Unity Chess Club
Fuster – Sanguineti Portoroz 1958 White to play Is this the right time for 1.a4?
It looks like 1 a4 b4 2 Na2 is well-timed in view of 2 … a5 3 Bc7! followed by Rc2 and Rfc1 (or Nc1-d3) with a clear advantage.
But 1 a4? was met by 1 … g5! and after 2 Bd2 b4 3 Na2 a5 there was no Bc7. Black has greater space and superior chances.
But 1 a4? was met by 1 … g5! and after 2 Bd2 b4 3 Na2 a5 there was no Bc7. Black has greater space and superior chances.
Better is 1 Rfd1 because 1 … Nb6 allows 2 Nxb5! and 3 Bc7. And on 1 … Nf6, the 2 a4! with an edge.
Unity Chess Club
Mahesh Chandran – Novikov Dallas 2004 Black to play
1 … g5!. Black would have the edge if the offer is declined (2 Rad1 gxf4 3 Bxf4 Ne5).
1 … bxa4 2 bxa4 Black would be worse following 3 Nd2. If Black contests c4 with … Nb6 the knight is driven back by a4-a5!. Also bad is 1 … b4? 2 Nb1! Nb6 3 Nbd2 Re7 4 a5! Na8 5 Nc4!.
Unity Chess Club
Hou Yifan – Kosteniuk Nalchik 2008 Black to play White is preparing the Ng3-f5. What can Black do?
This is a good time for 1 … h5!. White would be over-extended after 2 g5 Nh7 3 h4 g6 and … f6.
2 N3h2, to maintain the pawn on g4. This surrendered control of the kingside dark squares. The best try is 2 gxh5! Bxh3 3 N1h2 but Black is better after 3 … Nh7.