This is a continuation of Thread 104979.

PAWN RIOT has just sent 20.Ka1, leading to the following position:

I am surprised. I was sure Kc1 was the plan, then to d2. Well, most of my analysis is out the window. I suppose we now try and make the most of the Bishop queen king diagonal hold we have!! I'll get back soon.

With Kc1, RookdoN,t get their most usefull files, rook belong to opens files, since he got his two rooks, he will mostly play Rb1 next and contest ours control of the file, that was a very good plan from him.

We will have trouble.

There is Ne8 that come to my mind, but nothing elsem, I do not vote now.

Merry christmas to him too.

Merry Christmas to Paul and everyone else!

I'm happy with our position : ) and I think that both ...Nh7 and ...Ne8 are good - we can re-route the knight in both variations.

I prefer ...Ne8 at the moment because it is a move or two quicker getting back into the game.

As for all those who are worrying about Rb1 from white, just ask yourselves what the rook will be doing on the b-file after we side-step with ...Rc8? So far I've only found variations where it is a target for an ...a5,...a4 pawn push.

Perhaps PawnRiot will find a way to make his pieces work together, but so far I can't see a clearly good plan for white. Qd3 with the idea of c3 to break the pin seems necessary, but we can play moves like ...Be6, ...Bxc4 hitting the queen followed by manouevring the knight to a better post.

I think specific move orders will be important from now on, so if I have time I'll try to post a few variations later.

All the best,
Streetfighter

Nh7-Nf8-Ne6 seems doable imo.

I still feel for ... Nh7, however with Rb8+ played, Ne8 should maybe follow as otherwise Rb8+ was played "for no reason". OK, I'll vote for 20. ... Ne8.

Yup, Re8 is nicer now I think

He'll just place both rook on his two open files, since they belong there.

I'll vote, Ne8, since I think it will back faster to the game, the bishop should go to e6 maybe.

woosies! ....Ne8

If 20...Ne8 then what's next? The knight doesn't seem to have such good squares to go after that, since c7 and d6 are both currently occupied - we will need to spend another move moving the queen or pawn.

I think 20...Ne8 and then 21...d5 is playable, with the knight coming to d6 afterwards (also attacking the weak c4 pawn).

The plan of Nh7 --> f8 --> e6 seems more concrete (it appears like a better square) although it takes 3 moves to get there (and will then have the c5 square outpost).



Merry Xmas to all!

I would think we should stick to our plan of 20...Ne8 21. Rb1 Rc8 followed by d5 and Nd6.

Where should the knight be placed? d6 via Ne8 or e6 via Nh7. I say e6 is the better square for these reasons.
1. it puts pressure on the pinned Knight at d4
2. if white plans to take the b file with his rooks that only weakens the protection of the pinned knight.
3. Ne8 is not faster because of the required pawn move to free it.
4. 19...Rb8 is still justified because it vacated f8 for our knight.
5. the lack of penetration points combined with the fact that d4 is such a glaring weakness means that the b file is of little consequence.

On a closer look I think Nh7 might indeed still be justified, I like the knight much better on e6, so I change my vote to Nh7

20...Nh7 21.Rb1 Rc8 22.Rb3 Nf8 23.Rhb1 ...

or

20...Ne8 21.Rb1 Rc8 22.Rb3 d5 23.exd5 Nd6 24.Bf4 Ba4

Something concrete at least. Please improve.

I still like the second line, but either looks fine. I'm having problems finding a plan after the first line, but we should probably try to avoid 24.Rb7.

Originally posted by ResigningSoon
20...Nh7 21.Rb1 Rc8 22.Rb3 Nf8 23.Rhb1 ...

or

20...Ne8 21.Rb1 Rc8 22.Rb3 d5 23.exd5 Nd6 24.Bf4 Ba4

Something concrete at least. Please improve.

I still like the second line, but either looks fine. I'm having problems finding a plan after the first line, but we should probably try to avoid 24.Rb7.