If Black recaptures 1 ... Kxg7 then White has 2. Qh6+ (important to force Black's king back and stop ... Rh8) followed by 3. e5 opening up the b1-h7 diagonal. Black will have to give back material after 3 ... f5 and White will retain an attack.
If on the other hand Black stops White’s e5 by playing ... e5 himself (or ... Ne5) then Black will at least have ... Bxf8 gaining material (with the bonus of having achieved a weakened Black king position).
"By isolating the basic elements of master and grandmaster games, Simple Chess attempts to break down the mystique of chess strategy into plain, clear, easy-to-understand ideas." Michael Stean
"Why is Black lost? Material is equal and White hasn’t got a piece beyond the second rank. The answer lies in the pawns. White has two beautiful squares on c4 and d5 plus a mobile pawn roller on the left flank, whereas Black’s pawns constrict his own pieces terribly, particularly the bishop." Michael Stean
If each player is capable of quick development, castling and of not blundering any pieces away, what is there to separate the two sides? This is the starting point of Simple Chess . - Michael Stean
I'm going for 1. Bxg7.
ReplyDeleteIf Black recaptures 1 ... Kxg7 then White has 2. Qh6+ (important to force Black's king back and stop ... Rh8) followed by 3. e5 opening up the b1-h7 diagonal. Black will have to give back material after 3 ... f5 and White will retain an attack.
If on the other hand Black stops White’s e5 by playing ... e5 himself (or ... Ne5) then Black will at least have ... Bxf8 gaining material (with the bonus of having achieved a weakened Black king position).
Interesting. I’ll comment further after I give the masters’ feedback tomorrow Angus.
DeleteDid you consider Nd5 at all?
I briefly considered 1. Nd5 - since the knight was under attack - but thought Black could respond 1... e5 to prevent the attack against h7.
DeleteYou seem to be on the money again Angus.
Delete1 Bxg7 is another 10 points for you.