White to move. Which side is better? Which side would you take?
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Rc4!? dc4 2 Bd5 is what I would play. The bishop pair and outside passer give white the better chances.
1. Rxc4, dxc4
2. Bd5+, Kf8
3. Bxc4, …
And the a pawn sails away…
1.Rxc4! dxc4
2.Bd5+? e6!
3.Bxe6+ Kh7
4.Bxc4 Rb4
5.Be2 Bd4!
6.Bxd4 Rxd4
7.a6 Ra4 with very good chances to survive this with black.
But why play so complicated?
1.Rxc4! dxc4
2.a6! Rb1+
3.Kh2 Ra1
4.a7 +- black has to give the rook for the a pawn and will be a bishop down.
I disagree with
>But why play so complicated?
>1.Rxc4! dxc4
>2.a6! Rb1+
>3.Kh2 Ra1
>4.a7 +- black has to give the >rook for the a pawn and will be a >bishop down.
1.Rxc4! dxc4
2.a6!? c3!
3.a7 Rb1+
4.Kh2 Ra1!
I agree with Vohaul.
The position almost cries for Rxc4 and a6-a7-a8Q seems to win “easily”.
I don’t see why your variation should be adisproof anonym one:
after 4. -, Ra1 just 5. a8Q, Rxa8 6.B xa8 and now!?
After
1. Rxc4 dxc4
2. a6
2. … c3 does not save the day.
The simple
3. a7 Rb1+
4. Kh2 Ra1
5. a8=Q Rxa8
leaves White a bishop for a pawn up and quite an easy position to win.
I’d say White is better: after White makes an exchange sac on c4, the black passed pawn is easily blocked, while the White bishops control the queening square a8 and its doorstep, a7.
Black is better, the pawn can move threatening the bishop and the white rook is not helpfull in a3 nor in a1. I’d take the black side.
And after this variation the black is also winning:
1.Rxc4 dxc4 2.a6 Ra2 3.a7 Rxa7 4.Bxa7 Bb2 5.Be3 c2
“And after this variation the black is also winning:
1.Rxc4 dxc4 2.a6 Ra2 3.a7 Rxa7 4.Bxa7 Bb2 5.Be3 c2″
5. … c2 would be quite a move for a pawn on c4. But in this variation, 5. Bd5+ seems adequate to win.