14-03-2012, 06:18 PM
[pgn]1.c4 e5
2.g3 Nc6
3.Nc3 g6
4.Bg2 Bg7
5.d3 d6
6.e4 h5
7.h4 Nd4
8.Nce2 Ne6
9.Nf3 Nf6
10.0-0 a5
11.b3 0-0
12.a3 c6
13.Bb2 c5[/pgn]
Spoiler here>> I really don't think that b2 is the best square for the bishop. It does hinder black's idea of playing ...d5 (because of the e5 pawn) but the downside is that Black has alternative plans available where the bishop looks to be mis-placed.
I think 13...Qb6 is a sensible move now. The threat of ...Nc5 will probably provoke 14. Rb1, when 14...c5 leads us back to a variation I mentioned earlier - 15.Nc3 Nd4 16.Nxd4 cxd4 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.cxd5 f5 when the white bishop would prefer to be on c1 (allowing for 19.f4) and it's possibly too late just to re-route it as 19. Bc1 f4!? looks interesting (for black!)
Do I have alternatives? Well, 13...Qc7 is playable, but is only useful if white plays 14.d4 - it doesn't contain an active idea of its own.
Hmmm, maybe the immediate 13...c5 is worth some consideration?! In the little variation given above, a queen on d8 would be very useful. Aaah, looking at this line I have just spotted that the 17.Nd5 move should be replaced by 17.Ne2 ( a strange retreat at first sight, but if jumping in to d5 isn't great, then it makes sense to retreat the knight...it's not a wasted move if it suits the new pawn structure)
Ok, I think I am getting to grips with the pawn structure. 13...c5 should be played first. Now if white wants to go to d5, I simply trade and go Nd4 which he will have to chop...then we have the same position as before. If he doesn't want to go Nc3-d5, then let's see what else he can come up with!? Maybe 14.Bc1!?
So, 13...c5 and put the ball back in white's court <<Spoiler here
2.g3 Nc6
3.Nc3 g6
4.Bg2 Bg7
5.d3 d6
6.e4 h5
7.h4 Nd4
8.Nce2 Ne6
9.Nf3 Nf6
10.0-0 a5
11.b3 0-0
12.a3 c6
13.Bb2 c5[/pgn]
Spoiler here>> I really don't think that b2 is the best square for the bishop. It does hinder black's idea of playing ...d5 (because of the e5 pawn) but the downside is that Black has alternative plans available where the bishop looks to be mis-placed.
I think 13...Qb6 is a sensible move now. The threat of ...Nc5 will probably provoke 14. Rb1, when 14...c5 leads us back to a variation I mentioned earlier - 15.Nc3 Nd4 16.Nxd4 cxd4 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.cxd5 f5 when the white bishop would prefer to be on c1 (allowing for 19.f4) and it's possibly too late just to re-route it as 19. Bc1 f4!? looks interesting (for black!)
Do I have alternatives? Well, 13...Qc7 is playable, but is only useful if white plays 14.d4 - it doesn't contain an active idea of its own.
Hmmm, maybe the immediate 13...c5 is worth some consideration?! In the little variation given above, a queen on d8 would be very useful. Aaah, looking at this line I have just spotted that the 17.Nd5 move should be replaced by 17.Ne2 ( a strange retreat at first sight, but if jumping in to d5 isn't great, then it makes sense to retreat the knight...it's not a wasted move if it suits the new pawn structure)
Ok, I think I am getting to grips with the pawn structure. 13...c5 should be played first. Now if white wants to go to d5, I simply trade and go Nd4 which he will have to chop...then we have the same position as before. If he doesn't want to go Nc3-d5, then let's see what else he can come up with!? Maybe 14.Bc1!?
So, 13...c5 and put the ball back in white's court <<Spoiler here