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Black to Play

Pete Tamburro on

Published in Chess Puzzles

Last week, I decided to devote a week’s worth of chess summer school to the new book, “Is Your Move Safe” by Dan Heisman. I now feel totally justified in doing that because the Chess Journalists of America have awarded it as the best book (instruction) for 2015-16. We’ll do a bonus example to note the award. The position occurs frequently, and, yet, average player manage to play the inferior moves rather than the right one after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 (See Diagram). Heisman takes note of this and discusses these three most common choices: a)6…Nc6 b)6…Nbd7 c)6…e5. Which moves are safe? If they are all safe, which is best? That’s an interesting question, too, that he asks.


- 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!

 


Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.

 

 

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