1. Qd2 Bb4
1. Bd2 Qb6 seems pretty strong
I would recommend 1. Ke2! which seems to hold everything together
1. Qd2 Bb4
1. Bd2 Qb6 seems pretty strong
I would recommend 1. Ke2! which seems to hold everything together
I decided, I wanted to see what chessmaster has to say. It doesn't look good, no matter what I am calculating with my brain. So I will get a second opinion.
Kd1.
This is the move that Chessmaster gives as the best reply. The game ends in a draw. If anyone wants I will make a pgn file for a board, so they can look through the moves.
What makes you sure there's a move that will give White an even position?
I've worked through a few scenarios, but I'm not sure I've covered them all or have seen all the progressions. I was thinking a king move on a white square would be best, but getting the queen pinned is obviously bad.
Instead of being so surprised at the odd looking move, look at the alternatives. Obviously blocking with the queen loses the queen. Blocking with the bishop loses the d pawn.
I calculated Bd2 Nxd4 Qd3 Qb6 which amazingly my computer says is =
Oh, I see black is missing a pawn on g7, so white didn't lose a pawn.
So yeah, Kd1 keeps the material and is only bad if black as a strong attack. This kind of king move isn't uncommon in certain openings, the french being one of them... the center being locked points to the correctness of this move, as it's harder for black's pieces to find open lines to white's king. It's a good training position to play out with a student (or computer I guess) to see how there is no winning attack (if you feel there should be).
If you don't think there's a winning attack after Kd1, then you understand the position :p It's just annoying for white as the king is in the way of the rooks. For that reason Ke2 is worth considering (although this time it blocks the bishop of course).
This was a position one of my players was in. He didn't make the best move, not seeing the bishop waiting for the pin against the king. Which move is going to keep him at least even. If you can, please go through some progressions.
White to move.
Thanks in advance.
Neil