QN vs RBBP | Black to move
@Nordlandia #1
I rather play black here, and make the move Ra8-c8.
Control over the c file, a pawn up in the pawn structure, having the bishop pair.
The white knight has little chance to find a strong square supported by a pawn.
I rather play black here, and make the move Ra8-c8.
Control over the c file, a pawn up in the pawn structure, having the bishop pair.
The white knight has little chance to find a strong square supported by a pawn.
Yes, the queen advantage is nullified because of those central pawns + b-pair advantage.
I think SF is only capable of giving a material analysis.
Giving a 0. It does not understand the positional problems.
I would think any strong player would only choose Black. Play Rac8 and win rather handily. It's a grind, but White has no play, reduced to defensive moves the entire game. The center is well under Blacks control. Whites Knight is rather a dull player. All threats belong to Black.
Giving a 0. It does not understand the positional problems.
I would think any strong player would only choose Black. Play Rac8 and win rather handily. It's a grind, but White has no play, reduced to defensive moves the entire game. The center is well under Blacks control. Whites Knight is rather a dull player. All threats belong to Black.
I like black's position more.
As a former Hedgehog player, I would take Black too, but I don't share the enthusiasm of the previous contributors. Black's bishop are not that great. The dark square bishop can find a good diagonal on f6, but it should be pointing at White's king from c5 instead. The light square bishop will find useful defensive duties after Black pushes d5 (which will give him an isolated d-pawn but White can't make anything of that anyway).
White's knight on d4 will prevent Black from posting a bishop en e6 because of the threat Nxe6 and the pawn on e6 would be weak. Of course White must be ready for this as well, but I assume he will aim at the e6 square with the queen after Black's d5 push.
With White I would try to exchange a pair of rooks. Black must prevent this for the time being.
With Black, I would like to force White to push b3, so that I have the square c3 for a rook, protected by the dark square bishop. Occupying c4 with a rook (trying to ousting the knight from d4, maybe) might tempt White into doing that.
Black's first move is a consensus : 20...Rac8. Then probably Bf6, h6 (or g6) and Rc4 to dislodge White's knight from d4 or force White's queen to e3. I don't see a positive plan for White in the meantime. Let's try to regroup along the 2nd rank : 21.Rd2 Bf6 (preventing Rc2 and the exchange of a pair of rooks) 22.g3 Rc4 23.Ne2 Bg5 24.f4 Be7 25.Nc3 b5 26.a3 h6. This is not Komodo's first choice, but the final assessment is slightly better for Black, identical to the one of the initial position. Here Komodo recommends (from White's viewpoint) 27.f5 exf5 28.exf5 Bf6 29.Qxd6 Bxf5 30.Nd5 Bg5 31.Ne7+ Bxe7 32.Qxe7 R8c7 and concludes to a clear advantage for Black. Still I don't see a plan for either side in this final position. If Blacks checks on the first rank, White plays Rd1. Exchanging a pair of rooks is still not a way forward for Black.
Conclusion : Black has the better part of a draw. If White is forced to play b3, I'll reconsider :) .
White's knight on d4 will prevent Black from posting a bishop en e6 because of the threat Nxe6 and the pawn on e6 would be weak. Of course White must be ready for this as well, but I assume he will aim at the e6 square with the queen after Black's d5 push.
With White I would try to exchange a pair of rooks. Black must prevent this for the time being.
With Black, I would like to force White to push b3, so that I have the square c3 for a rook, protected by the dark square bishop. Occupying c4 with a rook (trying to ousting the knight from d4, maybe) might tempt White into doing that.
Black's first move is a consensus : 20...Rac8. Then probably Bf6, h6 (or g6) and Rc4 to dislodge White's knight from d4 or force White's queen to e3. I don't see a positive plan for White in the meantime. Let's try to regroup along the 2nd rank : 21.Rd2 Bf6 (preventing Rc2 and the exchange of a pair of rooks) 22.g3 Rc4 23.Ne2 Bg5 24.f4 Be7 25.Nc3 b5 26.a3 h6. This is not Komodo's first choice, but the final assessment is slightly better for Black, identical to the one of the initial position. Here Komodo recommends (from White's viewpoint) 27.f5 exf5 28.exf5 Bf6 29.Qxd6 Bxf5 30.Nd5 Bg5 31.Ne7+ Bxe7 32.Qxe7 R8c7 and concludes to a clear advantage for Black. Still I don't see a plan for either side in this final position. If Blacks checks on the first rank, White plays Rd1. Exchanging a pair of rooks is still not a way forward for Black.
Conclusion : Black has the better part of a draw. If White is forced to play b3, I'll reconsider :) .
I prefer white... Do some piece exchanges, keep queen and pawns for a winning endgame...
yes, white here but not so easy. I think both shouldnt exchange pieces and both need to play on kingside with g4/... g5
I think with best play from both sides it should end in a draw.
black
e4 to gain a tempo on the night. Depending on where the knight goes, attack the queen or pin to the rook with the bishop. Always looking for a chance to double the rooks on the c file.
Main points would be taking out the knight to avoid forks, then focus on getting either the queen or a free rook. White has no real attacks
e4 to gain a tempo on the night. Depending on where the knight goes, attack the queen or pin to the rook with the bishop. Always looking for a chance to double the rooks on the c file.
Main points would be taking out the knight to avoid forks, then focus on getting either the queen or a free rook. White has no real attacks
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