Lets play a game of Chess

[abacus]

I like both the suggested b3 and h3. With b3 we'll have a better final position after reacting to the Black c4, while with h3 we could then move the Bishop to e3, where I think we really need it to be.

But before my vote, I would like to ask you what do you think about the following move, if it could work or if it deserves one or more question marks.

Let me introduce...

16. e5

After this, Black will need to move the Knight in f6 (he can't take our pawn with the other Knight because of our Bishop). Now, where can he move?

There are only few options, and they all seem favourable to us:

Ne8 (the Knight has been pushed back to the starting line, we can move Be3)
Nh5 (sort of like above, we can move Be3)
Ng4 (now we can play h3; after that the Knight in g4 will not take the e5 pawn because it isn't a favourable swap for him)
Ne4 (forget about it: we would take the Knight with dxe4 or Nxe4)
Nd5 (now Be3 is precluded to us, but we could decide to swap the Knights with Nxd5. Black'll then move exd5 letting us, if it's worth it, to move our pawn to e6 with suicidal tendencies to break the castle wall).

What do you think?

[dre1982]

I like both the suggested b3 and h3. With b3 we'll have a better final position after reacting to the Black c4, while with h3 we could then move the Bishop to e3, where I think we really need it to be.

But before my vote, I would like to ask you what do you think about the following move, if it could work or if it deserves one or more question marks.

Let me introduce...

16. e5

After this, Black will need to move the Knight in f6 (he can't take our pawn with the other Knight because of our Bishop). Now, where can he move?

There are only few options, and they all seem favourable to us:

Ne8 (the Knight has been pushed back to the starting line, we can move Be3)
Nh5 (sort of like above, we can move Be3)
Ng4 (now we can play h3; after that the Knight in g4 will not take the e5 pawn because it isn't a favourable swap for him)
Ne4 (forget about it: we would take the Knight with dxe4 or Nxe4)
Nd5 (now Be3 is forbidden to us, but we could decide to swap the Knights with Nxd5. Black'll then move exd5 letting us, if it's worth it, to move our pawn to e6 with suicidial tendencies to break the castle wall).

What do you think?

After 16. e5 I think that pawn will become very weak. I would still prefer b3.

I played this game yesterday with black at the chessclub. I had took more advantage after his double pawn at the a-rank.

[jjacob]

Is anybody else interested in Ng5?
If it was a local game, I would have played it. I am not sure if it is the right move against a Grand Master.

[Taras]

16. h3

i want also play someone.

Actually, we are all playing the same game against one chess expert. Feel free to vote for the next move!

[scruffy scruffington]

I like h3 too.) b3 doesn't save us at the queen side in any case, h3 is uncomfortable for black at the king side, we can quickly open the center after black c4 and start active game at the king side.

[languagehasmeaning]

I like both the suggested b3 and h3. With b3 we'll have a better final position after reacting to the Black c4, while with h3 we could then move the Bishop to e3, where I think we really need it to be.

But before my vote, I would like to ask you what do you think about the following move, if it could work or if it deserves one or more question marks.

Let me introduce...

16. e5

After this, Black will need to move the Knight in f6 (he can't take our pawn with the other Knight because of our Bishop). Now, where can he move?

There are only few options, and they all seem favourable to us:

Ne8 (the Knight has been pushed back to the starting line, we can move Be3)
Nh5 (sort of like above, we can move Be3)
Ng4 (now we can play h3; after that the Knight in g4 will not take the e5 pawn because it isn't a favourable swap for him)
Ne4 (forget about it: we would take the Knight with dxe4 or Nxe4)
Nd5 (now Be3 is precluded to us, but we could decide to swap the Knights with Nxd5. Black'll then move exd5 letting us, if it's worth it, to move our pawn to e6 with suicidal tendencies to break the castle wall).

What do you think?

16. e5 is reasonable Nd5 is clearly the best square for black to move to. I don't think black will play exd5 as it would block in his bishop. Instead this looks good for black

16. e5 Nd5
17. Nxd5 Bxd5

Its not a horrible position for us but black looks better developed to me

[languagehasmeaning]

I like h3 too.) b3 doesn't save us at the queen side in any case, h3 is uncomfortable for black at the king side, we can quickly open the center after black c4 and start active game at the king side.

16. h3 Looks okay to me too and is my 2nd choice after b3. I say its my second choice because I would rather black be forced to recapture on c4 with his pawn instead of his rook. After

16. h3    c4
17. dxc4 Rxc4

Material is still even but his rook is active and he can make threats against our e pawn and our knight that is pinned to our queen on c3. We may have the chance to defend by playing Ne5 (which defends e4 again) and trading off some pieces.

[dre1982]

16. b3 looks good

We cant actually stop c4 but we can force him to recapture with his pawn instead of his rook.

One possible continuation is

16. b3      c4
17. bxc4   bxc4
18. d4

He will be on the attack but our center pawns are finally looking more aggressively placed

Indeed b3 is a good move. with your line is even 18. Ld3 stronger I guess.

What is 18. Ld3?
Do you mean Bishop to e3? I know L means bishop in some languages. We cant move a bishop to d3 but we can move one to e3.

16. b3      c4
17. bxc4   bxc4
18. d4      Bb4 puts pressure on e4 by attacking our knight which defends it. If we have to play e5 then black will have nice d5 square for his knight

I thought some more about your comment (if 18 Ld3 means Be3 somehow). If we want to play Be3 on move 18 then maybe we should play dxc4 on move 17. That way if black captures our pawn he must capture cxb3 and allow Qxb3 which I think is a better square for our queen than if we allow cxd3 and Qxd3.

16. b3      c4
17. dxc4   bxc4
18. Be3    forcing black to retreat his queen or allow us to trade pieces on c5

I meant indeed Be3. in Holland the L is for bishop. And it was indeed the wrong square. The diagram was on the previous page so was out of the mind.

[languagehasmeaning]

Is anybody else interested in Ng5?
If it was a local game, I would have played it. I am not sure if it is the right move against a Grand Master.

Black can just play h6 and force you to retreat.

If your idea is to eventually play d4 (or dxc4 after c4) opening the queen and then e5 hoping the f6 knight will move so you can play Qxh7 check, it wont work. If it does work it will prove we are not really playing a GM.

[ErisDiscordia]

I'll go with h3 here.

[actmyname]

I go with b3 here. There can be issues, sure, but it's the best move in this position. The matter of c4 is pressing.

[Timelord2067]

Knight takes pawn on b5 thank you.

Then pawn takes knight on b5. Please try to think at least one move ahead.

I am thinking ahead,

Next move is pawn to a6 threatening both the Bishop and the Queen.

The Bishop through take and the Queen by the Rook

Do try to keep up.

...and don't be so condescending.

[Timelord2067]

Is anybody else interested in Ng5?
If it was a local game, I would have played it. I am not sure if it is the right move against a Grand Master.

Not really, once the Knight on f5 moves, the Ng5 would be taken by the Bishop on e7

[Timelord2067]

I like h3 too.) b3 doesn't save us at the queen side in any case, h3 is uncomfortable for black at the king side, we can quickly open the center after black c4 and start active game at the king side.

Seriously? Move one whole square?

[Timelord2067]

I go with b3 here. There can be issues, sure, but it's the best move in this position. The matter of c4 is pressing.

Seriously? One whole square?

[Timelord2067]

Knight takes pawn on b5 thank you.

Then pawn takes knight on b5. Please try to think at least one move ahead.

I am thinking ahead,

Next move is pawn to a6 threatening both the Bishop and the Queen.

The Bishop through take and the Queen by the Rook

Do try to keep up.

...and don't be so condescending.

and if he doesn't take the Knight, he's got to move his Queen most likely to a8 in which case the Knight returns to his former position.

[Foxpup]

Next move is pawn to a6 threatening both the Bishop and the Queen.

The bishop will just take the pawn. The rook can't recapture because then the queen will take it.

...and don't be so condescending.

No can do. This is the second time in the row you've voted for a move that loses material on the spot (third if you count a6).

[actmyname]

Do try to keep up.

...and don't be so condescending.

Seriously? One whole square?

Follow your own advice, please.
b3 is fine for a move - it prevents c4 from being played. I'm not quite sure why you would want to play b4 as it just loses the pawn and forces you to give up your knight

[Timelord2067]

Do try to keep up.

...and don't be so condescending.

Seriously? One whole square?

Follow your own advice, please.
b3 is fine for a move - it prevents c4 from being played. I'm not quite sure why you would want to play b5 as it just loses the pawn and forces you to give up your knight

It opens up the left hand side especially for the Rooks to come out and exposes his Queen and Bishop on that side.

[Timelord2067]

Next move is pawn to a6 threatening both the Bishop and the Queen.

The bishop will just take the pawn. The rook can't recapture because then the queen will take it.

...and don't be so condescending.

No can do. This is the second time in the row you've voted for a move that loses material on the spot (third if you count a6).

Oh dear, you're counting backwards...

anyways, on to answer you...

Three pieces take three pieces, leaving the Queen exposed on her own with the nearest black pieces on the c column.

Knight takes pawn on b5 thank you.

Then pawn takes knight on b5. Please try to think at least one move ahead.

I was; you just couldn't see the three moves ahead.