19 Mar 08
I know the e-pawn is lost for black but I think I'd either play 9. ... Nc6 or 9. ... d6 to make sure that the pawn isn't taken by the queen. I think probably 9. ... Nc6 really, since 9. ... d6 allows another capture for white with a discovered check, or if black recaptured with 10. ... dxe5 then white would still have the queen taking with check. So 9. ... Nc6 for me.
I think I would have preferred it if the black king had retreated to f8 because then the e-pawn isn't pinned, but that's the joy of hindsight 🙁
20 Mar 08
1 edit
Originally posted by jockmcgeeYou mean 9. ... d6? White can still capture on e5 but castling is available also. And white doesn't have an e-pawn.
That's very true, but I was wondering what happens after 8. ... d6. Seems that after that white's e-pawn becomes very hard to defend? I could easily be wrong 🙂
20 Mar 08
Originally posted by kbaumenYeah I meant 9. ... d6, my mistake. I must still be missing something since everyone's in favour of 9. Nf3, but I don't see how white can then grab the pawn? If someone could explain it that'd be great, I'm clearly suffering mental block. In my head (with 9. Nf3) I see something like this...
You mean 9. ... d6? White can still capture on e5 but castling is available also. And white doesn't have an e-pawn.
9. Nf3 d6 10. fxe5 (now white has the e-pawn I was referring to earlier - I guess I didn't make myself clear) dxe5... The bit I'm looking at from there is then 11. Nxe5 (so as to claim the additional pawn) Qe7 12. Bf4 (seems forced) and then I get lost in something to do with moves like Rf8 and g5 or something to dislodge the bishop... Maybe I've cleared it up for myself now.