Beat the Masters 22
April 1988, Position B
White to play
Contributions to the comments box are welcome. Masters’ feedback will be published tomorrow.
The Simple Chess Study Companion: Index
"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
I think White can bring his queen out for a price or get some compensation for it, but it's about doing so in the right circumstances. I had a few ideas: Bd3xg6 gives White a lot of pawns for rook v two pieces, but Black has a lot of lines. b3 causes trouble when the bishop emerges, but doesn't work immediately. g4-g5 would get White a rook and piece for the queen, and give him two rooms plus pawns v queen; this would need preparing with Bb5 or Rg1.
ReplyDeleteMy move was the more ambitious 1. Nb5, threatening Nxc7+:
1. ... Na6 feels like the wrong way for the knight, and I think 2. b3 works now, as 2. ... 0-0-0 3. Nxa7+ and Nxc6, with the b-pawn overloaded.
1. ... Bxb5 2. Bxb5+ removes Black's most dangerous piece, so after 2. ... c6 3. Bd3 is a better version of the above, and 2. ... Nbd7 3. g4 likewise.
1. ... Kd7 2. b3 Bg7 3. Ba3 and White swaps the queens (3. ... Qf7 4. Bc4); it costs a piece, but with the queens off there's less danger in the position.
Hi Adam,
DeleteNo points this time I’m afraid. HIARCS seems to like 1 Nb5 in all lines other than 1 ... Bxb5 2 Bxb5 Nc6 which it seems to think is more or less equal.
I went for 1 Bb5 (only 2 points for me) but I did consider 1 Nb5. I’ll put some more comments in the feedback post in the next day or so.
Ah, way off the mark with this one. I found it hard to get my bearings. Be interested to hear more lines...
Delete