Well, there aren't that many moves we can make without losing directly. Therefore this isn't too hard.
We can rule out any knight moves because of Bxf7+. Our knight is pinned to f7.
We can also rule out any rook moves, because then our knight will hang.
Also, moving our king doesn't seem the best idea: Kg7 loses a tempo to Bc3+ and Kf8 will only get us more tangled up, because then he will move Bb4 and our king is bound to the protection of our knight.
So we only have pawn moves and moves with our bishop left. Now, I don't think moving any of our pawns would be useful to improving our position.
The only thing that's left is moving our bishop. The only 2 moves that don't hang it are Bb5 and Bc8.
He will probably either move Bb4 or Rxa7 on his next move, Bb4 obviously beeing the biggest threat. If we move Bb5, then Bb4 Kf8 (only move) Rxa7! and he can go chase our bishop around, move whatever he want, and we're complete tangled up because of that miserable knight.
If we play Bc8 however, we can respond to Bb4 with Be6! He'll be forced to trade bishops, and then if he thinks he wins a piece on e7, we can move d2, promoting our pawn.
So that's pretty much the only and best idea. Bc8 followed by Be6.
Originally posted by schakuhrIf ...Bc8, how does black respond to Ba4?
Well, there aren't that many moves we can make without losing directly. Therefore this isn't too hard.
We can rule out any knight moves because of Bxf7+. Our knight is pinned to f7.
We can also rule out any rook moves, because then our knight will hang.
Also, moving our king doesn't seem the best idea: Kg7 loses a tempo to Bc3+ and Kf8 will only get us ...[text shortened]... omoting our pawn.
So that's pretty much the only and best idea. Bc8 followed by Be6.
playing ...b5 first prevents white from attacking the rook.
