17 Bd3
Game 632841
I have an advantage on the Kingside, and would like to keep pressure there.
I like keeping my dark square Bishop where it is irritating, but I'm wondering whether it is too hard to support.
Bd3: Chases the Queen to either g4 or a5-d5. I should be able to win the h7-pawn. This seems like a strong move with many tactical possibilities. I also didn't like having my Bishop on c4, as a trade would split my pawns, favoring Black.
Bh6: Again trapping the King. But I don't want my Queen tied to guard duty.
Qd2: Supporting the Bishop, but placing itself in line of attack by Bc5.
Qc1: Also supporting the Bishop, but not connecting the rooks.
Be3: The Bishop may be too hard to support in its advanced position.
17. ... Qd5
As my queen is under attack, I don't have many options. d5 seems the best option to me since it threathens several pieces (tough all defended)
Placing my queen on c5 would give me a strong diagonal, but as long as white's rook is posted close his king, this has no use.
Currently my h-pawn is still safe. If black would play Qd2, I can respond with Bf5.
18 Qc2
Game 632841
Qc2: Puts pressure on h7, but can be blocked with f5. After which, the dark-Bishop can set up on h6 again.
Qd2: Supports the dark-square Bishop.
h4: Supports the dark-square Bishop freeing the knight
Re1: Keeps the Queen off of the e-file.
Rc1: Keeps the Queen off of the c-file.
Bc4: Allowing a Queen trade, or a recapture, probably with the Rook, adding a protector to the 6th rank.
18. ... f5
A great move would have been Nd4, with which I would have the possibility to win a piece. However, the move can easily be countered by playing Bxh7. So I have to get rid of the threat on h7.
h6 would put te h-pawn to safety and attack the bishop, but the threat on the h7 square remains.
The only way of blocking the attack is the pawn move f5, which is then protected by bishop and queen.
Originally posted by no1marauderAnother nice line is the Ulvestad-- I play this one all the time:
After 4 Ng5 You can play 4 ...... d5 in the Two Knights and avoid the loss of a rook; however, you will lose a pawn after 5 exd5 Na5, etc. White does get thrown of the defensive, however, and some Black players think that's worth a pawn (I don't). White can also play the Max Lange which is 4 d4 which usually leads to a complicated mess, but it ...[text shortened]... one of my games). All in all after the moves so far, 3 ..... Bc5 is the safest and most popular.
4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5!?
19 Bc4
Game 632841
This is a tough position. I have played through several lines on a board, and can't find any real way to make progress. Although Black's King does not have much pawn cover, the pieces around it are hard to get around.
Bc4: Forces the Queen to move to either a5 or c5, and gives a few opportunities for tactics.
Bh6: Seems to accomplish nothing.
Ng5: Brings a second piece in to threaten the King, but without additional help, the Bishop and Knight can do nothing. And when I played through these lines, I would up losing one or the other (because they cannot support each other?).
Qd2: Supports my dark Bishop, but pins my light Bishop against my Queen.
19. ... Qe4
Moving my queen to e4 will get rid of the threat, and counters the attack with an attack on whites queen, which is unprotected. At the same time, black's light bisshop is still defended by the queen.
I will go for a queen exchange if the possibility arises, since I've got the impression that due to my weak king I will be safer without the queens.
Sorry, I made a mistake when following the game in my pgn viewer. 17 Ng5 is not a legal move.Zuccini, I think should have considered Ng5 threating checkmate (Bxh7++).
It leads to a pretty leatal trap.
17. Ng5 Bf5 (and the work is done) 18. Bc4 (and the game is won)
17. Ng5 f5 18. Qh5 (and the white position is over whelming)
20 Bd3
Game 632841
Bd3: Forcing the Queen to either b4, d5 or g4. Followed by Rfe1 prevents the Q from returning to e4 after I return my Bishop to c4.
QxQe5: Forces ...fxQe5. Followed by, Nd2 ...d5 leaves Black with a strong center.
21 BxQe4
Game 632841
I think the following line is forced, as anything else loses my light bishop.
BxQe4: I expect ...NxQc2, (a) BxNc2 and White is up a knight vs. a pawn, or (b) Bxb7 with a series of attacks on Black's rooks.
I also looked at placing my Queen on the a1-h8 diagonal, but this seems to lead to a piece loss or to trades, and only marginal improvement compared to winning a piece.
e.g. Qc3: ...NxBd3 trading the bishop for a mate threat, Qf3 ...f4, Bh6 is too slow ...Qg6