Beat the Masters 2

- May 22, 2020

August 1988, Position G

Black to play

Contributions are welcome in the comments box.

Masters’ feedback will be published tomorrow.

Comments

ejh22 May 2020 at 14:35
I have a feeling I have seen this before, but I admit my gut feeling is to take on f5 first and worry about bad things later.
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AngusF22 May 2020 at 14:59
My move choice is 1... Rxf5.

My thoughts: Material is level. White may have tactical possibilities based on Ne6 and a space advantage. But Black, while a little passive, looks solid. White threatens Nxc5. If pieces come off then Black will have an advantage of some degree due to his (her) queenside majority.

I wondered, can Black win a pawn either through 1... Nxe6 or capturing on f5 (with either queen or rook)? Taking the options in turn...

1... Nxe6 2. fxe6 Rxe6 seems to lose to 3. Qd8+. Maybe rather than taking on e6 a second time Black could move his queen and go passive.

I think 1... Qxf5 is bad due to 2. Nxc5.

1... Rxf5 2. Nxf8 (or 2. Nd8 Rxe1+ 3. Rxe1 Rd5) Rxf8 looks fine for Black. E.g. 3. Qd7 doesn't threaten 4. Re7 due to 4... Rf1+.

I can't see any alternatives to the three moves considered.

FWIW, I looked at the position by setting it up on a board and not moving the pieces. I spent about 15 minutes (which seems a long time) analysing. My thinking was far from structured and it took me time to realise (like Jonathan, as he reveals in a tweet) that Rc5 was en prise.
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JMGB23 May 2020 at 00:43
Interesting that after 1 ... Nxe6 you went for 2 fxe6. I looked at 2 Rxe6 after which ... Rxe6 also loses by force - as we will see tomorrow.

The game continuation was 1 ... Rxf5, 2 Nd8 and then after Black’s next move White resigned. (It wasn’t ... Rxe1+ though.
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JMGB23 May 2020 at 00:43
You both scored 10 points by the way.
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