White to move. What is the best continuation for White?
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White to move. What is the best continuation for White?
Bc2 because the black queen is trapped.
Qc3? Same theme, but it protects the b pawn also…
Threat is then Bb3
I think Bc2 is fine because if Black takes the pawn on B2 B*g6+ winning the queen.
But White has to guard against both …Qxb2 and …Qxc4. For that reason, White will still have to play Qc3, and 1. Bc2 would represent a critical loss of tempo in threatening the Black queen. E.g.,
1. Bc2 Ngf5!
2. Qc3
2. Ra1? Qxc4 or even … Qxb2 since White no longer has 3. Bxg6+
2. … Re3!
and Black gains time to extricate the Queen.
By comparison,
1. Qc3
gains time by attacking the Black queen faster, because after
1. … Ngf5
White doesn’t have to play 2. Bc2 followed by 3. Ra1 but instead can play
2. Bb3!
Of course, even then Black can bail out into a position down only a pawn and exchange by
2. … Re3!
But that appears to be the best White can achieve by force.
OK, what am I missing? 🙂
1.qc3 re3!?
2.qxe3 qxb2
simply an exchange down, not an extra pawn – and queens on board – i’ve almost lost better positions … :))
yours, Vohaul
1. Qc3 Ngf5
2. Bb3 Re3
3. bxQ RxQ
4. cxR
looks about the best