Unlock Your Genius 10 June 2008 (Problems)

by tapestry , Hampshire, Sunday, June 29, 2008, 19:11 (6135 days ago)

My initial reaction is that I prefer black's chances.

White's rook is actively placed but it appears that black should be able to unravel his position. The pawn on b4 could potentially hinder the scope of the black bishop, but the fact there are pawns on both sides of the board should favour the side with the bishop. White's pawns are isolated. The kingside pawns could become quite vulnerable should the white king stray too far away from them. The pawn on b3 looks difficult to defend.

Black has targets in the b3 and f2 pawns. The bishop should be better in this position.

As white, I would be trying to keep my pieces active and avoid them being tied down in defence. I would like to swap knight for bishop.

As white, I like the look of 1. Ne4.
If 1...f5 2. Ng5 (threatening 3. Ne6) 2...Ra6 3. Re8 (thinking 4. Ne6) but I think that black's king can start mobilising with 3...Kg7 followed by moving the bishop.
If 1...Kg7 2. Rd7 (aiming to play 3. Nd6 to attack the f7 pawn) 2...Rb2 3. Ng5 Rxb3 4. Rxf7 Kg8 5. Rf6 and I would hope that white would be able to give the knight up for the b pawn after capturing the g pawn.
If 1...Rb2 2. Nd2 Kg7 3. Kf3 (aiming to defend the knight). I still prefer black here though.

I've only looked at one first move for white. What does everybody else think?