Rapid Album: Opposite Exchange Slav and capture on c5

 

Considering c5xd4 is it acceptable for white to go for Nbd2 and how to continue if black decides to go for gambit line giving up the c5 pawn?

An instructive game which I played recently would provide us with some answers.

 

 

[Event "Online Rapid, 15min"] [Date "2024.03.24"] [White "kristijanZD"] [Black "black"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D02"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. c3 {Modest move which calls for solid, positional game. Indeed, I didn't want to complicate much from very beginning of the game. Taking dxc5 or c2-c4 would provide more dynamic play in the opening.} Nc6 4. a3 Nf6 5. Nbd2 {We have to stop for a while. It turns out that we are in some kind of reverse Slav. From many books in the past I witnessed some critics about this move (honestly, black's move Nbd7) when the other side may take cxd4 (cxd5 when talking for opposite side) because knight development on 2nd rank (or on 7th rank, in case of Slav. Nd7) seems to be out of opening principles (knights natural squares are f3,c3,f6,c6), a bit passive. I played many games as black in Slav Exchange, whereas I developed early Nbd7 and white took cxd5. What conclusion I have made after all years is that move is playable, and due to fixed/solid positions comming out from openings giving enough time to redirect pieces for both sides, I never faced any serious issues due to this 'handicap'.} g6 (5... cxd4 6. cxd4 Bf5 7. e3 {A bit passive position for white in this kind of reversed Slav Exchange var. But as I have learnt that black's positions are often very solid, hence white position must be solid too. And this was all I wanted from the opening in this game.}) 6. dxc5 {Black offered c5 pawn, and I decided to accept, counting on some resources in a view of defending my own c5 pawn.} e5 7. b4 e4 8. Nd4 Bg7 (8... e3 $5 9. fxe3 Bg7 (9... Ne4 $6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $16) 10. N2f3 $13 {We may put unclear mark on this position, although two pawns down black would get soon some compensation connected with doubled white pawns on e2, e3. Also it seems that white would have certain difficulties in order to complete opening phase effectively.}) 9. e3 O-O 10. Be2 Qe7 (10... Ne5 11. h3 $5 {It would be very important to prevent possible Bc8-g4 with exchange of light square bishops.} (11. O-O Bg4 $5 {After exchange of bishops black will have full control of important white squares, and potentially white bishop on c1 could be very passive piece comparing to the his opponent on g7.})) 11. Bb2 a6 12. O-O Rd8 13. h3 h5 $6 {So far everything was going on normal. This move does nothing and makes black king side somewhat weaker, hence should not be played at all. Now what is the plan for white here? How to continue?} 14. Nxc6 $5 {It is obvious that black's plans will be to steer his pieces toward centre (Ne5) and kingside (that's was h7-h5 was played for, wasnt' it). By exchange on c6 I prevented his queen side knight to become very strong on e5 and decided to go for counter play in the center with further c3-c4 which should open up my Bb2 till it might be too late.} bxc6 15. Qc2 Nh7 16. c4 $1 {We can see how black position by every move becomes worse. Now I was about to get rid off my worse piece (Bb2) and making counter play in the center (this not allowing black to go for some attacks on king side). Also we may notice that after exchange of dark squared bishops (which seems to be logical from now on) black is the one who will have 'worse' bishop due to his pawn chains on white squares. Potentially, great plus for white in some far endgame!} f5 $2 {It would be better Ng5 (see variation) when black still could hope for some action. This move is bad because it shuts down Bc8 targeting h3 which was the only point at black could put some efforts in order to make counter play on king side. From now on, position turns into very solid advantage of white (positional and material with extra pawn) which black will never be able to break through.} (16... Ng5 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Qc3+ {best here. prevents black queen to take control of strong e5 square in case of Kg1-h2 in order to strenghten h3 point.} (19. h4 $6 {Amazingly this move would can lead to interesting knight sacrifice, so considering that white position was already very good and perspective (as commented earlier), and the fact that I regained clear extra pawn, I would not preffer to go into uncharted waters here.} Nh3+ $5 (19... Ne6 20. g3 $16) 20. gxh3 Qxh4 $132 {Black should be worse here but certain complications on king side may provide him with counter play chances.}) 19... Kg8 20. Kh2 Bxh3 {Does it works?} 21. gxh3 Qe6 22. Rh1 Qxh3+ 23. Kg1 d4 24. Qc4 $16 {white is better here but with very careful play.}) 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. Nb3 {Bxg7 was good too. Someone might think that black now has choice of avoiding this exchange by Bh6 when bishop would strongly support f5-f4 pawn break, but just Qc3 with threat of Qh8+ clears all doubts.} Nf6 19. Nd4 Qe8 {Threat was Nc6.} 20. a4 Bb7 {Since pawn advance on queen side can't be stopped by no means, perhaps it was better to try to play g6­-g5 in order to try to make any complications on king side. The rest of the game is just matter of technique from white perspective.} 21. b5 Bc8 22. b6 Bb7 23. c6 Rac8 24. Rfc1 Qf7 25. a5 Rd6 26. cxb7 Rb8 27. Qc8+ Rd8 28. Qxb8 $5 Rxb8 29. Rc8+ Qe8 (29... Kh7 30. Rxb8 Nd7 31. Rc8) 30. Rxe8+ Nxe8 31. Bxa6 {In few more moves black resigned.} 1-0  

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