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Doug Schwetke wrote in to ask about the line 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nf3 h6 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.e3 0-0 8.Rc1 c6 9.h4, dubbing it the “Kitchen Sink” line and pointing out that Ruslan Scherbakov covered it about 10 years ago. This is actually the first time I've come across it, presumably because I've had a sheltered life. My first thought was that 9.h4 looks like the kind of thing engines will suggest, my second was that White's commitment will only be that great if he also moves his g-pawn.
Whilst researching this line I came across some other developments in this 6.Bxf6 and 8.Rc1 line, without White thrusting his h-pawn forwards. Accordingly, I will devote this month's update to this area.

Download PGN of February ’25 1 d4 d5 2 c4 games

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Queen’s Gambit Declined 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.e3 0-0 8.Rc1 c6 9.h4 [D55]

Scherbakov first covered this line when Levon Aronian used it to surprise Magnus Carlsen, back in 2011. Carlsen's response to this apparently crude flank attack was a classical counter-strike in the centre, with 9...c5:

The latest attempt for White to improve on this was the 12.b4 of Shengalia, D - Cvek, R, where Black found himself slightly worse because of his isolated d-pawn.

Black can also try 9...g6:

, in order to meet 10.h5 with 10...g5 and keep the kingside closed. This had a recent outing in Damljanovic, B - Khripachenko, A in which Damljanovic clarified the central tension with 11.cxd5 rather than play 11.Bd3, as covered by Ruslam Scherbakov within the game Salem, A - Giri, A. Interestingly Damljanovic allowed 13...g4 and 14...g3, rather than preventing it with 13.Ne2. A very complex game ensued in which both sides had their chances.

Lastly there is 9...Nd7:

, which allows White to open a file on the kingside with 10.g4 intending g4-g5. Iordachescu, V - Urkedal, F followed Ruslan Scherbakov's analysis within Gupta, A - Wang, C, but then White varied with 18.Qh1. The position was about equal until Iordachescu overplayed his hand, and only saved the endgame with a small miracle.


Queen’s Gambit Declined 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.e3 0-0 8.Rc1 c6 9.Bd3 [D55]

This has long been considered White's main line, after 9...Nd7 10.0-0 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Black's most common move has been 11...e5, though 11...c5 has been played by top players and is generally well thought of. In reply to 11...c5 White has generally chosen 12.Qe2, but Ivanchuk's 12.Bb3:

in Ivanchuk, V - Tabatabaei, M, looks interesting and quite dangerous for Black.

Moving on to 11...e5:

David Anton Guijarro and Teimour Radjabov had something of a theoretical duel in the line 12.d5 Nb6 13.b3!? Bf5 (Anton Guijarro, D - Radjabov, T) as did Haik Martirosyan and Hikaru Nakamura (Martirosyan, H - Nakamura, H), Nakamura choosing 13...cxd5 instead, which was met by 14.Bxd5.

Radjabov was impressed enough to use it with White in his game with Wesley So (Radjabov, T - So, W), Radjabov choosing to meet 13...cxd5 with 14.Nxd5. Maybe Black should now play 14...Bf5, failing that he should have tried 17...exf3.

The final game in this section, Harika, D - Mkrtchian, L, features 12.Ne4:

with White enjoying a slight advantage that could easily have become more. The endgame that Black obtained is far from pleasant, which adds to Black's problems after 6.Bxf6.


See you next month, Nigel

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