[Mentalist]

hmm
this next move pretty much decides how we expect the game to play out. personally, I don't see White castling queenside. pawn structure there is a mess, and it's open to attack by our numerous diagonal pieces.

if we lock both kings on the Queenside, with a semi-locked position, white's knights technically should have an advantage in mobility.

however, looking at he board, pawn placement really undercuts that.

i'm willing to risk it. Tapper, what do you think?

[Tapper]

I'm willing to risk it as well, but I've only taken a quick peek at the board and don't have much time as it is past midnight. I can see why it could be good, however, this is very much depending on us seizing initiative this way. Is there any way UoW can press a queenswitch on his terms rather than ours? Cause if so, we're proper fucked. What if he moves 14. d4-d5, for example?

[Use Of Weapons]

I've been thinking quite seriously about pushing the d pawn forward, as I think that would preserve some useful features of the central pawn structure, especially as I've lost a bishop to your knight. However, were you to play dxc5, I wouldn't necessarily play dxc5 back, as any queen exchange that you initiate is a losing proposition for me. The middle game really does hinge on your next move and the next few exchanges, and I think we will start to see the shape of the endgame fairly soon after.

[Tapper]

UseOfWeapons, on 13 September 2011 - 12:33 AM, said:

I've been thinking quite seriously about pushing the d pawn forward, as I think that would preserve some useful features of the central pawn structure, especially as I've lost a bishop to your knight. However, were you to play dxc5, I wouldn't necessarily play dxc5 back, as any queen exchange that you initiate is a losing proposition for me. The middle game really does hinge on your next move and the next few exchanges, and I think we will start to see the shape of the endgame fairly soon after.

See, that's what I meant. I think we ought to take some time to see if we can come up with 1-3 likely alternative moves for UoW for 14. dxc5 .... before we commit and play those out. I'll agree with STD that we need to force something soon, though.

[Sir Thursday]

Tapper, on 13 September 2011 - 01:56 PM, said:

UseOfWeapons, on 13 September 2011 - 12:33 AM, said:

I've been thinking quite seriously about pushing the d pawn forward, as I think that would preserve some useful features of the central pawn structure, especially as I've lost a bishop to your knight. However, were you to play dxc5, I wouldn't necessarily play dxc5 back, as any queen exchange that you initiate is a losing proposition for me. The middle game really does hinge on your next move and the next few exchanges, and I think we will start to see the shape of the endgame fairly soon after.

See, that's what I meant. I think we ought to take some time to see if we can come up with 1-3 likely alternative moves for UoW for 14. dxc5 .... before we commit and play those out. I'll agree with STD that we need to force something soon, though.

I think you're right. Will take a look when I've got a bit more time.

ST

[Sir Thursday]

Haven't had a chance to look at alternatives to 14. d5 for White, nor alternatives to dxc5 and Be6 for Black, but here's my take on the 13...dxc5 14. d5 line:

- While it appears natural at first glance, I don't like the line: 13...dxc5 14 d5 Be7, because 15.dxc6 Bxc6 allows White to make the queen exchange on his terms (and bxc6 would cripple our pawn structure for ever more, so that's out).

- I'd like to avoid trying to exchange on d5 as well if possible. This would give White a passed pawn on the d-file that he can either support with a later e4 or advance to unleash the power of his bishop on the long diagonal.

- After 13...dxc5 14. d5, it's imperative that we have two pieces covering the d6 square. Otherwise, we're going to die a horribly painful death as White pushes his pawn there. Consequently, I think 14...Qc7 looks best in this line. We move the queen off the back rank in preparation for castling, with the happy side effect that as it is no longer on the d-file, we don't have to worry about Queen exchange and so can play Be7. This does feel a bit passive, but it will allow us to complete development in a reasonably straightfoward fashion. Another plus point is that the Queen provides an extra defender for the c6 pawn, so we could go for a counter fianchetto with b6 and Bb7.


ST

[Use Of Weapons]

A reminder of the current state of play:

 current-position.png (47.06K)
Number of downloads: 0

[Obdigore]

Q D8 -> A5

should be the next move, but as only one person has played in a week, I can't order it.

[Mott]

Q D8 -> A5

[Use Of Weapons]

Clearly I can't push my d pawn forward now, so I'll do the next best thing, and castle kingside. 0-0


 current-position.png (48.11K)
Number of downloads: 0

[Mentalist]

ok, now it seems pretty obvious we need to move that bishop off c8

Be6

[Use Of Weapons]

OK, I have a confession to make -- my middle game is atrocious. I'm really unsure about this move, but I'm going to press on and hope it hasn't really weakened my position.

cxd6?!


 current-position.png (49.2K)
Number of downloads: 0

[Obdigore]

Bishop E7 -> D6

[Sir Thursday]

Oooh, now this might actually work out alright. I think a plan of castling queenside, and attacking down the g-file looks promising.


ST

[Obdigore]

Sir Thursday, on 16 September 2011 - 12:26 AM, said:

Oooh, now this might actually work out alright. I think a plan of castling queenside, and attacking down the g-file looks promising.


ST

Ixnay on the AstleCay.

Unless he does something I don't expect.

[Use Of Weapons]

Continuing with this line though I feel it's going to end badly

d5


.  current-position.png (49.76K)
Number of downloads: 0

[Mentalist]

Hmm.
If we exchange on d5, followed by Bd7, i really dont think UoW has much left in terms of attacking possibilities.

[Sir Thursday]

I don't think we even need to exchange on d5. That just lets White get rid of his doubled pawns. We might as well play Bd7 straight away. In fact, I feel pretty strongly that that's the right call (we can always make the exchange later if we want to redevelop the bishop on the Queenside).


Bd7

[Tapper]

Sir Thursday, on 16 September 2011 - 08:24 AM, said:

I don't think we even need to exchange on d5. That just lets White get rid of his doubled pawns. We might as well play Bd7 straight away. In fact, I feel pretty strongly that that's the right call (we can always make the exchange later if we want to redevelop the bishop on the Queenside).


Bd7

d5 xc6 threatens the bishop Bd7 and opens up Qd2x Bd6. It also creates a free vertical entry for his rooks. our own gains are minimal. 16. ... c6 x d5 was a necessity, imho.

[Obdigore]

As Tapper said, we should have done a pawn exchange before moving that Bishop.