The

Queen’s Gambit
Accepted

A Modern Counterattack in an
Ancient Opening

Max Dlugy
Foreword by Alex Fishbein

2023
Russell Enterprises, LLC
Portsmouth, NH USA

1
 The Queen’s Gambit
A Modern Counterattack in an Ancient Opening
by Max Dlugy

ISBN: 978-1-949859-67-6 (print)

ISBN: 978-1-949859-68-3 (eBook)

© Copyright 2023
Max Dlugy
All Rights Reserved

No part of this book may be used, reproduced, stored in a retrieval

system or transmitted in any manner or form whatsoever or by any
means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without the express written permission from
the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in
critical articles or reviews.

Published by:
Russell Enterprises, LLC
P.O. Box 332
Portsmouth, NH 03802 USA

http://www.russell-enterprises.com
[email protected]

Cover design by Molly Scanlon

Printed in the United States of America

 Table of Contents

Introduction 5

Foreword 10

QuickStarter! 14

Theoretical Section

Chapter 1
The Central Variation 5.Nbd2
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.Nbd2 24

Chapter 2
The Central Variation 5.Bd2
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 29

Chapter 3
The Central Variation 5.Nc3
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 47

Chapter 4
The Quiet Line 3.e3 e5
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 e5 79

Chapter 5
The Drawing Line
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6 4.e3 b5 91

Chapter 6
3.Nf3 a6 without 4.e3
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6 96
Chapter 7
Black Avoids ...c5
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 Nf6 111

Chapter 8
The Rubinstein Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Bxc4 e6 6.a4 175

Chapter 9
The Zaltsman Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 b5 192

Chapter 10
The Early Nc3 Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 239

Annotated Games 248

Index of Variations 329

List of Annotated Games 335

Supplemental Games 337

Bibliography 347

Acknowledgments 348

Signs & Symbols 349

About the Author 352

 Introduction

Dear Reader! decades of knowledge and

experience to those that want to play
To make sure we are on the same for a win with Black!
wavelength, I want to ask you a
question: Why did you get this Let’s start with my first important
book? If your answer is “I wanted to experience with the Queen’s Gambit
learn the Queen’s Gambit Accepted at the World Under-16
Accepted,” then you should know, Championship in Argentina, where
that is not why I wrote it! This book I arrived as the rating favorite, but
is for those who want to make the ended up in seventh place, in large
QGA a weapon of destruction, an part due to this game played in
opening that, from the very first round eight.
moves, will force your complacent
opponent to start calculating Dlugy – Barua D21
incredibly complicated variations Embalse 1981
just to stay on pace with your newly
found knowledge of how to apply 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6
the pressure with the black pieces. cuuuuuuuuC
Are you with me now? Good! {rhb1kgn4}
{Dp0w0p0p}
Let me start with a story of how a {pDwDwDwD}
15-year old boy, who four years later
would become the World Junior
{DwDwDwDw}
Champion, decided the Queen’s {wDp)wDwD}
Gambit Accepted was the opening {DwDwDNDw}
for him. Forty years later, that same {P)wDP)P)}
person is now transferring four {$NGQIBDR}
vllllllllV

5
The Queen’s Gambit Accepted

I had never seen this mysterious cxd6 17.e4 Ndb4 18.Be3 d5

move, and assumed that I must work 19.e5 Na5 20.Ng5 f6 21.exf6
to win back the c-pawn now by gxf6 22.Nf3 Rac8 23.Bd2 Kf7
playing a4. This assumption hits 24.Bc3?!
many players playing White, cuuuuuuuuC
allowing Black to get in many good {wDrDw4wD}
ideas for free.
{DpDw1kDw}
4.a4 Bg4?!
{pDwDp0pD}
{hwDpDwDw}
Obviously both players were not {Phw)wDwD}
that privy to main line theory. This {DwGwDNDP}
move, played by the future {w)wDQ)PD}
grandmaster Dibyendu Barua, is a {$wDwDRIw}
rare bird in modern chess for the vllllllllV
obvious reason that Ne5! would be I had played reasonably well to up
quite a strong reply. Believing my to this point, and I could have
opponent has something up his retained a nice advantage by
sleeve though, I played: concentrating on the weakened
kingside with 24.Rae1!.
5.e3 Nf6 6.Bxc4 e6 7.h3 Bh5
8.Nc3 Bb4 9.0-0 0-0 10.Qe2?! 24...Nc4 25.Nh4?
cuuuuuuuuC
{rhw1w4kD} The beginning of my problems.
{Dp0wDp0p} Black is fully prepared for my
{pDwDphwD} attack, something I completely
{DwDwDwDb} underestimated.
{PgB)wDwD}
25...Rh8 26.Qg4 g5 27.Nf3?
{DwHw)NDP}
{w)wDQ)PD} A further mistake. It was important
{$wGwDRIw} to get rid of the strong knight on b4
vllllllllV first, leading to a minimally worse
Not the best treatment of the game after 27.Bxb4 Qxb4 28.Rfe1!
Alekhine Variation, as Black can Rc6 29.Nf3 Nd2 30.Nxd2 Qxd2
now get a very nice game with 31.Rad1, with a salvageable
10...c5. position.

10...Nd5 11.Ne4 Nc6 12.Ng3 27...Nd3

Bg6 13.Bd3 Bd6 14.Bxg6
hxg6 15.Ne4 Qe7 16.Nxd6

6
 cuuuuuuuuC instructive trap on the white side of
{wDrDwDw4} the QGA against international
{DpDw1kDw} master George Botterill, making me
{pDwDp0wD} so unhappy that I resigned by move
{DwDpDw0w} 15. Let’s take a look at this trap,
{PDn)wDQD} since both Alina Kashlinskaya and
{DwGnDNDP} Vladimir Malakhov had fallen into
{w)wDw)PD} it when I was playing Black!
{$wDwDRIw}
Dlugy – Botterill D27
vllllllllV London 1981
27...Nc6 was even stronger, but
what happens now completes the
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6 4.a4
puzzle.
Nf6 5.e3 e6 6.Bxc4 c5 7.0-0
Nc6 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.Nc3 Be7
28.Ra2??
10.Rd1 0-0
It is amazing how material-friendly
cuuuuuuuuC
I was at 15! This ugly move ends the {rDbDw4kD}
battle. After the correct 28.Rad1 {Dp1wgp0p}
Ndxb2 29.Bxb2 Nxb2 30.Rc1 Nc4 {pDnDphwD}
31.Rfe1, White has sufficient {Dw0wDwDw}
compensation for the pawn, and the {PDB)wDwD}
position is roughly equal. {DwHw)NDw}
{w)wDQ)P)}
28...Rcg8! {$wGRDwIw}
From this point on my opponent is
vllllllllV
11.e4?
relentless.
Though it is really not over for
29.b3 f5 30.Qg3 g4 31.Ng5+
White yet, Black’s response can
Qxg5 32.Qxd3 Rxh3 33.gxh3
make a serious dent into White’s
gxh3+ 34.Qg3 Qf4 35.bxc4
psyche.
Qf3 36.Re1 h2+ 0-1 I felt quite
uncomfortable ceding the b4-square
11...Ng4!!
throughout the game, and felt like I
would have preferred the black
This beautiful knight sortie forces
pieces throughout.
White to find a reasonable defense
to the threat of ...Nxd4!. I panicked
After Argentina, I went to England
and played...
to play in the Lloyds Bank
tournament and there I fell into an
12.dxc5?

7
The Queen’s Gambit Accepted

The only playable move here is remember it was a crazy game with
12.e5 – occurring only four times in the line starting 1.d4 d4 2.c4 dxc4
the 54 games in the database. After 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.e4 b5. This
12...Nxd4 13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Qxg4 was the start of my close
dxc3 15.bxc3 Qxe5 16.Rb1, White relationship to the QGA.
has surprisingly reasonable
compensation for the pawn, and will In 1993, when I was already
likely equalize in the near future. I working as a currency trader for a
have to say that neither Vladimir major bank, I got a postcard from
Malakhov, rated roughly 2680 at the Viktor Korchnoi. Viktor asked if I
time of our blitz game, nor Alina would be his coach to prepare him
Kashlinshkaya, a strong WGM, for the next world chess
found this solution in our games. championship cycle. I was very
pleased with the offer, but could
12...Bxc5 13.Be3 Nxe3 only accept if he came to New York
14.fxe3 Bd7 to work with me. He refused and it
cuuuuuuuuC did not materialize. When I ran into
{rDwDw4kD} Dmitry Gurevich, Viktor’s long-
{Dp1bDp0p} time coach, he told me the main
{pDnDpDwD} reason for the offer is that he could
not understand how it was that I
{DwgwDwDw} always got great positions on the
{PDBDPDwD} black side of the QGA!
{DwHw)NDw}
{w)wDQDP)} Recently, a major development
{$wDRDwIw} propelled the QGA to the forefront
vllllllllV of openings chosen by the top
whereupon I simply resigned, not players. An amazingly cool move in
willing to be tortured by a stronger a line researched by many players
player from this position. over the years reestablished the
viability of the move 3...b5! in the
These two losses to Barua and Central Variation after 1.d4 d5 2.c4
Botterill convinced me to buy a dxc4 3.e4. Considering that my
book on the QGA from the coach Vitaly Zaltsman was the first
tournament’s book concession and player to suggest 3...b5 in a serious
start learning the opening. The very competition and that I was the first
next round I beat John Levitt, grandmaster to play it against none
another future grandmaster, in my other than the reigning world
first outing ever with the QGA. I champion at the time (Garry
could not find the game, but I do Kasparov), I would like to use this
book as the opportunity to name the

8
3...b5 variation the Zaltsman weaker player. Enough suffering –
Variation. I am a chess senior!

It was his amazing positional I have created a quick guide for

foresight that put the move in play. starting out with the QGA. It is
He convinced me to try it out in an called “QuickStarter!” The idea is
exhibition game against Garry that hopefully, after studying 10-15
Kasparov and we will analyze this pages of material and getting
game in the Annotated Games familiar with the lines in online
section. I believe the resurgence of games, it will be easier for you to
the Zaltsman Variation has already embrace this opening.
started the path of the renewed
viability and popularity of the When referencing the excellent
Queen’s Gambit Accepted, with book Your Jungle Guide to . by
many top players happily beginning Kotronias and Ivanov, I refer to it
or returning to play it. by the abbreviation “JB” to stand for
the timeless Jungle Book. I hope the
The book is written from Black’s authors understand my humor. In
perspective to show that in many the Annotated Games section, I
cases Black, has more than one way endeavored to show not only the
to get a good position and can latest ideas in the variations
continuously surprise White with covered, but also some timeless
new ideas. I also took apart a QGA beauties and positional
number of variations which are struggles that have adorned this fine
considered playable for Black, to opening for generations.
show that it is not that simple to
equalize and there are a number of Dear Reader! As always, I welcome
pitfalls to avoid. I intentionally left your comments and suggestions for
out the analysis of the Exchange future editions of the book. Please
Variation’s endgame, which is well do not hesitate to write to my email
covered in the Semkov/Delchev at [email protected].
book Understanding the Queen’s
Gambit. Although I have played that With the Very Best Regards,
endgame for decades – I personally
think it is much less fun to play an Maxim Dlugy
endgame in which you have to be New York
precise to equalize against even a February 2023

9
The Queen’s Gambit Accepted

Foreword

There are few books as well suited to their author as the one you have just
opened. If you wanted to learn the Berlin Defense, you would want to read
a book by Kramnik. If you want to find out about the Grünfeld, you might
want to read a book by Svidler. If you want to take up the Queen’s Gambit
Accepted, you want Maxim Dlugy as your guide.

Maxim Dlugy has played the QGA for 40 years now, and it’s always been
his main opening against 1.d4. The Queen’s Gambit Accepted has had its
peaks and valleys in popularity, but Maxim has been there all this time,
both finding new ideas and adapting the ideas of others to a solid repertoire.
As he explains in the QuickStarter! chapter, the move 6…Qb6! against
the 3.e4 variation has brought new life to the opening. Therefore, not only
is the author perfect for the book, but it is also written at the right time.

Dlugy’s name may not be familiar to all players who were born in the 21st
century, but in the 1980s and 1990s he was one of the most feared
competitors in the United States. He was the World Junior Champion in
1985, won the World Open in 1985 and 1988, had several excellent results
in the US Championship and was in the World Top 50. He also had a very
clean, no-nonsense positional style, which was not that common among
people of that generation.

I first met Maxim in 1984. He was eighteen (two years older than me), and
already then it was obvious that he was a refined positional player. During
the next several years, he was a very tough opponent for me. I kept getting
the black pieces against him, and my attempts at the King’s Indian, Dutch,
and Benko Gambit landed in convincing defeats, among a few fortunate
draws: all valuable lessons for me. More recently, I had White against him

10
twice in classical time-control games, and I was hoping to press home some
advantage – but… two draws, and, of course, in the QGA both times!

The Queen’s Gambit Accepted suited Maxim’s style very well. People
were afraid of playing against his QGA because if you get a worse position
with an isolated queen pawn against him, only prayer can help you! He
was deadly with a small positional advantage, be it in the middlegame or
endgame. Game 21 in the Annotated Games section is a good example.

Another feature of Maxim’s style that shone through since the beginning
is his healthy skepticism toward unclear sacrifices. This doesn’t mean that
he is a pawn grabber, but if you sacrifice material against Dlugy, you are
going to have to demonstrate the compensation concretely, because he is
an excellent tactician and will refute all superficial tries (see Games 1 and
7 for that). In the QGA, if you don’t recover that c4-pawn early enough,
there may be no compensation.

Thus, I always saw Maxim Dlugy as someone I was learning chess from.
Now you, the reader, can see what you can learn from him about the
Queen’s Gambit Accepted. I think you will be well rewarded.

Some opening books nowadays are hard to read. There is a prevailing myth
that people need to remember long computer variations just to survive in
the opening. I have seen a lot of books with well-tested lines that go to
move 40. But these lines are unlikely to actually occur, and they teach you
little about chess, or even about the main ideas of that opening. Maxim
Dlugy takes a different approach here.

While there is no shortage of exact theoretical variations, Maxim gives the

context for all lines. He both explains the strategical ideas behind the moves
and reflects on the history of how the variation came about. He shows lines
that used to be considered equalizing, but are not reliable anymore. He
always presents the most challenging response to the repertoire. Indeed, as
he himself mentions, this book will be valuable for people playing against
the QGA.

But my favorite section is the aforementioned Annotated Games section,

which makes up almost a third of the book. Here, you will see what happens
not on a computer screen that is left running overnight, but on a real chess
board with real pieces. Dlugy will explain to you the critical moments of
the game and the reasons behind the decisions. An especially nice touch is

11
The Queen’s Gambit Accepted

the conclusion after each game, which starts with something like “In this
game, we learned that…” For example, for game 11, he writes: “In this
game, we saw that the positions where White plays d5 to trade the e6-pawn
for the d-pawn give Black a latent endgame advantage…” Every game
teaches a lesson, often with deep insight.

I also really like the QuickStarter! chapter. It’s for the impatient reader (but
aren’t we all a bit impatient?). In a few pages, it gives you not only all the
lines that will be in your repertoire, but also specific strategical ideas to
focus on. I hope that this will give other authors an example, and future
opening books will be structured like this.

In the first paragraph of his Introduction, Maxim asks the reader if they got
this book because they wanted to learn the QGA. He then says that’s not
why he wrote it. He says this book is for those who “want to make the QGA
a weapon of destruction, an opening that, from the very first moves, will
force your complacent opponent to start calculating complicated variations
just to stay on pace…” With the author’s permission, I would take this a
step further. This book will teach you not just the QGA, but chess strategy
in general. It will teach you how to play solid yet lively positions and allow
you to take something away from Maxim Dlugy’s classical style and lucid
explanations. If you want to improve your chess while learning a reliable
opening with Black, you are now reading the book you need.

Alex Fishbein
Spring Hill, Tennessee
March 2023

12
 Chapter 2

The Central Variation

5.Bd2

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 This continuation is the more

Bb4+ 5.Bd2 common approach. Though White
cuuuuuuuuC basically sacrifices a pawn, Black
{rhb1kdn4} must be precise in dealing with this
{0p0wDp0p} gambit.
{wDwDwDwD} 6.Qxd2 is a major alternative. After
{DwDw0wDw} 6...exd4,
{wgp)PDwD} cuuuuuuuuC
{DwDwDNDw} {rhb1kDn4}
{P)wGw)P)} {0p0wDp0p}
{$NdQIBDR} {wDwDwDwD}
vllllllllV {DwDwDwDw}
This move is the second most {wDp0PDwD}
popular move in this position,
scoring over 58% in the database.
{DwDwDNDw}
Its examination will lead us to {P)w!w)P)}
mostly technical positions, where {$NDwIBDR}
Black has to be precise to equalize vllllllllV
chances. the only real continuation for an
advantage is 7.Nxd4. Let’s quickly
5...Bxd2+ dismiss the others:

Here White has two equally strong (a) 7.Bxc4 c5!

continuations.

6.Nbxd2

29
The Queen’s Gambit Accepted
cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
{rhb1kDn4} {rDwiwDw4}
{0pDwDp0p} {0p0wDp0p}
{wDwDwDwD} {wDnDbhwD}
{Dw0wDwDw} {DwDwDwDw}
{wDB0PDwD} {wDpHPDwD}
{DwDwDNDw} {DwHwDwDw}
{P)w!w)P)} {P)wDw)P)}
{$NDwIwDR} {$wDwIBDR}
vllllllllV vllllllllV
8.b4 (Worse is 8.Ne5 Be6! 9.Bxe6 Not a very pretty, but a precise move
fxe6 and White simply does not leading to equality.
have much for Black’s pawn and
center.) 8...Nc6 9.bxc5 Nf6 10.0-0 11.Nxc6+
0-0 11.Re1 Bg4 12.e5 Nd7
13.Nxd4 Ndxe5 14.Nxc6 Nxc6 and This looks strong, but the
Black has full equality; counterplay down the b-file will
keep Black safe. Let’s take a look at
(b) 7.Qxd4 Nf6! other possibilities: 11.Nxe6+ fxe6
12.Bxc4 Ke7
The most precise move. The main cuuuuuuuuC
point of the move is to force White {rDwDwDw4}
to trade on d8 instead of {0p0wiw0p}
{wDnDphwD}
empowering White’s knight by {DwDwDwDw}
exchanging on d4. 8.Nc3 {wDBDPDwD}
{DwHwDwDw}
8.Qxd8+ basically transposes, as {P)wDw)P)}
White has nothing better than 9.Nc3 {$wDwIwDR}
following the trade. If after 8...Kxd8 vllllllllV
White plays 9.Bxc4?!, it is at best a And now 13.0-0-0?
dubious attempt at an advantage that
could easily backfire after 9...Nxe4 (b1) 13.Rd1 Rad8 14.f3 (14.0-0?
10.Bxf7 Nd6 11.Bb3 Re8+ 12.Kf1 g5! 15.f3 h5 and you can see how
a5! 13.Nc3 h6! 14.Rd1 Ra6! and with simple moves, Black leaves
White must be accurate to maintain White gasping for air. Though
the balance. objectively this endgame is close to
a draw, the e6-pawn limits the light-
8...Be6! A very important move, square bishop, while the control of
forcing White to work to regain the the important e5-square by Black’s
pawn. 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Nd4 Nc6! knight gives him chances.)
14...Rxd1+ 15.Kxd1

30
 cuuuuuuuuC Returning to 11.Nxc6 bxc6:
{wDwDwDw4} cuuuuuuuuC
{0p0wiw0p} {rDwiwDw4}
{wDnDphwD} {0w0wDp0p}
{DwDwDwDw} {wDpDbhwD}
{wDBDPDwD} {DwDwDwDw}
{DwHwDPDw} {wDpdPDwD}
{P)wDwDP)} {DwHwDwDw}
{DwDKDwDR} {P)wDw)P)}
vllllllllV {$wDwIBDR}
15...Ne5
vllllllllV
15...Rd8+ 16.Ke2 Ne5 17.b3 Nxc4 12.f4
18.bxc4 Nd7 19.Rd1 g5 and though
Black has a nice position, White can White has also tried 12.0-0-0+ Ke7
hold the endgame with precise play. 13.Be2 when Black should probably
go for dark-square control with
16.Be2 Rd8+ and now White has 13...g5 14.h4 h6 15.Rd4 Rad8
to be careful. The most precise 16.Rxd8 Rxd8 17.hxg5 hxg5
move to deal with the impending followed by the knight transfer to e5.
...Nc6 is 17.Ke1 Nc6 18.Nb1!
defending the d2-square to allow the 12...g6 13.0-0-0+ Ke7 14.Be2
king to depart. 18...Nd7 19.Kf2
Nd4 20.Ke3 c5 21.Nc3 with an 14.Re1 Kf8 15.g3 was Petursson-
equal endgame; Dlugy which ended in a draw after
I played 15...Nd7. But more precise
(b2) 13.f4! is the most precise. was to play for the open h-file with
15...h5!.
13...Rad8 14.e5 Nh5 15.g3 g5
16.Be2 Ng7 17.fxg5 Nxe5 18.Rd1 14...h5 15.Rhe1 Rad8 16.h3 h4
Rxd1+ 19.Nxd1 Nf5 with an equal 17.Bf3 and here in Timman-Salov,
endgame. instead of the immediate 17...Nh5
which was enough for a draw, Black
Back to 13.0-0-0: 13...Ng4 14.Rd2 should have opted for 17...Rxd1+
Rad8 15.Rxd8 18.Kxd1 Nh5 19.Bxh5 Rxh5
20.Ke2 f5! with some chances for
Not 15.f3? Rxd2 16.Kxd2 Rd8+ an edge. So White has to rely on…
17.Kc1 Ne3 18.Bb3 g6 19.g3 Rd3u.
(c) 7.Nxd4 to fight for an advantage.
15...Rxd8 16.f4 Rd4 17.b3 e5! and
Black is much better; if 18.g3, then 7...Ne7!
18...Nb4.

31
The Queen’s Gambit Accepted
cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
{rhb1kDw4} {rDbhkDw4}
{0p0whp0p} {0p0wDp0p}
{wDwDwDwD} {wDwDwDwD}
{DwDwDwDw} {DwDwDwDw}
{wDpHPDwD} {wDpDP)wD}
{DwDwDwDw} {DwHwDwDw}
{P)w!w)P)} {P)wDwDP)}
{$NDwIBDR} {$wDwIBDR}
vllllllllV vllllllllV
This is the safest road to equality, as After 11.Bxc4 Be6 12.Bxe6 Nxe6
I found out in my match against 13.Rd1 c6 14.Ke2 Ke7 15.Ke3,
Sanan Sjugirov in Aeroflot 2013. I White’s optically better position
played 7...Nf6 twice, including in gets neutralized with either 15...h5
the Armageddon game, and lost followed by ...g6 or with ...g6
both games. looking to play ...f5 quickly.
Generally speaking, in these kinds
8.Bxc4 of endgames, which we will see
soon enough in some other
The most natural move, though variations, Black’s potential passed-
8.Nc3, potentially having in mind a pawn on the queenside will
quick queenside castling compensate for White’s space
deployment is a very valid option. advantage in the center. Black needs
Let’s take a look: to strive to trade rooks to make his
queenside-pawns come alive faster.
8.Nc3 Nbc6 9.Nxc6 Nxc6!
11...Be6!
It would be a mistake to trade on d2
first, as Black can use the trade on Black is tempting White to play f5,
d8 to improve his knight on c6. after which it will be easier to
After 9...Qxd2+ 10.Kxd2 Nxc6 combat White’s space advantage.
11.Nb5! Kd8 12.Bxc4 Ne5 13.Be2
c6 14.Nc3, White’s space advantage 12.f5 Bd7 13.Nd5
translates to a nagging pull in the
endgame. 13.Bxc4 is not very testing as after
13...Nc6, Black secures the e5-
10.Qxd8+ Nxd8 11.f4 square for the knight.

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