Unlock Your Genius April 2009 (Problems)

by dlwyatt, Ohio, Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 05:38 (5833 days ago) @ Tony Kosten

? Very good! How should White continue after, say, 1 Bc7 fxe5 2 dxe5 Rf8, and
? what about 1 h4, any thoughts?
? Incidentally, do either of you know the famous Karpov-Unzicker game with
? Ba7 ?

After Rf8, White should definitely play Rfd1 (intending e4), though I'm not clear what the strongest continuation is after Black plays Rf7 to address the e4 threat. The endgame after Bxa5 Rxc1 Rxc1 Nxe5 h3 looks promising.

As for 1. h4, I have no clue what the plan is there. White's king isn't in any danger on the back rank, and g5 doesn't appear to be that important of a square to take away. Plus it gives Black time to activate his knight via 1... fxe5 2. dxe5 b6 and 3... Nc5, with what should be enough activity to at least draw without too much trouble (and perhaps win if White messes up).

Then again, the more I look at this position, the more I wonder if these little advantages for White are enough to win anyway. I've played through a lot of the ideas, and haven't been able to reach a forced winning endgame that I know of. If the minor pieces get traded, Black can usually draw even if White managed to win a pawn in the exchanges (this usually happened when Black played b6 and Nc5, inviting Bxc5 bxc5 Rxc5, leaving white a pawn up, but all rook endings are drawn, as they say. :) )