Move 32 discussion: Everyone vs stockfish

[MooMoo2]

The poll for move 31 just closed, and the most popular move was Nf5+. Stockfish responded with 31...Kh8, and the FEN is:
r6k/1p1R1p1p/1p3p2/5N2/8/6P1/Pnr4P/R5K1 w - - 6 32

Game so far: 1.e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. exd5 exd5 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8. O-O Be7 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Nb3 Nce4 11. Nfd4 O-O 12. Nf5 Re8 13. Nxe7+ Rxe7 14. f3 Nd6 15. Bg5 Nc4 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Qd4 Qb6 18. Qxb6 axb6 19. Rfd1 Re5 20. f4 Re2 21. Nd4 Re4 22. Nf5 Nxb2 23. Rxd5 Rxf4 24. g3 Rc4 25. Nh6+ Kg7 26. Nf5+ Kf8 27. Rd7 Rxc2 28. Nh6 Kg7 29. Nf5+ Kg6 30. Nh4+ Kg7 31. Nf5+ Kh8

The draw offer was declined.

[Xyzzy]

Originally Posted by MooMoo2

The draw offer was declined.

That's great news! We hate draws!

Play to the end! No risk means no reward! YOLO!

Hmmm...I guess the best way to consider new moves is to have the music from JAWS in the background (with the shark in the vicinity for an imminent attack) on an endless loop...

[Brian-E]

32.Nh6 would hope to repeat moves, but that looks naive to me. Black would presumably do something else and we are then at that moment no longer forcing Black to keep the back rank defended.

Keeping the knight on f5 and taking a pawn, either 32.Rxf7 or 32.Rxb7, looks right to me at first glance. Not sure which is better. SF then needs to demonstrate how it is going to make progress.

EDITED to add:
32.Re1 (hoping for a crude mate with Re1-e7xf7xh7) is, I think, answered by 32...h5 33.Ree7? Rxa2.

[WMHalsdorf]

I would go with 32.Rxf7 with the most likly follow up being 33.Rxb7

I've been agreeing with the moves thus far as they were in line with `asked and answered` responses from SF. The board for me is now in line with a chess puzzle which seems solvable. After each move made now SF should be offered the chance to resign (can SF make the same offer to us?). I may go off the reserve now on my voting.

[Brian-E]

Originally Posted by WMHalsdorf

I would go with 32.Rxf7 with the most likly follow up being 33.Rxb7

Yes, that move order has the advantage that our rook ends up out of reach (on b7) of a with-tempo attack by Black's knight if SF is intending the manoeuvre ...Nb2-c4-e5 en route to f3.

[Brian-E]

Originally Posted by jwaltos

I've been agreeing with the moves thus far as they were in line with `asked and answered` responses from SF. The board for me is now in line with a chess puzzle which seems solvable. After each move made now SF should be offered the chance to resign (can SF make the same offer to us?). I may go off the reserve now on my voting.

Both sides have the option to resign at any moment, but it's not appropriate for either side right now.
Not quite sure what you mean with your last sentence, but I hope you're intending to continue giving your opinion and voting. I think it's important we remain working as a team.

[gd_barnes]

Originally Posted by WMHalsdorf

I would go with 32.Rxf7 with the most likly follow up being 33.Rxb7

Definitely agreed. 32. Rxf7 here.

This is interesting. I thought that SF would accept the draw, which is why I had tentatively asked for a 2-week break before the next game. I feel like he made his position worse by not accepting the draw. His a8 rook is now once again pinned to the back rank. But he must feel like he still has a slight advantage after we gain back the two pawns.

Likely best follow-up: 32...Nc4 33. Rxb7.

Here SF can do about anything, none of which accomplishes much. Here are a few tries:

33...Nd2 or Ne5 (aiming for Nf3+ winning our h2 pawn but giving up his b6 pawn)
34. h3 or h4

33...h5 (unpinning his rook from the back rank and threatening our a pawn)
34. a4

The above moves at least attempt to have SF make some progress. Other moves such as Rb2, Rd2, Rd8, or Re8 appear to make no progress so do not appear to be worth analyzing.

We can try to do a drawn out analysis of all of the above but I feel like it is a waste of time. The position is easily drawn, whatever line is chosen.