White 24

[LaurV]

My moves, in order of preference (this is not a vote, just a list), actually the situation is not so bad, we may still win this game :razz: The last moves in the list are playable too, I mean, due to cheesehead's analysis (which I followed one by one and tried to think about!) and this game is still winable. I mean, by white.:smile:

24 Bf4
24 Re1
24 Rc1
24 Ne3
24 Rxf6
24 Nf2

[cheesehead]

Okay, I think I have it (after Rxf6) [I]mostly[/I] now:

[B]24 Rxf6 Bxf6

[/B]If[B] 25 Ne4[/B] then
If 25 ... Bxd4+ 26 cxd4 Nxd4 27 Ne3.
If 27 ... Nb3 28 Rd1 (allows 29 Rxd2 if 28 ... Nxd2, so as not to pull the N/e4 off station). Now if 28 ... Ba6 29 Nd6+ and 30 Nxc4.
If 27 ... Ne2+ 28 Kf2 Nd4 29 Nxc4.
So, there's not much Black's N/d4 can do after 27 Ne3.
We may swap a knight for Black's other bishop via Nd6+, so as to be left with the two bishops in an open position.
<== needs more analysis of other Black 25 moves

If [B][B]2[/B]5 Bf4 [/B]then

If [B]25 ... Ra8 26 Rc1[/B] and we have possibilities like Bxh6, Bc7, Ne3. Our K and N/c5 are still on the d4 diagonal, but as long as we keep that in mind and have a pawn on c3, we're all right.

If Black prefers to free his light-square bishop with
[B]25 ... e5 26 dxe5[/B], it'll cost him his h-pawn (as far as I can see)!

If [B]26 ... Nxe5 27 Bxh6[/B]
If 27 ... Bf5 28 Be4 Bxe4 29 Nxe4.
If 27 ... g5 28 Ne4 (not 28 h4 gxh4 29 gxh4 Bxh4) and we not only free our bishop but take another pawn in the process:
If 28 ... Kf7 29 Bxg5.
If 28 ... Bh8 29 Bxg5.
If 28 ... either N moves(except Nf3+?) 29 Nxf6+ and 30 Bxg5.
If 28 ... Rb6 29 Nxf6+ and 30 Bxg5.
(27 Ne3 instead is not good: 27 ... g5 28 Bxe5 Bxe5 29 Nxc4 Bc7 looks evenish.)

If [B]26 ... Bxe5 27 Bxh6[/B] but we must be careful until we get our N/d1 and R activated.
If 27 ... Bf5 28 Rc1 and I think our position holds together long enough for 29 Ne3. (If 28 ... Nd5 29 Bxd5. If 28 ... Bd3 29 Nxd3 cxd3 30 Nf2 bxc3 31 bxc3 Rb2 32 Nxd3)

- -

It looks like [B]24 Rxf6[/B] is just flat-out better than [B]24 Bd3[/B]

but

We still have to look at:
[QUOTE=cheesehead;369639]the deliberate sacrifice of the [I]dark-square bishop[/I] (rather than the N/c6) for two pawns[/QUOTE]and that need-analysis-of-other-Black-25-moves arrow after 24 Rxf6 Bxf6 25 Ne4.

Maybe I'll finish tomorrow.

[cheesehead]

Tying up loose ends:

LE #1:
[QUOTE=cheesehead;369660]

[B]24 Rxf6 Bxf6

[/B]If[B] 25 Ne4[/B] then
If [B]25 ... Bxd4+[/B] < snip >
<== needs more analysis of other Black 25 moves
[/QUOTE]If [B]25 ... Kf7 26 Bf4 Ra8 (not ... Rb7 27 Nd6+) 27 Bxh6[/B] and (speculation)27 ... e5 28 dxe5 Bxe5 (not Nxe5 29 Nd6+) 29 Ne3
0r [B]26 ... e5 27 dxe5 Bxe5 28 Bxh6[/B]

If [B]25 ... Bg7 26 Bf4 e5 27 dxe5 Nxe5[/B] 28 Ne3 g5 29 Bxe5 Bxe5 30 Nxc4 (speculation) Bc7 31 Nc5

- -

LE #2:
[QUOTE=cheesehead;369660]

We still have to look at:
[QUOTE=cheesehead;369639]the deliberate sacrifice of the [I]dark-square bishop[/I] (rather than the N/c6) for two pawns[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]Actually, one branch of this has already been analyzed:
[QUOTE=cheesehead;369660]If[B] 25 Ne4[/B] then
If 25 ... Bxd4+ 26 cxd4 Nxd4 27 Ne3.
If 27 ... Nb3 < snip >
If 27 ... Ne2+ < snip >[/QUOTE]Or 27 Bxh6 Nb3 28 Rb1 and 29 Ne3

Another branch is
[QUOTE=cheesehead;369660]< snip >
If [B][B]2[/B]5 Bf4 [/B]then

If [B]25 ... Ra8 26 Rc1[/B][/QUOTE]But here our pin of the N/c6 against the R/a8 by our B/g2 makes 26 ... Bxd4+ lose more than just B-for-2-pawns: 27 cxd4 and now if 27 ... Nxd4 28 Bxa8 Ne2+ 29 Kf2 Nxc1 30 Bxc1 and Black is [I]two[/I] pieces down for 2 pawns.

- -

There must be other possibilities for Black's sacrificing a bishop for two pawns -- do any of them make sense?

- -

Does anybody see anything else that needs analysis before we post

[B]24 Rxf6
[/B]
?

(Oh, yeah -- I'd better post the grand amalgamated analysis incorporating post #13 and the stuff above in this post ... but I should wait to do that until I have rested. Tomorrow is another day and - GACK - I have two morning appointments.)

[LaurV]

Very good analysis for [B]24 Rxf6 Bxf6[/B] (must take). Actually, after our [B]25 Ne4[/B], their only reasonable continuation is [B]25 ... Bg7[/B], where we still can play [B]26 Ne3[/B], and we are good, well defended and still threatening those pawns (I think 26 Bf4 is weaker here, after e5 we must exchange, and we go straight for a draw!). All the other 25th black moves are quite bad for black. On all the versions of your first analysis, actually we end up with a figure in advantage, or two pawns and very good position. Their only chance after Ne4 is to retreat the bishop to defend the pawn. So, if we play the rook exchange, we may take as granted the path:

[B]24 Rxf6 Bxf6[/B] [B]25 Ne4[/B] [B]Bg7 [/B][B]26 Ne3 Nf5(d5?)[/B]

Here we have just a little positional advantage, no material advantage, and we play in gote. That is why I placed the move closer to the end of the list.

Meantime I analyzed 24 Rc1, and I think that is too defensive too. But 24 Re1 is promising, I am looking into it. It is freaking complex, however. There are so many good continuations on both sides...

[cheesehead]

I'm posting the following in in-progress form, to help me not get lost when making further edits.
[I]I've been editing for an hour, and still not finished. So, expect to see me post again, starting with what you see here below, and then doing further editing.[/I]

===================

Here is the in-editing-progress current move 24 candidate list, merging posts #4, 5, 6, 9, 13, 14, and 15 of this current thread:

(In most of the following cases, Black can interpolate with ... bxc3 bxc3 before Nxd4, with no change in material balance at the end. I've not yet thoroughly scanned for cases where Black can do that to his advantage.)

[B]24 Rxf6 Bxf6[/B]
[B]25 Be3[/B] If 25 ... Nxd4 then
26 cxd4 or
26 Bxd4 and if 26 ... Bxd4+ 27 cxd4

[B]25 Ne4[/B]
If 25 ... Bxd4+ 26 cxd4 Nxd4 27 Ne3.
If 27 ... Nb3 < snip >
If 27 ... Ne2+
Or 27 Bxh6 Nb3 28 Rb1 and 29 Ne3
If 25 ... Kf7 26 Bf4 Ra8 (not ... Rb7 27 Nd6+) 27 Bxh6 and (speculation)27 ... e5 28 dxe5 Bxe5 (not Nxe5 29 Nd6+) 29 Ne3
or 26 ... e5 27 dxe5 Bxe5 28 Bxh6
If 25 ... Bg7 26 Bf4 e5 27 dxe5 Nxe5 28 Bxh6 (not 28 Ne3 g5 29 Bxe5 Bxe5 30 Nxc4 (speculation) Bc7 31 Nc5) bxc3 29 bxc3. If 28 ... g5 29 Ne4
LaurV's suggestion here: 26 Ne3. But now if 26 ... bxc3 27 bxc3 Nxd4 28 cxd4 Bxd4 (speculation) 29 Re1 Bd7 30 Bxa5 Bxa4 we're up a knight for two pawns but Black has more opportunity than I think they should have.
If 26 ... Nf5 27 Nxc4 N6xd4 28 cxd4
If 26 ... d5 <==
If 25 ... Nxd4 26 Nxf6+
If 25 ... Bxd4+ 26 cxd4 Nxd4 27 Ne3.
If 27 ... Nb3 28 Rd1 (allows 29 Rxd2 if 28 ... Nxd2, so as not to pull the N/e4 off station). Now if 28 ... Ba6 29 Nd6+ and 30 Nxc4.
If 27 ... Ne2+ 28 Kf2 Nd4 29 Nxc4.
So, there's not much Black's N/d4 can do after 27 Ne3.
We may swap a knight for Black's other bishop via Nd6+, so as to be left with the two bishops in an open position.

[B]25 Bf4[/B]
If 25 ... Ra8 26 Rc1 and we have possibilities like Bxh6, Bc7, Ne3. Our K and N/c5 are still on the d4 diagonal, but as long as we keep that in mind and have a pawn on c3, we're all right.
If 25 ... e5 26 dxe5, it'll cost him his h-pawn (as far as I can see)!
If 26 ... Nxe5 27 Bxh6
If 27 ... Bf5 28 Be4 Bxe4 29 Nxe4.
If 27 ... g5 28 Ne4 (not 28 h4 gxh4 29 gxh4 Bxh4) and we not only free our bishop but take another pawn in the process:
If 28 ... Kf7 29 Bxg5.
If 28 ... Bh8 29 Bxg5.
If 28 ... either N moves(except Nf3+?) 29 Nxf6+ and 30 Bxg5.
If 28 ... Rb6 29 Nxf6+ and 30 Bxg5.
(27 Ne3 instead is not good: 27 ... g5 28 Bxe5 Bxe5 29 Nxc4 Bc7 looks evenish.)
If 26 ... Bxe5 27 Bxh6 but we must be careful until we get our N/d1 and R activated.
If 27 ... Bf5 28 Rc1 and I think our position holds together long enough for 29 Ne3. (If 28 ... Nd5 29 Bxd5. If 28 ... Bd3 29 Nxd3 cxd3 30 Nf2 bxc3 31 bxc3 Rb2 32 Nxd3)

=====

[QUOTE=LaurV;369712]Meantime I analyzed 24 Rc1, and I think that is too defensive too. But 24 Re1 is promising,[/QUOTE]I've ruled out 24 Rc1, 24 Re1 and several other moves because they don't stop Black from sacrificing his knight for two of our center pawns and giving us a difficult time.

[QUOTE=LaurV;369712]

[B]24 Rxf6 Bxf6[/B] [B]25 Ne4[/B] [B]Bg7 [/B][B]26 Ne3 Nf5(d5?)[/B][/QUOTE]I'd rather do something with our dark-square bishop before boxing it in with Ne3, _and_ before Black has the chance to pull back his bishop to g7.

But I've added your suggestion to the candidate list analysis above.

[cheesehead]

I'm posting the following still-in-editing-progress move 24 candidate list, to help me not get lost when making further edits.
[I]I need to rest now, so I'll resume editing later.[/I]

===================

Here is the in-editing-progress current move 24 candidate list, merging posts #4-6, 9, and 13-16 of this current thread:

(In most of the following cases, Black can interpolate with ... bxc3 bxc3 before Nxd4, with no change in material balance at the end. I've not yet thoroughly scanned for cases where Black can do that to his advantage.)

[B]24 Rxf6 Bxf6[/B]
[B]
If 25 Be3[/B]
If [B]25 ... Nxd4[/B] 26 cxd4 or
26 Bxd4 and if 26 ... Bxd4+ 27 cxd4

[B]If 25 Ne4[/B]
If [B]25 ... Nxd4 26 Nxf6+[/B]
If [B]25 ... Bxd4+ 26 cxd4 Nxd4[/B] 27 Ne3.
If 27 ... Nb3 <== needs extension
If 27 ... Ne2+ <== needs extension
Or 27 Bxh6 Nb3 28 Rb1 and 29 Ne3
If [B]25 ... Kf7[/B] 26 Bf4 Ra8 (not ... Rb7 27 Nd6+) 27 Bxh6 and (speculation)27 ... e5 28 dxe5 Bxe5 (not Nxe5 29 Nd6+) 29 Ne3
or 26 ... e5 27 dxe5 Bxe5 28 Bxh6
If [B]25 ... Bg7[/B] 26 Bf4 e5 27 dxe5 Nxe5 28 Bxh6 (not 28 Ne3 g5 29 Bxe5 Bxe5 30 Nxc4 (speculation) Bc7 31 Nc5) bxc3 29 bxc3. If 28 ... g5 29 Ne4
LaurV's suggestion here: 26 Ne3. But now if 26 ... bxc3 27 bxc3 Nxd4 28 cxd4 Bxd4 (speculation) 29 Re1 Bd7 30 Bxa5 Bxa4 we're up a knight for two pawns but Black has more opportunity than I think they should have.
If 26 ... Nf5 27 Nxc4 N6xd4 28 cxd4
If 26 ... d5 <== needs extension
If [B]25 ... Bxd4+ 26 cxd4 Nxd4[/B] 27 Ne3.
If 27 ... Nb3 28 Rd1 (allows 29 Rxd2 if 28 ... Nxd2, so as not to pull the N/e4 off station). Now if 28 ... Ba6 29 Nd6+ and 30 Nxc4.
If 27 ... Ne2+ 28 Kf2 Nd4 29 Nxc4.
So, there's not much Black's N/d4 can do after 27 Ne3.
We may swap a knight for Black's other bishop via Nd6+, so as to be left with the two bishops in an open position.

[B]If 25 Bf4[/B]
If [B]25 ... Ra8[/B] 26 Rc1 and we have possibilities like Bxh6, Bc7, Ne3. Our K and N/c5 are still on the d4 diagonal, but as long as we keep that in mind and have a pawn on c3, we're all right.
If [B]25 ... e5 26 dxe5[/B], it'll cost him his h-pawn (as far as I can see)!
If [B]26 ... Nxe5 27 Bxh6[/B]
If [B]27 ... Bf5[/B] 28 Be4 Bxe4 29 Nxe4.
If [B]27 ... g5[/B] 28 Ne4 (not 28 h4 gxh4 29 gxh4 Bxh4) and we not only free our bishop but take another pawn in the process:
If 28 ... Kf7 29 Bxg5.
If 28 ... Bh8 29 Bxg5.
If 28 ... either N moves(except Nf3+?) 29 Nxf6+ and 30 Bxg5.
If 28 ... Rb6 29 Nxf6+ and 30 Bxg5.
(27 Ne3 instead is not good: 27 ... g5 28 Bxe5 Bxe5 29 Nxc4 Bc7 looks evenish.)
If [B]26 ... Bxe5[/B] 27 Bxh6 but we must be careful until we get our N/d1 and R activated.
If 27 ... Bf5 28 Rc1 and I think our position holds together long enough for 29 Ne3. (If 28 ... Nd5 29 Bxd5. If 28 ... Bd3 29 Nxd3 cxd3 30 Nf2 bxc3 31 bxc3 Rb2 32 Nxd3)

[LaurV]

Hm... I think you like very much [B]24 Rxf6[/B] here... I didn't read it ([STRIKE]all[/STRIKE] deep, is a better word?) yet (job) but I will go through it (again) tonight at home. I also eliminated Rc1, and also Bf4. They resolve into situations not very good for us, or in draws. Especially my lovely move, Bf4, we lose all the advantage after they push e5. From my list, Nf2 and Ne3 were eliminated before (just after I posted the list, that night). I mean, Nf3 is a good move, to develop the horse, but not right now. We must so something else first, otherwise we may lose there side.

The only moves in cards now, are [B]Rxf6[/B], and [B]Re1[/B]. The first one I didn't analyze much, as you are much deeper into it already. I followed your analysis step by step. The last one it is playable, but very complicate. Actually, the sacrifice of the horse for two pawns, which worries you, they [U]can not[/U] do it, because they have to move the rook first. There are 3 possible moves for the rook, f8, f7 or f5, and we have the sente in all of them, we can beat the horse and Nxe6. Also, we have a very strong continuation, with Ne3, or if they don't move the rook, we can do Ne4, again with sente and attack to the king. This is by far not so defensive as 24 Rc1, in fact, it is relaunching the game in our favor. But the position can get very complicate, very fast. Black has a lot of variations he can do, after the first few moves (like bxc3, e5, g5, Nd5, etc), and we are walking a VERY narrow path there. One mistake, and we can lose.

This last fragment is pure from the memory of last night's analysis. I don't have a board in front of me here at job, and neither I was looking on Batalov's diagrams, or any other (computer) board with the game, so I would have to say sorry if I said something stupid in the last paragraph or I mismatched moves or coordinates.

Most probably, I can't finish the analysis for Re1 tonight, and we are running short in time. This position is freaking complicate. I think we will play Rxf6.

[cheesehead]

[QUOTE=LaurV;369730]Especially my lovely move, Bf4, we lose all the advantage after they push e5.[/QUOTE]Yes, that is sad. :-( But we can still do it a move or two later!

[quote]Actually, the sacrifice of the horse for two pawns, which worries you, they [U]can not[/U] do it, because they have to move the rook first.[/quote]Yes, they can do it, because I didn't mean it had to be only on move 24. What I meant by the knight-for-two-pawns sac was that they could do that _sometime soon_, not necessarily on move 24.

And now that I look closer (below), I see that after 24 Re1, we can just trade pawns, refuse to take the poisoned knight, and do something else!

-

(After [B]24 Re1[/B])[quote]There are 3 possible moves for the rook, f8, f7 or f5, and we have the sente in all of them, we can beat the horse and Nxe6. Also, we have a very strong continuation, with Ne3, or if they don't move the rook, we can do Ne4, again with sente and attack to the king. This is by far not so defensive as 24 Rc1, in fact, it is relaunching the game in our favor.[/quote]Yes, this may be okay, because earlier I overlooked some possibilities.

If [B]24 Re1[/B] bxc3 25 bxc3 R-f5/f7/f8 26 Nxe6 Bxe6 27 Rxe6 Nxd4 28 Re4 (instead of 28 cxd4) holds our position together -- in fact, cxd4 [I]is possible [U]after[/U] 28 Re4[/I].
If 28 ... Nb3 (forks our R/a1 and B/d2) 29 Rb1 and now if 29 ... Nxd2 30 Rxb8+.
If 30 ... Kd7 31 Rd4+ Kc7 32 Rxf8 Bxf8 33 Rxd2 and we're a rook up.
If 30 ... Kf7 31 Rf4+ Kg8 32 Rbxf8+ Bxf8

[quote]I think we will play Rxf6.[/quote]That gives us some chance of material gain, whereas 24 Re1, while sound, leads to material equality as far as I can see.

[cheesehead]

Once more, the move 24 candidate list. (I hope this is a final draft.)

(In most of the following cases, Black can interpolate with ... bxc3 bxc3 before Nxd4, with no change in material balance at the end. I've not yet thoroughly scanned for cases where Black can do that to his advantage.)

[B]24 Rxf6 Bxf6[/B]
[B]
-

[/B]If[B] 25 Be3[/B]
Now 25 ... Nxd4 is not dangerous because Black's dark-square rook can't really fork anything. We just re-take with 26 cxd4 or 26 Bxd4 Bxd4+ 27 cxd4.

-

If [B]25 Ne4[/B]
Now [B]25 ... Nxd4[/B] is not dangerous because of 26 Nxf6+ and there's no bishop fork.
The immediate [B]25 ... Bxd4+[/B] does not fork anything, either: After 26 cxd4 Nxd4 we have three pieces clustered just where we need them to neutralize Black's pawn-push threats in the southwest quadrant of the board. Black's advanced knight may be troublesome, but can't do real harm. We could even bring our king out a bit: 27 Kf2 prevents ... Ne2+. Or just 27 Ne3.
If 27 ... Nb3 28 Rb1 and we threaten both 29 Bxh6 and 29 Nd6+ and 30 Nxc4.
If 27 ... Ne2+ we just bring our king out with 28 Kf2.

If [B]25 ... Kf7[/B] 26 Rxf6+.

If [B]25 ... Bg7[/B] 26 Bf4 e5 27 dxe5 Nxe5 and [I]my previous analysis here was mixed-up[/I] 28 Ne3 threatens 29 Bxe5 and 30 Nxc4.

If [B]25 ... Bxd4+ 26 cxd4 Nxd4[/B] 27 Ne3.
If 27 ... Nb3 28 Rd1 (allows 29 Rxd2 if 28 ... Nxd2, so as not to pull the N/e4 off station). Now if 28 ... Ba6 29 Nd6+ and 30 Nxc4.
If 27 ... Ne2+ 28 Kf2 Nd4 29 Nxc4.
So, there's not much Black's N/d4 can do after 27 Ne3.
We may swap a knight for Black's other bishop via Nd6+, so as to be left with the two bishops in an open position.

-

If [B]25 Bf4[/B]

If [B]25 ... Ra8[/B] 26 Rc1 and we have possibilities like Bxh6, Bc7, Ne3. Our K and N/c5 are still on the d4 diagonal, but as long as we keep that in mind and have a pawn on c3, we're all right.

==== editing done down to here ====
If [B]25 ... e5 26 dxe5[/B], it'll cost him his h-pawn (as far as I can see).

If [B]26 ... Nxe5 27 Bxh6[/B]

If [B]27 ... Bf5[/B] 28 Be4 Bxe4 29 Nxe4.

If [B]27 ... g5[/B] 28 Ne4 (not 28 h4 gxh4 29 gxh4 Bxh4) and we not only free our bishop but take another pawn in the process:
If 28 ... Kf7 29 Bxg5.
If 28 ... Bh8 29 Bxg5.
If 28 ... either N moves(except Nf3+?) 29 Nxf6+ and 30 Bxg5.
If 28 ... Rb6 29 Nxf6+ and 30 Bxg5.
(27 Ne3 instead is not good: 27 ... g5 28 Bxe5 Bxe5 29 Nxc4 Bc7 looks evenish.)

If [B]26 ... Bxe5 27 Bxh6[/B] but we must be careful until we get our N/d1 and R activated.
If 27 ... Bf5 28 Rc1 and I think our position holds together long enough for 29 Ne3. (If 28 ... Nd5 29 Bxd5. If 28 ... Bd3 29 Nxd3 cxd3 30 Nf2 bxc3 31 bxc3 Rb2 32 Nxd3)

[LaurV]

[QUOTE=cheesehead;369735]
If [B]24 Re1[/B] bxc3 25 bxc3 R-f5/f7/f8 26 Nxe6 Bxe6 27 Rxe6 Nxd4 28 Re4 (instead of 28 cxd4) holds our position together -- in fact, cxd4 [I]is possible [U]after[/U] 28 Re4[/I].
If 28 ... Nb3 (forks our R/a1 and B/d2) 29 Rb1 and now if 29 ... Nxd2 30 Rxb8+.
If 30 ... Kd7 31 Rd4+ Kc7 32 Rxf8 Bxf8 33 Rxd2 and we're a rook up.
If 30 ... Kf7 31 Rf4+ Kg8 32 Rbxf8+ Bxf8

That gives us some chance of material gain, whereas 24 Re1, while sound, leads to material equality as far as I can see.[/QUOTE]
I think Rf5/f7/f8 after bxc3 here (and all treated together) is a bit fast. They are different. After 24 Re1 bxc3 25 bxc3 Rf8 (the -f5 -f7 are different!) then 26 Ne3. Now, we don't need to let them to take the bishop out. You remember I was afraid of their bishop before :razz:. I don;t want it lose in the wild, mid of the board. So, if they do 26...Nxd4, then we do 27 Nxc4, we are all riding on their head now. True, there is no material gain, but look to the position! If 27...Nc6 (any N), 28 Bxc6 Nxc6 29 Nxe6.... That's it. White win. Other black 27? Still bad for black.

However, this was an easier one (if they take bxc first and move the rook after). All versions where they directly move the rook, are (somehow) easy. Ex: 24... Rf8 25 Bxc6 Nxc6 26 Nxe6 Bxe6 27 Rxe6 Ne7 28 Ne3. They have no time to exchange the horse for two pawns.

If 24..Rf5, we can't do 25 Ne3, as for the former, because now Rxc5 and we had to play one rook agains a bishop and a pawn (we can't defend our c5). So, now we go directly for the pawn: Nxe6 Bxe6 Rxe6, now, if they (is 26? or 27?) ... Nxd4 cxd4 Bxd4, then we Be3, and we are a bishop up, final phase of the game (board almost empty). I think we can win from here.

They all look quite good for us.

Unfortunately, there are other versions very tough here. For example, what we do if: (24 Re1 bxc, bxc), e5. Taking dxe5 is bad for us. 26 d5 seems better, then 26...Nd8, 27 Ne4, the position here is quite complicate, and it is difficult to analyze all continuations. It does not look bad for us, but it is complicate.

We still have 24 hours to post the move, and I have no time to look deeper into it. So, for now I would give my vote like:

Re1 - 5 points
Rxf6 - 4 points
Rc1 - 2 points
Bf4 - 1 point
other moves we discussed here - 0 points

If you see that there are few hours before the deadline and I didn't post, than any of you can post the move. Any of the first two moves is ok, from my point of view, so no trouble from my side if you post Rxf6 :razz: My preference, however, is for Re1. I will try to log in few (1..2) hours before the deadline tomorrow, and check what is to be posted, according with the votes of you guys, but if I can't (it is 7 oclock in the evening here, usually I am on the way from work or just arrive home at that time) than any of you can post the move.

By the way, April is summer-time in Thailand, so it is holiday-time. I will be in holiday from 29th to Apr 5, most probably not at home (going to the sea, in south, on some tropical island). Then I would be back to work for few days, then the [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songkran_%28Thailand%29"]Songkran [/URL]holiday starts, when I will be out of ChiangMai again. I don't know if I can access the internet during the holidays, so assuming out adversaries reply quick, the next moves will be entirely on you. From this point of view, it is better if we play [B]24 Rxf6[/B] now (as opposite to Re1), because you studied it better and deeper and you know the continuations, so you don't actually need me to play the next moves.

[cheesehead]

Note -- my move 24 list in post #20:

a) has not yet been re-examined in detail below the "==== editing done down to here ====" comment (where I stopped temporarily because I was tired), and

b) has not incorporated the [b]24 Re1[/b] analysis from post #19 -- so just consider that part of #19 to be appended to the list.

I intend to resume later today in a few hours after some more rest, and finish my final edit/review.

- -

As of when I'm posting this, our deadline is a bit less than 17 hours away (unless I've goofed).