I know in many circumstances white takes on c6 when they want to play e5 as it removes the defender of the e5 square. (In some other instances it may be to open up the d-file with tempo. Another reason could be to free up the queen from defending the d4 knight.)
Tbh I don't know if I understand it fully in all cases but these are some good reasons to take on c6 that I have seen. The main one being the removal of the defender of e5.
Personally I am quite old school, and won't being looking to exchange on c6 in many cases more than that mentioned. Can only think of in Taimanov positions were black has played a6, the exchange makes that move, a6 useless.
In the dragon, it is rarely a good idea.
It's hard to come up with a strategic justification for white playing Nxc6 so I'd look for tactical justifications of it. For example, if white plays g3 & Bg2 then sometimes Nxc6 and e5 is a double attack. Or white does it to try quick development and piece play.
The only strategic example I know is Fischer-Petrosian candidates : https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044351 and similar.
-Bill
The only strategic example I know is Fischer-Petrosian candidates : https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044351 and similar.
-Bill
I was actually just looking at this line earlier, glad to see a game in it. Thank you.
If White can immediately follow Nxc6 bxc6 with fxe5 dxe5, then he might gain a significant advantage, with Black's Pawns split and the d-file open.
Karpov crushed Spassky in a 1974 Candidates game using exactly that idea.
If White can immediately follow Nxc6 bxc6 with fxe5 dxe5, then he might gain a significant advantage, with Black's Pawns split and the d-file open.
Karpov crushed Spassky in a 1974 Candidates game using exactly that idea.
That is a nice game. I can see that both players are are responding to plans that respond to other/earlier plans responding to other/still earlier game's plans. Karpov was very good at shuffling pieces around waiting for a weakness / opportunity to arise.
If White can immediately follow Nxc6 bxc6 with fxe5 dxe5, then he might gain a significant advantage, with Black's Pawns split and the d-file open.
Karpov crushed Spassky in a 1974 Candidates game using exactly that idea.
Looking back again, fantastic game. I'm not sure I see the detriment of taking back with the knight in that position though, avoiding the split pawn structure. it doesn't seem to be a tactical issue but the engine clearly also prefers bx. Any observations there?
Personally, I would answer Black's ... Nxc6 with f5 and then g4.
So,... from a lecture of Bryan Smith about the white side of the Kan, I -maybe incorrectly- inferred that white can reply to Nc6 here with Nxc6 and depending on recapture play further like a good French, or vs the advanced b pawn like in the Ruy or with piece play vs the Q on c6.
I tried the idea in a 3day/move game when I had time to think and it worked out OK:
https://www.chess.com/game/daily/593501787
Wasn't a perfect game [I had one error: Be3 instead of c3] and my opponent didnt defend the endgame well, but my play was comfortable and easy along the way. - Bill
I already know many of the lines where White plays Nxc6, so I'm not looking for just book/engine lines, I'm trying to get a more conceptual understanding of when that specific trade should be played and why, as well as if/when White should decline and move the knight back to, say, b3. I most often see the Dragon so that's what I'm most interested in, for example the following:
So in positions proceeding from here (and/or similar ones) what are some features I should keep in mind to spot when that exchange would be beneficial on my own?