TL Chess match II - Page 38

26. ... g4 seems like a dangerous move. We're forced to exchange, because if we don't, an exchange later on f3 could result in a fork. We don't want to exchange with our f pawn, so I thought hxg4 would be a better idea. Black's rook can go to h6, but that's not too much of a threat.

h3 feels bad, and 26...g4 doesn't end up with a good position after Kg1 it seems.

People seem to have the right idea.

26. ... g4 isn't good because we always have Nxd5 which neutralises the threats.

didn't work out the best follow up variations yet.

there is no need to involve the king in battle yet, let im come smash into our wall kingside

26. Rb2 h5 27. b5 ! cxb5 28. Nxd5 exd5 29. Rbd2 and we're better , and if 26. Rb2 h5 27. b5 g4 28. Rb4 and we're looking sold, he can't threat us nowhere.

Kg1 slows down the pace of our momentum so let's not lose our grip !!

Your analysis is a bit inaccurate. Why exactly should black play h5 after Rb2 ? Consider ...h6 cementing the kingside. This allows black to free his passive took by ..Rf7 and place it on a more active central file in the future.

Going into the long term if 26. ... h6 solidifying, we should can continue 27. Re1 Rf5 28. Kf2 securing the f3 pawn that's been threaten this who time. Then, the black bishop becomes a glorified pawn until the e6 pawn moves forward. Still it blocks the activity of our rooks so we will want to get rid of it when the time is right. Tactically, we can pile up on the e-file and exchange the knight for the bishop whenever we choose to.

26. ... h5 attacking 27. Rd4 g4 28 Kf2 and now if black exchanges on f3 white easily takes the open g file with the rook

most intriguing is

26. ... a5 27. bxa5 opening up opportunities for black - this line makes me wish we had played 25. Rd4 instead. Maybe we'll go back to review the possibilities

+ Show Spoiler +

26. Rb2 isn't bad, but I'll propose my alternative...

26. Ba6, responding to the threat of 26. ... g4. If 26. ... g4, then 27 Re1! Rf5 28. Nxd5 exd5 29 Rde2 and we win a pawn. So g4 is not an option for black.

I can only think of two other reasonable moves in this situation. Black can play Rf5 or h5. 26. ... Rf5 27. Re1, pressuring the e-file. From here, black should play 27. ... h5, after which we double rooks with 28. Rde2 Ng6 29. Bd3 Rff8 and now b5, and white is good.

27. ... h5 28. Re1 Rf5 transposes into the above line, so I'll look at 28. ... Ng6. 29. Ne4. Now 29. ... Bxe4 doesn't make much sense for black, so he can try 29. ... Rf5 now protecting the g4 pawn. Now 30. Kg1 g4 31. Kf2 and white can defend the kingside.

Interesting plan: 26.Rd4 followed by Ne4, answering the seemingly likely ...Bxe4 with Rxe4, and ousting the Ne5 via B-moves and Rde1 if necessary. Seems hard to get much after (e.g.) ...Ng6 and ...e5 (if necessary), but it may finally get rid of the menace on e5, and after the terribly passive 25.a3, it's pretty hard to care.

26.Rg1 ...

The trades are going to start sooner or later I don't know why we keep trying to fortify a very well defended queen side and having a weak structure on king side. Rg1 puts a halt on any trap he could be setting up and let US initiate the trades not him.

along 26. ... h5 27. Re1 Rf5 28 Rde2
28. ... Nxf3 29 gxf3 Bxf3+ 30 Kg1 Bxe2 31 Rxe2 Kf6
which is about equality even though black trade the two minor pieces for the Rook and two pawns.

26. Ba6 h5 27. Re1 Rf5 28. Ne2! A good move that practically forces g4. White threatens Nd4, winning the knight. If the knight moves now, then Bd3 and white is ahead. So black has to play g4 to give the rook somewhere to move if Nd4. 28. ... g4 29. Nxf4.

The rook can't take back otherwise 29. ... Rxf4 30. Rxe5 gxf3 31. g3 f2+ 32. Rxd5 f1=Q+ 33. Bxf1 Rxf1 34. Kg2 exd5 Kxf1 and white is a pawn up with a better pawn structure. So 29. ... gxf3 30. Nxd5 exd5 31. gxf3. 31. ... Nxf3 is not a true fork, since white can pin the black knight. 32. Rf1 Nxd2 33. Rxf5 and white is slightly better. If black attacks the a-pawn with 33. ... Nc4, 34. Bxc4 and white wins with a better pawn structure and more advanced pawns. If 33. ... h4, 34. b5 and white wins because 34. ... cxb5 loses to 35. c6 and black can't stop the pawn (the nice thing about having the right colored bishop).

So on move 31, black should probably play 31. ... Kf6 defending the rook and getting off the open g-file. 32. Rf2 Rf4. Black can't take the pawn else he'll lose a piece. 33. Rfe2! and black STILL can't take the pawn. 33. ... Nxf3 34. Rf1 with Ref2 to follow. If 34. ... Rf8 to protect the knight after the king moves, then 35. b5 wins. Black can't defend here.

So please ignore 28. Rde2, it does indeed fail to Nxf3. 28. Ne2 is better.

So Ba6 is still good. Please vote for 26. Ba6

26. Ba6 h5 27. Re1 Rf5 28. Ne2!? g4 29. Nxf4 Rxf4 30. Rxe5 gxf3 31. g3

I don't understand your continuation but
31. .. Rf6 32 Kg1 h4

and I fail to see how this is good for white. Black has a supported passed pawn and now the black bishop on d5 is beautiful instead of being a rather useless piece. Certainly an open and interesting style of play though.