Move 15

Brian-E · 2015-04-22, 14:24

Their move 15.Qc2 protects both e4 and b2 and makes their threats - especially against our a pawn - more immediate.

It seems to me that we need to play sharply now to make sure that our pressure against b5 and b2 compensates for their threats to our a pawn which we will likely have to jettison.

Here are some possible lines. Please correct and modify them as you both see fit!

15...Bxb5 16.axb5 Rxb5?! 17.Nxd6 Rb4 18.Nc4 Ne8 19.Bd2 wins the a pawn with the better position and bishop pair. Not good as far as I can see.

15...Bxb5 16.axb5 Rb7 17.Bd2 Rba7 removes our pressure on the b file in an attempt to safeguard the a pawn, but that fails anyway: they are likely to win it by doubling rooks on the a file, whether we advance it to a4 or not. I don't think this is any good.

15...Ne8 16.Bd2 Bxb5 17.axb5 Rxb5 This is much better in my opinion. They can't now play 18.Nxd6 because of 18...Rxb2, and we are a pawn up, temporarily at least, and can increase our pressure on the b file in due course.

So for the moment I like 15...Ne8.
But can you both correct those lines and suggest any others?

WMHalsdorf · 2015-04-22, 20:11

None of the lines starting with 15...Bxb5 look attractive to me. The knight on f6 does have to move soon to icrease pressure on b2 while moving to the queen side to put pressure on b5. As best as I can tell their position is more defensive than offencive.

Brian-E · 2015-04-23, 21:25

[QUOTE=WMHalsdorf;400657]None of the lines starting with 15...Bxb5 look attractive to me. The knight on f6 does have to move soon to icrease pressure on b2 while moving to the queen side to put pressure on b5. As best as I can tell their position is more defensive than offencive.[/QUOTE]
I agree with you.

davar55 ?

Brian-E · 2015-04-26, 10:26

I guess at least two of us are inclined towards 15...Ne8 for now. Certainly I don't like anything else at the moment.

We have 3 days left at the most to discuss any other ideas. davar55, I hope we hear what you think soon as well.

WMHalsdorf · 2015-04-26, 15:26

I keep coming back to 15...Ne8 as our best move, we either lose material or positional advantage.

davar55 · 2015-04-27, 19:18

I tend to agree with Ne8 but have no chess set with me until the weekend.
So make this move without me.

Brian-E · 2015-04-27, 21:40

I guess we're all agreed on 15...Ne8 then.

davar55 · 2015-04-29, 17:31

Are we considering 16. .. BxNb5 17. a4xBb5 .. Rb8xb5 ?

What 16. () would make this sequence not good for us?

WMHalsdorf · 2015-04-29, 18:31

[QUOTE=davar55;401257]Are we considering 16. .. BxNb5 17. a4xBb5 .. Rb8xb5 ?

What 16. () would make this sequence not good for us?[/QUOTE]

This line could restult in an exchange of our rook for 2 knights or an equal exchane in material if white chooses poorly.

Brian-E · 2015-04-30, 07:59

[QUOTE=davar55;401257]Are we considering 16. .. BxNb5 17. a4xBb5 .. Rb8xb5 ?

What 16. () would make this sequence not good for us?[/QUOTE]
If they move their c1 bishop, for example 16.Bd2, then yes, we could take twice on b5, because after 16...Bxb5 17.axb5 Rxb5 18.Nxd6? Rxb2. This was one of the points of 15...Ne8, opening the diagonal for our g7 bishop and increasing the pressure on b2.

If they keep b2 adequately protected, then no, I don't think we ought to take twice on b5.

davar55 · 2015-05-05, 19:48

They just moved their sixteenth move.

Nice interesting game so far.

2015-04-22, 14:24	#1
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 2·11·149 Posts	Move 15 Their move 15.Qc2 protects both e4 and b2 and makes their threats - especially against our a pawn - more immediate. It seems to me that we need to play sharply now to make sure that our pressure against b5 and b2 compensates for their threats to our a pawn which we will likely have to jettison. Here are some possible lines. Please correct and modify them as you both see fit! 15...Bxb5 16.axb5 Rxb5?! 17.Nxd6 Rb4 18.Nc4 Ne8 19.Bd2 wins the a pawn with the better position and bishop pair. Not good as far as I can see. 15...Bxb5 16.axb5 Rb7 17.Bd2 Rba7 removes our pressure on the b file in an attempt to safeguard the a pawn, but that fails anyway: they are likely to win it by doubling rooks on the a file, whether we advance it to a4 or not. I don't think this is any good. 15...Ne8 16.Bd2 Bxb5 17.axb5 Rxb5 This is much better in my opinion. They can't now play 18.Nxd6 because of 18...Rxb2, and we are a pawn up, temporarily at least, and can increase our pressure on the b file in due course. So for the moment I like 15...Ne8. But can you both correct those lines and suggest any others?

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2015-04-22, 20:11	#2
WMHalsdorf Feb 2005 Bristol, CT 1001₈ Posts	None of the lines starting with 15...Bxb5 look attractive to me. The knight on f6 does have to move soon to icrease pressure on b2 while moving to the queen side to put pressure on b5. As best as I can tell their position is more defensive than offencive.

2015-04-23, 21:25	#3
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 2×11×149 Posts	[QUOTE=WMHalsdorf;400657]None of the lines starting with 15...Bxb5 look attractive to me. The knight on f6 does have to move soon to icrease pressure on b2 while moving to the queen side to put pressure on b5. As best as I can tell their position is more defensive than offencive.[/QUOTE] I agree with you. davar55 ?

2015-04-26, 10:26	#4
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 6316₈ Posts	I guess at least two of us are inclined towards 15...Ne8 for now. Certainly I don't like anything else at the moment. We have 3 days left at the most to discuss any other ideas. davar55, I hope we hear what you think soon as well.

2015-04-26, 15:26	#5
WMHalsdorf Feb 2005 Bristol, CT 3³×19 Posts	I keep coming back to 15...Ne8 as our best move, we either lose material or positional advantage.

2015-04-27, 19:18	#6
davar55 May 2004 New York City 5×7×11² Posts	I tend to agree with Ne8 but have no chess set with me until the weekend. So make this move without me.

2015-04-27, 21:40	#7
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 3278₁₀ Posts	I guess we're all agreed on 15...Ne8 then.

2015-04-29, 17:31	#8
davar55 May 2004 New York City 4235₁₀ Posts	Are we considering 16. .. BxNb5 17. a4xBb5 .. Rb8xb5 ? What 16. () would make this sequence not good for us?

2015-04-29, 18:31	#9
WMHalsdorf Feb 2005 Bristol, CT 513₁₀ Posts	[QUOTE=davar55;401257]Are we considering 16. .. BxNb5 17. a4xBb5 .. Rb8xb5 ? What 16. () would make this sequence not good for us?[/QUOTE] This line could restult in an exchange of our rook for 2 knights or an equal exchane in material if white chooses poorly.

2015-04-30, 07:59	#10
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands CCE₁₆ Posts	[QUOTE=davar55;401257]Are we considering 16. .. BxNb5 17. a4xBb5 .. Rb8xb5 ? What 16. () would make this sequence not good for us?[/QUOTE] If they move their c1 bishop, for example 16.Bd2, then yes, we could take twice on b5, because after 16...Bxb5 17.axb5 Rxb5 18.Nxd6? Rxb2. This was one of the points of 15...Ne8, opening the diagonal for our g7 bishop and increasing the pressure on b2. If they keep b2 adequately protected, then no, I don't think we ought to take twice on b5.

2015-05-05, 19:48	#11
davar55 May 2004 New York City 5·7·11² Posts	They just moved their sixteenth move. Nice interesting game so far.