I was recently analyzing a game and stumbled across this position:

The move played by black at this point was Rae8. Why? It looks like anything reasonable but that maintains a significant advantage for black. Anyone able to spectulate as to why this move may have been best?

Yes, that does make sense. I guess to me since Ng6 looks so good it seemed like a bad move in comparision. :p Thanks for the analysis. Btw I think this position arose in a game between 1700-1800s.

I put this position into fritz:

ng6 -4.94

Nxd3 -2.59

Nd7 -1.41

f6 -.91

Rae8 .09

this analysis of Rae8 may be over optimistic for white though, white recovers plenty of material for the queen but still has tactical problems.