27 Oct '08 01:29>2 edits
I've taken to playing this line against lower rated players a little bit, because it's nearly impossible for White to pick something where Black can't mess up the position quite nicely, which I really like. That said, does anyone else who plays this opening feel like the need a shower after a win? I feel like a slimeball every time. Maybe it's just me. I just played this 90' 30" game for my college team:
Thoughts:
1. I was really hoping for 30. Qd3, since the win is much nicer: 30...Bxh3! 31. gxh3 Qxh3 32. b3 Bg7! 33. Rg2 Nf5! 34. Ne2 Rd4!
2. Also, I completely missed that 25...Qg5? is probably just blows a winning attack because of 26. g4! but I liked the finesse of forcing his king to the h-file before playing ...Qh4.
3. Of course, the plan of f3 and h3 just sucks, since once the bishop has to give itself up on g3 his kingside is just a holey mess.
4. I liked 24...f4, cementing all the dark squares and giving me more space on the kingside.
Here's a question: What do Modern Benoni players here play against the Taimanov variation?
I was looking at this old but dangerous variation today:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+ Nbd7!? 9. e5 dxe5 10. fxe5 Nh5 11. e6 Qh4+ 12. g3 Nxg3
13. hxg3 Qxh1 14. Be3 Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 a6 16. exd7+ Bxd7 17. Bxd7+ Kxd7 18. Qg4+ f5 19. Qf3 Qxf3 20. Nxf3 Rae8!? 21. Kf2 Re4 22. Bxc5 Rc8 23. Bd4 Kd6 24. Ng5 Rxd4!? 25. cxd4 h6 26. Nf7+ Kxd5 27. Nxh6 Kxd4
I've sat around analyzing this ending, and it looks drawn to me. Let me know if you guys find anything here.
Thoughts:
1. I was really hoping for 30. Qd3, since the win is much nicer: 30...Bxh3! 31. gxh3 Qxh3 32. b3 Bg7! 33. Rg2 Nf5! 34. Ne2 Rd4!
2. Also, I completely missed that 25...Qg5? is probably just blows a winning attack because of 26. g4! but I liked the finesse of forcing his king to the h-file before playing ...Qh4.
3. Of course, the plan of f3 and h3 just sucks, since once the bishop has to give itself up on g3 his kingside is just a holey mess.
4. I liked 24...f4, cementing all the dark squares and giving me more space on the kingside.
Here's a question: What do Modern Benoni players here play against the Taimanov variation?
I was looking at this old but dangerous variation today:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+ Nbd7!? 9. e5 dxe5 10. fxe5 Nh5 11. e6 Qh4+ 12. g3 Nxg3
13. hxg3 Qxh1 14. Be3 Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 a6 16. exd7+ Bxd7 17. Bxd7+ Kxd7 18. Qg4+ f5 19. Qf3 Qxf3 20. Nxf3 Rae8!? 21. Kf2 Re4 22. Bxc5 Rc8 23. Bd4 Kd6 24. Ng5 Rxd4!? 25. cxd4 h6 26. Nf7+ Kxd5 27. Nxh6 Kxd4
I've sat around analyzing this ending, and it looks drawn to me. Let me know if you guys find anything here.