Move 28 discussion: Everyone vs stockfish

[MooMoo2]

The poll for move 27 just closed, and the most popular move was Rd7. Stockfish responded with 27...Rxc2, and the FEN is:
r4k2/1p1R1p1p/1p3p2/5N2/8/6P1/Pnr4P/R5K1 w - - 0 28

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 27. Rd7 Rxc2

[WMHalsdorf]

28.Nh6

Jf I was playing against a human I would consider 28.Nd6 (second best moves have a better chance against humans in these types of positions for some reason)

[science_man_88]

Originally Posted by WMHalsdorf

28.Nh6

Jf I was playing against a human I would consider 28.Nd6 (second best moves have a better chance against humans in these types of positions for some reason)

28 ... Kg7
29 if knight is not protected it can be lost. so it would be a sacrifice for gain in position at very least. edit: okay I guess I do see a way to make the opponent king to Kf3 potentially. let the sacrifice then attack if it goes the wrong way it can be forced to Kf3 in the long run.

[WMHalsdorf]

Originally Posted by science_man_88

28 ... Kg7
29 if knight is not protected it can be lost. so it would be a sacrifice for gain in position at very least. edit: okay I guess I do see a way to make the opponent king to Kf3 potentially. let the sacrifice then attack if it goes the wrong way it can be forced to Kf3 in the long run.

29.Nf5+ Kg6 (other moves lead to a draw by repetition of position)
30.Nh4+ (now our knight is safe and out rook on d7 is free to take the pawns.)

[Brian-E]

I agree with 28.Nh6.
The still relevant parts of Gary's analysis at move 25 are below.
I for one cannot improve on it and am intrigued to see what SF will do and if we do indeed have a draw.

Originally Posted by gd_barnes

[...]
28. Nh6 Kg7**
29. Nf5+! Kg6
(Temporarily down 2 pawns but consistent to the end! If Kf8 or Kg8, we just repeat ourselves with Nh6 aiming for 3-time repetition.)
30. Nh4+ Kg7
(Any other move by black loses material with 31. Rxf7 and eventually Rf1 as we threaten multiple pawns, perpetual check, or 3-time repetition.)
31. Nf5+
(With perpetual check or 3-time repetition in a few moves.)
[...]
**Another possibility for black's move 28:
28...Ke8
29. Rxf7 Nd3
30. Rxh7 Raxa2
31. Rxa2 Rxa2
32. Rxb7
Dead drawn here.

[Brian-E]

Just for the sake of further discussion, and for the poll options, in addition to WMH's mentioned 28.Nd6 we also have the possibility 28.Rxb7. There might be something to be said for taking that pawn now with our knight still on f5 and Black therefore still forced to keep the back rank defended.

However, I like 28.Nh6 as worked out by Gary some moves ago.

[gd_barnes]

I'll stick with the original analysis from a few moves back. I like Nh6 here. Black has difficulty avoiding either 3-time reputation or significant loss of material that gets us either ahead or even on as much.

[ch4]

(deleted post)

Nh6, as per prior analysis.