TL Chess Match 4 - Page 90

It looks like Black has quite a few possibilities. I'm thinking f5 if it is sound (no analysis right now to back it up though). Ba6 looks strong, but I think it is kind of the expected move, which makes me think Ng5 might avoid it.

Now that 0-0 won, I think it's time for me to post some of the lines I've been analyzing. The first thing to note about the position after 14.0-0 is that Nxe4 is a credible threat now for white. For example, if black keeps the status quo in the center with a move like 14...a5, white can play 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Nd2 and now 16...f5 runs into 17.fxe6 Bxe6 18.Nxe4 and now white is 2 pawns up because of 18...Bxd4 19.Rd1. 16...Bb7 also fails after 17.Re1 f5 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Nxe4 Bxd4 20.Rd1 again.

Of course, black will likely not waste a move and will challenge us in the center. 14...c5 has been advanced as a good try for black. 15.dxc5 Ba6 16.Rd1 seemed to be the main line, but I'm still not convinced that 16...Be2 doesn't gum up the works: + Show Spoiler +

In any case, I think white has an even stronger continuation in 14...c5 15.Rd1. In fact, I think this is pretty close to a refutation of 14...c5. Nxe4 is such a strong threat that black is pretty much forced to play 15...Nxd2.

Alternatives to 15...Nxd2:
+ Show Spoiler +

After 14...c5 15.Rd1 Nxd2 16.Rxd2, black's options are:

16...cxd4 17.Rxd4 Ke6 18.b4
16...Ke6/c6 17.dxc5 Bxc5 18.b4
16...c4 17.Rc2 and white can finally develop his queenside pieces and look to his long term plan of pushing his kingside majority pawns. Black has also acquiesced to a more closed pawn structure where his two bishops will be less effective.

All of these options look pretty positive for white.

If that means black can't play either 16...a5 or c5, his game is not looking great.

With the board the way it is, there's really no difference between f4 and f5, as the pawn can be captured by white's e pawn in either case (en passe, n such). f5 I suppose does force the capture moreso than f4, though either way the pawn cap is the most likely response.

That line would be interesting though, mostly hinging on whether he chooses to recapture with the bishop or pawn...pawn is more stable and doesn't provide virtually free check via the knight, but restricts the bishops access to the right side of the board, though it does slightly free up the king's side rook (lost track of how to do the notation on a lot of these things, so have to use weaksauce descriptions)

14...Ba6 15. Rd1 Nxd2 16. Nxd2 (I suppose white could play Rxd2 but that lets Rb3, Rhb8, etc.) 16...Bd3 seems pretty forced but good for black.

and now 16...f5 runs into 17.fxe6 Bxe6. I think you meant 17.exf6 Bxf6

Nxd2

Simply because now that we have castle and have the support of the rook, black will lose the knight there no matter wat. If he doesnt take something with it, then we will force a trade and he will eventually lose a pawn in the exchange.

Therefore....

14. 0-0, Nxd2
15. Nxd2, Bg5
16. b4, Re8

This is the best position I can get for black therefore I think this is most likely his move.

14... Ba6

15. Re1 f5!

This line will cause us a bit of a problem
since 16. Nxe4 will be met with 16... fxe giving black a half-opened f file and also effective wrestled back the centre control.

It's prob better to go 16. b4 in this case, but then 16... g5! 17.h3 h5

Black will just continue to push the pawns with his bishops behind.

We can en passant (google it if you dont know what it is) and we be in better position imo. The Ba6 would basically favor us since we were planning to do that move anyways to get rid of the center atleast that what i would think.

So if he does ba6 into f5 we would en passant the f pawn and it would be more like this

16. 0-0, Ba6
17. Re1, f5
18. e5xf5, Bxf6
19. Nxe4, Pxe4
20. Rxe4, ???

From here we be in favorable position and up 2 pawn now. I dont think he would do this. He could of taken it with the pawn instead of the bishop but the result would be the same. I anticipate he take with the bishop because it would put some pressure on the d pawn in the center instead of taking it with the g pawn because it doesnt so much except open up the file for the rook which is also a possibility if he choose to take with the pawn but it still doesnt change the fact that we will be up 2 pawn.

18.e5xf5 would give us a clear lead

I guess Nxd2 will gain back the pawn after Bg5 if black wanted to

we haven't got much space to move and Nxe4 is a bad move at this point as it will open up the f file for black.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't we invoke en passe with our pawn on e5? This would force ...Bd8, ...Bf8.

En passant? It our only chance to do it. No need to rush for the b4 yet imo. I dont see a reason too. We can do b4 right after.

If we en passant...

15. e5xf5, Bxf6
16. b4, Nxd2
17. Bxd2, ??

From here it depend on what he want to do and we have secured the b4 pawn as well. We also got rid of the knight. Of course our pawn in the center kinda weak but I dont really see any way for him to get rid of it. Also our bishop is finally out because we have stopped the pinned and is in good shape and the knight is gone!

If he doesnt take with bishop....

15. e5xf5, g7xf6
16. b4, Nxd2
17. Bxd2, f5
18. Ne5+, ???

From here we are still in good position as well and because he took with the pawn, he has no more connection pawn. His pawn formation is very weakly spaced out. I doubt he will do this move know that other wise he wants to go for a kill and end it right away. Since this does open up the rook to attack the g pawn on our castle. But I think we can defend it easily if we played it correctly.

Your worried about space to move but I dont think we need to worry about it because we are going to move our rook into the center and force a trade anyways. This will open up the game more once we get the tempo to do so.

We can, which is what i suggested but I dont think he would do Bd8 or Bf8 because he could just take the f6 pawn with the bishop and pressure the d4 pawn.