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TL Chess Match 4 - Page 93

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qrs
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
United States3637 Posts
October 11 2011 15:13 GMT
#1841
On October 11 2011 14:33 mastergriggy wrote:
In response to qrs's comments on b3 + Show Spoiler +
First I'd like to say, I by no means think it's a bad move for white. I think it's a very solid move. Second, I want to say black has a much stronger move on 16 than Nc3 with c5 which undermines white and leads to a very dynamic position.

The entire line being 15. b3 Ba6 16. Re1 c5 17. dxc5 (Nxe4 straight up loses a pawn while b4 allows for c4 which might be okay for white but it defeats the point of playing b3 in the first place)

17...Bxc5 18. Nxe4 (pressure on f2) fxe4 19. b4 transposes into a line attained from exf6 except white is down a tempi (although I did say in my other post that I thought it was okay for white, I'd just prefer the extra move that resulted from the exf6). That post can be found here: post
At the end of your line, doesn't + Show Spoiler +
19...Bc6 20. ...Bd4
win a pawn for Black? I'm looking into + Show Spoiler +
17. Ra2
now...

@greggy: + Show Spoiler +
You say that "passive play will go a long way here," but does your move have an aim?
'As per the American Heart Association, the beat of the Bee Gees song "Stayin' Alive" provides an ideal rhythm in terms of beats per minute to use for hands-only CPR. One can also hum Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust".' —Wikipedia
greggy
Profile Joined October 2010
United Kingdom1483 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-11 15:36:42
October 11 2011 15:35 GMT
#1842
+ Show Spoiler +
Yes, several in fact.
1. Indirectly protects d4 pawn, and thus removes threat of c5;
2. Creates a possible pin on the black king;
3. Removes threat of Ba6 - that is, if black plays Ba6 at some later date white does not have to waste time defending the rook;
4. Gets rook into play via possible Rd2/Rd3 - again, later on.
5. Gives control of the d3 square.
mastergriggy
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States1312 Posts
October 11 2011 17:14 GMT
#1843
On October 12 2011 00:13 qrs wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 11 2011 14:33 mastergriggy wrote:
In response to qrs's comments on b3 + Show Spoiler +
First I'd like to say, I by no means think it's a bad move for white. I think it's a very solid move. Second, I want to say black has a much stronger move on 16 than Nc3 with c5 which undermines white and leads to a very dynamic position.

The entire line being 15. b3 Ba6 16. Re1 c5 17. dxc5 (Nxe4 straight up loses a pawn while b4 allows for c4 which might be okay for white but it defeats the point of playing b3 in the first place)

17...Bxc5 18. Nxe4 (pressure on f2) fxe4 19. b4 transposes into a line attained from exf6 except white is down a tempi (although I did say in my other post that I thought it was okay for white, I'd just prefer the extra move that resulted from the exf6). That post can be found here: post
At the end of your line, doesn't + Show Spoiler +
19...Bc6 20. ...Bd4
win a pawn for Black? I'm looking into + Show Spoiler +
17. Ra2
now...

@greggy: + Show Spoiler +
You say that "passive play will go a long way here," but does your move have an aim?


Yeah I think it does, unless white tries something crazy like + Show Spoiler +
Ng5. Actually it looks like black can do even better with 20...Rhf8 which pretty much kills white. So, yeah that line isn't gonna work
The only immediate problem I see with 17. Ra2 is Nc3, but I have yet to analysis it at all.
Write your own song!
qrs
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
United States3637 Posts
October 11 2011 19:12 GMT
#1844
On October 12 2011 00:35 greggy wrote:
+ Show Spoiler +
Yes, several in fact.
1. Indirectly protects d4 pawn, and thus removes threat of c5;
2. Creates a possible pin on the black king;
3. Removes threat of Ba6 - that is, if black plays Ba6 at some later date white does not have to waste time defending the rook;
4. Gets rook into play via possible Rd2/Rd3 - again, later on.
5. Gives control of the d3 square.
OK, sounds good in general, but getting down to specifics, what's your plan after + Show Spoiler +
15...c5, aiming to recapture with the Bishop (threatening the f2 pawn) if we play dxc5 and to play ...c4 (intensifying the bind on our b2 pawn) if we don't?
'As per the American Heart Association, the beat of the Bee Gees song "Stayin' Alive" provides an ideal rhythm in terms of beats per minute to use for hands-only CPR. One can also hum Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust".' —Wikipedia
qrs
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
United States3637 Posts
October 11 2011 19:37 GMT
#1845
On October 12 2011 02:14 mastergriggy wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 12 2011 00:13 qrs wrote:
On October 11 2011 14:33 mastergriggy wrote:
In response to qrs's comments on b3 + Show Spoiler +
First I'd like to say, I by no means think it's a bad move for white. I think it's a very solid move. Second, I want to say black has a much stronger move on 16 than Nc3 with c5 which undermines white and leads to a very dynamic position.

The entire line being 15. b3 Ba6 16. Re1 c5 17. dxc5 (Nxe4 straight up loses a pawn while b4 allows for c4 which might be okay for white but it defeats the point of playing b3 in the first place)

17...Bxc5 18. Nxe4 (pressure on f2) fxe4 19. b4 transposes into a line attained from exf6 except white is down a tempi (although I did say in my other post that I thought it was okay for white, I'd just prefer the extra move that resulted from the exf6). That post can be found here: post
At the end of your line, doesn't + Show Spoiler +
19...Bc6 20. ...Bd4
win a pawn for Black? I'm looking into + Show Spoiler +
17. Ra2
now...

@greggy: + Show Spoiler +
You say that "passive play will go a long way here," but does your move have an aim?


Yeah I think it does, unless white tries something crazy like + Show Spoiler +
Ng5. Actually it looks like black can do even better with 20...Rhf8 which pretty much kills white. So, yeah that line isn't gonna work
The only immediate problem I see with 17. Ra2 is Nc3, but I have yet to analysis it at all.
Yes, I looked at + Show Spoiler +
Ng5
too, and I think that the pawn ends up falling after the moves I gave too, but your 20th move for Black is even better. At any rate, we agree that this line isn't playable.

At this point, I think that whether 15. b3 is a viable move hinges on whether + Show Spoiler +
17. Ra2
is playable. It's looked promising so far, but I haven't analyzed it exhaustively.

As far as the line you give, after that 17th move: + Show Spoiler +
15. b3 Ba6 16. Re1 c5 17. Ra2 Nc3 18. Rc2
+ Show Spoiler [position] +
After 15. b3 Ba6 16. Re1 c5 17. Ra2 Nc3 18. Rc2
[image loading]
Black to play
I really like White's position. Black's Knight is under attack: where should he move it to? He has 18...Ne2+ 19. Kh1 but where does he go from there. He could kill the Bishop, but then all he's accomplished with this whole maneuver is to exchange a strong Knight for an inactive Bishop and to double our Rooks on the open c-file. (Technically, the a pawn is now undefended, but Black can't take advantage of that, with e.g. 20...dxc5 followed by 21...Bxa3 or 22. Ra1 will win a Bishop.)
'As per the American Heart Association, the beat of the Bee Gees song "Stayin' Alive" provides an ideal rhythm in terms of beats per minute to use for hands-only CPR. One can also hum Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust".' —Wikipedia
qrs
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
United States3637 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-11 21:08:43
October 11 2011 20:02 GMT
#1846
Here's the latest version of the summary of alternatives to exf mentioned in this thread (exf is still mostly not covered on account of how much analysis has been posted on it).
Partial Summary of Posted Analysis: 15.

+ Show Spoiler [15. exf en passant] +
Black has three ways to recapture the pawn:

15...Bxf6

15...gxf6

+ Show Spoiler [15. Nxf6] +
Discussed briefly by jdseemoreglass here and Mash2 here.

Summary of analysis: The consensus is that this is not Black's best option because
  1. it reduces the pressure that Black's Knight is applying to our position
  2. it allows us to deploy our own Knight to the strong central position e5.


Summary of analysis: Black will most likely play one of the first two moves. A lot of analysis has been posted on each of these two moves, not covered in this summary.

+ Show Spoiler [15. b3] +

15...Ba6: the only Black move that has been discussed. In addition to simply developing the Bishop to a strong location, one point of it is to force the Rook away from f1, which leads to an additional threat (...B/Nxf2) after a possible future ...Bxc5
16. Re1 moving the Rook out of danger, to a reasonable spot where it is not subject to immediate further attack
    + Show Spoiler [16... c5] +

    + Show Spoiler [17. dxc5] +
    17...Bxc5 recapturing the pawn and threatening ...Bxf2+ as well as (if the Knight leaves c3) ...Bd4
    18. Nxe4 to remove the threat of ...Bxf2+
    18... fxe4 recapturing the Knight and threatening the Nc3
    19. b4 slightly improves White's position and delays his fate. However,
    19...Bc6 maintaining the Bishop on the key a7-g1 diagonal
    20. N{somewhere} under duress from the e4 pawn
    20...Rhf8 pointed out by mastergriggy: threatening 21...Bxf2+, which White cannot adequately parry and it seems that Black will win a pawn at a bare minimum

    Summary of analysis: This line strongly favours Black.

    + Show Spoiler [17. Nxe4] +
    17...fxe4 recapturing the Knight; attacking the f3 Knight
    18. Nd2 to defend b3
    18...cxd4 winning a pawn: if it is later threatened, it can move to d3

    Summary of analysis: Black wins a pawn.

    + Show Spoiler [17. b4] +
    17...cxb4 winning a pawn

    17...c4 suggested by mastergriggy, with the comment, "might be okay for white but it defeats the point of playing b3 in the first place."

    Summary of analysis: Black wins a pawn with 17...cxb4.

    + Show Spoiler [17. Bb2] +
    Refuted by mastergriggy here

    + Show Spoiler [17. Rb1] +
    17...Bd3 attacking the Rb1
    • If 18. Ra1, we are back to square one, sans the option of Rb1.
    • If 18. Rb2, 18...cxd4 19. ... Bxa3 wins a pawn for Black.


    Summary of analysis: Useless at best.

    17. Ra2: Looks promising.

    + Show Spoiler [17. other moves] +
    17...Nxd2 removing the defender from b3
    • If 18. Nxd2, 18...cxd4, winning a pawn for Black (and with the Ba6 covering d3, I don't see an easy way to recapture the pawn).
    • If 18. Bxd2, 18...Rxb3 wins a pawn for Black

    Summary of analysis: Black wins a pawn.

    Summary of analysis: Unless 17. Ra2 works, Black seems to win a pawn. 17. Ra2 looks promising but has not been fully analyzed.

    16...Nc3 is discussed here.

Summary of analysis: unclear

+ Show Spoiler [15. b4] +
15...a5 threatening to win a pawn with...axb
16. bxa5 since the pawn can't escape or be defended
16... Ba6 developing the Bishop to a good spot in general; specifically, forcing the Rook away from f1, which leads to an additional threat (...B/Nxf2) after a possible future ...Bxc5
17. Re1 moving the Rook out of danger, to a reasonable spot where it is not subject to immediate further attack
17...c5 undermining our center
+ Show Spoiler [position] +
After 15. b4 a5 16. bxa5 Ba6 17. Re1 c5
[image loading]
White to play
line posted by jdseemoreglass
On October 11 2011 01:01 jdseemoreglass wrote:
Our entire position is falling apart isn't it? And we are terribly underdeveloped. Black has all the initiative and play here imo.


Summary of analysis: looks good for Black.

+ Show Spoiler [15. Nb1] +
Suggested by Bill Murray with the words, "it can free up our bishop, and really give our knight better movement along out queenside", but no analysis in particular, so here's a "main line" for starters, drawing on themes that have come up in other lines.
15...Ba6 threatening the Rf1
16. Re1 moving to a place where it cannot be immediately threatened
16...c5
    + Show Spoiler [17. dxc5] +
    17...Bxc5 threatening Bxf2+

    + Show Spoiler [17. Nc3] +
    17. c4 creating a half-passed pawn for Black and greatly intensifying the bind on our b2 pawn


Summary of analysis: Not conclusive, but at first look, this seems to strongly favor Black, in my opinion. The redeployment of the Knight to c3 is a good idea in theory but seems to cost us time that we can't afford.

+ Show Spoiler [15. Rd1] +
Advocated by greggy here and its goals explained here.
+ Show Spoiler [15...Ba6] +
greggy's most recent main line (as of last edit to this post) and qrs's (mine) here.

Summary of analysis: Possibly Black wins a pawn, but greggy has not yet had the chance to respond.


+ Show Spoiler [15. Re1] +
Voted for by keyStorm. Some analysis given by mastergriggy here.
'As per the American Heart Association, the beat of the Bee Gees song "Stayin' Alive" provides an ideal rhythm in terms of beats per minute to use for hands-only CPR. One can also hum Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust".' —Wikipedia
greggy
Profile Joined October 2010
United Kingdom1483 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-11 20:38:10
October 11 2011 20:24 GMT
#1847
On October 12 2011 04:12 qrs wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 12 2011 00:35 greggy wrote:
+ Show Spoiler +
Yes, several in fact.
1. Indirectly protects d4 pawn, and thus removes threat of c5;
2. Creates a possible pin on the black king;
3. Removes threat of Ba6 - that is, if black plays Ba6 at some later date white does not have to waste time defending the rook;
4. Gets rook into play via possible Rd2/Rd3 - again, later on.
5. Gives control of the d3 square.
OK, sounds good in general, but getting down to specifics, what's your plan after + Show Spoiler +
15...c5, aiming to recapture with the Bishop (threatening the f2 pawn) if we play dxc5 and to play ...c4 (intensifying the bind on our b2 pawn) if we don't?

+ Show Spoiler +
Umm,
15. Rd1 c5 16. dx Bxc5 17. Nxe4 fe 18. Nd4 with either Nf5 or b4 following - I specifically said Rd1 counters c5, as was also shown by EvilNalu earlier.
qrs
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
United States3637 Posts
October 11 2011 20:39 GMT
#1848
On October 12 2011 05:24 greggy wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 12 2011 04:12 qrs wrote:
On October 12 2011 00:35 greggy wrote:
+ Show Spoiler +
Yes, several in fact.
1. Indirectly protects d4 pawn, and thus removes threat of c5;
2. Creates a possible pin on the black king;
3. Removes threat of Ba6 - that is, if black plays Ba6 at some later date white does not have to waste time defending the rook;
4. Gets rook into play via possible Rd2/Rd3 - again, later on.
5. Gives control of the d3 square.
OK, sounds good in general, but getting down to specifics, what's your plan after + Show Spoiler +
15...c5, aiming to recapture with the Bishop (threatening the f2 pawn) if we play dxc5 and to play ...c4 (intensifying the bind on our b2 pawn) if we don't?



+ Show Spoiler +
Umm,
15. Rd1 c5 16. dx Bxc5 17. Nxe4 fe 18. Nd4 with either Nf5 or b4 following - I specifically said Rd1 counters c5, as was also shown by EvilNalu earlier.
You specifically said that Rd1 counters that move, but you didn't say how (nor had EvilNalu), so I asked you for specifics. Is that a problem?

In the line you give, what's your plan after+ Show Spoiler [this?] +
After 15. Rd1 c5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Nxe4 fxe4 18. Nd4 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Ke6
I don't see how we're going to avoid losing a pawn.
'As per the American Heart Association, the beat of the Bee Gees song "Stayin' Alive" provides an ideal rhythm in terms of beats per minute to use for hands-only CPR. One can also hum Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust".' —Wikipedia
hype[NZ]
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
Japan412 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-12 04:53:54
October 12 2011 04:52 GMT
#1849
15.exf6

+ Show Spoiler [analysis] +
We need to play to our strengths here, I feel that exf6 will cause the most problems for black, so we should definitely play it while we can. This potentially gives us the following advantages:

•open e-file:
we may be able to stack our rooks on the e-file and control the centre of the board

•knight outpost on e5
this is pretty much the dream spot for our knight, if we can land it on this square it can help to control the board.

We also have the following weakness

•the pawn on b2
Now that we've castled we should try and play b4 soon. Black will probably respond with ...a5 as many of you have pointed out, but after bxa5 we have 2 outside passed pawns (we can consider 1 dead but that doesn't matter too much since we would be up 2 pawns at this stage anyway).

Part of the problem is that our bishop is defending the b2 pawn, so we won't be able to play a potential Ne5 while black's knight is still on e4 without losing the pawn (I'll elaborate on this further down)

So after we play en passant black has 3 options to recapture the pawn:

15...Nxe6
this seems to take all of the pressure off us, we can then play b4, Re1 or Ne5 and be quite comfortable imo

15...Bxf6
here we have to be careful since after something like:
16.b4 a5 17.bxa5 Ba6 18.Re1 c5

our pawn on d4 is pinned so we can't just simply recapture
[image loading]

Here we could play
19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Rxe4 cxd4 21. Nxd4 and we should be ok
[image loading]


15...gxf6
The ideas are quite similar, as after
16. b4 a5 17. bxa5 Ba6 18. Re1

black can't play 18...f5 due to 19.Ne5+

here the king can't go to these squares due to tactical shots

[image loading]

so 19...Ke6 (or 19...Ke8) (19...Kc8 is just bad after 20.Nc6) 20.Nc6 Rb7 21.Nxe7 Kxe7 22.f3 (winning the knight) Rb8 23.Nf3 and black has a few threats but we should be fine here
e.g.
23...Rb1 24. Bg5+ Kd6 25.Ne5

So instead of 18...f5 he might try something different but I'm going home now so maybe I can try and do some more analysis later.

_____________________________________________________________

Another move worth considering would be 16.Re1 instead of 16.b4 but I can't look at that now... too hungry;; Let me know if I've overlooked any moves or if there's anything wrong with my analysis.
Ng5
Profile Joined December 2009
702 Posts
October 12 2011 07:41 GMT
#1850
Last day reminders sent out.

Again, thanks for all the effort. I would like a little more varied move choices, though - but meh. It's all good.
Ng5
Profile Joined December 2009
702 Posts
October 12 2011 07:43 GMT
#1851

[image loading]

[image loading]

indigoawareness
Profile Joined October 2010
Slovakia273 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-12 19:26:04
October 12 2011 08:00 GMT
#1852
This has been a really hard one, and the extra time has helped.

15.b3
To sleep, perchance to dream.
Malinor
Profile Joined November 2008
Germany4758 Posts
October 12 2011 08:37 GMT
#1853
15.exf
+ Show Spoiler +
I am not at all comfortable with that move, but I am hoping for a line like Bxf6 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Ne5+ Bxe5 18. dxe5 Ke6 19. b4 a5, (as shown by mastergriggy) which does look ok. The only alternatives I would see would be to move our F-Rock around, but it seems rather passive and I can't really see where we would end up in those positions.
"Withstand. Suffer. Live as you must now live. There will, one day, be answer to this." ||| "A life, Jimmy, you know what that is? It's the shit that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come."
wuBu
Profile Joined February 2011
United States83 Posts
October 12 2011 08:41 GMT
#1854
15. exf6

+ Show Spoiler +
At first glance I thought b4, but maybe that doesn't look so good for white based on the analysis, so exf6 it is.
"It's the way that I'm living that makes me who I am. It's the things I do that you wouldn't understand."
Mabilis
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
United States162 Posts
October 12 2011 11:01 GMT
#1855
15. exf6
"Nice guys finish last, but we get to sleep in." -- Evan Davis
greggy
Profile Joined October 2010
United Kingdom1483 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-12 11:45:07
October 12 2011 11:30 GMT
#1856
+ Show Spoiler +
Why not

15. ef Bxf6 16. Ne5+ Ke6 17. Ndf3 c5 18. Bf4 Rxb2 19. dc with Rb1 to follow.

I am generally against exchanging knights on e4 because black now has enough to hold on to that square for long enough for it to be a problem - we all saw how much trouble white had when we were analysing Nxe4 previously.
hp.Shell
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States2527 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-12 14:45:43
October 12 2011 13:03 GMT
#1857
[image loading]



I vote 15. g3! BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST MOVE. It ALLOWS + Show Spoiler +
16. Nxe4 at the very least, which trades material (which we really really want) and we probably also win black's d or f pawn. AND we can also open up our bishop a bit. Which also opens up our Rook on a1.

Please read for why, imo, exf6 e. p. is a poor move compared to g3, and change your votes accordingly!

Ok, it's been a while since I've looked at this game. But I'm gonna give this move the good ol' college try! + Show Spoiler +
I dropped out of college....

To help myself analyze the position, I'm not going to read anyone else's analysis until I've finished my own. After that, I'll join the conversation.
+ Show Spoiler +
+ Show Spoiler [Nxe4] +
Horrible move on first glance. 15. Nxe4 dxe4 or fxe4 and we're forced to give up our position with the f3 knight, essentially wasting a move and giving a tempo to black. The bishop remains closed.

+ Show Spoiler [a4] +
Allows an awkward Ra3 followup. Not very good.

+ Show Spoiler [b3] +
Allows ...Nc3 immediately, though it doesn't look hugely favorable for black compared to leaving the knight on e4. Keeps the b pawn defended with the knight on d2, but opens white's bishop. A mediocre move.

+ Show Spoiler [b4] +
Worth looking into, I think. Allows 16.Nb3 and really opens up the game for some interesting action. Bad for our black-squared bishop but as long as we're controlling the c1-h6 we're actually in a pretty good spot with it.

+ Show Spoiler [e6+] +
unfavorable.

Read please:
+ Show Spoiler [exf6 e.p.] +
I don't really like this move because ...f5 gave us a passed pawn, and we lose it with this move. But it opens the door for some knight aggression later if black decides to Bxf6 instead of gxf6. Decent move, trades pieces (to our advantage because we are ahead in material), and opens up the center. It also opens black's bishop to attack h2 with Bd6 which we really don't want, and doesn't do much to open our own bishop.

Read please:
+ Show Spoiler [g3] +
Defends f4, which I don't see black deciding to do anytime soon. Also closes our bishop again if black decides to make us double our pawns on f. Actually, I like this move. Let's do some more analysis here.

Black's bishop really can't make a good move anyway. What I'm concerned with is black forcing our bishop to move so we hang the b2 pawn and let the black rook in to attack full force. We really don't want black's rook on b2.

The other thing is the c8 bishop. Black wants to play Ba6 because it leaves the f2 pawn mostly undefended and puts our king in a horrible spot if black decides to sacrifice the knight later.

15. g3 f4 16. gxf4 and we have a well-defended passed pawn on e5. This is very favorable because it allows pawn pressure on the kingside while allowing us to attack with our more mobile pieces queenside, where black's king is. This blocks both black-square bishops, but allows us to tear up the center with 17. Nxe4.

15. g3 f4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. gxf4 really good for white, doubly defended passed pawn on e is really powerful. Nevermind, 17. gxf4 is bad....

15. g3 g5 16. Nxe4 [fxe4 or dxe4] 17. Nxg5 and we're ahead another pawn.

15. g3 Nxg3 16. fxe3 opens our rook and leaves the same strategy for dealing with black's f pawn.

15. g3 h6 probably the best response for black. 16. we can't Nxe4 because dxe4 leaves our knight without a good place to run. (Nevermind again, it DOES leave Nh4 open which I go into in the ...Rf8 line below.) On the other hand, it does trade a knight apiece, which, again, is good for us because we are up a pawn going in to this move.

15. g3 Rf8 16. Nxe4 fxe4 17. Nh4 e3 18. fxe3 (not Bxe3 because ...Rxb2)
Here's what could happen later:
18. fxe3 Rxf1+ 19. Kxf1 Ba6+ 20. Kg1 g5 21. Ng2 Ke6 22. Rb1 c5 23. dxc5 Kxe5 24. b4
which leaves us with this position:
[image loading]
Of course there are other lines but I really like this oen and it seems to be one of the best options for black aside from h6. I could easily see a rook trade followed by 19. ...Ba6+ which makes this line pretty viable.


+ Show Spoiler [unfinished moves] +

+ Show Spoiler [g4] +

+ Show Spoiler [h3] +

+ Show Spoiler [h4] +

+ Show Spoiler [Ra2] +

+ Show Spoiler [Rb1] +

+ Show Spoiler [Nb1] +

+ Show Spoiler [Nb3] +

+ Show Spoiler [Ne1] +

+ Show Spoiler [Kh1] +

+ Show Spoiler [Re1] +

+ Show Spoiler [Rd1] +

+ Show Spoiler [Nc4] +
loses the knight.

+ Show Spoiler [Ng5] +
loses the knight.

+ Show Spoiler [Nh4] +
loses the knight.



Major conclusion for TLDR:
+ Show Spoiler +
I advocate against 15. exf6 e.p. Please read that move's line for why.
Please PM me with any songs you like that you think I haven't heard before!
Mash2
Profile Joined February 2011
United States132 Posts
October 12 2011 13:30 GMT
#1858
I'm leaning towards b3 with my vote, but am also considering shell's newly suggested g3. I would gladly vote either of these over the en passant. I really think all the people that voted en passant should reconsider and look at the summary of analysis that has been posted.

+ Show Spoiler +
With the ep, we are removing our strongest pawn from the board (e5) for what? As I said earlier, I seriously doubt he takes with g7 giving himself 2 isolated pawns. Removing our e5 pawn makes his dark squared bishop considerably more powerful.
"Quite often the flood of history is undammed or diverted by the character and actions of one man." - Pat Frank, "Alas, Babylon"
timh
Profile Joined December 2010
Netherlands47 Posts
October 12 2011 14:35 GMT
#1859
b4
mastergriggy
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States1312 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-12 17:28:17
October 12 2011 17:26 GMT
#1860
On October 12 2011 22:03 hp.Shell wrote:+ Show Spoiler +

[image loading]



I vote 15. g3! BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST MOVE. It ALLOWS + Show Spoiler +
16. Nxe4 at the very least, which trades material (which we really really want) and we probably also win black's d or f pawn. AND we can also open up our bishop a bit. Which also opens up our Rook on a1.

Please read for why, imo, exf6 e. p. is a poor move compared to g3, and change your votes accordingly!

Ok, it's been a while since I've looked at this game. But I'm gonna give this move the good ol' college try! + Show Spoiler +
I dropped out of college....

To help myself analyze the position, I'm not going to read anyone else's analysis until I've finished my own. After that, I'll join the conversation.
+ Show Spoiler +
+ Show Spoiler [Nxe4] +
Horrible move on first glance. 15. Nxe4 dxe4 or fxe4 and we're forced to give up our position with the f3 knight, essentially wasting a move and giving a tempo to black. The bishop remains closed.

+ Show Spoiler [a4] +
Allows an awkward Ra3 followup. Not very good.

+ Show Spoiler [b3] +
Allows ...Nc3 immediately, though it doesn't look hugely favorable for black compared to leaving the knight on e4. Keeps the b pawn defended with the knight on d2, but opens white's bishop. A mediocre move.

+ Show Spoiler [b4] +
Worth looking into, I think. Allows 16.Nb3 and really opens up the game for some interesting action. Bad for our black-squared bishop but as long as we're controlling the c1-h6 we're actually in a pretty good spot with it.

+ Show Spoiler [e6+] +
unfavorable.

Read please:
+ Show Spoiler [exf6 e.p.] +
I don't really like this move because ...f5 gave us a passed pawn, and we lose it with this move. But it opens the door for some knight aggression later if black decides to Bxf6 instead of gxf6. Decent move, trades pieces (to our advantage because we are ahead in material), and opens up the center. It also opens black's bishop to attack h2 with Bd6 which we really don't want, and doesn't do much to open our own bishop.

Read please:
+ Show Spoiler [g3] +
Defends f4, which I don't see black deciding to do anytime soon. Also closes our bishop again if black decides to make us double our pawns on f. Actually, I like this move. Let's do some more analysis here.

Black's bishop really can't make a good move anyway. What I'm concerned with is black forcing our bishop to move so we hang the b2 pawn and let the black rook in to attack full force. We really don't want black's rook on b2.

The other thing is the c8 bishop. Black wants to play Ba6 because it leaves the f2 pawn mostly undefended and puts our king in a horrible spot if black decides to sacrifice the knight later.

15. g3 f4 16. gxf4 and we have a well-defended passed pawn on e5. This is very favorable because it allows pawn pressure on the kingside while allowing us to attack with our more mobile pieces queenside, where black's king is. This blocks both black-square bishops, but allows us to tear up the center with 17. Nxe4.

15. g3 f4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. gxf4 really good for white, doubly defended passed pawn on e is really powerful. Nevermind, 17. gxf4 is bad....

15. g3 g5 16. Nxe4 [fxe4 or dxe4] 17. Nxg5 and we're ahead another pawn.

15. g3 Nxg3 16. fxe3 opens our rook and leaves the same strategy for dealing with black's f pawn.

15. g3 h6 probably the best response for black. 16. we can't Nxe4 because dxe4 leaves our knight without a good place to run. (Nevermind again, it DOES leave Nh4 open which I go into in the ...Rf8 line below.) On the other hand, it does trade a knight apiece, which, again, is good for us because we are up a pawn going in to this move.

15. g3 Rf8 16. Nxe4 fxe4 17. Nh4 e3 18. fxe3 (not Bxe3 because ...Rxb2)
Here's what could happen later:
18. fxe3 Rxf1+ 19. Kxf1 Ba6+ 20. Kg1 g5 21. Ng2 Ke6 22. Rb1 c5 23. dxc5 Kxe5 24. b4
which leaves us with this position:
[image loading]
Of course there are other lines but I really like this oen and it seems to be one of the best options for black aside from h6. I could easily see a rook trade followed by 19. ...Ba6+ which makes this line pretty viable.


+ Show Spoiler [unfinished moves] +

+ Show Spoiler [g4] +

+ Show Spoiler [h3] +

+ Show Spoiler [h4] +

+ Show Spoiler [Ra2] +

+ Show Spoiler [Rb1] +

+ Show Spoiler [Nb1] +

+ Show Spoiler [Nb3] +

+ Show Spoiler [Ne1] +

+ Show Spoiler [Kh1] +

+ Show Spoiler [Re1] +

+ Show Spoiler [Rd1] +

+ Show Spoiler [Nc4] +
loses the knight.

+ Show Spoiler [Ng5] +
loses the knight.

+ Show Spoiler [Nh4] +
loses the knight.



Major conclusion for TLDR:
+ Show Spoiler +
I advocate against 15. exf6 e.p. Please read that move's line for why.



What if black ignores g3 and plays + Show Spoiler +
Ba6 or a5? Here's the line I see from it: 15. g3 a5 16.Rd1 Ba6 and then c5 or Rhf8 or g5. All of white's pieces are completely cluttered and black has control of the game.


Edit: I'm going to repost my vote on this page, as it has some analysis for my move exf6: here.
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