Black to Play
Published in Chess Puzzles
- Solution: After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 e5 is best because although 6...Nc6 7.d5 Nb8 is playable Black has lost time and space, and the very common amateur move 6...Nbd7 just leaves Black cramped after 7.0–0 ( or in a probably uncomfortable position after the aggressive 7.e5 dxe5 8.dxe5 Ng4 9.e6 fxe6) 7...e5 8.Be3. However, can’t White win a pawn now after 6...e5? Well, no: 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 [8.Nxe5? Qxd1+ 9.Bxd1 Nxe4 10.Nxe4 Bxe5] 8...Rxd8 9.Nxe5 ([9.Bg5 Be6 10.Nd5 Bxd5 11.cxd5 c6 gives Black ample play) 9...Nxe4. This all just goes to show you that even after six moves, the possibility of not quite correct understanding of an opening can lead to an inferior game without even losing material. A very valuable book for the amateur!
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