Author: Dan Andersson
Date: 10:54:28 05/23/01
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Black has a lot of problems in the position after the pawn structure settles with 23. cxd5: Black has little space to positon its pieces, black has little prospect of making more space (expanding on the kingside is a no-no, and on the queenside saccing a pawn by c5-c4 is more palatable than wasting umtheen tempi preparing b7-b5), black has little possibility to use the small space available in a useful way, black is playing against a bishops pair (as the centre is not closed, merely not opened yet), black has a weak square complex in his position (the white whitesquare bishop has no counter), the d6 pawn is the lynchpin of blacks position and need to be protected at all time. Black has a few positives: black has a strong square complex d4,e5,f6 (Unfortunately it doesnt interfere with whites ability to regroup his pieces, but still it slows the e4-e5 break idea), black has a half open e-file and he can put pressure on the e4 pawn (unfortunately his lack op space makes the rook doubling awkward at best), black has the possibility of a pawn break with f7-f5. Few black pluses as i see it, but still white needs to win it. One possible setup for black is: putting the bishop on g7 and keep the knight on d7 and double on e7,e8 with the heavy pieces and hopefully be able to break with f7-f5, unfortunately the chance is slim to none you will be able to do that. 23... Bh4 (Knowing how tough the position is I favour the speculative 23... f5 hoping for 24. exf5 (Better is 24. e5!)Bf6 25. Rd1 Rxe3 26. Rxe3 Bd4 Sacrificing a pawn and as compensation I break the white pawn structure, exchange pieces and remove whites bishop pair. 23... Nf6 seems no better, there is much room for deviltry for white f.ex: 24. Bd4 Nd7 25. e5 (25. Bb5) 25... dxe5 26. Bxh7+ Kh8 27. Bc3 g6 28. Bxg6 fxg6 29. Qxg6 Bf8 30.Re4 Bg7 31. Bxa5!) 24. Bf2 (why? Rf1 or Re2 are much better moves as they make the h4 bishop look slightly silly) 24... Bxf2 (Ok exchange pieces even if it loosens blacks control over e5.) 25. Qxf2 Re5 (Only three moves are worth considering Nf6 and Re7 both leading to mainly the same positions Re7 is more crafty since it 25... Re7 26. f4 Nf6 and black might be able to hold against the the white center break after 27. Rd1 Kf8 28. e5 dxe5 29. Bxh7 exf4 30. d6 Rxe1+ 31. Qxe1 Qd7, or 25... f5 27. exf5 (27. e5 ,is possible and will make blacks life hard for a long time 27... Rxe5 28. f4 (28. Rxe5 is also possible and leads to a secure advantage for white) 28... Rf8 29. Re7 Qd8 30. Qe3 Ne5 31. Rxe5 with a big advantage for white)) and black will have to suffer some) I have omitted a lot of analysis but I think it is clear that blacks position is quite hard as soon as move 23, how much sooner is unclear. Regards Dan Andersson
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