White to move. Which side is better? Does White have compensation for the pawn?
How should White proceed? (No computer please)
r3qk1r/2p2p2/ppQpb2p/1P1n4/4R1P1/1P4PP/3N1B1K/5R2 w – – 0 1
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1. Bxb6 Nxb6 2. Rxe6 wins back the pawn.
2. … Qxe6 3. Qxa8+
2. … Qxc6 3. bxc6 and white’s rooks have enough kingside threats.
I think it’s a draw but my imagination is a bit dead at the moment.
What if black just undermines the queen with 1. ….axb5? Isn’t white basically forced to exchange at e8 and retreat the bishop leaving the pawn at b5 safe and thus maintaining the pawn edge?
Here is why I think it is weaker:
1. Bd4 axb5
2. Qxe8+ Rxe8 (or Kxe8)
3. Bxh8 (and black is down a rook)
1. Bd4 Qxc6
2. bxc6 Kg8
3. Bxh8 Kxh8
or
1. Bd4 Qxc6
2. bxc6 Rg8
3. Rxe6
I think this is right. My very first thought was 1.Re6, but the discovered check I had planned with Bd4 later is just too slow- you are right- black does not have the time to save the rook at h8, so to add some meat to that outline you give, I would analyze the consequences to 1. …Rg8/h7. Opening the line on the f7 pawn for the rook at f1 has deadly consequences.
I think Alena is right. But to reply to Yancey,
After 1. Bd4 Rg8 2. R:e6 Q:e6 Q:a8+
Or 1. Bd4 Rh7 2. R:e6 wins a piece the same way.
1.Bd4 Qxc6
2. bxc6 Ke7 (loses the exchange, but that is better than losing a piece, right?)