+ Nbd7 7.
c4 (7. Nc3 a6 8. Ba4 b5 9. Bb3 Nb6 10. Nge2 Bb7 11. O-O Nfxd5 12. a4 b4 (12...
Qd7 13. a5 Nxc3 14. Nxc3 Nd5 15. Ne4 e6 16. d4 {Black doesn't have any issues
here and can play to get rid of his only weakness on c5.}) 13. Ne4) 7... a6 8.
Bxd7+ (8. Ba4 b5 9. cxb5 Nxd5 10. bxa6 Bxa6 11. d4 Nb4 {The position speaks
for itself.}) 8... Bxd7 9. d4 e6 10. dxe6 Bxe6 11. d5 Bf5 {I believe the
computer when it says Black is fine here. I do not mind playing a pawn down
with the bishop pair in a position like this.}) 6... Nbd7 7. Nge2 Nb6 8. Bb3 (
8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. O-O Nfxd5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. c4 Nf6 13. d4) 8...
Nbxd5 9. Nxd5 Nxd5 10. c4 (10. O-O e6 11. c4 Nf6 12. d4 c5 13. d5 exd5 14. cxd5
(14. Re1 Be7 15. cxd5 O-O 16. Nc3 {Black might be fine here too.}) 14... Bd6
15. Bg5 O-O {Black might just be fine here.}) 10... Nf6 11. O-O (11. d4 e6 12.
Bf4 Bd6 13. Qd2 O-O 14. O-O-O b5 15. cxb5 Bb7 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 {I like Black's
position but of course we are a pawn down.}) 11... e5 12. d4 exd4 13. Qxd4
Qxd4+ 14. Nxd4 Bc5 15. Re1+ Be6 16. Be3 Bxd4 17. Bxd4 O-O {This is perhaps
what one can expect from this variation. White as a pleasant edge.}