Unlock Your Genius April 2009 (Problems)

by dlwyatt, Ohio, Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 05:18 (5839 days ago) @ tapestry

Looks right to me! Black's Knight is on the wrong square... if it were on e4, we'd be looking at a very different game, but right now it can't get anywhere without opening the position in a way that favor's white's bishop. I like 1. Bc7 as the first move, forcing Black to make a crappy choice: passively defend his pawns, or open up the position a bit to free his knight.

First, the passive option:

1. Bc7 b6 (or 1... Ra8 2. Rc3 followed by Rfc1. If Black plays dxe5, recapture with the pawn) 2. exf6 gxf6 3. Rc3! (not Rc2. Rc3 tactically covers the e5 move: 3... e5 4. dxe5 fxe5 5. Rd1. In this spot, if White's rook were on c2 instead of c3, Black would have 5... Nf6 with a pretty even position. With the rook on c3, White can meet Nf6 with Bxe5.) 3... Black moves whatever, perhaps Kf7, 4. Rfc1. Black's pieces are all tied up, and White is ready to play something like Bd6 or Rc6.

Slight edge to white with ownership of the c-file. He'll be able to get a rook in to c7 with a nice advantage, if Black isn't careful.

The not-so-passive option:

1. Bc7 fxe5. White has two moves, both look good: Bxa5 and dxe5. If dxe5, you're planning the same ideas as the first lines: Rc3, Rfc1, Bd6, get a rook in to c7, etc. Bxa5 opens the position a bit more, highlighting White's bishop vs knight advantage Black's terrible remaining pawn structure:

2. Bxa5 exd4 3. exd4 e5 4. dxe5 Nxe5 5. Rxc8 Rxc8 6. Rd1 and Black's weak pawns are in a lot of trouble, or:

2. Bxa5 Nf6 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 dxe4 5. Rxc8 Rxc8 6. Re1 reaches a similar position. Wide open, weak black pawns targeted.