The Sultan
We definitely want a4-a5 to loosen the defense of c7, and then at the right moment to create the discovery of the c file and the double attack on c7 with Be6.
What is the correct move order?
The Process of Decision Making in Chess Volume 2: Practice positions and solutions. Position 8.1
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Jan 9, 2018
0
#5
I'd say the black kingside is really weak on the light squares. On the queenside the 2 pawns plus the dark bishop should be able to defend even opposite the king. While I think white can queen pretty easily kingside and likely quickly if black's king stays queenside. So I'd day trade the light color bishops, try and keep the dark colored bishop, trade rooks whenever possible.
Mar 15, 2018
0
#6
Goal: mate the king. Strategy: tear down the king's defensive cover. Plan: We already have coordination on c7 (our dark-squared bishop—DSB, and our c1 rook), and black's dark-squared bishop has poor local quality.
I like @TheSultan31003's plan (a4->a5), but I think black can stop it.
1. a4
Threat analysis: As @TheSultan31003 notes, if we had another move in a row here, we'd play:
2. a5 Bd4
3. Be6+ Kb8
4. Bc7+ (forking King and Rook).
But I think black can stop this plan Black's attempts to stop this plan with:
1. ... a5
2. bxa5 Bxa5 (threatens our Rook on e1)
Since our rook on e1 has poor local quality anyways, perhaps pushing e5 to get it in the game (if black captures) or make new threats with our e-pawn (if black doesn't capture) is a better way to start.
Scenario 1: black captures.
1. e5 cxe5
2. Rxe5...
and now we have multiple threats... the a4->a5 plan will be harder to stop since our rook on e5 is also contending for the a5 square. We also have the e7 threat in the offing (attacking both c7 and g7). That being said, I think black can really stop all of these plans with 2... Re8.
All of this is to say... I don't see how to make the a4->a5 / well-time Be6+ / discovery work.
Solve for white:
Diagram 8.1- a classic case of an open position; the position is open on both color diagonals, and it contains open and semi- open files. This observation explains why all the pieces here have good global quality.
Challenge: is there a realistic goal white can identify as a result of the observation we’ve made? Can this goal be achieved?