Move 42

Brian-E · 2014-08-23, 18:13

A few things spring to mind at the moment.

(1) They took a few days. Good! David is due back on the 27th and should hopefully be involved in our move after all.

(2) I wonder if cheesehead's analysis finally ran out here, and LaurV and WMH have to think for themselves at last?:devil:

(3) It's an odd looking move, 42.Kh3. What are they doing? The king blocks the h pawn where it is now. Maybe they want to manoeuvre it to h5 before advancing their pawns?

(4) Well, what to do? 42...Nc5 looks okay at first glance. As well as attacking the a pawn it prevents Re6+ followed by Rd6.

richs · 2014-08-23, 18:33

Well Kh3 never entered our thought process which may portend better days ahead for us!

I like Nc5 for the reasons Brian gives. Let put off this move as long as possible.

paulunderwood · 2014-08-23, 18:37

Nc5 seems natural. We have plenty of time to look for alternatives. :smile:

Brian-E · 2014-08-23, 19:13

Yes, plenty of time, and we should certainly wait for David.

Another move, not that I particularly like it at the moment, is 42...Bg5 which forces them to move their bishop out of the way first if they are intending to move the K to h5. But 42...Nc5 also requires them to move their bishop (to d1) I think, so I don't see much point really. We should try to improve the position of our knight, with a view to bringing it to the action on the K-side, so either 42...Nc5 or 42...Nd4 look more to point to me.

One thing they could be intending to do after playing their king to h5 is Rxh6, giving back the exchange for our h pawn. We would then fight against their connected g- and h pawns with knight against bishop. We would have some reasonable drawing chances then based on attempting to give up our knight for their g- and a pawns, leaving a drawn K+B+h pawn versus K position.

Brian-E · 2014-08-23, 23:01

Just another thought in favour of 42...Nc5:
The knight-path Nc5-d4-f6 combats their plan of playing their king to h5. The exchange sacrifice on h6, if we allow them to play it, could be a clear win for them, so maybe we should indeed prevent it.

Brian-E · 2014-08-24, 08:41

That knight path should of course read N-c5-[B]e[/B]4 (or d7)-f6. Sorry.

Brian-E · 2014-08-27, 08:47

Well, my preference is still currently 42...Nc5 which prevents them playing their king to h5 followed by Rxh6. I would anticipate a line like 42...Nc5 43.Bd1 Ne4 44,Kg4 Nf6+ 45.Kf5 Nd5 46.Ke5 Ne3 (indirectly protecting h6 and better than 46...Nc3 47.Bb3 when the knight is offside again) 47.Bb3. They are driving our king back against our first rank and will have mating threats, but our pieces are cooperating well for defence and we have held the pawns.

What does everyone else think now?

henryzz · 2014-08-27, 13:41

I have just gone through all your posts and agree with your reasoning. I am happy with Nc5

Brian-E · 2014-08-29, 09:38

We're down to just over 30 hours before we must move. Does anyone want to suggest anything other than 42...Nc5?

paulunderwood · 2014-08-29, 12:52

Playing Nd4 is weak against White's Bishop. So Nc5 looks best. :smile:

richs · 2014-08-30, 00:26

I've looked further and still like Nc5 best.

2014-08-23, 18:13	#1
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 2×11×149 Posts	Move 42 A few things spring to mind at the moment. (1) They took a few days. Good! David is due back on the 27th and should hopefully be involved in our move after all. (2) I wonder if cheesehead's analysis finally ran out here, and LaurV and WMH have to think for themselves at last?:devil: (3) It's an odd looking move, 42.Kh3. What are they doing? The king blocks the h pawn where it is now. Maybe they want to manoeuvre it to h5 before advancing their pawns? (4) Well, what to do? 42...Nc5 looks okay at first glance. As well as attacking the a pawn it prevents Re6+ followed by Rd6.

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2014-08-23, 18:33	#2
richs "Rich" Aug 2002 Benicia, California 11010110110₂ Posts	Well Kh3 never entered our thought process which may portend better days ahead for us! I like Nc5 for the reasons Brian gives. Let put off this move as long as possible.

2014-08-23, 18:37	#3
paulunderwood Sep 2002 Database er0rr 5×937 Posts	Nc5 seems natural. We have plenty of time to look for alternatives. :smile:

2014-08-23, 19:13	#4
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 6316₈ Posts	Yes, plenty of time, and we should certainly wait for David. Another move, not that I particularly like it at the moment, is 42...Bg5 which forces them to move their bishop out of the way first if they are intending to move the K to h5. But 42...Nc5 also requires them to move their bishop (to d1) I think, so I don't see much point really. We should try to improve the position of our knight, with a view to bringing it to the action on the K-side, so either 42...Nc5 or 42...Nd4 look more to point to me. One thing they could be intending to do after playing their king to h5 is Rxh6, giving back the exchange for our h pawn. We would then fight against their connected g- and h pawns with knight against bishop. We would have some reasonable drawing chances then based on attempting to give up our knight for their g- and a pawns, leaving a drawn K+B+h pawn versus K position.

2014-08-23, 23:01	#5
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 2×11×149 Posts	Just another thought in favour of 42...Nc5: The knight-path Nc5-d4-f6 combats their plan of playing their king to h5. The exchange sacrifice on h6, if we allow them to play it, could be a clear win for them, so maybe we should indeed prevent it.

2014-08-24, 08:41	#6
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 2×11×149 Posts	That knight path should of course read N-c5-[B]e[/B]4 (or d7)-f6. Sorry.

2014-08-27, 08:47	#7
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 2·11·149 Posts	Well, my preference is still currently 42...Nc5 which prevents them playing their king to h5 followed by Rxh6. I would anticipate a line like 42...Nc5 43.Bd1 Ne4 44,Kg4 Nf6+ 45.Kf5 Nd5 46.Ke5 Ne3 (indirectly protecting h6 and better than 46...Nc3 47.Bb3 when the knight is offside again) 47.Bb3. They are driving our king back against our first rank and will have mating threats, but our pieces are cooperating well for defence and we have held the pawns. What does everyone else think now?

2014-08-27, 13:41	#8
henryzz Just call me Henry "David" Sep 2007 Liverpool (GMT/BST) 3·23·89 Posts	I have just gone through all your posts and agree with your reasoning. I am happy with Nc5

2014-08-29, 09:38	#9
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands CCE₁₆ Posts	We're down to just over 30 hours before we must move. Does anyone want to suggest anything other than 42...Nc5?

2014-08-29, 12:52	#10
paulunderwood Sep 2002 Database er0rr 5·937 Posts	Playing Nd4 is weak against White's Bishop. So Nc5 looks best. :smile:

2014-08-30, 00:26	#11
richs "Rich" Aug 2002 Benicia, California 2·859 Posts	I've looked further and still like Nc5 best.