Move 34

paulunderwood · 2014-07-01, 18:53

We have a choice of two squares, in order to protect our Knight with our King. Your thoughts please!

Moving onto f7 would stop Black checking us. If they reply with Rb7, pinning our Knight we can move Bb4. :smile:

Brian-E · 2014-07-01, 23:57

Yes, either 34...Kf6 or 34...Kf7 look eminently playable to me on initial consideration.

Another possible move is 34...Nf5, but I find this dubious on principle because it allows White to exchange off their bishop and thereby removes one important drawish aspect of the position: the opposite coloured bishops.

paulunderwood · 2014-07-02, 01:12

I think they made the move too hastily. Please agree to letting them retake the move sometime before the deadline. :cool:

Brian-E · 2014-07-02, 01:14

[QUOTE=paulunderwood;377166]I think they made the move too hastily. Please agree to letting them retake the move sometime before the deadline. :cool:[/QUOTE]
Yes, I agree with this.

paulunderwood · 2014-07-02, 02:19

[QUOTE=Brian-E;377155]Yes, either 34...Kf6 or 34...Kf7 look eminently playable to me on initial consideration.

Another possible move is 34...Nf5, but I find this dubious on principle because it allows White to exchange off their bishop and thereby removes one important drawish aspect of the position: the opposite coloured bishops.[/QUOTE]

I had not spotted that move.

(Let's hope Batalov overrules us all about move 34.)

Brian-E · 2014-07-02, 02:21

Yes, it's in Serge's capable hands now.

Brian-E · 2014-07-02, 02:28

I note that LaurV seems to think they're winning from his latest post in the public thread.

Let's prove him wrong. I think we have good drawing chances.

Brian-E · 2014-07-02, 10:12

Well, I guess their last move 34.Bh3+ stands and we should avoid being distracted by the public row in their team and just continue concentrating on our position which I think we can draw if we're careful.

Just one more observation: as Paul notes, after 34...Kf7 35.Rb7 we will have to defend the pinned knight on e7 with our bishop. But if we play 34...Kf6 then they can force this continuation anyway with 35.Rb6+ Kd7 36.Rb7. So I think it doesn't matter very much whether we play 34...Kf6 or 34...Kf7. I currently dislike 34...Nf5 for the reason I mentioned above.

paulunderwood · 2014-07-02, 11:12

Yes, let's carry on with our examination.

Kf6 looks good. If White checks us with their Rook we can move Kf7:

34...Kf6
35.Rb6+ Kf7
38. Be6+ Kf6

and White's Rook is in danger of being forked.

henryzz · 2014-07-02, 11:18

Seems to me that both moves are very close and most of the time end up pretty similar.

Brian-E · 2014-07-03, 10:13

[QUOTE=paulunderwood;377206]Yes, let's carry on with our examination.

Kf6 looks good. If White checks us with their Rook we can move Kf7:

34...Kf6
35.Rb6+ Kf7
38. Be6+ Kf6

and White's Rook is in danger of being forked.[/QUOTE]
Yes, we seem to just hang on here: I can't see anything forced for them. They can then force our king to the dodgy looking square g5 by 37.Ba2+ Kg5 (other king moves lose a piece) but now if 38.h4+ Kg4, or 38.Rb5+ Kf6.

Even so, perhaps allowing this bishop check at e6 would be an unnecessarily dicey line to go for. If instead we play 34...Kf7 then they don't seem to have anything better than 35.Rb7, a position which they can also force after 34...Kf6 35.Rb6+ Kf7 if they want to. I slightly prefer our move 34...Kf7 now.

2014-07-01, 18:53	#1
paulunderwood Sep 2002 Database er0rr 5×937 Posts	Move 34 We have a choice of two squares, in order to protect our Knight with our King. Your thoughts please! Moving onto f7 would stop Black checking us. If they reply with Rb7, pinning our Knight we can move Bb4. :smile: Last fiddled with by paulunderwood on 2014-07-01 at 18:54

2014-07-02, 02:19	#5
paulunderwood Sep 2002 Database er0rr 4685₁₀ Posts	[QUOTE=Brian-E;377155]Yes, either 34...Kf6 or 34...Kf7 look eminently playable to me on initial consideration. Another possible move is 34...Nf5, but I find this dubious on principle because it allows White to exchange off their bishop and thereby removes one important drawish aspect of the position: the opposite coloured bishops.[/QUOTE] I had not spotted that move. (Let's hope Batalov overrules us all about move 34.) Last fiddled with by paulunderwood on 2014-07-02 at 02:20

2014-07-02, 10:12	#8
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 2·11·149 Posts	Well, I guess their last move 34.Bh3+ stands and we should avoid being distracted by the public row in their team and just continue concentrating on our position which I think we can draw if we're careful. Just one more observation: as Paul notes, after 34...Kf7 35.Rb7 we will have to defend the pinned knight on e7 with our bishop. But if we play 34...Kf6 then they can force this continuation anyway with 35.Rb6+ Kd7 36.Rb7. So I think it doesn't matter very much whether we play 34...Kf6 or 34...Kf7. I currently dislike 34...Nf5 for the reason I mentioned above. Last fiddled with by Brian-E on 2014-07-02 at 10:13

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2014-07-01, 23:57	#2
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 2×11×149 Posts	Yes, either 34...Kf6 or 34...Kf7 look eminently playable to me on initial consideration. Another possible move is 34...Nf5, but I find this dubious on principle because it allows White to exchange off their bishop and thereby removes one important drawish aspect of the position: the opposite coloured bishops.

2014-07-02, 01:12	#3
paulunderwood Sep 2002 Database er0rr 5·937 Posts	I think they made the move too hastily. Please agree to letting them retake the move sometime before the deadline. :cool:

2014-07-02, 01:14	#4
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 110011001110₂ Posts	[QUOTE=paulunderwood;377166]I think they made the move too hastily. Please agree to letting them retake the move sometime before the deadline. :cool:[/QUOTE] Yes, I agree with this.

2014-07-02, 02:21	#6
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 2·11·149 Posts	Yes, it's in Serge's capable hands now.

2014-07-02, 02:28	#7
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 2×11×149 Posts	I note that LaurV seems to think they're winning from his latest post in the public thread. Let's prove him wrong. I think we have good drawing chances.

2014-07-02, 11:12	#9
paulunderwood Sep 2002 Database er0rr 5·937 Posts	Yes, let's carry on with our examination. Kf6 looks good. If White checks us with their Rook we can move Kf7: 34...Kf6 35.Rb6+ Kf7 38. Be6+ Kf6 and White's Rook is in danger of being forked.

2014-07-02, 11:18	#10
henryzz Just call me Henry "David" Sep 2007 Liverpool (GMT/BST) 3·23·89 Posts	Seems to me that both moves are very close and most of the time end up pretty similar.

2014-07-03, 10:13	#11
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands CCE₁₆ Posts	[QUOTE=paulunderwood;377206]Yes, let's carry on with our examination. Kf6 looks good. If White checks us with their Rook we can move Kf7: 34...Kf6 35.Rb6+ Kf7 38. Be6+ Kf6 and White's Rook is in danger of being forked.[/QUOTE] Yes, we seem to just hang on here: I can't see anything forced for them. They can then force our king to the dodgy looking square g5 by 37.Ba2+ Kg5 (other king moves lose a piece) but now if 38.h4+ Kg4, or 38.Rb5+ Kf6. Even so, perhaps allowing this bishop check at e6 would be an unnecessarily dicey line to go for. If instead we play 34...Kf7 then they don't seem to have anything better than 35.Rb7, a position which they can also force after 34...Kf6 35.Rb6+ Kf7 if they want to. I slightly prefer our move 34...Kf7 now.