20 Nc5
Game 643185
Regarding my calculating: I didn't think Black would try Nd4, because it seems easy to defend against with a rook move. I also didn't consider my possible response Nc5 (below). So on my previous move was a case in which I was able to see several moves ahead on some lines, but on this one I didn't see as far as the position requires. It seems this line was: 19 Bf1 ...Nd4 20 Nc5 ...Nxc2 21 NxBe6 ...Nxa1 22 Nxd8 and either both knights escape or both get captured, about 9 moves deep. So much of chess calculation seems to be "if I do this, then if he does that ...", which is hard for me. I often confuse where I "moved" the pieces. I notice in this case that the calculations required are well beyond the 2-3 moves that I can usually see, and I'm still not sure they're good. In this case I did this in my head first, then verified it on the board. Of course, I don't see many of the side lines when I try to do this.
Nc5: Counterattack, leading to B+R vs p+R. If Black doesn't attack right away I can still get out of the fork.
Rac1: Keeps knight from forking rooks.
20 ... Bc8
Game 643185
Forced, in accordance with previous calculation. Guarding both the pawn on b7 and the fork on e6. I plan to kick the knight with b6 as soon as possible, then plunk a rook on the c file.
21 Rac1
Game 643185
Rac1: Prevents the rook fork.
Rec1: Same, but not as strong since it removes the center rook.
21 ... exf3
Game 643185
There are only a few candidate moves here.
b7 -- invites a massive trade on a6 (which would not cost me a pawn because of Ra8), leaves everyone with active pieces, creates fair amount of chaos, with pawns being captured all over the board). Not acceptable. I like my game, I don't feel the need to stir it up.
Ne5 -- offers a knight trade on pain of kicking his knight from that good position. Deactivates my knight. Not acceptable. Totally insufficiently forcing, leaves him with all the choices.
exf3 -- wins material (since he can't recapture, at least not immediately, on pain of fork). Disconnects my pawns. Has the potential to force trade of knight for bishop on pain of rook fork, but in doing so would require surrender of that pawn. . Since it wins material and seems to be at least as positionally good as the other moves but for the pawn business, I'm going with it. It looks like most of the tactics are in my favor with this capture.
22 c3
Game 643185
The position is a little tougher here. Although Black is up two pawns, the f3-pawn should be easy to recapture. The d5-pawn is isolated, and I should look for an opportunity to take it. My Knight ties the Bishop to defense.
c3: Forces the knight to retreat to c6 or b5. Both positions seem rather cramped. c6 seems more active.
g3: Keeps my pawns connected. I should be able to recapture the forward f3-pawn soon.
Originally posted by zucchini22 ... fxg2
The position is a little tougher here. Although Black is up two pawns, the f3-pawn should be easy to recapture. The d5-pawn is isolated, and I should look for an opportunity to take it. My Knight ties the Bishop to defense.
c3: For ...[text shortened]... nnected. I should be able to recapture the forward f3-pawn soon.
Game 643185
This should allow me to hold on to my second extra pawn for a few more moves. I'm a little worried about the increasing activity of his pieces, but this preserves my option to give one of the pawns back later for positional considerations and still hold on to an extra one. There really aren't any other serious candidate moves in this position. I suppose Nc5, but that's totally unpalatable to me.
anticipated lines: either Bxg2 Nb4 (maybe), or cxd4 gxf1=Q+ Rxf1 b6 Na4 and then maybe Rc6, or maybe give up the b pawn for activity.
23 Bxg2
Game 643185
Only two possibilities here:
Bxg2: Protects my King and takes the long diagonal adding an attacker to d5.
Kxg2: ? I can't see any benefit to this move.
I still have to come up with a strategy...
I might try to sneak a pawn back on the board when paultopia's away on a break.
Originally posted by zucchini23... Nb5
Only two possibilities here:
Bxg2: Protects my King and takes the long diagonal adding an attacker to d5.
Kxg2: ? I can't see any benefit to this move.
I still have to come up with a strategy...
I might try to sneak a pawn back on the board when paultopia's away on a break.
Game 643185
Forced, as it is the only safe flight square for my knight that permits Nc7 later to defend the d pawn should I decide to do so. also eyes d4 so that, should the position permit, I can push the d pawn safely.
24 Re5
Game 643185
I think I can win a pawn by aiming at d4.
Re5: adding an attacker to d4
Ne6: forces ...BxNe6, Rxe6, after which Nc7 is no longer possible due to Re7.
Originally posted by zucchini24 ... Nc7
I think I can win a pawn by aiming at d4.
Re5: adding an attacker to d4
Ne6: forces ...BxNe6, Rxe6, after which Nc7 is no longer possible due to Re7.
Game 643185
So: decision time. Do I let one of the pawns go for activity, or do I hold onto my extra material until forced to let it go?
Unfortunately, most tactical counter-attacking replies are squashed with Bxd4+, simply losing the pawn, without really getting any positional compensation. Re8 fails that way, as does b6. Hence, god help me, I'm going to have to play a non-forcing move. I don't BELIEVE in non-forcing moves!
That leaves protecting the pawn with Nc7 or sacing the b8 pawn with d4.
after d4, He's got a slew of potential moves, including Bxb7, Nxb7, cxd4, c4, Rd5 (?) -- you name it. I'm simply not inclined to calculate them all. So I'm not gonna. Positionally, I like this move: the d pawn is isolated, so I'd like to trade it (which would also give my d rook a free pass to the 7th rank). If he refuses to trade it, I get to pass it. The b8 pawn is largely irrelevant.
Nonetheless, I think Nc7 is stronger, based on the following expected responses: Nc7 Rd1 b5 Na4 Rf6 Bxd5 Nxd5 Rxd5 Rxd5 Be6 Rd8+ Kf7 Nxb4 Bxa2 and I come out of it still holding my extra pawn, with a bishop vs knight advantage, with a very healthy kingside majority and a better placed king. Alternatively, Nc7 Re7 Rf7 holds everything. The best he could do is Re1 Rxe7 Rxe7 b5 Na4 Rd7 Rxd7 bxd7 Nxb4 Bb5 and once again I make it safely into the endgame with my extra pawn and better placed pieces.
25 Re1
Game 643185
Continuing with an attack of d4.
Rd1: adding an attacker to d4
Re1: doubling up to support an attack on c7/b7.
25 ... Rd6
Game 643185
I think I just fundamentally disagree with Zucc's evaluation of his position. I think he should be pressurizing my forward pawns. Doubling rooks on the open e file does him no good because my 7th rank is totally defensible. I think his last move gave me the tempo I need
This is a move I've been looking for a chance to make for a while. It is extremely flexible. It permits the b6 push (without, that is, making the b6 pawn a difficult-to-defend target), kicking the knight. If he somehow impairs that push, it also permits me to double rooks behind whatever pawn I feel most nervous about at any given moment. It adds an extra guard to e6, which feels a little vulnerable. That also means that if he moves the e1 rook, it permits me to place bishop or knight on e6.
The only other candidate move of any worth is g6, to reinforce the f5 pawn. I'm not really worried about that right now, though. The f5 pawn is attacked once and guarded twice, so, absent any tactic, I don't need to worry about it for at least two moves, and then g6 simply solves the problem. I simply don't see any way he can divert both the f8 rook and the c8 bishop without heavy sacrifice.
My only concern is that the position is way too complicated for being two pawns up. I'd really like to simplify, even if it costs me a pawn. At some point, when it's positionally sensible, I'll probably just abandon the d pawn.
26 Kf2
Game 643185
I find I'm having to spend quite a bit of time on this game -- you're making me work pretty hard! This is the first game I've played where I really understand the cost of having let a pawn go early (move 7).
I didn't look at the Re1 plan carefully enough. As I wrote in the thread on "how many moves can you see ahead?", I usually look four or six half moves ahead (and I make mistakes within those few moves). In this case, the doubling seems to fall apart on move seven, when the king recaptures and then covers the open file, preventing entry by the second rook.
Although there are still two rooks, a knight and a bishop each, I think it would be a good idea to bring my king into the middle of the board. There are enough pawns to give my king cover from anything but the knight. I have to find a good place for my king: f4 looks pretty good, as there is no dark square bishop.
I like bringing my a- b- and h- pawns forward to give me more space. I will leave my knight where it is until it is forced to move. I don't mind moving my knight, if I can blockade the f-pawn with it.
Kf2: bringing another defender
Bf3: preparing for bringing the king forward
a4: with the idea of following up with b4, but this makes my c-pawn a target. Then protect the base pawn with my rook on the 2nd rank.
26 ... b6
Game 643185
I'm still struggling for activity here. I think it was an error to let his bishop onto the long diagonal -- it simply has too much tactical potential here.
I'd like to drive my kingside pawns forward. Pawns on h6, g5, and f4 would be ideal. If I then place a piece to protect the h6 pawn, I should have an insurmountable endgame advantage
On the other hand, I'd also really like to dislodge some of his pieces from their active positions, or trade them off. Where they are right now, they seriously threaten my queenside, as well as my poor d pawn. If I can whip the pieces off without losing another pawn, the endgame should be a walkover (assuming his king doesn't get incredibly well placed).
Problem is, I don't know if have the time to execute both of these plans before his king gets into the fight and/or he gets one of the pawns back.
On general principles, I think b6 is best because it (a) kicks the knight, and (b) gets my weak b pawn off the long diagonal. Then I will proceed to push the kingside pawns without further delay, probably by g5, h6, then f4. I can slip this move in because, after all, it is forcing. And his knight can't move anywhere that will threaten my kingside pawns. In fact, his knight has nowhere particularly good to go at all.
Backing up my plans with calculation:
b6 Nd3 g5
a) h4 h6 hxg5 hxg5 Bh3 Rg6 and my kingside passed pawns are a permanent menace.
b) Bh3 h6 Rf1 f4 and my kingside position is indestructible.
There are other choices too, primarily Na4 and declining to capture on g6, but a quick glance doesn't reveal too many threats there, and I can again pass two kingside pawns in each line.
27 Nd3
Game 643185
Nd3: As per the previous line.
Nb3: Allows Nd4, which doesn't seem as strong, due to ...g6.