Unlock Your Genius - January 2009 (Problems)

by tapestry , Hampshire, Saturday, February 07, 2009, 20:14 (5912 days ago) @ dlwyatt

I find these sorts of positions very difficult to play. Just finding a plan is difficult enough, but finding the most appropriate plan is a huge challenge.

From white’s perspective:
Strengths:
King looks safe, 2 bishops, semi open b and d files, some strength on the black squares (d4 and f4 jump out).
Weaknesses:
1 pawn down, weak queenside pawns, less space in the centre, d3 and b3 squares look weak

Plan:
The only pawn break available is e3-e4, but black has enough pieces covering e4 to make this difficult to achieve. This would also open up the f file for black’s rook(s). The QB is actively placed but not hitting anything and the KB is hemmed in by the black knight on e4. White cannot achieve much on the b or d files unless black allows a weakness by advancing the queenside pawns. As white I would be thinking that I was in a worse position and be aiming to thwart black’s plans. I would think in terms of Nd4, Qc2, Rce1 and f2-f3 aiming for e3-e4.

From black’s perspective:
Strengths:
1 pawn up, actively placed knights (including an outpost on c5), more space in the centre
Weaknesses:
no dark squared bishop, e6 square

Plan:
The break with …b7-b5 looks a possibility with the aim of opening the b file. The d7 bishop is piece that looks most unhappy in black’s position and 1…Bc6 appeals. I am thinking of …Bc6, …Ng5 and exchanging white squared bishops. However, I think white’s king is safe for the time being. If white replies 2. Nd4 black would be left with the choice of exchanging B for N or retreating the bishop. I wouldn’t object to swapping bishops as black but I would want to retain the white squared bishop unless I was exchanging it for white’s counterpart. I wondered if the plan to play 1…Rae8 with the idea of doubling rooks on the e file and preventing white from playing e3-e4 would be good. However, if white plays 2. Nf4 and 3. Nd5 black has to think about defending the c7 pawn and trying to evict the white knight.

The white knight arriving on d5 is quite irritating for black and I wonder if black should play to counter this by playing 1…Ne6. If 2. Nf4 Nxf4 3. exf4 Bc6 and white still has the weaknesses on the queenside. If 1…Ne6 2. Nd4 Nxd4 3. Bxd4 (if 3. exd4 f4) black could play …b6 (preventing the c pawn advance), …Rae8 and …Bc6 trying to keep up pressure on the white squares.

In this sort of position over the board I think I would end up thinking for some time and probably end up playing a move like 1…Rae8 because I wasn’t sure what to play rather than spend too much time thinking. I would then end up reacting to white’s moves.