Author: Miguel A. Ballicora
Date: 21:35:55 03/20/02
Go up one level in this thread
On March 20, 2002 at 15:13:58, Gian-Carlo Pascutto wrote: >In the Dutch championship 2001, my program reached the following >position with black against Rebel Century > >[D]r2q1rk1/pbp1bppp/1p2pn2/8/3P1B2/2PB1N2/PP2QPPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 1 > >It played the losing move a5?, and proceeded with the 'plan' of >pushing it further along the a-file. > >Nowadays, it would find the correct c5 after about a minute >of search, but it is clear by looking at the variations that >it is more due to luck and that it is still not really understanding >what is going on. > >I am wondering if one of the strong players is able to explain >why c5 is good and a5 is not. I would play c5 myself, but I >have to admit I would not be able to explain why it is better >either. I just know it is good to hit at the d4 pawn with the >c pawn if possible, but I suspect there is more to it? c5 is the natural move because it attacks the center a la Nimzovich. It forces to either abandon it (dxc5) or be subjected to a pressure on the d file. HOWEVER, the key of this position is another. As in many positions of the queen gambit, the big question is: WHERE DO I PLACE MY QUEEN? That is the main point here. There is no reasonable anwer for black. So far, it is ok in d8 but if c5 dxc5 the problem becomes obvious. It is in an open column and nowhere to go after Rad1. That is why I am not sure that c5 is the move now. The problem for black is that there is not many options. The center has to be attacked, otherwise, White will have free hands on the king side. But how? In this same position trade a pair of rooks (take away Rf8 and Rf1) and black is just fine because the Queen can go to e8. Regards, Miguel
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