Curtains vs PoG

[NajdorfDefense]

[ QUOTE ]

2) One piece attacks rarely work - if you attack "with tempo" it should be to combine both getting one of your pieces to a better square or creating an additional threat while forcing your opponent to move one of his pieces to a bad square. Just because you move a piece and attack something does not mean the move is "with tempo".

[/ QUOTE ]

Correct, and Nb4 is not a 1-piece attack because it forces Curtains to move his Q to a worse square, allows us to develop Bf5 with tempo, and creates at least two additional threats, as well as slowing down his K-side development.

So, in short, Nb4 is 'with tempo.'

[ QUOTE ]
As it stands, curtains plan is fairly obvious: likely ... e3, 0-0, Nc3,

[/ QUOTE ]

Right, so our plan with ...Bf5 prevents at least 2 of these moves as far as I can see, and we can take his fianchettoed bishop most likely if he insists on playin o-o anyway, thus lessening the pressure on our d5.

[TimM]

Just got a PM about this thread...

I didn't like Nb4, it leaves black off balance.

9.Qb3 Bf5 10.Nd4 is pretty obvious. Now after ...Be4 11.O-O Bxg2 (if we don't take now, white will just ignore this bishop and continue his development) 12.Kxg2 what do we really have? Exchanges of minor pieces usually help white in this isolated pawn position, regardless of any pressure the g2 bishop may have been exerting. Now the knight on b4 is doing nothing, it's just going to wind up going back. The white queen is not on a bad square at all and there is a weakness on b7 it is eyeing (13.a3 Nc6 doesn't actually allow Qxb7 yet, but later it might). 13.Bg5 has some bite because our f8 bishop is the only thing holding b4, so if we go ...Be7 that piece is a little overworked. White has Nf5 in some lines too.

But on 10...Bg6 11.Bg5 looks strong. White is threatening to just take this knight and go Qa4+ which is an annoying check. So now I don't even like 9...Bf5.

[curtains]

omg TimM is a master. !!! go hide in OOT TimM please [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[chuckleslovakian]

[ QUOTE ]
omg TimM is a master. !!! go hide in OOT TimM please [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]
And I was the one who told him about the game...he's only a little better than Ottosen...

[TimM]

[ QUOTE ]
omg TimM is a master. !!! go hide in OOT TimM please [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I probably should, or better yet the strategy forums. Too bad I missed out on the opening, this position is not my style at all.

[David Ottosen]

[ QUOTE ]
Nb4 is not a 1-piece attack because it forces Curtains to move his Q to a worse square, allows us to develop Bf5 with tempo, and creates at least two additional threats, as well as slowing down his K-side development.



[/ QUOTE ]

This statement is utterly untrue. The problem with your move "with tempo" is that if you play Bf5, the response of Nd4 leaves you essentially planning to play Bg6. g6 is completely the wrong square for your bishop in this kind of position. As such, you are "gaining time" to put your pieces on bad squares where they will have to be moved again in the future. If you plan to play Be4 instead, you are committing yourself to exchanging on g2, which gains you nothing - you are simply exchanging minor pieces which is the goal of the player who doesn't have the isolated pawn.

[ QUOTE ]
our plan with ...Bf5 prevents at least 2 of these moves as far as I can see, and we can take his fianchettoed bishop most likely if he insists on playin o-o anyway, thus lessening the pressure on our d5.

[/ QUOTE ]

Your "plan" is just a one move threat that is easily dealt with - it doesn't prevent anything; it just delays his plans a move, and then you will have to regroup your pieces anyways (the knight on b4 is going to have to do something someday), leading to an overall *loss* of tempo.

[DMBFan23]

it will be interesting to read Najdorf's, xorbie's and ChrisV's thoughts about next steps since they (I was convinced as well but I suck) were advocates of this move