The delayed Ryder : final chapter

I have been covering the delayed Ryder, occuring after 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.g4 Qxd4 9.Be3 rather extensively.

My blog "What the hec ?" covered the line after 9...Qe5. "Nb5 - it must be right" discussed 9...Qb4 whilst "A killer move in the delayed Ryder" discussed 9...Qd6.

This post focuses on 9...Qd8 (diagram) and white's obvious continuation 10.g5. Black only has 10...Nd5 and 10...Nfd7 as 10...Ng8 looses quickly (++)

a/ 10...Nd5 11.000 e6 12.Nxd5
...a1/ 12...cxd5 13.Bb5+
......a1a/ 13...Nc6 14.c4 (=)
......a1b/ 13...Nd7 14.Rhf1 Qe7 15.Kb1 (+)
...a2/ 12...exd5 13.Re1 (+)

b/ 10...Nfd7 11.000
...b1/ 11...e6 12.Be2 (+=)
...b2/ 11...g6 12.Bc4 (++)
...b3/ 11...Qc7 12.Kb1 (+=)
...b4/ 11...Qa5 12.Qg3 (+=)

So it seems that 9...Qd8 is not so bad after all - the line 10.g5 Nd5 11.000 e6 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Bb5+ Nc6 14.c4 (diagram) offers only equality. Black has two pawns, but is far behind in material. However, black may restore equality after 14...Be7 15.cxd5 exd5.

Houdini now suggests 18.Kb1 (diagram) with equality.

Talking about a disappointment !