Team X Chess thread (1 Viewer)

[pizzatyme]

Also, if we did Qd5, not only does it attack the

N, it also attacks the e pawn and almost forces Nc3. Then we get in Qa5.

We force them backwards and with the Q on a5,

it protects against d8 while also pinning the N to the Q. This almost forces Rb1 to protect against Bb4. If they don't do Rb1, then they end up having to retreat the other N to e2 or else they

lose the N.

So...

Qd5

Nc3 Qa5

Rb1 at this point, we win another pawn with Nxe5

Play it out and see if I'm missing anything here. I like this line a lot!

I doubt they go Rb1. They probably go Nf3 or Qe3 to protect the pawn, but I don't see this as a bad thing. We can still go Bg7 to bring another attacker on the pawn.

My biggest concern would be along the lines of

Qd5

Qe3 ?????

Qf3 ?????

Nf6+, getting our queen, but I'm pretty sure that we could easily diffuse this during our ?????s

We'd also have to make sure that we never left

f6 unprotected.

In response to Qe3 or Qf3, I think we go Bb4+. If they go c3 we go Ba5 and pin the pawn plus protect against d8.

If they retreat the N, they lose the Nf6 threat, plus we exchange the B for the N and win the e pawn in the exchange.

If they move the Kf2, we go Nc6.

Take a look.

 

[pizzatyme]

White, so that's 3 votes for Nxb5.

 

[spOOfy]

white - Nxb5 for me. i figured we were doing that if he ever went cxb5.

will look at black now. my opp still hasn't moved yet, so i just realized now we are on the clock.

 

[spOOfy]

the 1st move i saw, i quickly dismissed in moving the Q and B4 to threaten his queen/king. Realized it wouldn't work because of the pawn at c2. 2nd move for me Qd5. not sure why, but it did make me swallow hard. i think they have several moves they could make here, but they will be going on the defensive, which i like.

Be7 is a decent move also. i believe joet said it was a conservative move and i agree. nothing wrong with it though, we are setting ourselves up for more possibilities with it. i think Nc6 is a fine move also. what do you see him doing if we move that piece?

 

[pizzatyme]

I don't think I like Nc6 any more.

Nc6

NxN bxc6

Nf6 mate in 2

For me it's Qd5 or Be7

What does everyone think their line is after Qd5? I don't see trouble here.

 

[spOOfy]

if we did Qd5, the moves for them that come immediately to mind are:

Nc3

Nf2

Qd3 or Qe2 or Qe3

Bd3

i haven't mapped out what each what entail so not sure which is most likely.

 

[pizzatyme]

if we did Qd5, the moves for them that come immediately to mind are:

Nc3

Nf2

Qd3 or Qe2 or Qe3

Bd3

i haven't mapped out what each what entail so not sure which is most likely.

At this point in the game being that we're up 2 pawns, I'm happy making even trades as long as it doesn't give pawn structure or position away. With that said:

Nc3 Qa5 pinning the N to the Q/K

Nf2 Nxe5

Bxe5 Qxe5 and we win a pawn

Any Q move and we go Bb4+

Bd3 Nxe5 and win a pawn

 

[nysfl2]

I don't think I like Nc6 any more.

Nc6

NxN bxc6

Nf6 mate in 2

For me it's Qd5 or Be7

What does everyone think their line is after Qd5? I don't see trouble here.

Good catch on the Nc6

Qd5 almost has to lead to Nc3 or Qe2/Qe3. Nc3 leads to us pinning his knight in front of his king/queen. Queen move has us go Bb4 and put him in check. Looks win-win.

One other line to consider would be to do something to protect b4 (Qa3 (I think preferred), Qa4, or a5), and try to get a queen pin with Bb4. But they're probably too good to miss that, right?

 

[nysfl2]

if we did Qd5, the moves for them that come immediately to mind are:

Nc3

Nf2

Qd3 or Qe2 or Qe3

Bd3

i haven't mapped out what each what entail so not sure which is most likely.

At this point in the game being that we're up 2 pawns, I'm happy making even trades as long as it doesn't give pawn structure or position away.With that said:

Nc3 Qa5 pinning the N to the Q/K

Nf2 Nxe5

Bxe5 Qxe5 and we win a pawn

Any Q move and we go Bb4+

Bd3 Nxe5 and win a pawn

Actually, Bd3 and we go Qxd4 and win a knight

 

[pizzatyme]

Qa3 I think they go c3

Qa4 I don't see what we gain. We also don't lose anything with it.

a5 I don't like as it give up their Nb5 threatening Nc7 fork. a6 is serving us really well right now IMO.

 

[pizzatyme]

if we did Qd5, the moves for them that come immediately to mind are:

Nc3

Nf2

Qd3 or Qe2 or Qe3

Bd3

i haven't mapped out what each what entail so not sure which is most likely.

At this point in the game being that we're up 2 pawns, I'm happy making even trades as long as it doesn't give pawn structure or position away.

With that said:

Nc3 Qa5 pinning the N to the Q/K

Nf2 Nxe5

Bxe5 Qxe5 and we win a pawn

Any Q move and we go Bb4+

Bd3 Nxe5 and win a pawn

Actually, Bd3 and we go Qxd4 and win a knight

Where's the forest? I can't see it with all these trees in my way!

 

[nysfl2]

Qa3 I think they go c3

Qa4 I don't see what we gain. We also don't lose anything with it.

a5 I don't like as it give up their Nb5 threatening Nc7 fork. a6 is serving us really well right now IMO.

Actually Qb2 may be the best way to pursue that line. Then if they move the pawn, we can trade queens.

They have a surprisingly difficult time attacking us there, too.

 

[pizzatyme]

Qb2 seems okay too.

nys, what don't you like about Qd5? I'm not married to it, just wondering if I may be missing something.

 

[nysfl2]

Qb2 seems okay too.

nys, what don't you like about Qd5? I'm not married to it, just wondering if I may be missing something.

Nothing. It's probably the best move, though we'll have to watch out for future knight pinning action.

I'm mostly just throwing #### against the wall for discussion to see if anything sticks.

 

[Sand]

White - I can't find any fault with Nxb5. I am going to make that move.

Black - I also can't see anything desperately wrong with Qd5. It moves our Q back into a central position and immediately places pressure on their attack. This is the only move I see that does this. I'm not sold yet, though I am not catching on to the worry about b4. Someone is going to have to clue me in there.

 

[pizzatyme]

Qb2 seems okay too.

nys, what don't you like about Qd5? I'm not married to it, just wondering if I may be missing something.

Nothing. It's probably the best move, though we'll have to watch out for future knight pinning action.

I'm mostly just throwing #### against the wall for discussion to see if anything sticks.

Fair enough. I'm doing the same.

Qb2 positives:

-continues to threaten Bb4

-attacks the black diagonal with the Q

-puts it on a protected square

Qb2 potential negatives:

-Nd6+ BxN

exd6 with a passed pawn with plenty of protection.

-Bc4 gets another piece in play to attack the Q and opens them up for castling and applies pressure to f7

 

[pizzatyme]

White - I can't find any fault with Nxb5. I am going to make that move.

Black - I also can't see anything desperately wrong with Qd5. It moves our Q back into a central position and immediately places pressure on their attack. This is the only move I see that does this. I'm not sold yet, though I am not catching on to the worry about b4. Someone is going to have to clue me in there.

I don't think there is a worry about b4 for us, but rather them after we do Bb4. Unless I'm wrong.

 

[spOOfy]

if we did Qd5, the moves for them that come immediately to mind are:

Nc3

Nf2

Qd3 or Qe2 or Qe3

Bd3

i haven't mapped out what each what entail so not sure which is most likely.

At this point in the game being that we're up 2 pawns, I'm happy making even trades as long as it doesn't give pawn structure or position away.With that said:

Nc3 Qa5 pinning the N to the Q/K

Nf2 Nxe5

Bxe5 Qxe5 and we win a pawn

Any Q move and we go Bb4+

Bd3 Nxe5 and win a pawn

i'm sold on Qd5.

i looked through those possible moves this morning and i agree we can counter with strong moves in return. i didn't see anything scary down the line, so my vote is for Qd5.

 

[spOOfy]

Qb2?

That was the move I originally looked at (with our black bishop moving later), but I didn't see much benefit in it. How does it continue to threaten Bb4? isn't moving to Qb2 doing the opposite?

 

[Sand]

if we did Qd5, the moves for them that come immediately to mind are:

Nc3

Nf2

Qd3 or Qe2 or Qe3

Bd3

i haven't mapped out what each what entail so not sure which is most likely.

At this point in the game being that we're up 2 pawns, I'm happy making even trades as long as it doesn't give pawn structure or position away.With that said:

Nc3 Qa5 pinning the N to the Q/K

Nf2 Nxe5

Bxe5 Qxe5 and we win a pawn

Any Q move and we go Bb4+

Bd3 Nxe5 and win a pawn

i'm sold on Qd5.

i looked through those possible moves this morning and i agree we can counter with strong moves in return. i didn't see anything scary down the line, so my vote is for Qd5.

Seconded.

(though I left my phone at home, so any move will be tonight and we can discuss all day).

 

[pizzatyme]

I firsted it. ?

Now, I'll third it.

 

[spOOfy]

Qb2?

That was the move I originally looked at (with our black bishop moving later), but I didn't see much benefit in it. How does it continue to threaten Bb4? isn't moving to Qb2 doing the opposite?

pizza - can you comment on this?

 

[pizzatyme]

Spoofy, Qb2 allows for the potential to trade Queens if we can get in Bb4 because they'll likely go c3 which we can then exchange Queens.

It also prevents them from doing Nc3 after Qb2 as we then move Bb4 and have the N totally pinned to the Q/K. They'd have to move Nde2 and then they are in full retreat while blocking in their Bishop. We can then assault them with our other pieces.

 

[spOOfy]

Spoofy, Qb2 allows for the potential to trade Queens if we can get in Bb4 because they'll likely go c3 which we can then exchange Queens.

It also prevents them from doing Nc3 after Qb2 as we then move Bb4 and have the N totally pinned to the Q/K. They'd have to move Nde2 and then they are in full retreat while blocking in their Bishop. We can then assault them with our other pieces.

ah, okay. did not realize you were including a Q exchange in that scenario.

 

[pizzatyme]

Yeah, my thought is we are up 2 pawns and it works to our advantage to trade pieces and simplify the position as long as it doesn't wreck our pawn structure or weaken our position.

 

[pizzatyme]

Sand, what time est will you make the move?

 

[nysfl2]

Qd5 - Fourthified!

 

[Sand]

Qd5 - Fourthified!

Done!

 

[Sand]

In our white game, O has moved Bd7. I can see a4 and g5 as considerations.

Discuss!

 

[Joe T]

In our white game, O has moved Bd7. I can see a4 and g5 as considerations.

Discuss!

I can see a4. I don't like g5 ( and probably never will )

a4 keeps us from having a lone pawn out there if O decides exchanging his white bishop is a good idea.

I would also like to consider Rb1 as it gets our rook involved in the attack queen side.

And would like to consider O-O. I think I have been the only one mentioning castling king side. I think we have to at some point. It helps the defense of our king and brings our other rook into the game and into the attack queen side.

 

[Sand]

In our white game, O has moved Bd7. I can see a4 and g5 as considerations.

Discuss!

I can see a4. I don't like g5 ( and probably never will )

a4 keeps us from having a lone pawn out there if O decides exchanging his white bishop is a good idea.

I would also like to consider Rb1 as it gets our rook involved in the attack queen side.

And would like to consider O-O. I think I have been the only one mentioning castling king side. I think we have to at some point. It helps the defense of our king and brings our other rook into the game and into the attack queen side.

I agree on considering O-O. Looking at it I like a4 before g5 or Rb1, as that sets us up to attack their d pawn.

 

[pizzatyme]

I might also suggest Qb2. If they take the N, We get our Q into the attack. See if you hate it.

 

[pizzatyme]

I also like O-O.

There is nothing wrong with a4. I just think we can make that move any time they threaten the b pawn. Unless you guys are worried about them going a4?

 

[nysfl2]

I think I'd prefer a4, mostly because if he takes the knight, I prefer axb5 over cxb5 based on the resulting pawn structure and how it opens things up for the rook. Agree that O-O should be in our short-term plans.

 

[pizzatyme]

I'll second that call nys.

In the black game, I see Nc6 to try to exchange Ns.

b5 to advance the pawn while also preparing for a possible Bb7 supporting the Q on the white diagonal which attacks the N but also g2 in case the castle.

Bb4 to force possibly c3 in which we do Ba5. This blocks Nc3 attack on the Q as well.

Look 'em over.

 

[Sand]

I think I'd prefer a4, mostly because if he takes the knight, I prefer axb5 over cxb5 based on the resulting pawn structure and how it opens things up for the rook. Agree that O-O should be in our short-term plans.

And I like a4 simply because if he does take the knight he could then go a5 and block us from supporting that pawn. I'd rather the continuity. If me move a4 and he does take I much prefer taking back with the c pawn - I hate having that pass pawn there like that.

In our black game O moved Qd3. Obviously goading us into Nxe5. So let's see:

Nxe5

Bxe5 Qxe5

Nf3 Qc7

Nf6+ Ke7

Qa3+ lose queen

Nxe5

Bxe5 Qxe5

Nf3 Qa5+

c3 Be7 anyone see another variant here? Looks reasonable

So it looks like we have 3 votes for a4 for white? I count myself, Pizza, and nys. At least I think I do.

 

[nysfl2]

on a4.

Need to look at black later.

 

[pizzatyme]

Sand, for black, see my notes above.

 

[nysfl2]

Black

Assuming we go Nxe6, I keep looking for a disaster line if he goes Nc6 after we take the bishop with our queen, but as long as we can go Qa5, I think we can wriggle out of it.

 

[nysfl2]

Wait, no - Nxe5 leads to Nf6 and disaster. Nxe5 is not an option.

 

[nysfl2]

Nc6, Bg7, or Be7 look like they're all worth considering.

 

[pizzatyme]

Wait, no - Nxe5 leads to Nf6 and disaster. Nxe5 is not an option.

nys, I posted what I see as possible lines for our black game above. And Nxe5 is not one of those options.

 

[pizzatyme]

Black

b5 will protect against c5

I think I'd prefer a4, mostly because if he takes the knight, I prefer axb5 over cxb5 based on the resulting pawn structure and how it opens things up for the rook. Agree that O-O should be in our short-term plans.

And I like a4 simply because if he does take the knight he could then go a5 and block us from supporting that pawn. I'd rather the continuity. If me move a4 and he does take I much prefer taking back with the c pawn - I hate having that pass pawn there like that.

In our black game O moved Qd3. Obviously goading us into Nxe5. So let's see:

Nxe5

Bxe5 Qxe5

Nf3 Qc7

Nf6+ Ke7

Qa3+ lose queen

Nxe5

Bxe5 Qxe5

Nf3 Qa5+

c3 Be7 anyone see another variant here? Looks reasonable

So it looks like we have 3 votes for a4 for white? I count myself, Pizza, and nys. At least I think I do.

In your first line Qa3+ we can just go Kxf6

 

[nysfl2]

Wait, no - Nxe5 leads to Nf6 and disaster. Nxe5 is not an option.

nys, I posted what I see as possible lines for our black game above. And Nxe5 is not one of those options.

Good call

Given our lead in pawns, I'm kinda liking the Nc6 to force some piece trades and break up those knights in the middle of the board.

 

[pizzatyme]

Nxe5 isn't horrible as I see it. It wins another pawn and leads to an exchange of pieces.

Nex5

Bxe5 Qxe5

Nf3 Bc4+? either moves the K, Nfd2, or c3. If they go c3 we take with the Bishop and win another pawn.

Nxe5

Nf6+ Kd8

NxQ NxQ+

Rxd3 exd5 and we're up 3 pawns with the Qs off the board.

What is the disastrous move if we go Nxe5?

 

[Sand]

Wait, no - Nxe5 leads to Nf6 and disaster. Nxe5 is not an option.

nys, I posted what I see as possible lines for our black game above. And Nxe5 is not one of those options.

Saw that just after I posted.

 

[pizzatyme]

Wait, no - Nxe5 leads to Nf6 and disaster. Nxe5 is not an option.

nys, I posted what I see as possible lines for our black game above. And Nxe5 is not one of those options.

Saw that just after I posted.

 

[Sand]

Nxe5 isn't horrible as I see it. It wins another pawn and leads to an exchange of pieces.

Nex5

Bxe5 Qxe5

Nf3 Bc4+? either moves the K, Nfd2, or c3. If they go c3 we take with the Bishop and win another pawn.

Nxe5

Nf6+ Kd8

NxQ NxQ+

Rxd3 exd5 and we're up 3 pawns with the Qs off the board.

What is the disastrous move if we go Nxe5?

Nxe5

Nf6+ Kd8

NxQ+ screwed as we must take the knight and then lose the queen.

After looking I am liking the Be7 move. We have a big hole at f6. Next move if he moves Nf6 our only choice is NxN. This protects both d8 and f6 and allows for O-O. Not only that but it then attacks the pawn at e5 as our knight is now free to head there. This leads to a queen exchange and likely another pawn which is very good for us.

 

[pizzatyme]

Actually, Nxe5 ultimately gives up a pawn if they follow this line:

Nxe5

Nf6+ Kd8

Nxe6+ fxe6

Nxd5 Nxd3+

Rxd3 exd5

Rxd5+ and that looks ugly for us

 

[pizzatyme]

Nxe5 isn't horrible as I see it. It wins another pawn and leads to an exchange of pieces.

Nex5

Bxe5 Qxe5

Nf3 Bc4+? either moves the K, Nfd2, or c3. If they go c3 we take with the Bishop and win another pawn.

Nxe5

Nf6+ Kd8

NxQ NxQ+

Rxd3 exd5 and we're up 3 pawns with the Qs off the board.

What is the disastrous move if we go Nxe5?

Nxe5

Nf6+ Kd8

NxQ+ screwed as we must take the knight and then lose the queen.

After looking I am liking the Be7 move. We have a big hole at f6. Next move if he moves Nf6 our only choice is NxN. This protects both d8 and f6 and allows for O-O. Not only that but it then attacks the pawn at e5 as our knight is now free to head there. This leads to a queen exchange and likely another pawn which is very good for us.

We don't have to take the N after NxQ. We can do NxQ+. But, as I said in my last post, it ultimately loses a pawn.