Unlock Your Genius - January 2009 (Problems)

by dlwyatt, Ohio, Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 14:51 (5908 days ago) @ Tony Kosten

? ? For example, 1...Bc6 2. Nf4 Qf7 3. Nh5.
?
? After 1...Bc6 2 Nd4 are you planning to return the bishop to d7 and
? repeat?
?

2... Nb3 looks interesting there. White can end up getting his pawn back, but at the expense of getting into an opposite-color bishop game where his light squares around the king and the c4 pawn are in a lot of trouble, ie:

1... Bc6 2. Nd4 Nb3 3. Nxb3 axb3 4. Bxe4 (4. Qxb3 Nd2 -+) fxe4 5. Qxb3 Qf7, and it looks like Black's in control now. He can play b6 then lift the rook to a5 and over to c5 or f5 with a lot of pressure.

I thought White might try not taking on b3, but something like 3. Rc2 Nxd4 4. exd4 f4 looks pretty strong for Black too.

Anyhow, it's a much sharper response to Nd4 than just backing down and giving white a free couple of tempi. :)