minority attack question

Hi

Just wondering what people think is the best option for the minority attack in this situation, move 14 (computer suggests a5).  Am I doing something wrong to end-up in this position?

i think your 11 Rb1 is incorrect. You're going to need rooks on both b1 and a1 to successfully break through on the queenside.

I think 14. a5 suggests by itself. You have an open file against the weakness on c6, one of the typical motifs on the minority attack.

a5 is designed to prevent black playing Nb6 and then to c4 to shield the backward pawn.  Black also made a mistake with cb.  He should have played ab and then Nb6, again with the same idea.  Standard strategy in positions like this.  What black did left him with weak pawns on d5 and a6.

It was certainly more accurate to play 11...a5 and then 12a3 re8 13 b4  pxp 14pxp b5 and nb6-c4. Even after 14a5 white's advantage is quite small, it's only one weakness on c6. 

In the game even after a series of positionally dubious moves, black was only losing after playing 19...nxe3 for some reason. 

Fiveofswords is wrong once again.

First off, 3...Nf6 or 3...Be7 is better than 3...Bb4?!. If he wants to play such a line, play 1...Nf6, not 1...d5.

Secondly, ...b5 is not a positional error, I have played both sides of this idea myself (without losing the tempo with the black bishop). The mistake is his recapture. He should take back with the a-pawn. The idea behind the b5 lines is to mask the weakness on c6 by getting a knight to c4. If white captures that, Black gets a protected passer on c4. Cake win for White after two major errors by Black.

14. a5 is suggested by the computer because in most cases, if black gets a knight to c4 via b6, black is usually equal.

After 14. a5, white I believe would start looking towards opening the centre, but such a position would be harder for me to play than the regular minority attack.

I think if Black as some idea when to apply the b5 idea correctly can pretty easily diffuse the minority attack, at least in club player play. One of the few games know about where white was succesful against it was the Karpov v Spassky game below http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067813&kpage=1. Think applying it actively black needs to get counterplay with a5, as for example a reason Carlsen game.

In the OP's game playing b5 was a relatively good move, compared to other decisions made. Can defend the weak pawn on c6 easily, would have a pretty defensive position whilst white organised a e4 break but wouldn't have been trivial for white to win.

Long Term?  In this particular case?  Cover c6 for now, relocate your pieces via Bf8, R-lift, Nf6-e8-d6-c4

In normal cases where Black doesn't waste time with his Bishop, ...b5 would be played before a4 ever came.  a6 was a waste of time  Play b5 straight up before White plays a4.

I have not gone into massive depth in this specific position to see if White has a specific threat against the Black King.  Maybe the Bf8/Re7/Ne8/Nd6/Nc6 idea would work.  Maybe White has something against h7 and you have to do something like Nf8/Qd7/Rd8/Ne8/Nd6/Nc4.

Simply making the point that even with a5, getting a Knight to c4 is not impossible, just more difficult.

thanks for the responses.  if i play a5 white can still get a knight to c4 via d6.  i understand it will take him longer but ultimately is that really going to matter?  am i really going to take advantage before he can put a knight there the longer way around?

i guess what i'm asking is, a5 is permanent.  the advantage temporary & i probably wont make use of it in time.  am i just playing too slowly or is there more to it?

In the minority attack, white is always working with a very small advantage. Don't think many club player's have the skills to exploit such a tiny advantage, personally.

In your game after a5, not sure if black has the time to get knight to c4, or if black should even be trying for that, because after the central break e4, the knight will be undermined there. So probably black has to defend passively and wait for your e4 break. You are definitely better but not winning. 

Earlier black shouldn;t have wasted time with bb4-be7. Normally if play bb4 should be prepared to play BxN at some-point. Also if black plays the b5 idea, should usually make sure can play a5 himself.

wont the knight still have the b pawn for cover even if i break on e4? i guess the b pawn could end-up isolated?  and its me going for the break because black doesn't really have any pawn break options unless he decides to start pushing his f pawn?  i'm terrible with pawn breaks and knowing when to push & which one to push.  i normally close my eyes, cross my fingers and hope for the best.

Skeldol hopefully will be happy to see me again. Honestly, your opponent did not seem to do well after move 18:

Thanks for the reply YourChess.  Most people (and the computer) seem to think a5 is better, the reason being it prevents the knight coming to c4 via b6 blocking the backward c pawn.  What's your view on this?

14.. You think white has more hope on the c file because the bishop blocks c8?  but I guess the knight on c3 also blocks the file for white?  I guess at least white get a rook on the file in a move.

I think you need all your pieces developed first. An interesting read is Play the Queen's Gambit by Chris Ward. He says don't play the Minority Attack if the black knight is within Striking distance of C4. On d7 it is only 2 moves away from c4, so if you put a rook on b1and he plays his knight to b6, the rook on b1 is a little misplaced not going through with b4. Nd7 by black is a flexible move, meaning it could go via f8 to the kingside for a Kingside attack or stay within striking distance of c4.

The truth is white needs to know other plans than the minority attack in the exchange variation. By itself the minority attack can be easily neutralised.

What other plans?