Move 38: The Conditional Move

I'm afraid the alliance votes may be to uncommon to give the best move.  Since a5 is the closest, and kf8 a little further back, maybe a5 is the only good option left.  Either way the alliance should recommend a move, and try and get rid of Qb7.

I think unless we come up with a clear-cut drawing lines, Qb7's position will remain undisputed. Who knows? Someone may come up with a good continuation - ther are much better analysts than me in chess.com.

BTW, IM IMCheap also favors Qb7...

He's also been voting resign the last several moves..

Well, themothman, > 90% are expecting a loss - it would be a miracle if we could manage a draw!

38. ... Qb7 is very natural. It is a tempo move that defends a6. The problem is that after b4, we still have to defend f7, and the queen is blocking the rook. Is there a way to follow it up?

If IMCheap has been voting resign, I don't think his vote for a move this time makes any sense, since white's last move appears to have been not bad. His comment sounds like he literally has looked no further forward than one move. With all due respect, does he think this is a lightning game?

Having said that, the move is a double threat. White cannot defend b2 and e4. but after b4 Qxe4 Bxf7+ white does not lose a pawn. In fact, I suspect the a-pawn falls afterwards, as we need to defend the king with the queen on the weak white squares.

Elroch,

I have already given this narrow (without branching) line:

38... Qb7

39. b4 Kf8 (f-pawn can no longer be captured with check)

40. Bd5 Qd7 (only move preventing h4)

41. Rf5! (urvang's suggestion, appears strongest for white)

But then I run out of moves, and cannot find a way to prevent 42.h4, 43.g5

Somebody else might find a way out?

Your line looks relevant, dsarkar. Unfortunately a lot of lemmings are following IMCheap off the cliff without checking out the drop first. To be honest, I think we are best off allowing the f-pawn to fall after 39. ... Qxe4.

And I think I just found a way out!

38... Qb7, 39. b4 Kf8, 40. Bd5 Qd7

41. Rf5 Kg8!?

    42. h4?! g6!! this kicks the rook!

        43. Rxf6?! Qxg4+ draw by perpetual check

        43. Rf3 Qxg4+ 44. Rg3 (forced) Qd7 45. Rxg6+ Kf8

            46. Rxf6?! Qg4+ draw by perpetual check

            46. Rxh6?! Qg4+ draw by perpetual check

            46. Rg2  Bxh4 black looks OK

    42.Kg2! (to prevent perpetual checks) Kg8 ...

So it appears h4 is not white's best move...

We might still have hope!

What about 40) h4 for white??

Then the attack will succeed.  The queen can pin the white rook after the king goes to g2 to defend the rook.  Then Bd5 can force the queen away revealing discovered checks.

It looks like we need to play Rb8 to keep the bishop active or a5.

edit: maybe Qxe4 helps prevent h4 right away because it threatens Qg4.  I still think a5 and Rb8 might be better.

Very nice resource, dsarkar. But I suspect white has other ways to go.

Post #88 seems a safer way for us to go, starting with 38. ... Rb8. The position after 44. ... bxa6 is probably drawable, as if we replace the queen on a7 with the rook (Ra8, Qc7, Ra7 for example), white can never advance the pawn.

savyma and urvang, you're right.

We are making the same mistake over and over again - contemplating our own lines of thoughts and ignoring those of others - more important, we are repeatedly failing to come to a consensus before it is too late.

Now that Qb7 has made it, we should go forward, and try to come to a consensus before it is our time to vote next move.

I think the game is beyond salvage at this point - those who want to try please continue...

No use continuing thread - even if we come up with any ideas for this move, it will not overtake Qb7 with a 60+% majority with 500+ votes (will require 300+ votes to overthrow Qb7).

So let us move forward to the next move:

http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/move-39-the-conditional-move