Originally posted by ItsYouThatIAdore
I have not participated yet in the discussion for this game, but after looking through the position I hope I can add some input?

25. Nc7 seems strongest, as Tony said it hits d5 with tempo...! considering this, I think white can play 26. d6...
26. exd6 after which white could play check on the back ranks to free some pressure from the pin forc ...[text shortened]... think Bd5 or Nd5 from this postion will be strong for black...

I hope this makes sense lol!!

Originally posted by ptobler
What should we do about 28. Rd8 in this line? (viz. 25...Nc7 26 d6 exd6 27 Rb8+ Kh7 28 Rd8) I hope this is not a silly question as I have not put much thought into it...

bumping this up to the top of the pile

28. Rd8 is not very strong for black, we can play Ba4 putting more pressure on the squares protected by the pinned knight. If 29. Rxd6? A simple Nb5 quickly gains us a tempo and more counterplay then the worth of the pawn. I doubt white would follow this line, as well his logical response would to play 30. Rd8 and now our knight can go to either a3 or c3, and we are doing much better I think with an easy ability to at least gain back the pawn.

Hope this helps...

Nc7!!

Originally posted by ptobler
bumping this up to the top of the pile

I vote for Nc7

bumping to the top of the pile

Originally posted by ptobler
bumping to the top of the pile

Originally posted by ptobler
What should we do about 28. Rd8 in this line? (viz. 25...Nc7 26 d6 exd6 27 Rb8+ Kh7 28 Rd8) I hope this is not a silly question as I have not put much thought into it...

One idea after the suggested:

25...Nc7 26. d6 exd6 27. Rb8+ Kh7 28. Rd8 (I think this is the line) is the very pretty (I'm pleased to have found this neat line):

28...Bf5! 29. Rxd6 Nb5 30. Rd8 Bxc2 31. Rd2 Rb4! 32. Rxc2 Nxd4, which actually looks winning for Black. Maybe there's some improvement in there for White, or maybe 28. Rd8 is no good.

EDIT: Looks like a similar line was already suggested! 28...Bf5 and 28...Ba4 probably amount to the same thing...

Well, after Nc7

It is white's 28th move which is in doubt.

Either Rb7 or Rd8 - and we have satisfactory or even winning lines in both positions, so... Nc7 it is - surely!?

I vote [i][b]Nc7[b][i]

I vote Nc7.
After Nc7 pawn"d5" is hard to defend.
With Nc7 we create a threat of Nb5 !

I will tally it up tomorrow.

Our move is 25. ... Nc7.

Thanks for all the great analysis everyone.