Kamsky vs Lerner, New York Open (1990)
Let me share in this blogpost a question which I received from my student, about a game of Kamsky vs Lerner, from New York Open (1990), with my answer.
Question:
Could I ask a following query on this hypothetical position?
The commentator says this position would be dangerous for Black. After Black plays 1......Qd8 or 1....Qa5, White would then play 2. Rxb7.
Although White now has a Rook on the seventh rank, I do not see how would White exploit this further? Does White follow this up by 4. Qb1? Or better 4.Ne5 targeting the weak Black pawn on c6.
I would be grateful of your comments on how White would win from here.
Many thanks again.
Answer:
The advantage after Rb7 is based first of all on domination of White pieces over Black's ones - the capture on b7 is an intrusion itself and seizing of space, with which Black with still incompleted development and lack of activity isn't that ready to meet. And also since the Black King is still uncastled, White is interested to open the position, and Rb7 along with possible c4 later is perfect for opening new files which White heavy pieces will be faster to take than Black.
To understand it better, it's good to pay attention to what happens with black's side after the capture - his position gets kind of stopped in progress, he will have no good plans - and will just struggle for completing development and survival, with weak 7-th rank and difficult pawn structure, especially c6 and a7 as significant weaknesses. While White's position can evolve easily after that - he can just seize control over the whole b-file with heavy pieces, and play against Bk's Q-side weaknesses. This is more global strategical plan rather than a win by concrete moves.
