Move 40
 

I see 2 possible replies to 40 Rxg6: Bd2 which should lead to balanced play; and Nc5 which is more agressive counter attack :smile:

Agreed. I prefer 40...Bd2 a lot though at the moment.

The two kingside connected passed pawns, if we let them have them, are difficult to fight against with bishop and knight which coordinate quite poorly together.

And, after we protect the h pawn with 40...Bd2, we can attack their a pawn anyway (which they can defend with the bishop, but it keeps them a bit tied up).

40...Bd2 I evaluate as fair drawing chances for us. 40...Nc5 I think is almost certainly losing.

Bd2 seems better to me at the moment.

If there's a discussion to be had, maybe we'd better get on with it?:smile:

Paul, what do you think of the individual merits of the two alternatives you mentioned?

Rich, are you around at the moment? Any thoughts?

EDIT: Just wanted to make a point to support my position (and David's too perhaps):
If we play 40...Nc5 41.Rxh6 Nxa4 then they can always, in a worst case scenario for them, give up their bishop for our a pawn. The resulting ending with K+R+two connected passed pawns vs. K+B+N is a likely win for them, certainly if they've managed to advance the pawns far enough before sacrificing their bishop.

Bd2 seems okay. I think we can defend our pawns adequately thereafter. We can attack White's a-pawn, maybe tying up White's bishop on d1. However we have our work cut out when White mobilizes its King and advances its g and h pawns. :smile:

[QUOTE=paulunderwood;380116]Bd2 seems okay. I think we can defend our pawns adequately thereafter. We can attack White's a-pawn, maybe tying up White's bishop on d1. However we have our work cut out when White mobilizes its King and advances its g and h pawns. :smile:[/QUOTE]
Yes, we certainly have our work cut out. It will be a tough defensive chore. But as you say we can defend our pawns securely, including our h pawn, which means that when they advance their kingside pawns supported by their king they will only end up with one passed pawn, not two connected ones.

Just waiting for Rich then, I guess?

From the absences thread I see that Rich is due to return from New York around this time.

Unfortunately, if you disagree with 40...Bd2, Rich, we might not have any time to discuss it, but if you see anything the rest of us have missed then maybe we could do an emergency switch if we're all around.

I'm still on vacation (2 more days) but now back in a normal hotel, not on a cruise ship anymore, so have a bit more internet access. I hope to return once more before our deadline, in approximately 14 hours after this posting. If anyone can undertake not to forget to play the move (:smile:) at any later stage than that before our deadline, that would be great. Otherwise I'll play it in 14 hours based on each team member's last stated preference.

Hoping that I'm doing the right thing, and especially hoping that Rich approves of the move (no idea about that), I'll post the move 40...Bd2 now. Rap me over the knuckles, David, if I'm out of order.:whistle:

[QUOTE=Brian-E;380269]Hoping that I'm doing the right thing, and especially hoping that Rich approves of the move (no idea about that), I'll post the move 40...Bd2 now. Rap me over the knuckles, David, if I'm out of order.:whistle:[/QUOTE]

Don't worry. You moving made sense.

Sorry I was AWOL on this move, but I was in upstate New York and without internet access or cell phone service. But I do agree with the move chosen.