Black to move. What is the best continuation for Black.
Source: ChessToday.net
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Black to move. What is the best continuation for Black.
Source: ChessToday.net
C2
I would play c2 here without even thinking much about it. With the pawn on c2, the white queen cannot block it, she can only sacrifice for it, so when white captures the queen at d5, black just recaptures the rook with the e-pawn to protect his own rook:
1. …..c2
2. Rd5 ed5!
And now, I can only see that white can try for some sort of perpetual check draw, but I don’t think this can possibly work if black plays precisely:
3. Qe5 c1(Q)
4. Qd5 Kh8!
And white’s last fang is removed. If black plays Kh7 here, white does get his repetition draw: [4. …Kh7? 5.Ng5+ Kh8/h6 6.Nf7 etc.] Continuing:
5. Qa8 Qf4
6. g3 Qd6 and black should win with relative ease from here.
I don’t really see a good alternative for white at move 2, but white can be down just the bishop instead of a rook with 2.Ne5, I think:
1. …..c2
2. Ne5 c1(Q)
I think black can take at d8 here and then play Bd6, but I am not 100% sure- c1Q is just cleaner and clearer to me:
3. Rd5 ed5
4. Nc4 Qc4
And though the material is more balanced in this line, as black I would rather be playing it myself than the first line since white has so little counterplay without a companion piece for his queen.
I would have just pushed the ‘c’ pawn.
1…c2 2.Nxe5
(2.Rxd5 exd5 3.Nxe5 c1=Q 4.Nxc4 dxc4)
2…c1=Q
3.Rxd5 exd5
4.Nxc4 dxc4
5.g3
and White is up a piece
With his pawn majority black ought to win this! The direct and seemingly simple is:
1. … c2!
2. Rxd5 (Qxc2 Rxc2 Rxd5 exd5 leaves black comfortably up with a rook.)
2. … exd5!
The point is that d-pawn now protects black rook, Q can’t reach c1, so c-pawn will queen unless white gives his queen for it. Black in fact up with a rook, white might try to win rook back.
A)
3. Nxe5 (Nd2 is weaker) c1=Q!
Here the pin 3. … Be6 looked smart, letting white stay up with a rook, but I don’t like that move since it might give white time to find some counterplay.
4. Nxc4 Qxc4!
5. Qe6+ Kh7
And black is up with a bishop in addition to a winning d-pawn. The game comes quickly to an end.
B)
White’s best is:
3. Qxe5!
And though up with a full rook after c1=Q, black shall move carefully from here to avoid whites counterplay.
My first post had interesting ideas, but I don’t quite like them.
Black quickly gaining material, his king became vulnerable to Ng5 and Q checks.
1. … c2
2. Rxd5 c1=Q!
so far, black has simply sacked a pawn, but his pieces are more active.
Now Rxe5 should be met by the pin Bd6. Black plans Rc2.
3. Rd2 Bb4
e4 is going to follow, I think.
1c2 wins
1…e4! looks crushing.
1…e4! 2.Nh4 Qxd8 3.Qxc4 Qxh4 wins
1…e4! 2.Ne1 Qxd8 3.Qxc4 Qd6+ 4.g3 Qd2! 5.Qxe6+ Kh8 6.Qxe4 Qxf2+ 7.Ng2 c2 wins for Black.
Kamalakanta