Black to move. How should black proceed?
r1bqkb1r/pppp1p2/2n2P1p/6p1/8/6B1/Pp2QPPP/RN2KBNR b – – 0 1
Rusakov vs. Verlinsky, (Moscow, 47)
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1. .. Qe7
2. fxe7 Bg7
0-1
What a position. Almost without thinking about it, I would pin white’s queen with the first move in order to protect the b2 pawn and force white to take at e7 with the f-pawn:
1. …..Qe7
2. fe7
Otherwise, black will win a queen net since ba1Q is unstoppable. Continuing:
2. …..Bg7!
I think ba1Q also leaves black with some advantage material-wise, but this leads to a larger edge by my count:
3. Qb2
If there is anything better for white than getting rid of this pawn, I don’t see it. Continuing:
3. …..Bb2
And by my count, black is going to be up two good pawns at a minimum.
Black is one piece down,presumably a sacrifice. His trump card is P at b2 which should be used properly.
1…. Qe7 pins white Q and prevents capture of b2 P.
2fxe7 Bg7
Now white Q has no option but to give up Q for b2 pawn.
3Qxb2 Bxb2
4Na3 Bxa3
{Tempting is
4…. Bxa1 but
5Nb5 Kxe7
[ 5…. d6
6Nxc7+ Kxe7
7Nxa8 Be6
8Nc7 Bxa2
9Nb5 White retains extra piece.]
6Nxc7 Rb8
7Nd5+ Ke6
8Nc7+ Kf6
9Nd5+ Kg7
10Bxb8 Nxb8
White is 2 pawns down but better than in mainline.}
Now 5Bxc7 is unsound as B will be trapped.
5h4 to take advantage of unprotected position of black R at h8 will not work because of
5….. d6
6hxg5 Bb2
7Rb1 hxg5 black will be 3 pawns up after capturing e7 pawn.
Qe7! Pinning the white queen to the king. Idea for the b2 pawn to promote on a1.
black’s move
……. Qd7
PxQ PxR
…Be7
1… Qe7, and black gets a rook for a pawn and a bishop.
Probably blocking with the bishop is better than blocking with the knight as black can castle out of the block and still develop his knight to c6.
Then again, there’s something to be said for putting the queen on e7 to block.
A classic!
1…Qe7! does the trick, pins the queen, and the promotion that nets Ra1 is unavoidable.
black move……..Qe7
PxQ …………..PxR
I looked up the original game on chessgames.com – the FEN you have posted is incorrect. Both black and white can castle in this game.
Is anything better than 1… Qe7 2.fxe7 Bg7 3.Qxb2 Bxb2 4.Nd2 Bxa1 ?
Then black is up an exchange.
From Michael,
Prof HG Bhat,
Nice analysis on the choice of 4.Ba3 vs 4.Ba1.
However, I don’t think 5.Bc7 in the mainline is necessarily unsound. Trying to trap that bishop with d6 isn’t going to work since white can play Bd8 immediately and at least force black to exchange a piece for it and the e-pawn.
Dear Yancey,
You are absolutely right.I had made off the cuff comment.I thought this variation is better since it gives 3 extra P.Now the question is which is better 4… Bxa3 or 4… Bxa1.I think 4… Bxa3 is better since it takes away N and B both developed pieces.White remains backward in development.
4… Bxa3 5. Bxc7 d6 6. Bd8 Nxd8 7. exd8=Q+ Kxd8 black’s d pawn has moved,e8 is clear for R at h8 and QB is ready to come out and black has advantage of 2 bishops in a more or less open position.This is however justification by afterthought.
Dear Yancey,
I read your original comment.I am a bit confused.
1…. Qe7
2bxe7 bxa1=Q
3exf8=Q+ Kxf8
4Qd1
White has N & B for R and 3 pawns.I am not sure whether this is material advantage for black.More than anything else coordination counts. White certainly lags in development but black is also not fully developed. definitely black will continue with 4… f3 saving c7 pawn and threatening Bf5,Re8 etc.