Black can’t force his way to equality from move one. If he tries, White’s first-move privilege becomes very significant.
Arnold Denker White
Donald MacMurray Black
New York 1933
English Opening A35
1 ♘f3 ♘f6 2 c4 c5 3 ♘c3 ♘c6 4 d4 cxd4 5 ♘xd4 d5? 6 ♕a4!
Trying to force equality is highly risky in symmetrical positions. Black loses a pawn after 6...♗d7? 7 cxd5 or 6...dxc4 7 ♘xc6 bxc6 8 ♕xc6+.
6...♕d7 7 cxd5
Question 349: Is this best?
7...♘xd5 8 ♘xd5 ♕xd5 9 ♘b5! ♕d7?
Black is a pawn down but alive after 9...♕d8 because of 10 ♗f4 e5 11 ♗xe5! ♗b4+! (not 11...♘xe5? 12 ♘c7+ ♔e7 13 ♘xa8).
10 ♗d2
White avoided 10 ♗f4 because he saw 10...e5 11 ♗xe5 ♘xe5 12 ♘c7+ ♔e7 13 ♕xd7+ ♔xd7 14 ♘xa8 ♗b4+ 15 ♔d1 ♘g4! and wins.
Question 350: Was he right?
10...e5 11 0-0-0!
Now 12 ♗g5 is threatened (12...♘d4 13 ♘c7 mate).
White would pocket the Exchange after 11...♕d8 12 ♗a5! ♕xa5 13 ♕xa5 ♘xa5 14 ♘c7+.
11...♗c5 12 ♗g5 ♕f5
He throws himself on his sword rather than play 12...♗d4 13 e3.
13 ♘c7+ ♔f8 14 ♖d8+! ♘xd8 15 ♕e8 mate.
Mikhail Tal White
Jan Hein Donner Black
Wijk aan Zee 1973
1 c4 c5 2 ♘f3 ♘f6 3 ♘c3 ♘c6 4 d4 cxd4 5 ♘xd4 d5 6 ♕a4 ♕b6 7 ♘db5 e6 8 ♗f4 e5 9 cxd5 exf4 10 ♕xf4 ♘b4! 11 ♘c7+ ♔d8 12 ♘xa8 ♕a5 13 0-0-0 ♕c5 14 e4! ♘xa2+ 15 ♔c2 ♘xc3 16 bxc3 ♗d6 17 e5 ♘xd5 18 ♕c4! ♗f5+ 19 ♔d2 ♕xf2+ 20 ♗e2 ♕e3+?? (20...♗c5! 21 ♔c1! ♗a3+ draws) 21 ♔e1 ♗xe5 22 ♖xd5+ ♔e7 23 ♘c7 ♗xc3+ 24 ♔d1 ♗e4 25 ♗f3! resigns.