<GufeldStudent> of course running a forum doesn't commit you to 'supporting' the move in question - you're still free to roam and post analysis wherever you like. The main requirements are (a) space so that others can post lines (b) willingness to copy relevant material from the main page etc and repost it (c) a final brief summary of conclusions, about 1 hour before we move.

The main move 21.Qf4 has been split into two subsections.

<jepflast> is handling 21.Qf4 Ne5 22.Nxc6, and <GufeldStudent> is taking 21.Qf4 Ne5 22.Qg3 etc.

(This 'split' idea is an innovation whose time has come - won't <twinlark> be astonished at our sheer inventiveness when he gets back?)

Still no definite taker for 21.Qg5 - Ohio is a bit too busy this time round, so another volunteer would be nice.

<OpenDefence>: Strategy Shop continues <YouRang>: Devil's Advocate, ditto.

I'll try to highlight these forums when I put a notice on the main page.

I can only try to be fair, allocate 21.Nxc6 some space somewhere, and trust that the truth of the position will out. Campaign or no campaign, I don't think it's a threat to 21.Qf4 - they should know that Lasker-style bad/good moves don't work in CC.

Please don't drop out entirely, though. At the very least, look in every 3 days and vote for whatever I tell you to. (Or Thundergod, if you prefer... smirk.)

Seriously: CG won't change the rules, and it's going to be a long haul. When <twinlark> gets back I'll talk to him about job-sharing ideas. Nobody can do this full-time and stay sane - the organization alone (never mind analysis) takes up far more time than a 'real' 1-to-1 CC. I've had to neglect various projects - chess and nonchess - that I was working on a few months ago.

My best advice is, find a happy medium. Don't be a drop-out and don't be a monomaniac. There must be a way of contributing (and even extracting pleasure from the process) while retaining an actual life.

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But what if the black king is on the other side?

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(1) They're your winnings now, having been abandoned by their previous owner. The ancient medieval law of Windfall applies ("Whose apples are these, that have fallen from the apple-tree into my pockets?")

(2) I think you're broadly right. I'm not totally comfortable with the way our bishop is hemmed in on b6 in that line - but yes, advancing the b-pawn looks winning, as long as the respective king positions are okay. It would probably take the black king 3 moves to reach your 2nd diagram, by which stage ours could reach f4 or g4 or d3...

(1) I'm not sure if there's any need to post summaries on the main page before voting closes - given that (a) the vote seems a foregone conclusion, and (b) 21.Qf4 is divided between three different forums.

If anyone wants to post a summary an hour or two before voting closes, please go ahead.

(2) I'll check individually with the hosts for the 3 subvariations of Qf4 - but are you all happy in principle to go on hosting those lines, at least until GMAN moves again (and possibly for our 22nd move as well?)

<As a potentially important question that may arise in future - tablebases. I believe it is possible to download software that can generate custom tablebases (not that there isn't a shed load of free Nalimov ones available). It might be an idea to start creating a specific database of tablebases likely to result from the current position. We may even be able to have some specialised seven-man (or even more depending) tablebases that could give some valuable insight into potential endgame positions likely to arise from our position.