Author: Laurence Chen
Date: 11:03:03 02/19/99
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GNUChess - PostModernist r1bqr1k1/1p2bppp/2p1p3/p4n2/1P1P1BP1/2PB1N2/P4P1P/R2QR1K1 b - g3 0 1 Analysis by Junior 5.0: = (-0.12): 15...Nh4 16.b5 cxb5 17.Nxh4 Bxh4 18.Bxb5 Bd7 19.Rb1 Bxb5 20.Rxb5 Qf6 21.Qf3 = (0.11): 15...Bd6 16.Ne5 Bxe5 17.Rxe5 Ne7 18.b5 Nd5 19.Bd2 cxb5 20.Bxb5 Bd7 21.Bxd7 Qxd7 22.c4 Nb6 = (0.25): 15...Nd6 16.a3 axb4 17.axb4 Rxa1 18.Qxa1 b5 19.Qb1 h6 20.Ne5 ² (0.48): 15...g5 16.Nxg5 Bxg5 17.Bxg5 Qxg5 18.Bxf5 axb4 19.cxb4 Rd8 20.Bc2 Qf4 21.Re4 Qd6 22.a3 ² (0.68): 15...Nh6 16.Bxh6 gxh6 17.Qd2 Bf8 18.a3 Qf6 19.Ne5 Bd6 ± (0.86): 15...e5 16.Nxe5 Nd6 17.Qc2 g6 18.a3 axb4 19.axb4 Rxa1 20.Rxa1 Bh4 ± (0.93): 15...axb4 16.gxf5 bxc3 17.fxe6 Bxe6 18.Qc2 h6 19.Qxc3 Bxa2 20.Qc2 Bd5 21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.Rxa8 Qxa8 ± (1.25): 15...Nxd4 16.cxd4 axb4 17.Qc2 g6 18.Be5 Ra5 19.Rab1 Qd5 +- (1.90): 15...h6 16.gxf5 axb4 17.fxe6 Bxe6 18.c4 Bg4 19.Be4 Bf6 20.Be5 Junior 5 does not like the Knight sacrifice. A better move is 15. ... Nh4. What are the gains for Black if the Knight is sacrificed? The positional gains are opening up the a-file, a passed pawn, and a weakening of White's kingside pawn structure. Alright then, does these positional gains justify the sacrifice of a piece? It does not, an old russian saying, a weakness is not a weakness unless it can exploited. So the question is can Black exploit these "positional gains"? I am afraid not, Black pieces are not mobilized to take advantage of the situation. The passed pawn is undefended and can be captured. White has 3 pieces developed in the kingside and can take advantage of the half-open g-file to start a kingside attack. The half-open a-file is of no importance because White's attack in the kingside is much faster than Black's attack on the queenside. So PostModernist was lucky to get a draw in this game, GNUChess must missed a win somewhere. GNUChess - PostModernist r1bqr1k1/1p2bppp/2p1p3/5P2/3P1B2/2pB1N2/P4P1P/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 1 Analysis by Junior 5.0: ± (1.08): 17.fxe6 Bxe6 18.Qc2 h6 19.Bh7+ Kf8 20.a3 Rxa3 21.Rxa3 Bxa3 22.Qxc3 Be7 23.Rb1 Bc8 ± (0.75): 17.a4 Qa5 18.Re5 Qd8 19.Qc2 Bd6 20.fxe6 Bxe6 21.Bg5 f6 22.Rxe6 Rxe6 23.Bc4 Qd7 ± (0.74): 17.Bc4 Bf6 18.fxe6 Bxe6 19.Bxe6 Rxe6 20.Rxe6 fxe6 21.Qb3 Bxd4 22.Qxb7 c5 ² (0.65): 17.Re3 exf5 ² (0.62): 17.Qc2 exf5 18.Qxc3 Be6 19.a4 Qd5 ² (0.62): 17.Qc1 exf5 18.Qxc3 Be6 ² (0.59): 17.a3 ² (0.49): 17.Ne5 Rf8 18.fxe6 Bxe6 19.Bc2 Ba3 20.Qd3 Qh4 21.Qg3 ² (0.40): 17.Qb3 Ra3 18.Qc2 exf5 19.Bc1 Ra8 20.Qxc3 Be6 21.Ne5 Qd5 GNUChess decides to go for a Kingside attack with 17. Qc2. Junior 5 prefers 17. fxe6 which opens up the position. Both plans are good. GNUChess - PostModernist r3r2k/1p2bpp1/2p5/4BQ2/2qP4/2p2N2/P4P1P/R3R1K1 w - - 0 1 Analysis by Junior 5.0: +- (3.55): 24.Bxg7+ Kxg7 25.Qg4+ Bg5 26.Qxg5+ Kh7 27.Qh4+ Kg7 28.Ne5 Qd5 29.Qg3+ Kf6 30.Qf4+ Kg7 31.Qg4+ Kh7 32.Qh3+ Kg8 33.Qxc3 +- (3.50): 24.Qh5+ Kg8 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Qg4+ Bg5 +- (3.50): 24.Qh3+ Kg8 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Qg4+ Bg5 +- (1.90): 24.Rab1 b5 25.Qg4 f6 26.Bd6 Qf7 27.Rxe7 Rxe7 28.Bxe7 Qxe7 29.Qh5+ Kg8 30.Re1 c2 +- (1.78): 24.Bd6 Bf6 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 26.Be5 Re6 27.Bxf6 Rxf6 28.Qh3+ Kg8 29.Qc8+ Kh7 30.Ng5+ Kh6 +- (1.78): 24.Bg3 Bf6 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 26.Be5 Re6 +- (1.77): 24.a3 Kg8 25.Ng5 f6 26.Qh7+ Kf8 27.Qg6 Kg8 28.Bd6 c2 +- (1.77): 24.Qg4 f6 25.Bd6 Qf7 26.Bxe7 Rxe7 27.Rxe7 Qxe7 +- (1.76): 24.Ng5 Bxg5 Here GNUChess misses his opportunity to capitalize his material advantage. It chooses a very dubious plan of regrouping the pieces to stop the passed pawn. Why???? Good question, instead of 24. Rac1??, played by GNUChess, there were 3 good moves which White could have played to capitilize his material advantage as shown by Junior 5, 24. Bxg7+, 24. Qh5+, 24. Qh3+. Although the plan chosen byGNUChess is dubious, White still retains its positional advantage until the final mistake, move 27. Qd7?? which throws away winning chances. The Queen finds herself cut off from the remaing pieces and GNUChess goes for pawn hunting, totally mis-evaluating the position. After that Black's passed pawn gains momentum. Conclusion: the Knight sacrifice is a blunder. Laurence
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