[%evp 0,55,38,22,25,13,5,17,2,-25,-23,-37,-35,-46,-32,-36,-29,-19,-38,-80,-42,
-31,-10,-66,-30,-19,10,5,4,23,23,13,37,13,16,5,23,-11,39,95,107,59,123,40,116,
116,129,267,276,325,472,320,399,608,528,855,1126,626]1.e4e52.d4exd43.Qxd4...The Center Game, a favorite of both beginners and titled players!3....Nc64.Qc4!?...Much less common than the main line 4. Qe3, but not any worse.
Coincidentally - or more likely not coincidentally - this unusual line was
also played on Board 1 of this match by U.S.A.'s WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova.4....Nf65.Nc3Bb4A position first reached in the 19th century - and then not
again until the 21st century!6.Bd2O-O6...d67.O-O-OBe68.Qe2Qe79.a3Ba510.f3O-O-O∞1-0 (50) Tokhirjonova,G (2329)
-Varela La Madrid,T (2079)7.O-O-ORe88.f3a69.g4...The standard
approach of the Center Game - White goes for an opposite-side pawn storm, a la
the Open Sicilian. The objective evaluation - which according to the engine is
0.0 - is less important than the practical problems that White (and of course
Black) can pose her opponent over the board.9....b510.Qe2Bb710...d5!?11.g5Bxc312.Bxc3Nh5∞is the type of non-standard decision that the engine
quickly comes up with, but that is often difficult for a human to spring for,
or even to consider in the first place. The main point is that13.Rxd5runs intoNf4!⇆11.Qf2Ne512.g5Bxc313.Bxc3Nxe4?+−In a
sharp position like this, even one mistake can be fatal.13...Nh5was
necessary, when after14.h4Qe7⩲Black remains somewhat less comfortable
but avoids any immediate crisis.14.fxe4Bxe415.Bxe5!...15.Bg2?Qxg5+16.Rd2Ng4!∞was what Black was hoping for.15....Bxh1Black's extra
rook and two pawns are inactive and even vulnerable, whereas White's extra
bishop and knight can easily be mobilized to strong effect.16.Qg3±...Even stronger was16.Bf4!?+−16....d617.Bc3Be418.Ne2Qc8+−Too passive.18...a5!?intending ...b5-b4 was a better try for
counterplay.19.Nf4Bg620.h4...While Black is sitting around doing nothing,
White is engaging her entire army.20....Rb821.Bh3Qb722.h5Be423.g6...The
troops arrive at Black's door.23....f624.Be6+Rxe625.Nxe6h626.Qf4...Threatening Ne6xg7 as well as Bc3xf6.26....c527.Qxd6Re828.Nxc5No longer
with even a pawn for White's extra piece, Black abandonded the struggle.1-0