| Aug-31-07 | | MarkThornton: The position after Black's 19th move is of some theoretical importance. If White can find a way to make progress in this endgame, then the pawn sacrifice <11...Ne4> may be put out of business. |
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| Aug-31-07 | | MarkThornton: At move 20, I propose this plan for White:
20. e3, 21. Bf1 (to protect c4) and 22. Nd4 (blocking the d-file and hitting the bishop.) The move order can be changed, according to circumstances. This endgame might be difficult for White to win, but I am sure that White can push Black harder than Brinck-Claussen did. |
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| Sep-03-07 | | MarkThornton: <22. a3> is a strange move. It looks as though White was planning <22. Rd1>, but then realised that he would lose a pawn after 22...Rxd1+ 23. Kxd1 <Ne4!> Black threatens Nc3+ and Nxf2. If 24. Ke1 then 24....Nc3 25. a3 Nb1 wins the a-pawn, and Black is close to a win. So White would have to play <24. Kc1!> Nxf2. 
click for larger viewWhite to move. Black has equality, at least. |
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| Sep-04-07 | | MarkThornton: On the World vs GJT site, <DeepBreath> gives this Rybka line after <20.e3>: = (+0.00) (26 ply) 20...Rd3 21.Bf1 Ra3 22.Nd4 Kf7 23.Be2 Be6 24.h4 Kf6 25.g4 Bf7 26.Kg2 h6 27.Kg3 This line is consistent with my own researches, which suggest that 20. e3 is premature, as it allows the Rd8 to invade White's position by Rd8-d3-a3. |
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| Sep-04-07 | | MarkThornton: After a thorough study of the position after Black's 19th move, I believe that White can force an advantage with the surprising retreat <20. Bf1>.
click for larger viewBlack to move
The aim of this move is to protect d3, thus enabling the manouevre 21. e3 and 22. Nd4, without allowing a rook invasion by Black. This manoeuvre neutralises Black's pressure on the d-file. After <21. Bf1>, Black has a number of plausible replies, which I will consider in separate posts: A) 20...h6
B) 20...a5
C) 20...Be4
D) 20...Bg4
E) 20...Ne4
F) 20...Be6 |
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| Sep-04-07 | | MarkThornton: Line A: <20. Bf1 h6> With this line, Black falls in with White's plan, but preserves his well-placed bishop from exchange. 21. e3 g5 22. Nd4 Bg6 23. Be2
click for larger viewBlack to move.
White will play Rd1 and then Nb3, intitiating exchanges that should allow him to exploit his extra pawn. |
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| Sep-04-07 | | MarkThornton: Line B: <20. Bf1 a5> Black follows GJT's play in his game against Brinck-Claussen. 21. e3 a4 22. Nd4 Bd3 23. Rc1 Bxf1 24. Kxf1
click for larger viewBlack to move
Black's counterplay has been neutralised. White can soon begin to advance on the K-side, aiming to exploit his extra pawn. |
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| Sep-07-07 | | MarkThornton: Line C: <20. Bf1 Be4> Black threatens 21...Bxf3 and 22..Rd2, when Black's rook invasion would guarantee the draw. So White needs to do something quickly: <21. Ng5> Bc2 (21...Bf5 22. Re1 reaches the main line, with a move less for each side) 22. Rc1 Bf5 (22...Ba4 23 Nf3 allows White to revert to his original plan with 24. e3 and 25. Nd4) 23. Re1! and now
C1) <23...Rd2> 24. e4 Bg4 (the only move to prevent 25. Re2!) 25. e5!  
click for larger viewBlack to move. White's threat of e6-e7-e8 seems to force 25....Bd7, when White has a pleasant choice between 26. e6 and 26. Re2. C2) <23...h6> 24. e4! hxg5 25. exf5 gxf5 26. Re5 
click for larger viewBlack to move. White will emerge a pawn up, with excellent winning chances. |
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| Sep-09-07 | | MarkThornton: Line D: <20. Bf1 Bg4> As with Line C, Black threatens 21...Bxf3 and 22..Rd2, when Black's rook invasion would guarantee the draw. so... <21. Ne5!> Bf5 22. g4 (22. Nd3? Bxd3 23. exd3 Rd4 gives Black a cast-iron blockade) 22...Be4 23. f3 Bc2 24. Rc1 and now D1) 24...Ba4 25. Nd3 Nxd3 26. exd3 c5 27. Kf2
click for larger viewBlack to move. In the long-term, White has good winning chances, based on advancing his K-side pawn majority. D2) 24...Rd2 25. h4 Kg7 26. Kf2 Ba4 27. a3 Ra2 28. Rc3 
click for larger viewBlack to move. This is one of the few lines after <20. Bf1> where Black does invade with is rook. But he has done so at a price. Black's bishop is off-side, and White has organised an economical defence of his 3 weak pawns, at a3, c4 and e2. White now threatens to gain significant space on the K-side, with g5 and Ng4. |
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| Sep-09-07 | | MarkThornton: Line E: <20. Bf1 Ne4> After 21. e3, Black's idea is to play 21...Nd2, forcing the exchange of minor pieces. 22. Rd1?? is not possible, due to 22...Nxf3 CHECK. Hence, White's best reply is to move his king. <21. Kg2!> 21...Rd7 22. e3 Nd2 23. Ne5 Re7 24. f4 
click for larger viewBlack to move. White's powerful knight gives him every reason to hope for a win. |
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| Sep-09-07 | | MarkThornton: Line F: <20. Bf1 Be6> changing diagonals to attack the c-pawn. Black hopes for 22. e3 Nd3 when the N blocks the defence of the c4-pawn. However, White has the move <22. Rc1> which leaves Black a bit stuck for an idea. 
click for larger viewBlack to move. White can happily continue with h4, Kg2, gaining space on the K-side. |
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| Sep-09-07 | | MarkThornton: CONCLUSION: <20. Bf1> introduces a plan of 21. e3 and 22. Nd4, neutralising Black's pressure on the d-file. It is a serious winning attempt for White. Black's best reply is probably 20...Bg4 (see Line D), but even in this line, White clearly has long-term winning chances. |
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Sep-09-07
 | | Gypsy: <MarkThornton> This area probably is not restricted to our opposition... |
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Sep-10-07
 | | whiteshark:
I guess this is what Sun Tzu once meant, when saying: <Know earth and know heaven,
Then victory can be complete.>
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