Nc6 is my vote.
1. it overprotects d4 which is the crux of our plan.
2. It prevents b4 which not only frees the bishop, it also weakens our hold on d4.
3. it completes the development of our minor pieces.
f5 isnt a bad idea, i just don't think it's needed yet. One thing to watch out for is that chessmaster may be playing for an f4 advance. Right now that doesn't look very dangerous, but it's something to keep in mind.
Originally posted by TenguWe have the bishop now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!So if his N takes....we can take with our B----------
I think the problem with b6 is, as someone pointed out to me earlier in this thread, that we are opening the long diag. White can then play bf3 with some pressure on the knight and a pin on the a8 rook.
without analysing it im sure there are probably some tactics that would work around all of this.
Another reason i like f5 is that it prevents an immediate e4.
e4 is a problem for several reasons
1) it asks us what are we going to do with that great knight sitting pretty in the centre of the board?
If we retreat its a victory for white. if we capture he can then consider dxc3 removing his backward d-pawn or bxc3 capturing "classically" towards the centre and contesting the d4 square directly.
2) it locks our e5 pawn in place. it forever takes away our ability to harass white with an advance to e4 which is something we also threaten with f5.
by playing f5 we ask white. how are you going to stop us? it starts white reacting to our plans rather than creating his own. I firmly believe this is always the first step to victory.
I have to say this is really quite fun!
🙂
Originally posted by TenguWhat I believe you have missed is why e4 is a terrible move. d4 becomes flat out impossible for white to play and he is stuck with a backward pawn for the rest of the game. Not only does he have the backward pawn, but we have not 1 but 2 outpost squares for that knight to redevelop to.d5 is the natural one, but since the queen is on the file we can respond to e5 like this
Another reason i like f5 is that it prevents an immediate e4.
e4 is a problem for several reasons
1) it asks us what are we going to do with that great knight sitting pretty in the centre of the board?
If we retreat its a victory for white. if we capture he can then consider dxc3 removing his backward d-pawn or bxc3 capturing "classically" towards th ...[text shortened]... ve this is always the first step to victory.
I have to say this is really quite fun!
🙂
...Nc6
e5, Nf4! (threatening Ne3 if we can get 1 more piece to support the square.
If we are booted from f4, Just play Ne6 when both our nights are focused on the great outpost of d4. In short, I don't think it is possible for white to play e4.
f5 does not address the current problem at all. white has no intention of playing e4. it is a losing positional move. d4 is the crux of our position and this needs to be kept under control. ..Nc6 keeps a grip on the pawn breaks at b4 and d4. if 1.Na4..b6 2.Bf3..Rc8. and everything is under control on the long diagonal. our dark square bind
gives us better mobility, space, and development.
cheers,
soso
I don't fully agree with the statement that the e4 move is weak positionally.
Yes it may not be the strongest move on the board.
But...a weakness is only truly a weakness if we can exploit it. Now exactly how easy is it for us to pressurise the d2 pawn even assuming it will go to d3?
It will be extremely well defended by both the c2 queen and the e2 bishop. If e4 is played then our light squared bishop is locked out of that diagonal. To bring our knight onto an attacking square will require at least 2 tempi and white will only bat it away with something like b3 especially as it will result in the dark square bishop being on the long diagonal and pressurising the e5 pawn.
Its all well and good to talk about weaknesses but if you can't exploit them then it doesn't really matter does it?
Weaknesses in your opponents position is a means to an end not the end themselves surely?
Originally posted by TenguIt is true that a weakness is only as weak as the opponents ability to exploit it. However a backward pawn does not need everything pressuring it to be weak. Merely planting a knight if front of it is a victory. Consider the following
I don't fully agree with the statement that the e4 move is weak positionally.
Yes it may not be the strongest move on the board.
But...a weakness is only truly a weakness if we can exploit it. Now exactly how easy is it for us to pressurise the d2 pawn even assuming it will go to d3?
It will be extremely well defended by both the c2 queen and the e2
Weaknesses in your opponents position is a means to an end not the end themselves surely?
... Nc6 (after e4 we can play Nd4!)
e4 Nf4 (threatens the bishop on e2 and potentially Nd3)
if Qd1 then ... Nxe2+, Qxe2 when we have removed one of the defenders of d3. to continue Nd4 (with tempo against the queen) and black clearly has the superior position.
if Bx where x is not on the f1-h6 diagonal, then Nd3 and black is better.
if Bx where x is on the f1-h6 diagonal
Bd3 - this is a very weak bishop as the e4 pawn blocks it in, just play Nd4 threatening the queen.
Bc4, we can exchange bishops then bring our knight into it's new outpost (we don't gain the tempi as in the other lines but the knight dominates the board).
Bb5 - just boot it with a6 so that after Bc4, we exchange then play Nd4 and finally expand on the queen side. a6 also takes away an advanced square from the knight on c3.
---------------
If white delays e4
perhaps
... nc6
Nxd5, Qxe5 (to keep the c-pawn from falling)
and now what can white do?
d3 (to allow Bf3) Rd8 (ignore the threat and develop pressure against the weak pawn)
Bf3 is met by Qd6
----------------------
F5
What does black gain from this.
1. Control of e4 and a nice central pawn majority at the cost of a slight restriction on his e6 bishop.
2. We threaten f5-f4-f3. This is a decent plan but why play on the wings when you can play in the center and achieve a clear advantage meanwhile developing all of your pieces?
EDIT: new thought, f5 also threats e4, but that just seems to allow white an easy out by replying d4.