Curtains vs PoG

[curtains]

12. Nc3

[Taraz]

[ QUOTE ]

12. Bd2 or 12. Nc3


Bd2 will allow us to play Qb6, however Nc3 may force us to exchange and play Bxg2.

It's not fatal yet but he's got a slight edge...

[/ QUOTE ]

Can you explain why Bxg2 gives Curtains a slight edge? I always thought it was good to exchange bishops when he has castled in behind a fianchetto'd one.

[PurpleLight]

Does Nc3 force Bxg2 Kxg2 so that we don't end up getting pwned by white's light bishop if we exchange in the center? It seems to me it does, but I was only a 1700 in the days where I studied the game.

Though I suppose we could play Qb6 with tempo first before we have to do anything else.

[Zurvan]

Why would we do anything before castling?

[chuckleslovakian]

Curtains plays 12.Nc3

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

Curtains

PoG

It is now PoGs turn

[dmk]

12...Bxg2
13. Kxg2 O-O

nothing else seems to be worth mentioning

[aaronk56]

[ QUOTE ]
Does Nc3 force Bxg2 Kxg2 so that we don't end up getting pwned by white's light bishop if we exchange in the center? It seems to me it does, but I was only a 1700 in the days where I studied the game.

Though I suppose we could play Qb6 with tempo first before we have to do anything else.

[/ QUOTE ]

If we play Qb6, doesn't white just play Na4, forcing us to move our Queen again?

[pudley4]

I looked into:

12 ... Bxg2
13 Kxg2 Bxd4
14 Qxb4

to see if there was a way to remove the knight that's blocking our pawn. Unfortunately it looks like we drop the d-pawn in this line:

14 ... Qb6
15 Qa4+ Nd7
16 Nxd4

or

14 ... Bb6
15 Na4

and we end up down a pawn, or with doubled b-pawns

Is it worth it for us to give up the two bishops so that we can remove our isolated pawn?

12 ... 0-0
13 Nxe4 dxe4

[NajdorfDefense]

[ QUOTE ]
I looked into:

12 ... Bxg2
13 Kxg2 Bxd4
14 Qxb4

to see if there was a way to remove the knight that's blocking our pawn. Unfortunately it looks like we drop the d-pawn in this line:

14 ... Qb6
15 Qa4+ Nd7
16 Nxd4

or

14 ... Bb6
15 Na4

and we end up down a pawn, or with doubled b-pawns

Is it worth it for us to give up the two bishops so that we can remove our isolated pawn?

12 ... 0-0
13 Nxe4 dxe4

[/ QUOTE ]

Probably. He may not exchange, he can play Be3 or Bg5, but then we would respond Bxg2 getting the bishops off the board then.
In all cases, this is an even game whichever he plays, after our O-O.

[chuckleslovakian]

Curtains plays 12.Nc3

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

Curtains

PoG