Instead we need to find a way to make use of our Q-side space advantage. I'm think of a plan involving Nd2-c4-b6 Rfc1 f3 and then trying to invade on the c-file. We might then be able to play N3-a4 followed by Nxd7 and Nb6 and eventually send up with the B on b6 controlling the c7 square.

12...Qd6 protects N/e5 (oversight, but outcome is still not too advantageous for Black.)

13.exd5 Qxd5 14.Nc3 develops with tempo .

Be3 creates the immediate threat of Bb6, brings a piece off the back line with some support for our kingside, brings us a step closer to coordinating our rooks on the back rank, and as <Thorsson> has previously shown hinders black playing d5

Also with the B off c1, if black plays Nxd3, it is a simple matter for white to gain control of the open c-file after the cxd3 recapture.

Several lines have been looked at elsewhere, and some lines continue far into the hypothetical future. This material is probably best seen as raw source material for ideas. Use with care, but play through it if you're interested.

<1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Be7 7.Qg4 g6 8.Qe2 d6 9.0–0 Nd7 10.a4 Ne5 11.a5 Nf6>

12.Be3 12...0–0
[12...Nfd7; 12...Nxd3 13.Qxd3 (13.cxd3 0–0 14.N1d2 d5 15.e5) 13...Bd7

a) 13...d5 14.e5 Nd7 (14...Ne4 15.Bb6 Qd7 16.f3 Ng5 17.h4 h6 18.hxg5 hxg5; 14...Ng4 15.Bb6 Qd7 16.Qe2 h5 17.Nc3) 15.f4 f6 16.exf6 Bxf6 17.Nc3 (17.N1d2 Bxb2 18.Rae1 0–0 19.c4 Bg7 20.cxd5 Nf6 21.d6 Bd7 (21...Ne8 22.Nc4) 22.Bb6 Qc8 23.Rc1) 17...0–0 18.Rae1 b6 19.Nxd5;

b) 13...0–0 14.f4 (14.Bb6 Qe8 15.f4 Qb5 16.Qf3 Qh5 17.Qxh5 Nxh5 18.Nc3 Bd7 19.Rad1) 14...Bd7 15.Nc3 Bc6 16.f5 Rc8 17.Rad1 Kh8 18.Bh6 Rg8 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Bf4 e5 21.Bg5 Rf8 22.Rf2 b5 23.Rdf1; 14.Nc3 (14.Bb6 Qc8 15.Nc3) 14...Bc6 15.Bb6;

12...Nfg4 13.Bb6;
12...Bd7 13.Nc3 (13.Bb6 Qc8 14.Nc3 Nxd3 15.cxd3 0–0 16.d4 (16.Rac1 Bc6 17.d4 Qd7 18.Rfe1) 16...Bc6 17.Rac1) 13...Nxd3 14.Qxd3 Bc6 15.Nd4; 12...d5 13.Bb6 Qd7 14.exd5 Nxd3 15.dxe6 Qxe6 16.Qxd3;

12...d5 13.Bb6 Qd7 14.exd5 Nxd3 15.dxe6 Qxe6 16.Qxd3 0–0 17.Nc3 Re8 (17...Qf5 18.Rad1 Qxd3 19.Rxd3 Bf5 20.Re3 Bxc2 21.Nd4) 18.Rfe1 Qf5]

13.Bb6 Qd7 14.exd5 Nxd3 15.dxe6 seems convincing

Offhand and unsubtle always gets to me. Chess is so subjective anyhow, don't you think?

With so many closely parallel lines, there is no right or wrong.

Anyways, this correspondence game that came my way, from you was it? Not funny, I don't think. It looks like it was started by grandmasters and finished by toddlers. Very odd indeed.

But one strangely powerful move came out of it. One nobody mentions anywhere. I was going to ask the l--d m--ths, but they will only come up with a waspish dismissal.

Now for the 12.Be3 crowd, here are Black's responses:

25-ply

Analysis by Rybka 2.1c mp:

1. = (0.11): 12...0-0 13.Nc3 Bd7 14.f4 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Bc6 16.Bb6 Qd7 17.Nd4 Rfe8 18.Qd2 e5 19.Nxc6

2. = (0.13): 12...Bd7 13.Nc3 0-0 14.f4 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Bc6 16.Nd4 Rc8 17.Nxc6 Rxc6 18.Bb6 Qd7 19.f5

3. = (0.13): 12...Nxd3 13.cxd3 0-0 14.Nc3 Bd7 15.f4 Bc6 16.Nd4 Rc8 17.Nxc6 Rxc6 18.Bb6 Qd7 19.f5

4. = (0.25): 12...Qc7 13.Bb6 Qb8 14.Nc3 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 Bd7 16.f4 Bc6 17.Nd4 0-0 18.f5 Bd7 19.fxe6

19-ply

5. = (0.22): 12...Nfd7 13.Nc3 0-0 14.f4 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Rb8 16.f5 Bf6 17.Bh6 Re8 18.fxe6 Rxe6 19.Nd5

17-ply

6. ² (0.26): 12...Nh5 13.Nc3 Bd7 14.f4 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 0-0 16.Rad1 Bc6 17.f5 exf5 18.exf5 Re8 19.Bb6

7. ² (0.27): 12...Rb8 13.Nc3 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 e5 15.Bb6 Qd7 16.Ra4 0-0 17.Rd1 Qe6 18.Rb4 Qd7 19.Be3

8. ² (0.29): 12...Qd7 13.Nc3 0-0 14.f4 Nxd3 15.cxd3 e5 16.f5 Kh8 17.Rac1 gxf5 18.exf5 Rg8 19.Kh1

9. ² (0.29): 12...h5 13.Nc3 0-0 14.f4 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 Bd7 16.Rad1 Bc6 17.Bb6 Qc8 18.Nd4 d5 19.Nxc6

10. ² (0.36): 12...d5 13.Nc3 dxe4 14.Bxe4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Qc7 16.f4 Qc4 17.Qxc4 Nxc4 18.Bd4 0-0 19.Ra4

Notes:

I have 3 and sometimes 4 computers in simultaneous use on this game (including a Tyan TX46 server with 4 dual-core Opteron 880 processors). I usually set Rybka to "ultraslow" and "ultra optimistic" settings, which is the slowest setting and most accurate for long-term analysis. (This setting is not recommended for over-the-board playing.) Additionally, please note that I am not a chess expert. Please read the commentary and advice of other players at Chessgames Challenge , in order to make an informed decision on the best move in this game. Please do NOT vote for a move just because a computer says it is best. God gave you a brain and He intends for you to use it. I am suspicious of other chess engines when used for deep analysis - I have looked at Shredder, Hiarcs, Fritz, Junior and they may be good for over-the-board play but are not that accurate for correspondence play. There may be a delay in keeping this forum up to date, because I have to work, eat, sleep, etc. Your comments and suggestions are welcome - I value and respect your ideas.

Weird and wonderful.

Meanwhile I've posted the new Rybka analysis from <RandomVisitor> to my Forum. I do think - with his processing power, hardware, ply depth etc - that his engine variations need to be taken more seriously than most.

But I note that practically all the lines given follow 12.Be3 with Nc3 - bypassing the work we've done on alternative Nb1 developments via a3 or d2. As has been regularly pointed out, there are very good reasons for regarding Nc3 as a sub-optimal development for this piece.

2. = (0.13): 12...Bd7 13.Nc3>

13.Bb6 Qd6 14.f4 Nxd3 15.e5 Qb4 (or Qc6) 16.exf6 that <cotdt> appears to have engine-checked convince me less, what if 15...Nxe5 ?>

: < Thorsson: <Analysis by Rybka 2.1c mp: 2. = (0.13): 12...Bd7 13.Nc3>

Hmmm. Can't we play Bb6 here, as he can't move to the e8 square?>

Yes, it certainly looks better - or maybe much the same, in Rybka's long-term view, but perhaps the beast has a built-in proclivity for Nc3 which overrides other considerations?

More generally, I think Black has a problem regarding d7. His Queen, Bishop and either knight might want to go there. After 12.Be3 Bd7, we reach a position where 13.Bb6 is strong - because the Queen's escape squares are restricted (he hasn't castled yet) and because the bishop prevents ...Nd7 to challenge our Bb6.

After 13...Qb8 (or Qc8) we can just develop the Nb1. Maybe to Nc3, maybe via the picturesque route Na3 (which stops ...Bb5) or Nd2 (options then of either Nc4 or Nf3).

<Domdaniel> I was thinking of a line like 12.Be3 Bd7 13.Bb6 Qb8 14.[Nb1 moves where?] Interesting point. 14.Na3 and 14.Nc3 both prevent the immediate threat of ...Bb5. 14.N1d2 looks playable, but Black can counter with 14...Nxd3 15.cxd3 (when 15.Qxd3 is bad because of 15...Bb5).

But on reflection (plus Fritz) I think this line looks good for us. The Nd2 isn't going to c4 immediately, let alone b6 - but the possibility stands. As does f4 followed by Nf3. Meanwhile Black has to castle, his rooks are miles out of play compared to ours, and if the c-file is opened we grab it first with Rc1.

Don't forget to amend your bio after 1900 GMT!

Catch up with you before then hopefully.

Thanks for all your help with this project, and the support you've been providing the rest of the team. Good stuff, all of it.

You need to hone your reading skills. Many of us voting for Be3 do not want to follow up with Nc3.

**MARKER DIAGRAM**

12.Be3 has been played. Until our move comes round again, I'm now going to host analysis of possibilities if AN replies 12...O-O, reaching this position:

click for larger view

In this position Black has played 12...O-O and it's our move again. Do we develop the Nb1? If so, where? Or do we jump in with 13.Bb6, hitting the Queen? Or what?

Since this isn't quite the same as making a case for our next move, I think we can relax briefly and let our minds wander. It's AN's thinking time, after all. So feel free to indulge in idle speculation, or to construct far reaching positional plans. What do we do if he castles? What's the best way to proceed?

If you would like me to make you a board with a line you like, send me the pgn. You can take it straight from your GUI if you feed your comments into the engine.

Humming?

There will be advocates for f4, but there is no need to rush that move either. There are lines where f3 may be an important defensive move and I'm not sure I want to prompt the option of remaneuvering the e5 N to d7 or having it take our d3 B yet because our optimum recapture choice may become clearer after another move or two from black.

This means that developing our b1 N is likely the best option. You can bet the Nc3 folks are going to be out in force for this move after their prior losses. It may be the right move but I want to look at the options first. If we don't, Nc3 could take a runaway lead in the early voting and never get caught.

My gut instinct is Nd2 for the following reasons:
1. the followup Nc4 immediately puts the question to black regarding Nxc4 or Nxd3; if Nxc4, his well posted N departs for ours which has moved fewer times and our KB becomes more active; if Nxd3, we have a decision to make on how to recapture but it's a good N for a bad B, our N can't be kept from b6 and we may even have the option of Nb6 threatening the rook before we recapture on d3; 2. on c3 our N has less options and could become a target on the c-file; 3. after Nxd3 and a cxd3 recapture, we have connected rooks and can take immediate control of the c-file which along with a subsequent Nc4 and Nb6 would provide us with a crushing position on the queenside; 4. should it be necessary to provide additional defense on our kingside or to support a center or kingside push after f4, the N gets to f3 right away.

In short, Nd2 provides maximum flexibilty while waiting for black to show more of his hand using Arno's own strategy against him.