Hoping for a draw against a higher rated kid ( see Thread 61798 ), I played the Rubinstein French (an opening I first played in Tournament 1666). After some effort to complicate things (my opponent) and to simplify (me), I found myself in the following position:
Black to move
What should I have done?
Since you aimed at simplification, this was a good chance to do it: Bxh1 Bxf6 (Rxh1 looks like a Topalov move but is probably better for black after Qg5) Rxc2 Bxc2 (or Kxc2) and now either
- Bxf6 Rxh1 leaving different colour bishops but with still some play
- or Bf3 Bxg7 Rg8 Rd3 Be4
and in both cases with at least equal for black
I guess that is just ok, but Be4 is a nasty reply by white. The black b-pawn hangs. Perhaps black should then give back the exchange (and not let the a-pawn get lost too) to complete development fast enough, for instance
Qf3 Be4 Qh5 Bxb7 0-0 Bxc8 Rxc8 (Bxa6? Bxb4! looks better for black) Qe4 (to defend the b4-pawn), although I would rather have white in this position.
Originally posted by Mephisto2It's hard for me to find any concrete plans for either player after 26.Bxc8 Rxc8 27.Qe4 Qb5.
See my previous post. Taking the exchange is my preference.
White's extra pawn is the doubled b-pawn (which I had thought would be easy to pick up way back at 13...Nb4). Perhaps the 3 vs 1 on the queenside gives white a slight edge, but these pawns don't seem mobile enough for much.
Originally posted by WulebgrI like this position for black for some reason.
It's hard for me to find any concrete plans for either player after 26.Bxc8 Rxc8 27.Qe4 Qb5.
[fen]2r3k1/4bpp1/p3p2p/1q6/1P2Q3/2B3P1/PP3P1P/1K5R w - - 0 28[/fen]
White's extra pawn is the doubled b-pawn (which I had thought would be easy to pick up way back at 13...Nb4). Perhaps the 3 vs 1 on the queenside gives white a slight edge, but these pawns don't seem mobile enough for much.
It's pretty equal but there are chances for white to mess up if he isn't careful because of blacks attack on the king.
1.Rd1 a5
Trap: 2.bxa5 Rxc3
Therefore,
2.Qd3 Qxd3+ 3.Rxd3 axb4 4.Bd4 Kf8
Pretty equal here. Probably I'd offer a draw here.
That the only reasonable thing I found. Pushing the a5 pawn and trying to get at his king.
Originally posted by WulebgrWhite chose 26.Bxa6 (apparently not the best move).
From the first diagram, play continued 22...Bxh1 23.Rxh1 Qf3? 24.Be4 Qh5 25.Bxb7 O-O
Now white has a choice
[fen]2r2rk1/1B2bpp1/p3p2p/7q/1P6/2B3P1/PPQ2P1P/1K5R w - - 0 26[/fen]
Should white win back the exchange, or eliminate black's last queenside pawn?
At this point white had 10 minutes left on the clock to black's 49 minutes.
A series of inaccurate moves followed: 26...Rc7 27.Qb3 (Fritz offers ?? for this move, recommending Qe2) 27...Qf5+ 28.Ka1 Qf3
We have an interesting set of imbalances: bishop and two pawns versus rook; three passed pawns on the queenside for white; four against three on the kingside for black; white back-rank weakness (mate threats).