Move 28
 

Wow, they declined the bishop exchange (or they didn't notice it....)! I will analyze this weekend, and post.

And my first thought is Nf3 attacking their rook!

28.Nf3 is indeed the obvious response. The only other move which protects g5 is 28.h4 but I dislike this because of the weakening of the g3 and g4 squares which Black can use in an attack on our king, plus it's a passive move which loses time compared with 28.Nf3.

28.Nf3 is rather the reason we stopped looking seriously at 27...Re5 last move, but I suppose their idea is to play 28...Rc5 attacking our bishop. Still, I'm not too worried: c5 is hardly a good jumping-off point if they're hoping to invade our position with their rooks. In any case, isn't 29.Qe4 a good reply then? I have to say I'm surprised by their move: I'm not sure what they're up to at the moment.

Their move may have been a blunder. They will have to move their e-file rook if we play Nf3 or they will lose it. I am having a hard time finding a move for their rook though. Rc5, as you noted Brian, is away from their attack and we could respond Nd4 followed by b4.

Re6 we respond Nd4.

Re3 doesn't gain them much and we could respond Kf2.

I will continue thinking.... :smile:

Yes, and if not a blunder then at least a waste of time.

I'd be inclined to play Bxb5 if they move the rook off their fourth rank. Note that if we play Nd4 we need to watch out for ...Bxd4, so we certainly shouldn't do that after ...Rc5 or ...Re6.

I might be wrong, but I feel that this is a move which we can possibly play quite quickly if we are all around, just as they made their last move quickly. Our move this time seems pretty obvious to me.

That's unless Rich and I have so far missed something in the position. If we have, please say!

My vote for this move is 28.Nf3.

As far as I can see it has to be Nf3.

I agree with Nf3 so let's do it.