17 ...Rfd8
Game 659068
My wife's talking to me while I type this... So I hope this makes sense. Man that woman can talk when she comes back from chorus practice!
Rf-d8. Keeping my queenside rook on the queenside to backup my queenside pawns. Puts a rook on the open file.
I looked at Bb4 with a little trick trying to win either the a-pawn or d-pawn, but it doesn't work. White can trade bishops there or just play Nc3 and I don't want to move my knight from d5 yet or have it traded off without a rook on d8 first.
If g4 here from white then I'll probably try to trade bishops, take back with my knight, and attack white's backward d-pawn. I'd still like to play c5 though and push my queenside pawns at him.
18 a3
Game 659068
g4: Getting ready for the pawn advance (g5?). [I haven't yet learned the characteristics of the "circle of pawns" pattern that is formed after g4. I don't understand how to exploit it and defend in it. I will look for this before I play my next move.]
a3: Adds control of b4, which otherwise allows entry by Black. With no light-diagonal moving piece, this seems safe. It seems now I was wrong in my analysis last move when I wrote "... any queen-side pawn move [by me] or bishop move loosens my position." I think I was concerned about a3...Bxa3, bxBa3 leaving my castled position torn open. But this seems too risky to be worth it.
Originally posted by zucchiniyes g4 is the way I would go ...but your pieces arent coordinated....why not challenge the knight by nc3 ask hime some questions he will probably respond with rc8...but u need not take just find a good post for ur bishop to support g4-5.....c1 looks good then g4 and concentrate the rooks on the kingside...well what u think?
[b]18 a3
Game 659068
g4: Getting ready for the pawn advance (g5?). [I haven't yet learned the characteristics of the "circle of pawns" pattern that is formed after g4. I don't understand how to exploit it and defend in it. I will look for this before I play my next move.]
a3: Adds control of b4, which otherwise allows entry by Black. ...[text shortened]... ..Bxa3, bxBa3 leaving my castled position torn open. But this seems too risky to be worth it.
[/b]
18 ...c5
Game 659068
[/b]
Starting a queenside pawn push since white is coming after my kingside. I can't wait. White's a3 cuts out any attempt to try and win the white a or d pawns for now.
White has some light-square weaknesses in his camp, but I can't see a way to exploit any of them.
So here's what I'm looking at to continue my plan:
Development - Looks equal to me. Not an issue this late in the game.
Initiative - Neither side really has anything right now. Both players are pursuing it on opposite sides.
Space - White still has much more space on the kingside, I have a little more on the queenside (trying to get more)
Pawn Structure - White's pawns are scattered, but the d-pawn is the only one I have a shot at. Black's pawn structure is fine.
Minor pieces - There's only one really strong minor piece on the board and that's the black knight on d5. We both have dark-squared bishops so finding weak squares is tough.
Material - Even
Files and squares - d6 is weak for black, but it's well defended and hard for white to attack. g4 and b3 are weak for white, but I can't do a thing with'em. d4 is a nice square for black, but white can trade knights there from this position and trying to get my knight there now is just too slow.
King safety - The black king is starting to feel a little cramped. The white king seems fine, but he's got a little draft coming in. I'd like to give him some more air and run him around a little. 🙂 There are some light-square holes around the white king, but I can't really do anything with them.
Plan A: I think Zucc should resign and stop being such a pest.
Plan B: Rook to c8 and push my queenside pawns for all they're worth.
Look for every chance to attack the white d-pawn. If I can trade off minor pieces I can switch to attacking the d-pawn, but right now I can't see how that's possible. If white continues attacking on the kingside I'll keep pushing on the queenside and only stop if my king gets into serious trouble. My bishop and knight should be able to handle it though.
19 g4
Game 659068
g4: Looking to remove the king's cover, probably along the g-file. I will need to support this pawn advance with my rooks.
I have looked at this circle of pawns structure a little, but I can't find any mention of it in any of my books. I've played through a few patterns here, but can't find anything that Black can't defend against. However, many of these lines buy me space and time.
My d-pawn does seem weak, and my pieces seem awkward around my king, but I don't see better spots for them yet.
Offering to trade knights with Nc3 seems like it may be a good idea next. [I still can't decide about this one.]
This looks like one of those games where I have to work for very small advantages.
Also, if all the pieces were traded leaving just the pawns, I cannot tell if there is an advantage on one side or the other. It seems that having my pawns further advanced must be a slight advantage.
19 ...b5
Game 659068
Just pushing my queenside pawns here. The b4 square is strong for me after c5. I've still got a5 and Rc8, puttimg my rook in front of the white king. I'd like to keep my rook on the d-file to keep pressure on the white d-pawn with a discovered attack if I move my knight. Rd7 is in the works too if I need it. That also gives me the option of sliding the d-file rook over to the c or b file later if I have to. But for now I like it on the d-file.
I'm expecting white to keep pushing his kingside pawns. That looks like his best attacking chance by far. If so I'll try to absorb them and trade them off.
I don't see any immediate tactical complications. And that's always a nice thing.
20 g5
Game 659068
g5: I have two defenders of g5, to Black's two attackers. I expect ... hxg5, otherwise Black's h-pawn is lost, and his king cover will be ruined. [I see no counter attacks.]
I have played a few lines through, but it seems largely even. I think Black can defend quite well here, but my main threat appears to be eventual promotion rather than removing pawn cover from the king.
20 ...c4
Game 659068
I'm going to continue attacking white's king, but I really don't think I've got any chance to win any material here. I need to keep pressure on him and keep the initiative if I can. Rc8 is coming, probably b4 and c3 if I don't lose my pawn along the way.
I've still got faith in my kingside holding up against an attack. If white doesn't do something with his d-pawn here I'll take it, open the c-file, and attack his knight.
I'm now thinking my d5 knight isn't doing anything but looking nice. My bishop keeps pressure on the a3 pawn, but I don't see anything else to do with him. I analyzed Bf8 for a bit, but it's too passive and the bishop blocks my king from moving towards the center (or fleeing) if I need to.