You won't have any problems at least considering the possibility of this move any more, I hope.

You see the difference. There's immediate concrete tension: Black threatens to take on f4.

White allows the f-flle to be opened without undoubting his f-pawns.

If White got in e4-e5 and f4-f5 he'd be in great shape. Now, however, it's Black who has the chance to sacrifice the exchange.

Black has more than enough compensation for the exchange.

World Champion Magnus Carlsen, one of the greatest chess players of all time , turns 32 today. Happy birthday, champ!

Majestic Maneuver

Taking your king for a walk in the heat of a complex middlegame - in some positions it is the logical thing to do, in other cases it may be a quite surprising action.

Let's just hear what Lilienthal had to say about his decision: 'Black has to bring his rook from h8 into the game. But castling is dangerous: White is all geared up for an attack on the kingside. Because of this, I decided to send my king in the other direction.'
Sounds sensible enough, does it not? Besides, you can observe that the position is closed and as a result, the king will be safe on c7. When Black opens up the b-file with . . . b5 -b4, the king will even be able to assist here, controlling some important entry squares.

Anticipating . . . b5 -b4.

White's position is still good, although Lilienthal went on to win a complicated game against the former World Champ!