CCC Practice Game

[tano-urayoan]

I did not like Bf6 maybe the bishop was better in the b8-h2 diagonal, and leave the f column open for rook moves as Zach suggested. But as already the bishop is in f6 Miguel idea of a5 seems ok.
Another move could be g6 if we want to keep the dancing queen around.
My first suggestion should be a5.

[Matthias Gemuh]

Which famous GM once said each time you push a pawn, you've made a mistake ?

Matthias.

[Spock]

I was thinking
Be4 leading to Bd3 Bxd3 cxd3 - creates an isolated pawn for white, but it also frees up white's rook, so I'm not sure it is a good idea. And I didn't look any further ahead...

[Matthias Gemuh]

15 ... Be4

because Be4 leads to Bd3 Bxd3 cxd3 which gets rid of the nasty white-squared bishop of white.
That bishop is far more dangerous to black's king safety than the dark-squared bishop of white.
As a bonus for black, white's pawn is isolated.

Matthias.

[Spock]

Yes you're right about the bishop - so Be4 is my confirmed vote

[michiguel]

I did not like Bf6 maybe the bishop was better in the b8-h2 diagonal, and leave the f column open for rook moves as Zach suggested. But as already the bishop is in f6 Miguel idea of a5 seems ok.
Another move could be g6 if we want to keep the dancing queen around.
My first suggestion should be a5.

We should keep the tension to allow the computer to make mistakes. For instance, it was suggested Be4/ Bd3 Bxd3/ cxd3, but we are simplifying into a pawn down endgame and making it easier for white. I liked a5 when the Bishop was in e7, but now we have to check Bc5 as a response. It may still be ok. I am leaning towards a5 or Qc7. g6 is fine but we can do it at anytime. I am not voting yet...

Miguel

[Christopher Conkie]

a5

[gerold]

a5

Gerold.

[BubbaTough]

Let's see. When looking at this position before this is what I said:

15. Qh5 Be4 16. Bd3 Bxd3 17. cxd3 is a little blah for black but I don't see much better. The isolated pawn is not really much of a weakness given black's structure.

It still looks as good as anything else to me. I guess maybe 17...Rac8 after that. But let's look at a couple other things.

15...a5 16. Bd3 g6 17. Qg4 and I am not sure what to do for black here. 17...a4 is met with 18 b4, but I don't see much better.

15...Rb8 16 b4 does not look that pleasant.

15...e5 16. Rfd1 d5?! 17. Bc4 is awkward for black because 17...Kh8 fails to 18. Bd3
15...d5 16. Bc5 Rf7 17. b4 e5 18. Rfd1 and the pawn center looks more like a target for attack limiting the scope of black's bishops than a potent force. If we had some knights things might be different.

My vote is 15...Be4.

I encourage those that are doing a little analysis to share that. Those going off other people's analysis point to that, and those going off of general principles only to...try looking a couple moves ahead and posting your lines. It is good practice. It doesn't have to be much, you will notice most of my lines are only 1-3 moves ahead, but if you just go off the best looking concept without looking at a few concrete lines it is easy to get into positions where there are not many good plans (like this one?).

For example...those voting for ...a5. Do you expect something different from my line, or do you expect it but like it best anyway? Where are you developing your rook on a8, is it by opening the a file after ...a4 b4 axb or something else, like to ...Rc8? Where is your queen going? These kinds of questions are best answered with concrete lines...and by sharing them it lets other people either poke holes in your analysis or agree and be convinced.

-Sam

[gerold]

Let's see. When looking at this position before this is what I said:

15. Qh5 Be4 16. Bd3 Bxd3 17. cxd3 is a little blah for black but I don't see much better. The isolated pawn is not really much of a weakness given black's structure.

It still looks as good as anything else to me. I guess maybe 17...Rac8 after that. But let's look at a couple other things.

15...a5 16. Bd3 g6 17. Qg4 and I am not sure what to do for black here. 17...a4 is met with 18 b4, but I don't see much better.

15...Rb8 16 b4 does not look that pleasant.

15...e5 16. Rfd1 d5?! 17. Bc4 is awkward for black because 17...Kh8 fails to 18. Bd3
15...d5 16. Bc5 Rf7 17. b4 e5 18. Rfd1 and the pawn center looks more like a target for attack limiting the scope of black's bishops than a potent force. If we had some knights things might be different.

My vote is 15...Be4.

I encourage those that are doing a little analysis to share that. Those going off other people's analysis point to that, and those going off of general principles only to...try looking a couple moves ahead and posting your lines. It is good practice. It doesn't have to be much, you will notice most of my lines are only 1-3 moves ahead, but if you just go off the best looking concept without looking at a few concrete lines it is easy to get into positions where there are not many good plans (like this one?).

For example...those voting for ...a5. Do you expect something different from my line, or do you expect it but like it best anyway? Where are you developing your rook on a8, is it by opening the a file after ...a4 b4 axb or something else, like to ...Rc8? Where is your queen going? These kinds of questions are best answered with concrete lines...and by sharing them it lets other people either poke holes in your analysis or agree and be convinced.

-Sam

I don't like any pieces in front of the two center pawns.
Two center pawns can start the big winning push in
a couple more moves.