BtM 23A: Blindspots
September 1988, Position B
White to play
Wedburg - Hug, Lugano 1988
Contributions to the comments box are welcome. I’ll reply with what the Masters have to say about their choice to anybody who suggests a move.
Scroll down to see some commentary from me and the Masters’ feedback.
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As I reflected on my analysis of the first 100 or so Beat the Masters’ positions I looked at, one particular blindspot jumped out at me. Queens that are short of squares. When this is a feature in a position it takes me much too long to see that it’s a possibility to exploit. That’s assuming I see it at all.
Running down the Black queen is the thinking behind the panel’s 10-point move. Chasing her majesty isn’t the best move (according to HIARCS, anyway), it isn’t the only way to win (ditto) and it wasn’t the move chosen in the game.
Still, at the very least, it’s a plan that you should notice.
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POINTS
10: Bb4
9: Ng5
6: Ne1
5: Nd2
3: Nh4
MASTERS
Bb4: P. Littlewood, Botterill, S. Arkell, Horner, Conchess Plymate
Ng5: Norwood, Keene, Pein, J. Littlewood
Ne1: K. Arkell
Nd2: Flear
SOURCE
29 Ng5, Wedberg - Hug Lugano 1988
In yesterday's comments both Matt and Angus got 10 points for 1 Bb4 chasing down the queen.
ReplyDeleteOn twitter ( https://twitter.com/ChessCoaches/status/1290586803817324545?s=20 )
Phil pointed out the risks - two pieces in return plus a counter attack down the g-file.
SUE ARKELL: "1 Bb4. Very dangerous, but I think playable after 1 ... gxf3, 2 Bxa5 Rg8+, 3 Kf1 Rxh2, 4 Ke1 and White's king escapes ...."
- which is a more concrete version of what Matt said.
FLEAR was less keen: " ... I don't like White's position after 1 ... gxf3, 2 Bxa5 Rg8+, 3 Kf1 Rxh2, 4 Ke1 Nxa5!, 5 Bxd7 Kxd7 ...." although HIARCS doesn't see the problem and thinks 5 Ba6+ is even stronger.
FLEAR's choice was 1 Nd2 which was the other move Angus considered. Angus thought 1 ... Nxd4 might give White trouble but after 2 cxd4 Qxd2 the English GM found the spectacular 3 Qc5 which wins outright.
I wasn't brave enough - another b4 blindspot!
ReplyDeleteLooking again, could White improve by playing 2. Kf1 rather than Bxa5, as he can take the queen later and have an extra tempo to escape? E.g. 2. ... Rxh2 3. Ke1 Rg8 4. Kd2 and bring the rook over?