BBR vs RR

Originally posted by National Master Dale
Homework answers;
assignment 1


27.h3 is a terrible move for the same reason that whites next moves are terrible.
They are useless and accomplish nothing usefull.
I agree that the word terrible is arguably an exageration since its no more harmful to white`s position than saying I pass.I felt it was important to label it as terrible since ...[text shortened]... ime is always important and not only in the opening.

assignment 3
46.Rd8 is the losing move.

On assignment 1, could you tell us what would have been a better move and plan instead of 27.h3 in your opinion?

I liked 27.h3 a lot and also his next move 28.Be5. With 28.Be5 white centralises his bishop and annoys the black rook. He went wrong the next move (29.Bf6) because instead of consistently playing for the initiative he made an unnecessary 'defensive' move, hoping to prevent black from doubling rooks on the d-file. It could have gone this way: 28.Be5 Rd7 29.Bc6 Rd3 (trying to stay on the d-file) 30.Kc2 Rbd8 31.Re2 and white is safe and at the same time attacking on the queenside (c7 for a starter). The 27.h3 move is very relevant in this scheme, it allows white to maintain his white-coloured bishop on that diagonal. Had he played 27.Be5 (also good in my opinion) then black could have played g4! with the idea of 28.Bxd6 cxd6 29.Bd1 (or Be2) Kf7 with at least some counterplay and a good pawn for the piece.

assignment 2
I agree with the statement, but where is the plan in there? This is just a general guideline, position independent

assignment 3
The losing move was 45.Kf3?? But black played poorly Kf5, instead of the immediate 45. ... Rc3+. Black 'wasted time' by thinking he had to take away square g4 for the white king (although 46.Kg4 Kg6 simply won), but gave white the chance to defend (Bb2) and keep the upperhand. Of course 46.Rd8 was the final blunder, allowing mate in 2.

I like Mephisto`s assignment 3 answer better than my answer.

assignment 1 I like 27.h4 or 27 g4 to trade at least 1 kingside pawn.

Originally posted by clandarkfire
Because National Master Dale doesn't know as much as he thinks he knows?

You're a very strong player. Why do you say that?

I suspect White wants to arrange an exchange of rooks, to reduce Black's (counter-)attacking potential, and then activate his King. Perhaps a7 or c7 are the weak points to aim to attack, to create a passed pawn. The bishops should be able to hold back the kingside.

Originally posted by chessicle
I suspect White wants to arrange an exchange of rooks, to reduce Black's (counter-)attacking potential, and then activate his King. Perhaps a7 or c7 are the weak points to aim to attack, to create a passed pawn. The bishops should be able to hold back the kingside.

I was working off the principle that one Rook is stronger than two Rooks, which it is statistically due to redundancy issues, but that doesn't mean it applies to this specific situation.

http://home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Articles/evaluation_of_material_imbalance.htm

Originally posted by Tiwaking
3. d4? - Game does downhill after that


3. Nc3!

Nc3 is inferior

22. Bxg7 a good idea?

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
22. Bxg7 a good idea?

22. Bxg7 Kxg7

Then what?

Wait a second. He cant take the bishop!

22. Bxg7 Kxg7
23. Rxd7

And white is threatening all sorts of nasty things

Even if

22. Bxg7 Rfd8
23. Bf6

Wins a piece

That is excellent spotting!

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
22. Bxg7 a good idea?

22.Bxg7 is definitely better than what you played (Bc3).
Another good move was the simple 22.Bxa7.
But perhaps the best was 22.Bc5, threatening to take on f8, as well as on d7 followed by taking on c6.

Originally posted by Mephisto2
22.Bxg7 is definitely better than what you played (Bc3).
Another good move was the simple 22.Bxa7.
But perhaps the best was 22.Bc5, threatening to take on f8, as well as on d7 followed by taking on c6.

22. Bc5 Rfd8 seems to stop all that.

EDIT - Oops, never mind. 23. Rxd7 Rxd7 24. Bxc6