Curtains vs PoG

[chuckleslovakian]

Curtains plays 16.b3

1. c4 e5
2. g3 Nf6
3. Bg2 c6
4. d4 exd4
5. Qxd4 d5
6. cxd5 cxd5
7. Nf3 Nc6
8. Qd3 Nb4
9. Qb3 Bf5
10. Nd4 Be4
11. 0-0 Bc5
12. Nc3 Bxg2
13. Kxg2 Bxd4
14. Qxb4 Bxc3
15. Qxc3 0-0
16. b3

Curtains

PoG

[chuckleslovakian]

PoG plays 16...Re8

1. c4 e5
2. g3 Nf6
3. Bg2 c6
4. d4 exd4
5. Qxd4 d5
6. cxd5 cxd5
7. Nf3 Nc6
8. Qd3 Nb4
9. Qb3 Bf5
10. Nd4 Be4
11. 0-0 Bc5
12. Nc3 Bxg2
13. Kxg2 Bxd4
14. Qxb4 Bxc3
15. Qxc3 0-0
16. b3 Re8

Curtains

PoG

It is now Curtains Turn

[curtains]

17. e3

[chuckleslovakian]

Curtains plays 17.e3

1. c4 e5
2. g3 Nf6
3. Bg2 c6
4. d4 exd4
5. Qxd4 d5
6. cxd5 cxd5
7. Nf3 Nc6
8. Qd3 Nb4
9. Qb3 Bf5
10. Nd4 Be4
11. 0-0 Bc5
12. Nc3 Bxg2
13. Kxg2 Bxd4
14. Qxb4 Bxc3
15. Qxc3 0-0
16. b3 Re8
17. e3

Curtains

PoG

It is now PoGs Turn

[chuckleslovakian]

Now seems like a good time for Rc8

[xorbie]

how exactly do people plan on opposing Qd4 and Bb2?

Rc8 seems pointless because Qd4 puts his queen in a pretty good spot and forces us to play either a6 or b6, so we don't even gain tempo.

i think we either play Qb6 or Ne4 followed by Qf6, which i find particularly sexy but haven't really looked at it too closely.

[TimM]

[ QUOTE ]
how exactly do people plan on opposing Qd4 and Bb2?

Rc8 seems pointless because Qd4 puts his queen in a pretty good spot and forces us to play either a6 or b6, so we don't even gain tempo.

i think we either play Qb6 or Ne4 followed by Qf6, which i find particularly sexy but haven't really looked at it too closely.

[/ QUOTE ]

On 17...Rc8 18.Qd4 Rc2 I'n not sure he has time for 19.Qxa7 since 19...Ne4 threatens Qf6 which attacks the Ra1 and the f2 pawn a third time. This looks really strong.

And 19.Bb2 Re4 picks off the bishop. If he can't even set up this Qd4/Bb2 battery, he might just go 18.Qd3 instead of 18.Qd4.

[xorbie]

[ QUOTE ]

On 17...Rc8 18.Qd4 Rc2 I'n not sure he has time for 19.Qxa7 since 19...Ne4 threatens Qf6 which attacks the Ra1 and the f2 pawn a third time.

[/ QUOTE ]

isn't Rc8 susceptible to Bd2 which forces us to move back or face Bc3 which traps the rook in? if we moves the queen over to protect from Bc3, he can just move a rook over and exchange rooks, forcing us to move Qa8 to protect the pawn, which just doesn't look too fantastic.

[StregaChess]

[ QUOTE ]
If he can't even set up this Qd4/Bb2 battery, he might just go 18.Qd3 instead of 18.Qd4.


[/ QUOTE ]

I agree if we play Rc8, I think his move is Qd3. I think he’s taking a very deliberate approach, trying to eliminate counter play, and focusing on our “weak” d pawn.

[Punker]

I don't like any of the "tempo gaining" moves attacking the queen. White's queen is not currently on a very good square (it attacks none of our weaknesses and blocks the dark squared bishop from getting to d4 where it would blockade our pawn and radiate power on both sides of the board), so I'd just let it be. I like Qe7 here, with the ideas of Qe4 (moving in on the light squares) or Rd8 with the intention of advancing the pawn.