White to Play.

Joelnelsonb · Post by **Joelnelsonb** » Sat Jul 25, 2015 6:25 am

I wonder if anyone here has a decent move in this position. I have some ideas but I'll save my assessment for later.

schawipp · Post by **schawipp** » Sat Jul 25, 2015 9:02 am

First instinct is c4-c5 since it disturbs the black pawn structure (d6 can not easily move because of Rxe5 followed by Rbe1 which would be a great result for w). BTW I would not exchange the bishop for the knight. Since almost all white pawns are on white squares, your bishop works very effective. So far my 5 ct...

Edit: c4-c5 allows Nd5 but you have Bd2 which controls all relevant black squares.

Joelnelsonb · Post by **Joelnelsonb** » Sat Jul 25, 2015 9:07 am

The problem with C5 is it abandons the defense of D5, freeing up the knight (which I am certainly not looking to trade off).

oren · Post by **oren** » Sat Jul 25, 2015 9:34 am

It's the game with the horsies.

Anzu · Post by **Anzu** » Sat Jul 25, 2015 3:39 pm

Queen to d1 or pawn to a4?

schawipp · Post by **schawipp** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 4:51 am

Joelnelsonb wrote:The problem with C5 is it abandons the defense of D5, freeing up the knight (which I am certainly not looking to trade off).

Yes, but you have two pawns on the c-file. When black plays Nd5 after your c4-c5, you can just play c4 again, and the knight can go back to f6. The move ...Nc3 seems no good option since white can counter Rb3, and the knight would be in an awkward position (Nxa2 -> Ra1 captures the knight right away ...).

The strategic goals behind c4-c5 are to (i) get rid of the white double pawn at the c file (bad shape

), (ii) disturb the seemingly intact black pawn structure and (iii) to double the white rooks on the e file.

Life In 19x19

White to Play.

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Re: White to Play.