Beat the Masters 33
September 1989, Position D
White to play
Contributions to the comments box are welcome. Masters’ feedback will be published tomorrow.
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Interesting double queen position. Have you ever had one? I did when I was about 14, but nothing since.
ReplyDeleteOddly hard for either side to do much. White can't move rook or bishop, and moving the queens off the top rank would allow Bxf1 (if 1. Qa(b)1 Bxf1 2. Qxf1 Rc1). Black can't play Bxf1 due to Qg8, and doing much with the queen or rook allows White to organise (e.g. Qe2 allows Qa(b)1).
I'm going for 1. h4 to try and chip away at the kingside, restrict Black's king and stop Qg5. h5 would be nice to get in too. 1. ... h5 may be best response, but I feel these moves help White. Perhaps 2. Qc8 as (a bit of) a zugswang is the best follow-up.
Same thinking as Adam but I'm wondering if ... Ra2 at some point is a move for Black - since if Qa8 comes off the back rank there is ... Bxf1? I'm not sure as White I'd want to play Qxa2 as Black's d-pawn could become a concern.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'd go for 1. Qd8 hoping for the opportunity to play 2. Qda5 to bring the queen back to defend. And if 1... Ra2 then I might play 2. Qab(c)8 intending 2... Rb(c)2 3. Qa8 Ra2 repeating.
I missed 1. ... Ra2 after 1. h4. I reckon White's best is then 2. Qab7 Bxf1 3. Qxg7+ and a draw.
ReplyDeleteI think you have the right idea Angus to create room on the top rank and I also feel White should aim for more than a draw. How about 1. Qc8 rather than Qd8? Then 1. ... Ra2 2. Qab8 and if 2. ... Rb2 3. Qxb2 and 4. Qxc4. After 2.... Rc2 3. h4 h5 Black is in mini-zugswang, which White could maybe exploit with 4. Kh1?!
Hi guys,
ReplyDelete8 points for you both. And for me as I chose h2-h4 as well. More in the comments to the feedback post.