Unlock Your Genius - January 2009 (Problems)

by tapestry , Hampshire, Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 23:49 (5909 days ago) @ dlwyatt

? So you like 1... Ne6 better. ;) It more or less discourages Nf4 from
? white, and will probably be followed by 2... Bc6, but I'm not sure where
? to take it from there. Are we aiming for a kingside light-squared attack,
? perhaps involving Qh6 and one of the Knights to g5?

If black does allow 2. Nf4 and 3. Nh5 what does this achieve for white? The dark squares around the black king are vulnerable, and white's pieces are more active. For example, 1...Bc6 2. Nf4 Qf7 3. Nh5. Black should probably reply 3...Ne6 (3...g6 weakens the black squares around the king even further and allows 4. Qd4). With the white rook lined up on the f file, perhaps white could try and open this file, but f2-f3 is not possible as the N on h5 is hanging.

Perhaps the point is that black should be aiming to try and stifle white's play first and improve the position of his pieces, waiting to see if white makes a more commital (and weakening) move which could be exploited. Looking at the position, the white bishop on b2 is appearing more of a monster piece, and black might need to use his knights to defend the dark squares.