This is a game by Magnus Carlsen from a few years ago. It is White to move. Can you find the best continuation for White?
5rk1/p1q2pp1/1np1p2p/8/b2PN3/Pr2P1P1/2Q2PBP/R1R3K1 w – – 0 0
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Not sure if this is the right maneuver, but it wins material I am pretty sure:
1. Nc5
Forking the rook and bishop:
1. ……Rb4 (what is better?)
2. Qa2
This leaves the black rook hanging, and it cannot move back to b3 since is will again be hanging after white captures at a4. The only move I see is Rb5:
2. ……Rb5
3. Na4 Na4
4. Bc6 and black must either lose a piece or the exchange.
1.Nc5! Simple but wins!
>A-1…Bb5.2.Qxb3 wins a R
>B-1…Rb2/b1/c3/d3.QxR wins a R
>C-1…Rb4.2.Qe4!.Rb5.3.Nxa4!.Nxa4.4.Rxc6 white is a pawn up and a strong attack.
Harry
1.Nc5 Rb4
2.Qa2
2.Qd2 Rb5 (2… Rc4 3.Rxc4 Nxc4 4.Qb4 Bb5 5.a4 a5 6.Qc3 white wins a piece.)3.Nxa4 Nxa4 4.Bxc6 Qa5 5.Qc2 Rc8 6.Qd1 Rxc6 7.Rxc6 Nb6 8.Qc2 also wins exchange and white pieces are well placed.
2….. Rb5
3.Nxa4 Nxa4
4.Bxc6 Qa5
5.Bxb5 Qxb5
wins exchange for white. However I am unable to choose between 2.Qa2 and 2.Qd2.
1. Nc5
If Carlsen made anything out of Nf6+ then he IS the greatest player ever. More sober appears to be 1. Nc5, when Black must lose material.
1…Rb6 2. N:a4 N:a4 3. Q:a4 and white is a piece up.
1…Rb4?! 2. N:a4 R:a4 3. Rcb1 leads to nothing, but the right idea is 2. Qa2 (preventing …Rc4) Rb5 3. N:a4 N:a4 4. B:c6 and white wins material.
1.Nc5 Rb4 2.Qa2 Rb5 3.Nxe6 fxe6 4.Bxc6…
a)4…Rb2 5.Qxb2 Bxc6 6.Qc2 Rc8 7.e4 /+-/
b)4…Ra5 5.Bxa4 Qe7 6.Bb3 /+-/
I saw Qa2 but somehow feel that even after winning the exchange, black is comfortable. But with Qd4 and Rxc6 white exerts more pressure along the c file and white a8-h1 diagonal and black pieces awkwardly placed at a4 and b5 for white to successfully attack the black king. This is a long shot but I would trust my instincts on this. I would be grateful if I am proved wrong for then I will agree that a bird in hand is worth 2 in a bush!
I would like to see the actual game continuation! What game is this? Carlsen- …?
Harry
1.Nc5, if 1…Rb5 2.Qa2!!
if Rb2/b1/c3/d3.QxR wins a R
Harry, I think black is totally lost:
1. Nc5 Rb4
2. Qa2 Rb5
3. Na4 Na4
4. Bc6 Qa5 (Rb2 5.Qc4)
5. Bb5 Qb5
And black is down a pawn and an exchange- at least +3 in my opinion.
Your idea of 2.Qe4 is interesting, but less advantageous in my judgment:
1. Nc5 Rb4
2. Qe4 Rb5 (not looked at Rb2???)
3. Na4
I can’t say I like this move here- I am enamored of Qxc6, but I don’t really see a big difference between the two, so I will just follow out your line:
3. ……Na4
4. Rc6
And now for my speculation:
4. ……Qa5
5. Qc2
To get that pressure on the c-file you mentioned:
5. ……Rb2!
6. Qd3
To continue cover on f5 where black’s queen could cause some discomfort for the f2 pawn.
Overall, white is well ahead here, but I wouldn’t rate the edge more than a +2. Black has a rook on white’s second rank- a real thorn I never like to give my opponent.
Any idea what game this is?
Harry