IronMan31 V Rest of RHP

Qf3 places indirect pressure on the f7 pawn and the knight, so moving Nd5 is going to be bad anyway because of Rxf7.

We may also need to consider the possibility that White will do an exchange sac on f6 when the time is right.

We've mentioned earlier that doubling rooks may not be the best course since d7 is covered by the white knight, d6 obstructs the black queen keeping tabs on the a3 square and d5 may provoke pawn to c4.

Having said that, Rd5 is the lesser of all evils as it may lead to some counter attacking chances on the queenside, with 20 c4 Ra5. Plus c4 may not be White's best move in response. Pawn to g4 looks difficult for us, so that's another move to consider.

We really don't have any good moves here, just weather the storm and hopefully survive till the end. I'm going for Rd5.

Originally posted by schakuhr
if black moves 20. ...bxc6? indeed. But black has better:
20. ...Nd5! (in between move!)

a)21. Qb5 Qg5! 22. g3 Nxf4 23. Nc6+ (or gxf4 Qxf4+ -+) Kc7 24. Qxg5 hxg5 25. Nxd8 Nxh5! 26. Nxb7 Kxb7 - white has sacrificed a knight for 1 pawn.

b)21. Rg4 f6! 22. Ng6 bxc6 23. Nxe7 Nxe7 24. Rxg7 - white has indeed sacrificed a knight for 2 pawns, now with cleared up situation.

so I dont think white will try 20. Qxc6?.

I'll add another possibility: 19. ...Qd6, and a later c5 to create counterplay. c5 directly doesnt work: 19. ...c5? 20. dxc5 Qxc5? 21. Rc4 +-

Kb8 is good also, IMO.

Originally posted by schakuhr
if black moves 20. ...bxc6? indeed. But black has better:
20. ...Nd5! (in between move!)

b)21. Rg4 f6! 22. Ng6 bxc6 23. Nxe7 Nxe7 24. Rxg7 - white has indeed sacrificed a knight for 2 pawns, now with cleared up situation.

so I dont think white will try 20. Qxc6?.

Qc7 was also played in the one of the other matches Rag' posted.

I thought in that game black made errors in the defence.

Originally posted by the jitty slitter
Qc7 was also played in the one of the other matches Rag' posted.

I thought in that game black made errors in the defence.

I am not suggesting we play it because I don't see any stratgeic plan for it.

But in 783257

could the game not have been held with 25... cxd5 had not been played? with black a pawn to the good?

Originally posted by schakuhr
I'll add another possibility: 19. ...Qd6, and a later c5 to create counterplay. c5 directly doesnt work: 19. ...c5? 20. dxc5 Qxc5? 21. Rc4 +-

Kb8 is good also, IMO.

I think that is the interesting question. If it were white to move right now, what is the continuation of IM's stategy? Knowledge of that should shape our next move...

Originally posted by schakuhr
I'll add another possibility: 19. ...Qd6, and a later c5 to create counterplay. c5 directly doesnt work: 19. ...c5? 20. dxc5 Qxc5? 21. Rc4 +-

Kb8 is good also, IMO.

Originally posted by xs
19. ...Qd6 20.Rd3 c5 21.Rc3

19. ...Kb8 20.Rd3 ...? 21.Rb3

Originally posted by the jitty slitter
19. ...Qd6 20.Rd3 c5? 21. dc qxc5 22. rc4 and the queen is lost so I am not sure we can play c5 immediately after rd3.

its a strange looking move but is kc7 playable to relieve some of the pressure on c6?

Originally posted by buffalobill
Qc7 for Black is a big, fat hairy mistake until the pawn on a7 is secured. White just shifts the Queen to a3 upon which your problems have just begun.

Originally posted by fetofs
Well, maybe after 19...Qc7 20.Qa3 Kb8 20 Rh1 with Rh3, Rfh4 and Qg3(Rg3) in mind.
I like that line, actually...

EDIT: A shift to the queenside does nothing:
20...Kb8 21.Rh1 Ka8 22.Rh3 Rfe8 23.Qa4? Rd5! and I consider Black better. White has to go back with his queen or continue with the desperate try.

I like Qc7...

Black needs to match White's forces in the centre or he's going to be swallowed up. We need to get a Rock out. NOW!


So I suggest a Rock slide to d5.