Stunning piece sac!

Robert Ris uncorks 13.Qc5+!? in the Panov Variation

Our starting position arises after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.gxf3 e6 10.Qxb7 Nxd4 11.Bb5+ Nxb5 12.Qc6+ Ke7.

A well-known position, in which White normally proceeds with 13.Qxb5 when after the 13...Qd7 14.Nxd5+ Qxd5 15.Qxd5 exd5 a queenless middlegame appears on the board. In this article, our focus will be on the provocative intermediate check 13.Qc5+!?.

which gives Black the chance to stick to the extra material. They can play A) 13...Kf6, B) 13...Qd6, C) 13...Ke8 or D) 13...Nd6.

A) 13...Kf6

This move seems to be too optimistic, since after 14.Ne4+ Kf5 15.Qxb5

the black king is quite badly placed. Not surprisingly, the game Erzhanov,A - Cupid,K 1-0 didn't last very long.

B) 13...Qd6

A very natural response by Black, especially when they are in unknown territory. Of course, White is going to regain the material with 14.Nxd5+ exd5 15.Qxb5

when a critical position arises. White is actually threatening a double attack on b7, so Black will have to protect that square. There are two logical moves now.

B1) 15...Qd7?!

Obviously, White isn't interested trading off queens, and instead will opt for 16.Qd3! f6 17.Be3!, maintaining the pressure against Black's weaknesses. Going through the lines of the game Durarbayli,V - Sourath,B 1-0, it will become clear that Black simply isn't in time completing their development. After 17...Kf7, the key move is 18.0-0-0!

when White retains excellent chances.

B2) 15...Rb8

This move is certainly a better attempt for Black, keeping some pressure against the pawn on b2. After 16.Qd3 f6 17.0-0 Kf7 18.Rd1

the pawn on d5 is under threat. In a number of games Black decided to defend the pawn by placing the rook on d8, quite a passive option. In the game Ris,R - Van de Oudeweetering,A 1-0, my opponent sacrificed the pawn with 18...Be7 and although I went on to win, in the analysis you will see matters aren't that simple, and Black should still have reasonable drawing chances despite the minus pawn. Still, rather than taking on d5, White may also consider a move like 19.b3!, taking away pressure against the pawn on b2, when due to the pawn weaknesses on a7, d5 and h7 (the rook on h8 can't move easily) they still enjoy a very pleasant advantage.

C) 13...Ke8

This retreat enables White to recapture the piece with check and after 14.Qxb5+ Qd7 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Qd3

the position is very similar to the line B1), with the difference that the black king this time is on e8. In general, White should be somewhat better with queens still on the board and in Shevchenko,K - Saric,I 1-0 that verdict was confirmed. In the analysis of this game you'll see some other interesting examples of how things can quickly go wrong for Black. Perhaps their best try is after 16...Bb4+ 17.Kf1 the new move 17...Qh3+!?

which eventually leads to a slightly inferior, though likely holdable endgame for Black.

D) 13...Nd6

The critical test is to accept White's piece sacrifice and the following lines are incredibly sharp. With precise play, Black should be able to maintain the balance (0.00), but I doubt most people will enjoy playing this with Black. After 14.Nxd5+ exd5 15.0-0 Qb6 16.Qxd5 Qb7

most likely will quickly appear on the board. Black will attempt to initiate the exchange of queens, as otherwise White's attack in the centre will be decisive. The latter has two options.

D1) 17.Qe5+

A very logical check, but the following sequence 17...Kd7 18.Rd1 Re8 19.Qf5+ Re6 20.Qxf7+ Be7 21.Bg5 Re8

showcases that Black can quickly coordinate their forces as well. After 22.Rxd6+ Rxd6 23.Re1 Qd5 24.Rxe7+ Rxe7 25.Qxe7+ Kc6

the queen ending with bishop and two pawns vs. a rook is still equal. Quite a number of encounters have ended in a draw, but it's worth going through the blitz game Durarbayli,V - Samunenkov,I 1-0 which proves that White can still try to play on.

D2) 17.Qh5

The latest attempt to bring new life into this variation. In Shevchenko,K - Aryan,C 1-0 White went on to win a very spectacular game and later also Jorden van Foreest managed to defeat Vincent Keymer with this idea. The ensuing lines are long and sometimes very difficult to comprehend. In any case, I believe White is the one who is enjoying this type of positions more than Black, so it's definitely worth giving a try!

At last, one remarkable idea for Black which could be easily forgotten. After White's 14.Nxd5+ I guess most players would automatically recapture, but with the move 14...Kd7!? Black can neglect the piece sacrifice.

My recommendation for White is 15.Nc3 and after 15...Qb6 once again keep queens on the board with 16.Qh5!?.

From an objective point of view, Black is still doing fine when they manage to neutralise White's initiative. However, Black shouldn't take their task too lightly and there is still plenty scope to go wrong, see the analysis of the game Abdusattorov,N - Grigorov,G 1-0.

Conclusion: The piece sacrifice 13.Qc5+ potentially leads to incredibly sharp and fun positions to play for White and are certainly more exciting than the famous endgame line in the Panov Variation of the Caro-Kann. However, like in almost every opening nowadays, with precise play Black is doing fine objectively speaking in more than one line. Still, in a practical game I'd take White any time of the day. Speaking from my own experience and evaluating grandmaster play, it's fair to say that Black is the one who has to be very careful not making the wrong step in this minefield.