Originally posted by Ice ColdThat's the whole point of the Sicilian - an unbalanced game where black reckons he has better chances. Unbalanced is good and rarely a draw.
Somehow both players have managed to take a balanced starting position, and make it unbalanced.
What a couple of morons.
In this case, white is sunk.
Originally posted by KorchWhite has a piece for two pawns, but Black has more central space and pressure on d4 and b2.
[fen]r4rk1/pp1b2pp/1qn2b2/3p1pN1/3PpB1P/8/PPN1BP2/R2QK1R1 w Q - 0 17[/fen]
White to move.
White's King is stuck in the center.
White's Rook is on the g-file, but playing on the Kingside seems slow compared to black's central play.
If I am white, I am feeling a bit desperate here. Black is about to restore material equality with a seemingly better position.
Originally posted by SwissGambitGiven I can't make the sac on h7 work (although I would be tempted to try in blitz) white has a couple of alternatives: Continue to build pressure on the kingside while holding the centre (maybe doubling rooks on the g-file after the king is tucked away via Kf1), at an opportune time trade out to a superior endgame (moves involving Be5) or shift his attack to the queenside via Rf3.
White has a piece for two pawns, but Black has more central space and pressure on d4 and b2.
White's King is stuck in the center.
White's Rook is on the g-file, but playing on the Kingside seems slow compared to black's central play.
If I am white, I am feeling a bit desperate here. Black is about to restore material equality with a seemingly better position.
While the d4 pawn looks vulnerable, white has some tricks up his sleeve because blacks d5 pawn is unsupported and could easily lead to the piece that takes on d4 being pinned with Bf3. It will take a few moves for black to collect on d4.
In my opinion the game still looks fairly even, maybe small advantage for white but still full of chances for both sides.
Originally posted by KorchWhite have piece for 2 pawns but they have problems to stop Black initiative in center and their king is unsafe (while its not obvious how to get him safe). Probably the best was to allow op activate g1 Rook by playing Rg3 (with Rb3 to follow).position would be very unclear with mutual chances. In the game White overrated their position and played greedy 17.Bd6? and after 17...Nxd4! 18.Bxf8 Bxf8 White had Rook for 3 pawns but Black had serious initiative which was more than enough compensation for material - White had in serious trouble, but Black did not manage to exploit their advantage and lost.
[fen]r4rk1/pp1b2pp/1qn2b2/3p1pN1/3PpB1P/8/PPN1BP2/R2QK1R1 w Q - 0 17[/fen]
White to move.
Here is the game:
Its obvious that Black will get their exchange back. The main question is "How?", because White has possibility to get their rook on 7th horizonatal with 20.Rxd7+ Kxd7 21.Rf7+ or 20.Rf7+ Kxf7 21.Rd7+. Other alternatives seems to be not promising for White as their pawn on e5 is weak and will be need to be protected. Also their queen side pawn structure is not too pleasant.
White considered that after 20.Rxd7+ Kxd7 21.Rf7+ Kc6 he can afford to take pawn on g7 which will give advantage. But Black had serious resource 22...Rd8! (it would work also after 20.Rf7+ Kxf7 21.Rd7+ Kg6 22.Rxc7 or 22.Re7 ) after which White are not able to prevent Black counter attack which seems to be more dangerous. This gives reason to consider Black position as better.
Here is the game (annotation is not full, because it was restored from my memory and I could not memorize all moves. Anyway in final position Black is winning):