Originally posted by Red NightBd2
Bd2 Nd4
Nxd4 Nxd4
Qa3 There are not a lot of good Queen moves at this point.
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After 12.Bd2 Nd4 13.Qc3 Nxf3
seems better than 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qa3
It would force a better knight exchange and put pressure on g7.
After Bd2, I don't think Nd4 would be good for black, Nc5 looks better to me.
Originally posted by ETRI agree with you on Bd2 and Nc3 may be the best response to Nd4. However, I'm not sure that Nc5 is any better than Nd4.
Bd2
After 12.Bd2 Nd4 13.Qc3 Nxf3
seems better than 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qa3
It would force a better knight exchange and put pressure on g7.
After Bd2, I don't think Nd4 would be good for black, Nc5 looks better to me.
Qc3 works better against Nc5 than it does against N(c)-d4, because there is no longer a Knight to go to g6 in response to Qxg7.
Also Nd4 sets up a mating trap if White mis-steps.
Originally posted by BLReidI don't agree with your choice of font. 😛
Bd2
Edit- Go ahead Varenka, pick that apart 😛😀
Some thoughts on the game... although my initial main line had Be7, and the game followed, I'm not convinced it is best. I like Mephisto's improvements.
But anyway, now I still think Bd2.
There are not many ways to try and save both knights now for black.
12. ... Nc5 doesn't work well after 13.Qc3! with attack on g7
12. ... Ned4 will be answered by 13.Qa4! pinning the knight on c6, at the cost of a doublepawn Ncxf3+ 14.gxf3 and 15.dxc6 or Bd7 14.dxc6 Bxc6 15.Qb4! (the bishop on e7 still pinned)
12. ... Ncd4 looks like the only viable way.
Originally posted by Mephisto2N(c)-d4
There are not many ways to try and save both knights now for black.
12. ... Nc5 doesn't work well after 13.Qc3! with attack on g7
12. ... Ned4 will be answered by 13.Qa4! pinning the knight on c6, at the cost of a doublepawn Ncxf3+ 14.gxf3 and 15.dxc6 or Bd7 14.dxc6 Bxc6 15.Qb4! (the bishop on e7 still pinned)
12. ... Ncd4 looks like the only viable way.
I don't even see anything else.
Originally posted by Mephisto2We've analyzed this a lot and Qc3 seems like the best move.
I go for 13.Qc3 to put pressure on g7 and the remaining knight. Meaning that I take back on f3 with the g-pawn. Other moves Qa3, Qe3, Qd3 are possible too, but not as active.
I still think there is a possiblility for White to play Nxd4 with the initiative switching to Black.
Originally posted by 7ate9The move was Bf5 after Qd3.
i'm still at a loss at how you thought black would win after a knight swap and then Bg4. f3 would be played by white?
i originally liked the trading of the knights, but after reading mephisto's choice of playing Qc3 it also looks attractive...
it seems to me black would be forced to take knight f3 to be taken by g2. after this blacks knight E6 is then fo ...[text shortened]... ing Qc3 now? even if this is a problem i think white may be able to get two pieces for 1 rook.