Move 25
 

We are in the fortunate position of having extra long to think about our move because their reply to our sealed move 24...Rxa1 (that was the sealed move, right WMH?) is forced: 25.Rxa1.

If we start by listing reasonable possibilities, following on from the discussion last move, then we have:
[LIST][*]25...Rxb6 takes the pawn back immediately before they might think of defending it again[*]25...g5, WMH's suggestion, slowing their attack[*]25...gxf5[/LIST]The last one looks dodgy but might be possible, for example: 25...gxf5 26.Bxd4 Bxd4 (not 26... fxg4 27.Bxe5 dxe5 which must be a losing endgame) 27.Bxf5 Qf8 28.Bxh7+ Kh8 29.Rf1 Rxb6 may be drawing because we have active play, opposite coloured bishops, and advancing their kingside pawns with the heavy pieces still on the board will expose their king. How can they improve on that line?


Any other possibilities?

Shall we get on with the discussion? The position after 24...Rxa1 25.Rxa1 is tricky i.m.o. and we might benefit from having some extra time to come to an agreement on our 25th move.

What do you both think?

[QUOTE=Brian-E;407030]We are in the fortunate position of having extra long to think about our move because their reply to our sealed move 24...Rxa1 (that was the sealed move, right WMH?) is forced: 25.Rxa1.

If we start by listing reasonable possibilities, following on from the discussion last move, then we have:
[LIST][*]25...Rxb6 takes the pawn back immediately before they might think of defending it again[*]25...g5, WMH's suggestion, slowing their attack[*]25...gxf5[/LIST]The last one looks dodgy but might be possible, for example: 25...gxf5 26.Bxd4 Bxd4 (not 26... fxg4 27.Bxe5 dxe5 which must be a losing endgame) 27.Bxf5 Qf8 28.Bxh7+ Kh8 29.Rf1 Rxb6 may be drawing because we have active play, opposite coloured bishops, and advancing their kingside pawns with the heavy pieces still on the board will expose their king. How can they improve on that line?


Any other possibilities?[/QUOTE]
I looked at 25...gxf5 and didn't like some of the positions that could arise.
I've been spending time looking at 5...Rxb6 to see if we white can gain an advantage playing Ra7.

[QUOTE=WMHalsdorf;407971]I looked at 25...gxf5 and didn't like some of the positions that could arise.[/QUOTE]
Could you post one or two sample lines to illustrate? Or otherwise show how the line I posted fails? Or do you just think that the position at the end of that line is simply lost for us?
[QUOTE]I've been spending time looking at 5...Rxb6 to see if we white can gain an advantage playing Ra7.[/QUOTE]Yes, 25.Rxa1 Rxb6 26.Ra7 is important to look at. At the moment it seems to me that after 26...Bf6 (and if 27.Bxd4 cxd4) we are okay. White has forced us to close our bishop's long diagonal, but otherwise the rook is achieving little on a7 and their first rank is weakened. Can you see anything for them here?

After relooking at 25...gxf5 I found a flaw in my analysis and while it does appear to be drawish there could be a win somewhere in there if we halt their kingside pawn advancement.

[QUOTE=WMHalsdorf;408027]After relooking at 25...gxf5 I found a flaw in my analysis and while it does appear to be drawish there could be a win somewhere in there if we halt their kingside pawn advancement.[/QUOTE]
I certainly don't see that possible win for us, and any elaboration on your part (such as an example line of play or two) would be helpful and would be something for us all to look at.

But if you are now advocating 25...gxf5 then I think I agree with you. On principle I don't like 25...Rxb6 so much with their rook on the a file because of their possible tactical tricks with fxg6 Qxg5; gxh7+ K-any; Ra8. That may not work immediately but it's a serious threat for them.

If they choose not to exchange their bishop for out knight but move the other bishop to h3. There are some interesting lines that I haven't fully analyzed them as yet. If you feel they will exchange material then I would agree with your assessment of the move.

[QUOTE=WMHalsdorf;408169]If they choose not to exchange their bishop for out knight but move the other bishop to h3. There are some interesting lines that I haven't fully analyzed them as yet. If you feel they will exchange material then I would agree with your assessment of the move.[/QUOTE]
Hmm, okay. I can't say 25.Rxa1 gxf5 26.Bh3 frightens me very much. They can then only bring their queen into the attack via d2/e3 and g5/h6 which allows us time to bring our queen to the defence via f8. And on h3 their bishop is doing nothing. Or do you assess it as more dangerous than I do?

[QUOTE=Brian-E;408192]Hmm, okay. I can't say 25.Rxa1 gxf5 26.Bh3 frightens me very much. They can then only bring their queen into the attack via d2/e3 and g5/h6 which allows us time to bring our queen to the defence via f8. And on h3 their bishop is doing nothing. Or do you assess it as more dangerous than I do?[/QUOTE]

I have found that the move order is far more critical otherwise it fine with me.

Well, they've just played their forced move 25.Rxa1, so our week's thinking time starts here, but we are also free to play our move from now.

My current preference is still 25...gxf5. I would be happy to go ahead and play that if you both think the same. But either of you might well have more to discuss. davar55, you have yet to contribute this move, and your view is just as important as the other two team members' views.

[QUOTE=Brian-E;408292]Well, they've just played their forced move 25.Rxa1, so our week's thinking time starts here, but we are also free to play our move from now.

My current preference is still 25...gxf5. I would be happy to go ahead and play that if you both think the same. But either of you might well have more to discuss. davar55, you have yet to contribute this move, and your view is just as important as the other two team members' views.[/QUOTE]

Let's give davar55 a day or two chime in befor going ahead with 25...gxf5.