A Berlin sideline. I have modeled my e5 openings after my friend Katar. His recommendation was 7... d6. The problem with 7... Nd6 is 8. Bg5!
I know enough to know that this is not a great position to be in against a titled player and I have certainly gone astray. Looking at it with Houdini 2gb, after 8...Be7, both 9. Bxe7 and 9. exd6 White looks great.
In the future, 7...d6 8. axb5 Nxe5 9. Re1 Be7 10. Nxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8+ Bxd8+ 12. Rxe5+ Be6.
11... Bf6 would have been more accurate. The problem is Nd4 coming with tempo because it overloads the defense of the bishop on e7. If 12. Nxf6 Qxf6 13. Bg5 Qxb2 or Qg6 is fine.
13. Black to move
I spent a lot of time in this position. I need to find good squares for my knight and bishop. I need to develop my rook to e8. I need to find a square for my Queen to connect the rooks. How best to go about it?
13... Re8 14. Bg5 h6 Bh4 15. Qe2 g5 16. Bg3 c5 17. Nf3 Be6 is a computer line. Seems awfully tempting to play with such steely resolve by thrusting for space and taking away squares, but I am not sure if it's practical for me.
13... Nf5 seems to be a more obvious choice that is better suited for my style. White does not want to exchange the pieces and this gives Black more space to develop (Qf6, Qh4, e6 now free for the bishop).
It's a very difficult ending to analyze. I don't think White should have allowed the Queen trade. 25. Qd7 would have kept life in the position and I am not sure I would have played this correctly.
28. Re4 and it's still a game. Black is better but White might still draw I think. 28... Nd8 is much stronger.
Anyway, my first victory in a simul against a titled player so I'm very happy.
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