Upgrade to Chess.com Premium!

A cool IQP endgame.

 

It looks like white should easily be able to pick up the pawn on d5 but black has enough counter play to hold the position.

1.0-0-0 0-0 2.Bf3 (if Rxd5 black gains compensation for the pawn by Re8! but this might be whites best line since black is able to hold onto the pawn in 2.Bf3 varation.)

2...Re8 attacking the Bishop on e3 if Rad1 then Rxe3 Rxe3 Bxf4. so 3. Bd2 is force this gives black time to defend his pawn since this move interfares white the rook on d1 and its a neccessary evil since white needs to defend the pawn on f4.

3....Be6 4.g3 Rac8! grabing the open file. 5.Bc3 Rae8 6.Rd3 (if Rd2 then Bb6 and white can't continue with Rhd1 because of the threat of Be3.)

6...Bb6 7.Rhd1 d4! 8.Bxd4 Bf5 black assault along the c-file is annoying but White has an amazing move to save the position.

Lets take a look at some bad moves first to see what black is upto.

9.Rd2?? Rxd4!! 10.Rxd4 Rxc2+ 11.Kb1 Bxd4 and Black is easily winning do to the threat of Rxb2 and discover check with any rook move.

9.Rc3?? drops a piece. Bxd4 10.Rxc8 Be3+ 11.Kb1 Rxc8.

9.Bxb6? loses the exchange under unfavorable circumstances. 9...Rxd3 10.Rxd3 Bxd3 11.Kd2 Bf5 12.Bd4 Rxc2+

The move that gives white reasonable chances to play on is 9.Bxb7!! Bxd3 10. Rxd3 (10.Bxc8 is anwser by Be2) Rb8 11.Bxb6 Rxd3 12.cxd3 Rxb7 13.Bc5 White has two pawns for the exchange. The computer engine evaluates this position as +.20, If white had connected passed pawns this would be a easy win for white but the best he can do is to have split pass pawns since black still has a queenside pawn.

 

QUESTIONS about this position: How should black activate the king? (f6 or g6) Does black have to play a6 to prevent it from being targeted from the dark sqaure bishop? How does white coordinate the queenside pawn push? Normal black defensive technique of giving back the rook for a bishop and pawn doesn't work here since white is up two pawns, is black looking to draw in this position?

 

For a recap I post the example below. Maybe next time I will Look at Rxd5.

 

Post your reply: