1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Qxd4Nf65.e5!?...A tricky line, but one in which Black is objectively doing very well.5....Nc66.Bb5Qa5+!Thanks to this move, Black is equalizing at the very least.7.Nc3Qxb58.Nxb5Nxd49.Nfxd4?!...The most common move, but there is a concrete problem.9.Nbxd4dxe510.Nxe5may be objectively better, but afterg6Black can be happy with his position. The secure positions of White's knights in the center are temporary, while Black's bishop pair is as permanent as he wishes it to be. Importantly,11.Nb5is met byNd512.c4a6!9....dxe510.Nc7+Kd8?What a difference on move makes!10...Kd7!was the right square. The following line is nearly forced and leads to a clearly better position for Black, which makes me question why strong players have continued to play this line as White.11.Nxa8(11.Ndb5Rb812.Be3b613.O-O-O+Kc6also does not threaten Black.)exd412.Bf4e5!13.Bxe5and now, with the king on d7, Black is able to playBd614.Bxd4Re8+15.Be3Nd516.O-O-ONxe317.fxe3Kc618.Rxd6+Kxd619.Rd1+Kc620.Rd3Re5!and White still cannot save the the a8-knight:21.Rc3+?!Rc522.Rxc5+Kxc523.Nc7Bd7!24.e4Kd4with an easily winning endgame.11.Nxa8exd412.Bf4e5?A miscalculation.12...Bf513.O-O-Od3!was necessary, trying to keep the d-file blocked. Now after14.Rxd3+!?Bxd315.Rd1e616.Rxd3+Nd7Black is fine.13.Bxe5Bb4+14.c3!...14.Kf1?Re815.Bxd4b616.Nxb6axb617.Bxb6+Kd70-1 Szabo,L-Larsen,B Christmas Congress 1956/57-32 Premier Hastings (8) is still fine for Black. Incredibly, this position was reached in Szabo - Larsen, 1957!14....Re815.O-O-O!...Managadze finds the only refutation.15....Rxe516.Rxd4+Bd717.cxb4...White is up material, and there is still no easy way for Black to win the knight on a8.17....Kc817...b518.Kd2!Rd519.Rxd5Nxd520.Rc1Bc821.Rc5Bb722.Rxb5Kc8will win back the knight, but now Black faces a lost ending.18.Rhd1?...18.Rc4+!Bc619.a4was much stronger.18....Re8?18...b5!19.R1d3Re1+!20.Kd2Re7would put up significant resistance. White has to find21.f3!(21.Rc3+Kb722.Nc7allowsNe4+; this is why Black had to include a check on e1.)Kb722.g4!h623.h4g524.hxg5hxg525.Rd6Be626.Rd8in order to maintain an advantage.19.R1d3!...A check on c3 is next, and White
saves his knight.19....Re1+19...Kb820.Rxd7Nxd721.Rxd7Kxa822.Rxf7is easily winning.20.Kd2Rf121.Rc3+Kb822.Nc7Rxf2+23.Ke1Rxb224.Ne8!!...A wonderful move, destroying Black's coordination. Now the game is decided.24....a525.Nxf6Bc626.Nd7+Kc727.bxa5Rxa228.Ne5Rxa529.Rd7+Kc830.Nxc6bxc631.Rxf71-0 White wins.1-0