Move 27 discussion: Everyone vs stockfish

[MooMoo2]

The most popular move was Nf5+ on the move 26 discussion thread. Stockfish responded with 26...Kf8, and the FEN is:
r4k2/1p3p1p/1p3p2/3R1N2/2r5/6P1/PnP4P/R5K1 w - - 5 27

Game so far: 1.e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. exd5 exd5 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8. O-O Be7 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Nb3 Nce4 11. Nfd4 O-O 12. Nf5 Re8 13. Nxe7+ Rxe7 14. f3 Nd6 15. Bg5 Nc4 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Qd4 Qb6 18. Qxb6 axb6 19. Rfd1 Re5 20. f4 Re2 21. Nd4 Re4 22. Nf5 Nxb2 23. Rxd5 Rxf4 24. g3 Rc4 25. Nh6+ Kg7 26. Nf5+ Kf8

[WMHalsdorf]

27.Rd7 Rxc2 28.Nh6

[gd_barnes]

Originally Posted by WMHalsdorf

27.Rd7 Rxc2 28.Nh6

Well. That was a quick move.

Yes on this line! 27. Rd7. I am now out of town for two weeks so don't have a lot of time to analyze. This was the line that I felt was best before I left. Assuming that SF responds with Rxc2, after 28. Nh6 we threaten to pick off 3 pawns over the next 3 or 4 or 5 moves. If so, I feel like the position almost plays itself and we will be in great shape to force a draw over the next 5-10 moves.

Rd7 is reasonable.

[Brian-E]

I agree with 27.Rd7 (nothing else looks worth considering). And I can't see what Black can be intending except 27...Rxc2 because if 27...Rc5 28.Nh6 Rh5 29.Rxf7+ Ke8 30.Re1+, or 30.Rxf6 Ke7 31.Rf7+ Ke6 32.Re1+, are both apparently winning for us.

[Brian-E]

Could I just enter a plea that, even if no-one suggests any other move, we still hold a poll? Last move, for example, I was hindered for some days and unable to be here. I would, however, have been able to vote if there had been a poll and thereby given my input. Other people may be in that situation now, unable to be here for a few days while we are discussing, or not confident enough to write anything, but still able and willing to vote.

(If there is a "consensus" that the above is too pedantic, I'll concede of course.)

[LaurV]

Well, the last move was quite clear, we wouldn't let the horse to be captured and defending it would have been somehow bad. I however agree that a pool should be always offered, except for obvious/unique/forced moves.

[science_man_88]

Nd6 is something that comes to mind because although it forces their rook to move and potentially move closer to a check it allows Nxb7 which protects a later Rd8+ fork potentially. though I do see the rook on a8 can move freely.

[Brian-E]

Originally Posted by science_man_88

Nd6 is something that comes to mind because although it forces their rook to move and potentially move closer to a check it allows Nxb7 which protects a later Rd8+ fork potentially. though I do see the rook on a8 can move freely.

27.Nd6 looks weaker to me. The knight is well placed on f5, restricting the black king and forcing Black to keep its back rank protected. But after 27.Nd6 Rxc2 28.Nxb7 and would be doing little and would itself be vulnerable to attack. Our Rd8+ which you mention following this would merely exchange the more active or our rooks for the more passive black one.

Our rook is much better at picking off pawns than our knight because after taking one its ready to take the next one too.

[MooMoo2]

Originally Posted by Brian-E

Could I just enter a plea that, even if no-one suggests any other move, we still hold a poll? Last move, for example, I was hindered for some days and unable to be here. I would, however, have been able to vote if there had been a poll and thereby given my input. Other people may be in that situation now, unable to be here for a few days while we are discussing, or not confident enough to write anything, but still able and willing to vote.

(If there is a "consensus" that the above is too pedantic, I'll concede of course.)

Originally Posted by LaurV

Well, the last move was quite clear, we wouldn't let the horse to be captured and defending it would have been somehow bad. I however agree that a pool should be always offered, except for obvious/unique/forced moves.

There'll be a poll even if no one suggests any other move (see: http://www.mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?t=20885 ), but there wasn't a poll for the last move since it was pretty much obvious and forced.

[Brian-E]

Originally Posted by MooMoo2

There'll be a poll even if no one suggests any other move (see: http://www.mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?t=20885 ), but there wasn't a poll for the last move since it was pretty much obvious and forced.

I agree. But that is still a subjective judgment. It's not unthinkable that someone might have wanted to play 26.Rb5.