PAWN RIOT VS The Forum Move 12

This is a continuation of Thread 102744 .

PAWN RIOT has just submitted 12.Kb1, leading to this position.



It is now time for a big decision.

I refer all readers to Tony's excellent comments on move 11 before voting.

LOCK AND LOAD 🙂

I reckon we should play either 12...Nc4 or 12...Re8

My vote is for 12...Re8.

let's just resign and get over with this

Originally posted by najdorfslayer
I reckon we should play either 12...Nc4 or 12...Re8

My vote is for 12...Re8.

I would also refer people to my notes on move 11 (thanks for the kind words Paul), but a basic synopsis would be:

The three main choices are:

12...Re8!?
12...a6!?
12...Nc4

I don't really like the looks of 12...Re8 because of 13. h4 h5 14. Bh6 Nc4 15. Bxc4 Rxc4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Nd5! e5 18. Nxf6 Qxf6 and now either 19. Ne2 and 19. Nb3 both lead to very pleasant positions for White, where Black is just playing to not lose. A lot of suffering in my opinion....

12...a6!? is another waiting move, similar to 12...Re8. There is one advantage though - After a similar 13. h4 h5 14. Bg7 Nc4 15. Bxc4 Rxc4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Nd5! e5 18. Nxf6?? is terrible because of 18...Rxd4, since there is no rook on e8 for the Nf6 to take with check. 12...a6!? has been essayed in a pretty sizable amount of top level games recently, with Radjabov and Carlsen really being the champions. I'll refer you to my earlier post for all of the games. Suffice it to say that I think Black has pretty good chances here as long as we play pretty well after this.

12...Nc4 is an option only if we opt for 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. g4! b5! 15. b3! b4!? in my humble opinion. The game would continue 16. bxc4 bxc3 17. Qxc3 Qc7, when a very unclear position is reached. I've done a little work on this variation, but couldn't really offer an evaluation. It would be an interesting game nonetheless with a lot of winning chances for both sides. Draws aren't really probable in positions like this!

I would encourage everyone here to verify my thoughts on 12...Re8, then consider the other two alternatives. 😀

12...Nc4

Originally posted by Mathurine
12...Nc4

But what do you know ? You've only beaten PAWN RIOT once. You left out your trademark quote. 🙂

Originally posted by !~TONY~!
I don't really like the looks of 12...Re8 because of 13. h4 h5 14. Bh6 Nc4 ...

What about 14...Qa5 instead?
A few strong players have played this line including Palkovi and Aagaard, with 15.g4 Rxc3 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.bxc3 Rc8 to follow:

14...Qa5 is interesting, but I'd be a little skeptical of Black's compensation after something like 18. g5! Ne8 19. f4 Nc4 20. Bxc4 Rxc4 21. f5, when Black has less space, two inactive minor pieces, and a material deficit. In my opinion, it's too easy for White to chop wood in this variation.

12..Nc4

...a6

12 ... a6

12....Re8

12...Re8

...Nc4