Black's best move

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Date: 15 May 2006 13:25:41
From: 39N 95W
Subject: Black's best move

r2q2k1/pp3r2/3p4/2p1nn2/4P2b/2NP3P/PPPQ2P1/R5K1 b - - 1 19

Despite Black being down several Pawns on his decimated Kingside, he has a
sizable piece advantage and it's his move.

I'm thinking 19 . . Nd4 or 19 . . . Ng3. Nd4 sets up a possible Ndf3 or
Nef3, although that relies on White not moving the Queen. Ng3 seems like it
would tie the King down pretty good. I was also thinking that Black should
bolster the f file ASAP as well. Thoughts?

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Date: 16 May 2006 23:19:32
From: 42N83W
Subject: Re: Black's best move

"39N 95W" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> r2q2k1/pp3r2/3p4/2p1nn2/4P2b/2NP3P/PPPQ2P1/R5K1 b - - 1 19
>
> Despite Black being down several Pawns on his decimated Kingside, he has a
> sizable piece advantage and it's his move.
>
> I'm thinking 19 . . Nd4 or 19 . . . Ng3. Nd4 sets up a possible Ndf3 or
> Nef3, although that relies on White not moving the Queen. Ng3 seems like
> it would tie the King down pretty good. I was also thinking that Black
> should bolster the f file ASAP as well. Thoughts?
>

Thanks for the replies. I know this is basically a won game for Black, but
one of my problems is that I don't finish very efficiently. I know I can
force him to trade off his Queen and Rook (and then some), but why do that
if mate is imminent? I'm just trying to "seal the deal".

Date: 16 May 2006 13:53:05
From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Claus-J=FCrgen_Heigl?=
Subject: Re: Black's best move

39N 95W wrote:
> r2q2k1/pp3r2/3p4/2p1nn2/4P2b/2NP3P/PPPQ2P1/R5K1 b - - 1 19
>
> Despite Black being down several Pawns on his decimated Kingside, he has a
> sizable piece advantage and it's his move.
>
> I'm thinking 19 . . Nd4 or 19 . . . Ng3. Nd4 sets up a possible Ndf3 or
> Nef3, although that relies on White not moving the Queen. Ng3 seems like it
> would tie the King down pretty good. I was also thinking that Black should
> bolster the f file ASAP as well. Thoughts?

It doesn't matter much. As long as you don't lose your pieces you are
winning no matter what. Both your moves are safe moves. But as Black has
more pieces on the kingside as White and open files against the white
king I usually look for a way to attack. The goal is to remove the pawn
shield in front of the king.

Actually the first move I looked was Nf3+ to open the g-file. Of course
the knight has to be taken and the g-file opens. But neither g5 nor h4
is accessible to the black queen. So I have only Rg7+ but without the
queen this doesn't lead to much. Then I looked for something safe and
saw that Nd4 puts up the threat Nf3+. Not bad, but I want to get at the
white king. Next candidate was Bg5 with the idea Be3+ which makes g5 and
h4 accessible to the queen.

So 19...Bg5 20. Qe1 (controls h4 and keeps an eye at e3) 20...Be3+ 21. Kh1.

If 21...Kf1 Ng3 is mate. Nice. 21. Kh2 Ng4+ 22. Kh1 (22. hxg4 Rh7 mate)
22...Nf2+ (now the diagonal d8-h4 is under black control) 23. Kh2 Qh4
24. exf5 (24. Ne2 Nd4 removes the best defending piece of White. I
didn't lose anything and have my attack.) 24...Qf4+ (Shredder says Rg7
is mate in 7) 25. g3 Qf3 threat Ng4+/Rh7 mate. 26. h4 Rh7 threat
Rxh4+/Qh3+/Qh1 mate. White has to sacrifice the queen now and will be
mated soon.

So 21. Kh1 Nf3 (opens the g file and removes protection of h3. In case I
don't find this I still have 21...Nd4 22. Qxe3 Nxc2 which reduces the
white pieces) 22. gxf3 (the queen can't move because of Ng3 mate)
22...Qg5 23. exf5 Rh7 24. Qf1 Qg3 and White has no more defenses.

20. Qd1 doesn't control e3 so I can play 20...Be3+ 21. Kh1 Ng3+ 22. Kh2
Qh4 where I have a strong attack without losing anything. The threat
among others is Qf4/Nf1+/Qh2 mate and if 23. Ne2 Ng4 mate and 23. Nd5
Nf1+ 24. Kh1 Qg3 25. Qxf1 Ng4 and White has no defenses.

Finally 20. Qe2 Be3+ 21. Kh2 Bf4+ 22. Kg1 Nd4 and the queen can move to
h4 or g5 (23. Qh5 Rh7).

Claus-Juergen

Date: 15 May 2006 14:37:38
From:
Subject: Re: Black's best move

Date: 15 May 2006 18:32:19
From: Ron
Subject: Re: Black's best move

In article <[email protected] >,
"39N 95W" <[email protected] > wrote:

> r2q2k1/pp3r2/3p4/2p1nn2/4P2b/2NP3P/PPPQ2P1/R5K1 b - - 1 19
>
> Despite Black being down several Pawns on his decimated Kingside, he has a
> sizable piece advantage and it's his move.
>
> I'm thinking 19 . . Nd4 or 19 . . . Ng3. Nd4 sets up a possible Ndf3 or
> Nef3, although that relies on White not moving the Queen. Ng3 seems like it
> would tie the King down pretty good. I was also thinking that Black should
> bolster the f file ASAP as well. Thoughts?

Um, black's up a rook and two pieces. It almost doesn't matter what he
does.

But Nd4, intending Rf2, Qf6, Rf8, etc, is completely crushing.

Of course, almost any sensible move is crushing.

-Ron