IncrediBill vs zrylam (with kibitzers)

Hi, I have been looking at Re3, is that any possibility. I am not so good in making these nice analysis board things to put in here. But when analyzing it, it looks ok, and lots of chances.

As far as I can see, there is nothing wrong with Re3.  I tested some different lines with it, and it seems to work out fine . . . at least in the sense that the whole game doesn't come crashing down around my feet.  It is hard to predict exactly how each line would unfold, but for the most part, it would be an option to consider.

Sorry to take so long to make my move.  The game is at a critical turning point and I wanted to make sure that I made the best move possible to steer the game in the direction that I wanted it to go.

The problem was that I had so many options to me as a starting point . . . 31.Be3, 31.Bd4, 31.Qa3, 31.Re3 . . . and then all of those moves had so many twists and turns, that I spent a lot of time trying to figure out which option was the best; and whether the moves I was assuming that @zrylam would make in response, even made sense.

In the end I've decided to go with the old saying, "The shortest distance between two points is a straight line."  Instead of trying to figure out which move had the best alterior motive or hidden agenda, I've decided to play the move that was the most direct and would simplify the direction of the game.

Therefore, my official move is . . . . . . . 31.Bd4

Hey. Sorry I haven't been here for a while, laptop is all-but-broken.

Let's see what after Bd4...

That's if Black attacks the bishop immediately - an interesting play. There are many option, but the one I focussed (partly because I just love doing it) is Queen penetration, or, removing any doubled meanings, penetrating with the...penetrating the position with the queen. There, that's better.

Now, if Black doesn't...that's a harder story. Possible because Black does not have to. I mean, following Bongcloud principles, K+B is a nice diagonal battery, isn't it?Winning the d-pawn comes into mind, so I'll focus on that.

Nice job with the analysis @ScarredEyes.  I always find it interesting that no matter how many lines I came up with in my analysis', there are still more that I had not considered.  I guess it remains to be seen what @zrylam does, to see which lines end up being followed.  Probably a total different path than either of us predicted.

Nice. The possibilities after that move are many, but I analysed advancing the pawn as the strongest reply from White, from my opinion (which is not necessarily the best). There may be other ones, but your queen is well placed for that move. It remains to be seen what White will reply with. The main problem with the pawn advance is that it is inadequately protected - just to illustrate...

Hi @ScarredEyes,  I can't see any good coming out of pushing the b-pawn (32.b7), and even worse results if I play 33.Bb6.

Hi, would Qc3 be an option. If he takes with B then you can take with Q +,Kg8, b7 etc and then try to get rooks on e1 and e2. If he takes with R x d6 then B x g7 and after kg8, Bh8 and you could have a good play? Probably i miss some things. But just an idea.

Sorry for the delay in posting this move.  If I thought that move #31 was a decisive one, then that was because I didn't anticipate move #32.  I've been trying several different options, and all of the variations that go along with them, and everytime the game seems to deteriorate into a Draw situation, where neither of us can make any move without giving the other person the advantage (or outright losing the game).

I have tried pushing pawns, advancing Rooks, exchanging Bishops, etc, etc, etc . . .all in an effort to see if I could find some move that would give me an advantage or at least have the game not end up in a Draw situation.

Ultimately, I have finally decided to go with the move suggested by @John D in post #207.  For better or worse, it seems to be the one move where the game will continue to teeter on the edge of victory or defeat.  It will all depend on how well each of us will play it out.  One mistake . . . and that person will topple into the abyss and forever hang his head low in shame and scorn!!!

Therefore, my official move is . . . . . 32.Qc3

It looks like my next move is a semi-obvious one; and that is to recapture my Bishop on the d4 square.  The only thing I have to ask myself is whether to do it with my Queen or my Rook.

I do not like the idea of splitting up my Rooks on the first Rank.  They form a pretty powerful duo supporting each other down there.  Even though by moving my one Rook up to the d4 square, I could move my other Rook over to the d1 square and have them support each other on the same File.  I feel that having my two Rooks on the same Rank is a stronger position than having them on the same File, because they are both pointing their cannons down the length of the board, and I feel that is more threatening to Black.

I like the idea of capturing with my Queen, because it immediately puts Black in check and sets up for a series of forced moves.  Also, my Queen is pretty unobstructed out there in the middle of the board, and has a lot of freedom to move around, so it opens up a number of options.

Therefore, my official move is . . . . . . . 33.Qxd4+

Here is how things currently stand for me: 

I am going to have to accept the fact that my d-pawn is as good as dead.  With two Rooks and a Queen bearing down on him, I am pretty sure that he is going to bite the dust fairly soon. 

One thing is for sure, there is no way that my Queen is going to be able to step in and save him as the first line of defense.  In fact, I should probably get my Queen off of the d-file before he captures the pawn and simultaneously attacks my Queen.

I am thinking that my best move would be to move the Queen off the d-file and also put Black in check.  I am looking at playing 34.Qc4+.  Of course, 34.Qd5+ also puts Black in check, but it tends to box my Queen in.  The c4-square opens up a lot of mobility for my Queen and, therefore, actually increases the Queen's power.

Unless someone can come up with a different line of attack, I will lock in 34.Qc4+ later tonight.

Is Qc7 playable for white after Qc4+, I think that black might not be able to take the pawn after it, and the queen cant be taken as well.

I like some of those variations that @stubborn_donkey came up with, and I have a few ideas on my own.  Clearly the c4-square is much better than the d5-square.

Therefore, my official move is . . . . . . 34.Qc4+

So here is how things stand for me right now:

I sort of thought that @zrylam would play Kg7 followed by Kh6 in order to get his King out of the corner and tucked in front of his pawns, although Kf8 is not totally unexpected.

I'm going to have to review Stubborn Donkey's posts and analyze a couple of moves of my own. I wouldn't mind seeing what other ideas are out there. 

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I think there are 2 good lines to follow one would be Qc7 as Stuborn Donkey described, and the other Qc6. But as far as I can see Qc7 is better. there are some good winning chances there. Only I would choose after RxC7, b x c7.

I had a reason for not including bxc7. I think its because it blocks the rook from  d8

P.S. I really like this kind of game, anybody wanna play with me?

I'll play you stubborn_donkey

Let me know if the two of you start up a game so I can follow along.

Hello Again.  Sorry for the delay in getting back.  I was called out of town at the last minute and I did not have time to get back to the game.  Once I did get back, it took me a little while to climb back into the game and wrap my head around what I was doing.  (Also, it seems that Chess.com has modified their web site, and I was having a hell of a time with the Analysis board . . . is anyone else having trouble?)

I ran through some different lines and I really love the 35.Qc7 move that Stubborn Donkey came up with.  It is very bold and aggressive.  The only down side that I could come across was that it put black in a very difficult position.  The type of position where black would be better off to settle for a draw by forcing a perpetual check with his Queen by playing f3,g4 and h3.  

While I know @zrylam would not want to do this (after all the time we have all put in),  I wanted to find a move that would not put him in the position where he would have to play a move that he would rather not play, just for the sake of avoiding having the game end in a Draw.  Likewise, I would not want to put myself in the position where I have to walk my King out of a nice safe corner, in order to bring the perpetual checks to an end and avoid the draw.

Therefore, I have decided to play 35.Qc3

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