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I am playing few years strictly 1.Nf3 with the intention to play Reti Opening. In my last OTB game I experience Navara Gambit (from a Czech GM David Navara) in Reti Advanced variation:

[FEN " "]
1.Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 g5

Looking at it I made a conclusion not to take the pawn as White would be in not ideal position (playable though):

[FEN "Greedy variation"]
1.Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 g5 4. Nxg5 e5 5. d3 Bxb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2 7. Qxd2

So in order to avoid that situation I played 4. Qb3 and after 4. ... g4 I would simply take the d-pawn

[FEN ""]
1.Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 g5 4.Qb3 g4? 5. Nxd4 Qxd4 6. Bb2

So my game went like this

[FEN ""]
1.Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 g5 4.Qb3 Bg7 5. Nxg5 e5 6. d3 a5 ...

The result is not important for this question. I also played few variations in Navara gambit (with my friend) and it looks solid for White and Black (this is subjective opinion of ~1600elo player).

My question is: What would be the general strategic idea for 4.Qb3? Stockish 15 in 60 depth also suggests 4.g3 (as the ideal move ~+0.5) move what seem too passive in my eyes.

I appreciate any source, experience or idea.

Thanks!

Charles Rockafellor
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Melkor
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  • 1. I agree that 4. Ng5 is not good. Black wins the pawn back with 4...e5 (5. Nf3 e4 !) and probably has even an advantage. 2. What about 4.Bb2 ? I did not ask the engine yet. 3. g3 is a positional move (idea Bg2 and O-O) , but in fact quite calm. 4. Qb3 is an interesting move. It covers the b4-pawn and also the Bb2 should White play Bb2 which is crucial in the above line. But I do not think that White can hope for an advantage with this move. I currently run a math program , I will let run the engine later. – Peter Mar 05 '23 at 17:27
  • My Engine (not the newest!) actually suggests 4. Qb3 (depth 34) 0.68 , then h3 (0.45) , then Qa4 (0.37). After 4.Ng5 e5 the evaluation is -0.05 after 5.d3. – Peter Mar 05 '23 at 19:44

0 Answers0