TL Chess Match 4 - Page 97

16. Re1 Nxd2 17. Nxd2 a5 18. b3 Ba6 19. Bb2



Nxd2 is probably black's best continuation in my opinion. The rest are simple and natural moves. Perhaps we have a better move at the end instead of Bb2, but it's an example of the possibilities. We've managed to uncramp our pieces and achieve a relatively even position here a pawn up.

16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Nd2 f5 18. Re1 (allowing us to play Nc4 without the Ba6 pin winning a piece) Ba6 (preventing Nc4) 19. b4



This is a likely continuation. Black really doesn't want us to play Nc4, and he wants to develop his bishop here anyway. This is where the move b4 SHOULD be played and becomes very powerful because he can't undermine it with a5 immediately. We can now jump our knight to b3 perhaps, eyeing the great c5 outpost and opening up our bishop finally. I think this position is great for us and I'd like to hear any alternatives to black's moves you guys think are better here.

16. b4 a5 17. bxa5 Ba6 18. Re1 Nc3



Here, black isn't even forced to take the bishop. He can choose to take it or to keep his knight planted on c3 to cramp our position. I really don't see any good moves or a plan we can follow now. We are on the defensive completely.

... for black T_T.
Even worse than the position you pointed out above: black can play 19. ... Ne2+ because e2 is now secured with his bishop and our rook has no more access to the e-file.

i am still not sure that the game would be lost but it would be a very very tough fight.

on the other hand playing b4 on move 17 if he takes his knight back really looks solid.

16. b4: 9 (hype[NZ], mastergriggy, TehForce, ffreak, hp.Shell, GenesisX, Archers_bane, Chezus, indigoawareness, LaXerCannon)
16. Re1: 9 (Malli, dtvu, wuBu, sGs.Kal_rA, lightman, Raysalis, shackes, keyStorm, TehForce)
16. Nxe4: 3 (jdseemoreglass, aphorism, SheaR619)

dxe4 17. Nd2 Ba6 first? since if f5, we can play Nc4 (we have Ne5+ if we get pinned) though I'm not sure if this variation is best choice for us.

After looking at the variation of Nc3, 19. Nf1 Ne2+ is going to be a problem for us since it will give black bishop pairs.

16... Bb7. I'm a bit curious on what white will play from here.
If 1)17. Nb3 Ba6 18. Nbd2 or Na5 Bd3
2)17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Nd2 f5
3)17. b4 (probably best move) a5 18. bxa5 Ba8 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Nd2 f5 21. Nc4 looks maybe okay for white? (not sure)
Other than that, black could just play 16... Nd6 (still need to analyze). As for now, I guess it's between Nxe4 and Re1.

Capturing the Bishop is a lot stronger for black than I thought it would be. 16. b4 a5 17. bxa5 Ba6 18. Re1 Nc3 19. Nf1 Ne2+ 20. Kh1 Nxc1 21. Rexc1 Rb5 and I'm not seeing a way out for white. The only exception maybe is Re3 which I haven't spent much time analysing, but I did see some favorable lines from Jd's analysis at the top of the page (lol out of curiosity how do you list someone else's post?) and my analysis here.

Honestly, I'm not seeing much after Nxe4 dxe4 18.Nd2 Bb7 19. Re1 f5 and Black has a lot of pieces focused at the kingside pawns. So yeah, I'll change my vote to Re1.

16. b4: 7 (hype[NZ], mastergriggy, TehForce, ffreak, hp.Shell, GenesisX, Archers_bane, Chezus, indigoawareness, LaXerCannon)
16. Re1: 12 (Malli, dtvu, wuBu, sGs.Kal_rA, lightman, Raysalis, shackes, keyStorm, TehForce, wizard944, mastergriggy, GenesisX)
16. Nxe4: 2 (jdseemoreglass, aphorism, SheaR619)

After careful calculation, I think this is the stronger move.; It leaves our pawn in better position for the late game.