White to move. Find the best continuation for white.
Source: ChessToday.net
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Find the best continuation
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White to move. Find the best continuation for white.
Source: ChessToday.net
1. d5
a) 1. … Nxd5 2. b5 Nxc3 3. Nxc3 Bd5 4. Bxf5 exf5 5. Qxd5 wins a Bishop.
b) 1. … Bxd5 is best punished by 2. Bxb6 axb6 3. Bxf5 exf5 4. Qxd5 with the same result, an extra piece for white.
d5
If ….Nd5, (or ed5) b5 traps the Bishop
If ….Bd5, Bb6 ab6, Bf5 ef5, Nd5 wins the Bishop
Very active white d and b pawn, this is likely to be “bloody”.
Many different lines:
1. d5!
A)
1. … Bxd5 (avoiding bishop to be trapped with b5)
2. Bxb6 (Bb5? c6) axb6
3. Bxf5 exf5
4. Nxd5
up with piece.
B)
1. … Nxd5
2. b5! Nxc3
3. bxc6! Nxd1
4. cxd7+ Kxd7
5. Raxd1
black has taken Q+N+2p, white has taken Q+N+B, just a small lead, but white position is clearly better.
C)
1. … Ba4 (critical?)
2. dxe6!
everything hangs!
2. … Bxd1
3. exd7+ Nxd7
4. Raxd1 Bxb4
is also up with a piece for 2p.
D)
1. … exd5
2. b5!
Bishop trapped, see no good moves for black here.
The best continuation its easy: d5
d5
I feel like I am just overlooking something much better here, but the “best continuation” phrase gives me some hope I actually have the right ideas here.
Trying to clear lines in the center files should be a goal here with the black king still uncastled. Also, the precarious bishop at c6 is a juicy target of pawn pushes. There are two ways to do this that catch my eye- Bxf5 followed by d5, or just play d5 immediately. I like the latter idea better, though, since the e6 pawn is overtaxed already:
1. d5 Nd5 (alternatives later)
2. b5! Nfd3
The alternative here doesn’t look better: [2. …Bb5 3.Bb5! c6 4.Nd5! and white has won a piece for two pawns]. Continuing:
3. bc6
I don’t think it matters- 3.Be3 can just transpose into the line that follows. I might be missing something better in this line for white, but I am just not seeing it right now. Continuing:
3. …..bc6
I looked at the more natural looking Qc6, but white can play Bb5 at a critical juncture: [3. …Qc6?! 4.Be3 Ne3 5.Bb5! Nd1 6.Bc6 bc6 7.Rfd1 winning a piece for two doubled c-pawns.]. Continuing:
4. Be3 Ne3
5. Qa4! Bc5
The best I see for black. He can’t take at d3 without allowing Qxc6+ dropping the rook at a8. Also, he can’t take at f1 either: [5. …Nf1?! 6.Kf1! Rb8 7.Be4 Rb4 (best??) 8.Bc6 Ra4 9.Bd7 Kd7 10.Na4 winning, again, a piece for two doubled c-pawns.] Continuing:
6. Be4
Again, I have the nagging feeling I am missing something better, but am just not seeing it right now. Continuing:
6. …..Nd5 (the point behind Bc5)
7. Kh1 and white has a piece for two pawns and a still strong initiative. I am already deep in the speculative weeds, so I will end this line here.
Now, let’s back up to move #1 for black:
1. d5 Bd5
2. Bf5 Bb4
3. Nd5 Qd5
4. Qd5 Nd5
5. Be4 and white has a piece for two pawns. This actually looks better than the previous line since the two pawns are undoubled. Finally, at move 1, black can castle out of the center, assuming castle is still a legal option:
1. d5 O-O-O
2. Bb6! ab6 (no better is Bd5)
3. Bf5! Bd5 (no better is ef5)
4. Nd5 Qd5 (no better alternative)
5. Qa4! Bb4 (what else better?)
6. Be6! Qe6
7. Qb4 and white again has a piece for two pawns.
All in all, a very complex position, but I think white can, at a minimum win a piece for two pawns.