I finished playing this game yesterday. I eventually lost due to a blunder shortly after the diagram,and I think I spotted my mistakes so I won't bother you guys with those. This was a point in the game though that I can't seem to let go of. It seems relatively equal or maybe slight advantage to white since his pieces are more involved. There were only two moves I could think of really at the time, either Be5 or dxe3. Be5 (the move I decided to do eventually for some reason) however seems like a wasted move since d pawn was eventually going to fall, which leaves dxe3. That will result probably result opening up the my kingside as well as having a double pawn and maybe an overextended pawn (is that the right terminology? haven't played in 5 yrs so I forget), but I think it is still playable and the darn Knight was gone. My question is, what is the right move here?

Thanks!

I think they are both OK to me - I prefer Be5 though - if the pawn falls you get check with the Bishop. And, it seems to me your structure gets all messed up, like you say, with dxe (though you get the piece...)

Yeah, I would think either one looks alright (in the game, by the way--which I just looked at--after he plays Rc5 you had ... Bxh2+; Kxh2 Qh4+ picking off the knight).

Oh...

I actually missed that even in analyzing it again and again. Thanks!

What tonydal said.

Funny how often I find myself saying that.

tonydal wrote:

Yeah, I would think either one looks alright (in the game, by the way--which I just looked at--after he plays Rc5 you had ... Bxh2+; Kxh2 Qh4+ picking off the knight).

 It's late and I'm tired, but Qg4 or Qh5 first might have chances.