Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM (General)
I like Black.It has a solid pawn structure with no weaknesses 2 active Bs and a safe K.The pinning of the Nf3 is annoying for W, the diagonal c8-h2 could become a good attacking point considering that the defender Nf3 could be exchanged.An idea like Bc7 Qd6 springs to mind.Among the B pieces the one that needs a better square is the Nd7.Nb6-d5 seems a good idea gaining a tempo attacking the Bc4.Bd3 seems forced since in b3 occludes the R and can not go back to e2 in case of a double attack on the Nf3.
B could go for Qf6 and after the double swap could have a much better pawn structure in the ending.
I am not particularly concerned of the Rb1 and the attack on b7.
After 1....Nb6 2 Bd3 Nd5 3Bd2 b5!? is going to keep the N in a strong central position although the B pawn structure will worsen after c4,I would not mind W swapping the N in this open position the B pair will be very valuable.
What do you think ?
Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM
I mostly agree, but there is a tactical problem with 1....Nb6 2 Bd3 Nd5 - what is it?
Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM
? I mostly agree, but there is a tactical problem with 1....Nb6 2 Bd3 Nd5 -
? what is it?
1.Bxh7 + Kxh7 2Ng5+ Kg8 3QxBh5
Again general principles defeated by calculations.
Thanks !
Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM
Nearly, but not quite as Black can capture on g5 - the white queen is also attacked!
Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM
? Nearly, but not quite as Black can capture on g5 - the white queen is also
? attacked!
I am not using a chessboard it could help my vision
Lets start from 1.Bxh7 Kxh7 or I lost a pawn.2.Ng5+ QxN 3.Qd3+ Qg6 OK
3.BxQ BxQ 4.RxB I am still a pawn down
3.QxBh5+! Qh6 ? is not possible ! (Bc1 good chap )
If my vision has not let me down again taking the B with check and being the BQ unable to cover should win the Q.
Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM
? I am not using a chessboard it could help my vision
Good idea!
? 3.BxQ BxQ 4.RxB I am still a pawn down
Or do you mean a piece?
? 3.QxBh5+! Qh6 ? is not possible ! (Bc1 good chap )
3 Qxh5+???? Qxh5 is even worse!
Back to the drawing board!
Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM
Not only I went back to the drawing board,where I realized about QxQh5 but I could not find anything except maybe 1.c4 Nc3 Bxh7 and then Qd3+ but he does not need to take in h7.
The variation based on Ng5+ loses a piece for B.
So since I wanted to avoid the last humiliation of asking Fritz for help
I have to give up.
Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM
I thought 16 Rxb7 was the problem, as 16...Nxc3 is met by 17 Bxh7+ Kxh7 18 Qd3+ winning back the piece with a pawn profit.
Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM
I see a pawn is pawn of course,but the Bs pair in an open position could offer B some compensation.Also the central duetto has now become an isolated pawn for W.
I will wait for the official solution with interest.
Thanks
Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM
Well, I'm just going to think out loud. Material is exactly level. The pawn on b7 is under attack. I check all possible checks and captures - nothing significant there, so b7 will have to be dealt with in some way. The pin on f3 is awkward for White, for example, if he breaks it by Be2 then his e2 bishop and e1 rook are less active; then Black shifts diagonals to ...Bg6, annoying the rook on b1. White has a slight advantage in development (bishop is at home, but both rooks are on good files), and an advantage in space. White has 3 pawn islands to 2, but no glaring weaknesses. White will want to develop the c1 bishop, deal with the f3 pin, and work toward pushing his c and d pawns. If Black can play ...h6 soon then the c1 bishop might not have a strong square. d5 and c4 may be good posts for the Black knight.
Okay, candidate moves include 1...Qc7, 1...b6, 1...b5, 1...Rb8. I hate to waste a rook on defending b7, unless I think pushing the b-pawn is good, or I can open the file. Neither seems to apply. 1...Qc7 doesn't seem very strong, but maybe playable. For 1...b6 to make sense I should want to follow up with ...c5, but that doesn't feel right. I would rather play 1...b5 (slightly anti-positional, but c6 is not really vulnerable). The follow-up could be something like 2.Be2 Bg6, which looks good for Black (reasons noted last paragraph), or 2.Bd3 Nb6 3.Be4 Bg6 4.Bxg6 hxg6. In this case both of Black's minor pieces are a bit better, and White pawn front is fixed. I don't see any kind of knockout blow.
Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM
Yes, that's right, after this last sequence of moves Black controls both c4 and d5 - two important central light squares, and has exchanged the white piece that would normally defend these squares (the bishop). Now, in more general terms, what would Black hope to do next? GMs would automatically think about their strategic aims over the coming moves even before the last series of moves (hint: think 'good knight' 'bad bishop').
Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM
? ... Now, in more
? general terms, what would Black hope to do next? GMs would automatically
? think about their strategic aims over the coming moves even before the
? last series of moves (hint: think 'good knight' 'bad bishop').
Hi Tony!
After 1...b5 2.Bd3 Nb6 3.Be4 Bg6 4.Bxg6 hxg6, I would generally want to post my knight on c4. (On d5 the knight hits c3, and it is harder to chase it away, but then I also have to worry about c3-c4.) At the moment White might be able to cope by Bg5 followed by Nd2. Maybe it is better to develop the heavy pieces first while (whilst) preparing Nc4.
Ray Cheng
Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM
The answer is online!
Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM
Hi.
I've noted The Unlock your genius section has not been updated last few months.
i'm so interesting on my planning skills so my asking.
This is my first time i post here since i became a member few weeks ago.
My sincerely congrats for this excellent training site.
Unlock your genius discussion Moderator Tony GM
? I've noted The Unlock your genius section has not been updated last few
? months.
That's true, sorry, but I've been so busy playing chess this summer that I haven't found any time. I promise to do some more from next month on.