DrGridlock: <It is true> that 23 b4 creates some "mobility" problems for black's b7 knight. There are a couple ways for black to attempt to solve these. <It is true> that 23 ... Qe7 is a bad solution to these problems, particularly when followed up with 24 ... Qe8. <<It is not true>> that 23 ... Nxe4 is a solution to these problems. The position after 24 Bxe4 Rxe4 25 Bxg7 Kxg7 26 Nd5 (not 26 Qd5 as after 26 ... Qe7 black becomes quite dominant on the e-file) is very strong for White: Boris Spassky - Paul Keres
 click for larger viewThere are a couple continuations for black, but none stop white's basic theme that the black king is exposed on g7 and open to checks from white's queen while white manuvers and strengthens his position. One example line is 26 ... Re5 27 f4 Re6 28 Qd4+ Kg8 29 Qa7 and now black's b7 knight is a "dead duck." Boris Spassky - Paul Keres
 click for larger view29 ... Qd7? 30 Rxe6 fxe6 31 Nf6+ and Uh-oh there goes black's queen! Black's best solution to his b7 knight problem is to play d5 at move 23. After 24 exd5 Nd6: Boris Spassky - Paul Keres
 click for larger viewFor the cost of black's d-pawn black's knight rejoins the game. White has an edge, but computers value that at less than the pawn that black has sacrificed (computer eval of .57 edge for white). Carry on, Paul Keres. You're down a pawn in your candidates match against Boris Spassky, but the game is not yet decided! |