Could someone help me with this positional question?

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Avatar of kwkingdom123

In this position, black plays Qa7. The queen goes there because otherwise, Na4 and then Nxc5 gets rid of the bishop that defends the d6 pawn and which holds together the dark squares. I don't get what this mean. Could somebody explain?
Avatar of Spektrowski

In the construction Bc5-d6-e5 each piece protects each other, it's very sturdy. After one gets rid of the c5 Bishop, the d6 pawn becomes very weak.

Avatar of kwkingdom123

Yes, but there's no way to attack it. What happens after Nxc5, Qxc5. How will white exploit the weakness?

Avatar of -waller-

For a start, in the position after Qxc5, Bf2 wins the queen. So it would be Nxc5.

Then a course of action might be to line up on the d-file, play dxc6 which would then put pressure on the backward pawn. In general, its better not to have such weaknesses in your position providing a place for White to attack. If Black plays cxd5, then Nxd5 keeps the file semi-open as well. The bishop was a key defender of the pawn, but try defending it with the knight that is now on c5. It takes many moves and can not defend it from an active square.

Avatar of kwkingdom123

Wow! Thanks for the explanation. You are a life saver!! :)