Move 19

[paulunderwood]

[QUOTE=Brian-E;365605]Yes, of course we should look at this alternative. I was only expressing my preference at the time, and as always I alter my views in the light of what you and the other team members contribute.

My feeling on 19...bxc3 is that they will eventually round up our weak c pawn and we have no real queenside threats to compensate. Instead of 21.Nb5 in your line, how about a strategy for White like (19....bxc3 20.Nxc3 O-O) 21.Rfb1 Nd5 22.Bf2 Ba6 23.Bf1 Nb6 24.Rc1 followed by Nce4 (if 24...Nd5 25.Rab1). It seems to me that they protect their b pawn adequately before rounding up our c pawn (and manoeuvring a knight to d6 which they are going to do anyway).[/QUOTE]

I think with (19....bxc3 20.Nxc3 O-O) 21.Rfb1 we can play 21...Nb4 with the fork threat :smile:

[Brian-E]

[QUOTE=paulunderwood;365813]I think with (19....bxc3 20.Nxc3 O-O) 21.Rfb1 we can play 21...Nb4 with the fork threat :smile:[/QUOTE]
Okay, better 21.Rab1 instead then, followed by Rfc1, Bf1 (if the bishops don't get exchanged - or if they do we don't have ...Ba6 to protect c4), Nce4-d6, and unltimately, and unvoidably, Nxc4.

[paulunderwood]

Here is a line with your White moves:

19...bxc3
20.Nxc3 O-O
21.Rab1 Ba5
22.Rfc1 Nb4
23.Bf1 Nd3
24.Rd1 Nxb2

:smile:

[Brian-E]

[QUOTE=paulunderwood;365820]Here is a line with your White moves:

19...bxc3
20.Nxc3 O-O
21.Rab1 Ba5
22.Rfc1 Nb4
23.Bf1 Nd3
24.Rd1 Nxb2

:smile:[/QUOTE]
Yes, they have to step more carefully to evade our knight in this line than I've so far managed to demonstrate.

Try this then: 19...bxc3 20.Nxc3 O-O 21.Rab1 Ba6 22.[U]Rfd1[/U] Nb4 23.Bf1 Nd3 24.Nxc4.

[henryzz]

[QUOTE=henryzz;365801]I think possibly O-O next rather than Nd5 but Ba6 is my preferred move.[/QUOTE]
19...Ba6 20.Ne4 Nd5 21.Nd6+
Is not a good position for example.

[paulunderwood]

[QUOTE=Brian-E;365829]Yes, they have to step more carefully to evade our knight in this line than I've so far managed to demonstrate.

Try this then: 19...bxc3 20.Nxc3 O-O 21.Rab1 Ba6 22.[U]Rfd1[/U] Nb4 23.Bf1 Nd3 24.Nxc4.[/QUOTE]

Can you spot a weakness in: 19...bxc3 20.Nxc3 O-O 21.Rab1 Ba6 22.Rfd Nb4 23.Bf1 Rfc8?

[Brian-E]

[QUOTE=paulunderwood;365853]Can you spot a weakness in: 19...bxc3 20.Nxc3 O-O 21.Rab1 Ba6 22.Rfd Nb4 23.Bf1 Rfc8?[/QUOTE]
Just the positional weakness that our c pawn requires constant, permanent protection, may ultimately fall once they are able to put their rooks on the c file, and we have no serious play to compensate. They can manoeuvre Nd2-e4-d6 piling on the pressure.

In lines following 19...Ba6 where we leave their pawn on c3, by contrast, we do I think generate some pressure by bringing our rooks to the b file and waiting for the right moment to play ...bxc3, at a point where it suits us. And I think they have to wait, because cxb4 axb4 is good for us.

[paulunderwood]

Here is another line:

19...Ba6
20.Bf2 Nd5
21.Re1 Rc8
22.Bf1 Nb6
23.Ne3 Nb8
24.Ne4 Bf8
25.Nf6+ Kd8

:smile:

[Brian-E]

[QUOTE=paulunderwood;365903]Here is another line:

19...Ba6
20.Bf2 Nd5
21.Re1 Rc8
22.Bf1 Nb6
23.Ne3 Nb8
24.Ne4 Bf8
25.Nf6+ Kd8

:smile:[/QUOTE]
This is a depressing line, your smiley notwithstanding. :smile:
If we are forced to play this passively to avoid losing the c pawn, I would advocate ultimately sacrificing it and pressing the queenside activity home in the hope of getting compensation.
I'm not sure exactly how, but maybe something like (19...Ba6 20.Bf2 Nd5 21.Re1) O-O 22.Bf1 Nb6 23.Ne3 Nd5 is better than passivity.

[richs]

I've been quiet, but I have been following the analyses. I am in favor of Ba6 and seeing how they respond.

[Brian-E]

I, too, vote 19...Ba6.