Chess Scotland Noticeboard

Mike Scott · King Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 676 Location: Edinburgh

Black to play. Not necessarily the best computer move but...

AMcHarg · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 4:57 pm Post subject:

I can't immediately see any material-winning tactics but simply playing a5 with a view to playing Ba6 looks pretty strong.

I might be missing something? =\

Mike Scott · King Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 676 Location: Edinburgh

I think a5 was suggested by the computer and maintained the advantage it saw for black.

But it doesn't shock your human opponent. I suspect the move played would have done so - it certainly suprised the light weight engine I used when checking the move, it was fun to see the evaluation go from -1 to +.5 after the move was played then back to -0.8 as it calculated.

This game was played yesterday in the Edinburgh league.

andyburnett · King Joined: 20 Feb 2007 Posts: 249

Well Mike, my guess would be either ...Nb4 or ...Nd4. Maybe ...Bb4?! These are the moves I would be trying to make work!

Nice diagram by the way Evil or Very Mad

AMcHarg · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:41 pm Post subject:

I thought about the moves Andy suggested too but I couldn't calculate them into an advantage for black. I wouldn't take the 'risk' of playing such a move without having calculated a more conclusive result, especially not in a position that doesn't initially appear to require black to take any risks?

I also thought about Ba3 but removing the pressure from the diagonal it's currently on doesn't seem logical without a guarantee of winning some material.

What was actually played Mike? Cool

Mike Scott · King Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 676 Location: Edinburgh

22.... Nb4
23.cxb4 Bxb4+
24.Kf1 Qc5
25.Qe2 Rd6
26.g4 Rxf6+
27.Nf5 gxf5
28.gxf5 Rg8
29.Be3 Qc3
30.Kf2 Bc5
31.Bd3 Rxf5+
32.exf5 Rg2+
33.Kf1 Qxa1+
34.Qe1 Qxe1+
35.Kxe1 Bxe3
36.Bb1 0-1

Note 25...Rd6 is a nice 'quiet' move that speeds the end.
There is no doubt better play available but in practical play with limited time it is not easy.

Interesting comment immediatly after the game - black was worried about whites kingside play (h3 - h4-h5 I think) and this helped him go with the aggressive option.