Lets play a game of Chess

[letsplayagame]

So now it's five votes for Rfd1 (languagehasmeaning, jjacob, abacus, neochiny, and myself) and three for a4 (Timeloard2067, actmyname, and Taras). I hope I've got it right this time.

So has the community decided on Rfd1? Or are people still debating the choice?

I don't know why they're talking about how they're going to eventually surrender, my suggestion for a4 hasn't changed.

Sometimes move order means everything, other times it is less important. Although there are some important differences between Rfd1 and a4 it is possible that some future positions could transpose.

If you plan on playing two moves at some point try to compare the options available to your opponent based on the move order you choose. Sometimes the answer is obvious (when one move order involves a check or capture with a forced response and another move order gives an opponent multiple choices) and sometimes it is not. Giving your opponent a choice could be good (if their best response leads to a transposition while other responses are mistakes) or it could be bad (where the best response leads to a position better for your opponent than would occur with the more forcing move order).

Sometimes you will see a good player repeat a position several times before making a different move. This could be to gain time on the clock before time control. It could also be to give an opponent a chance to make a mistake knowing that their best response would be to repeat. The concept is similar. If you are risking nothing to give your opponent a chance to make a mistake, it might be wise do to so.  Of course exceptions could exist such if your opponent is the one in time trouble and repeating a few moves would help him/her reach time control.

[abacus]

So now it's five votes for Rfd1 (languagehasmeaning, jjacob, abacus, neochiny, and myself) and three for a4 (Timeloard2067, actmyname, and Taras). I hope I've got it right this time.

So has the community decided on Rfd1? Or are people still debating the choice?

More than 24 hours have elapsed from the last vote...

hehe... voting for Rfd1... it is the best move i can see...
a4 is useless for me... even if i am black..i can crash white when white do it...

Do we all agree we've reached the consensus for Rfd1? It seems so to me...

(Rfd1: recursive acronym of Rfd1 for de w1n!!!) 

[letsplayagame]

So now it's five votes for Rfd1 (languagehasmeaning, jjacob, abacus, neochiny, and myself) and three for a4 (Timeloard2067, actmyname, and Taras). I hope I've got it right this time.

So has the community decided on Rfd1? Or are people still debating the choice?

More than 24 hours have elapsed from the last vote...

hehe... voting for Rfd1... it is the best move i can see...
a4 is useless for me... even if i am black..i can crash white when white do it...

Do we all agree we've reached the consensus for Rfd1? It seems so to me...

(Rfd1: recursive acronym of Rfd1 for de w1n!!!) 

Your move bitcointalk. You have the white pieces

The current position is updated below:


1. Nf3     d5
2. c4      e6
3. g3      Nf6
4. Bg2    dxc4
5. Qa4+  Nbd7
6. Qxc4   c5
7. 0-0     a6
8. d3      b5
9. Qc2    Bb7
10.Nc3    Be7
11.Bf4     0-0
12.Rfd1   Qb6

[Foxpup]

It begins! Now is the time for a4! Probably, that is. I actually don't know what the best way to launch our attack is, other than that we must launch it now. Rac1 might also be good. But I think the time is right for a4.

[Timelord2067]

It begins! Now is the time for a4! Probably, that is. I actually don't know what the best way to launch our attack is, other than that we must launch it now. Rac1 might also be good. But I think the time is right for a4.

I'm leaning towards d4 to make the Rook earn its keep.

[Foxpup]

I'm leaning towards d4 to make the Rook earn its keep.

No good! It makes the Black rook earn its keep! After 13... cxd4 14. Nxd4 (14. Rxd4?? Bxf3 loses the exchange one way or another) 14... Rac8 (or 14... Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Rac8, same difference), we'll have to give up the c-file to unpin the knight.

[jjacob]

I'm leaning towards d4 to make the Rook earn its keep.

No good! It makes the Black rook earn its keep! After 13... cxd4 14. Nxd4 (14. Rxd4?? Bxf3 loses the exchange one way or another) 14... Rac8 (or 14... Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Rac8, same difference), we'll have to give up the c-file to unpin the knight.

I was looking to d4 too, but this analysis has made me change my mind.
My vote for Rac1.

[abacus]

I'm leaning towards d4 to make the Rook earn its keep.

No good! It makes the Black rook earn its keep! After 13... cxd4 14. Nxd4 (14. Rxd4?? Bxf3 loses the exchange one way or another) 14... Rac8 (or 14... Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Rac8, same difference), we'll have to give up the c-file to unpin the knight.

I was looking to d4 too, but this analysis has made me change my mind.
My vote for Rac1.

I'm the third who thought d4 was a good move...

Now I'm looking better at a4 but I would like to wait a few hours before my decision.

[languagehasmeaning]

I'm leaning towards d4 to make the Rook earn its keep.

No good! It makes the Black rook earn its keep! After 13... cxd4 14. Nxd4 (14. Rxd4?? Bxf3 loses the exchange one way or another) 14... Rac8 (or 14... Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Rac8, same difference), we'll have to give up the c-file to unpin the knight.

I was looking to d4 too, but this analysis has made me change my mind.
My vote for Rac1.

I'm the third who thought d4 was a good move...

Now I'm looking better at a4 but I would like to wait a few hours before my decision.

Rac1 and a4 both look reasonable to me (I mentioned them last move despite choosing Rfd1 as my choice).  

If we still want to play d4 instead of a4 we can but it will take a few more moves to prepare. For example:

13. Rac1 (pressure on c file)
14. h3 (to stop Ng4)
15. Be3 (defend d4 and put pressure on diagonal)
16. d4

13. e3 preparing 14. d4 is another option but it does weaken our pawn structure

13. a4
can be played right away. Black is unlikely to capture on a4 or move to b4 for reasons foxpup said before. I bet he just develops his rook (Rfd8) or something. What do we play to do next?
14. a5 (black will move queen)
seems to weaken our pawn long term while blocking the position
14. axb5 will be met by axb5. Has opening the a file helped us? I don't think so.

In short 13. a4 is a simpler plan we can play right away, but what is our follow up?

[Taras]

I vote a4 again!

Also, no charts for a few days, I left the files on my other pc :L

[Foxpup]

In short 13. a4 is a simpler plan we can play right away, but what is our follow up?

Continue putting pressure on the queenside until we can break open the c- or d-file. Exactly how we do that depends on how Black responds. Black may well want to open up the position immediately with 13... c4 to open up the diagonal for his queen, so we should maintain the threat of a5 just in case his queen becomes a problem.

@abacus, have you decided yet?

[abacus]

In short 13. a4 is a simpler plan we can play right away, but what is our follow up?

Continue putting pressure on the queenside until we can break open the c- or d-file. Exactly how we do that depends on how Black responds. Black may well want to open up the position immediately with 13... c4 to open up the diagonal for his queen, so we should maintain the threat of a5 just in case his queen becomes a problem.

@abacus, have you decided yet?

13. Be3

Thanks for waiting me! I was still trying to look at the conseguences of a Be3 played now, but I know my time is over (I could never play a real match with a game clock, lol).
 
Let's do so: considering I see the consensus going for a4, my vote here is for Be3, to get some opinions from you all (in case this move is worth it).
If there is an oversight in Be3 or some draw to break then I'll go with a4 without doubt.

[dre1982]

Some of you guys also follow the World Chess Cup?

There are some very nice games already be played an there will also be a lot of nice games. I follow the games by Chessbomb.

[languagehasmeaning]

In short 13. a4 is a simpler plan we can play right away, but what is our follow up?

Continue putting pressure on the queenside until we can break open the c- or d-file. Exactly how we do that depends on how Black responds. Black may well want to open up the position immediately with 13... c4 to open up the diagonal for his queen, so we should maintain the threat of a5 just in case his queen becomes a problem.

@abacus, have you decided yet?

13. Be3

Thanks for waiting me! I was still trying to look at the conseguences of a Be3 played now, but I know my time is over (I could never play a real match with a game clock, lol).
 
Let's do so: considering I see the consensus going for a4, my vote here is for Be3, to get some opinions from you all (in case this move is worth it).
If there is an oversight in Be3 or some draw to break then I'll go with a4 without doubt.

I like the idea of Be3 but based on the reasoning of my prior post I don't think we are ready for it now.
13. Be3 Ng4 is very annoying
We may need to play h3 first.

[languagehasmeaning]

Some of you guys also follow the World Chess Cup?

There are some very nice games already be played an there will also be a lot of nice games. I follow the games by Chessbomb.

I am watching it. OP is playing in it! We don't know who he is but he has provided a few clues

[cakir]

Why don't you play on a board?
|♖|♘|♗|♔|♕|♗|♘|♖|
|♙|♙|♙|♙|♙|♙|♙|♙|
|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|♟|♟|♟|♟|♟|♟|♟|♟|
|♜|♞|♝|♚|♛|♝|♞|♜|

[fissionerosion]

count me i play well this gameBTC

[abacus]

I like the idea of Be3 but based on the reasoning of my prior post I don't think we are ready for it now.
13. Be3 Ng4 is very annoying
We may need to play h3 first.

Jeez... you're perfectly right!
After reading your prior post I had the impression we could postpone h3 after the Ng4... I didn't pay attention to the fact that our Bishop will already be on e3 and so under the attack of Ng4. As you said, this will be very annoying, we would be forced to move again the Bishop.

On the other side, starting with the pawn and only then the Bishop, looks maybe a bit too long to me.

Ok, a4 for me too, please.

In short 13. a4 is a simpler plan we can play right away, but what is our follow up?

This obviously can vary, but the options clear to me are:

13. a4              bxa4             ---> 14. Nxa4 (check to the Queen)
13. a4   [Black doesn't swap] ---> 14. axb4 or a5 or wathever based on what Black moved

[Zackgeno96]

Why don't you play on a board?
|♖|♘|♗|♔|♕|♗|♘|♖|
|♙|♙|♙|♙|♙|♙|♙|—|
|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|♙|
|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|♟|♟|♟|♟|♟|♟|♟|♟|
|♜|♞|♝|♚|♛|♝|♞|♜|

this is pretty neat, i'll go ahead and make the first move!

[languagehasmeaning]

I like the idea of Be3 but based on the reasoning of my prior post I don't think we are ready for it now.
13. Be3 Ng4 is very annoying
We may need to play h3 first.

Jeez... you're perfectly right!
After reading your prior post I had the impression we could postpone h3 after the Ng4... I didn't pay attention to the fact that our Bishop will already be on e3 and so under the attack of Ng4. As you said, this will be very annoying, we would be forced to move again the Bishop.

On the other side, starting with the pawn and only then the Bishop, looks maybe a bit too long to me.

Ok, a4 for me too, please.

In short 13. a4 is a simpler plan we can play right away, but what is our follow up?

This obviously can vary, but the options clear to me are:

13. a4              bxa4             ---> 14. Nxa4 (check to the Queen)
13. a4   [Black doesn't swap] ---> 14. axb4 or a5 or wathever based on what Black moved

It seems like 13. a4 is well ahead in the voting at the moment.  It looks like a good move. You are right that our next move will depend on what black does.  My guess is still that he ignores our pawn and develops a rook.