Curtains vs PoG

[StregaChess]

I’m going to take an alternative view of evaluating this position for the sake of discussion. This might not be the line I’d approach in playing a game out but surely it’s part of my corrupt thought process and how I often evaluate position.

White’s king has reached the center and we could achieve the opposition if so desired, but do we care? How much further can the king penetrate and can it harm us? Our king is well placed on e7 and his only entry way with our pawns unmoved is Kb6. So if we allowed him to get to b6 our worse case is we’d have to play Kc8. And he can not deny us Kc8. As strange as that seems if white moves his King off of b6 we would regain Kd7 and therefore the e7 square too. All that being said he could “weaken” us if we move our g6 pawn giving him another path in, and would that truly weaken us or would we have Ke8.

So if all of the above is true do we consider Nb3 as it temporarily takes critical squares away from the bishop? We may very well find the knight has other creative square and it is possible that it shifts to the kingside and “bothers” the white pawns. My final point in favor of Nb3 is now that we have two pieces playing chess and not one.

[chuckleslovakian]

Curtains plays 40.Ke4

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 Rc8
18. Qd3 d4
19. exd4 Qd5+
20. Qf3 Rc2
21. Bf4 Ne4
22. Be3 Rc6
23. Kg1 Rf6
24. Qg2 h5
25. Rac1 h4
26. Rc5 Qd6
27. Re5 Rxe5
28. dxe5 Qxe5
29. Rc1 Nc3
30. Re1 Rc6
31. Qf3 h3
32. g4 Nxa2
33. Qxh3 Qe6
34. Qg3 Qxb3
35. Bxa7 Qxg3+
36. hxg3 Rc1
37. Rxc1 Nxc1
38. Kg2 Kf8
39. Kf3 Ke7
40. Ke4

Curtains

PoG

[smilingbill]

The normal protocol is to make a move and accompany it with a draw offer. We do not want to anger the great curtains so we should do so (in case we offer a draw) [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[StregaChess]

Nb3 and NO DRAW, don't be such cowards... there is play left....
That was my vote....

If we offer a draw I hope he turns it down and beats us...

[StregaChess]

I can't get over that the vote is leaning towards a draw when we have NO LOSING CHANCES. We have the past pawn, not Curtains, have we no dignity!

Anyone for a prop bet and I’ll take black?

[TimM]

I don't see any risk to playing Nb3, but I think he will just plant his king on d5 forever (unless we check him, but that shouldn't get us very far) leaving us no way to around it.

[StregaChess]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't see any risk to playing Nb3, but I think he will just plant his king on d5 forever (unless we check him, but that shouldn't get us very far) leaving us no way to around it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Possibly but one advantage of Nb3 is it may lead to lines that are currently beyond our field of vision.

[StregaChess]

Did anybody look at this?

40. Ke4 Ke6
41. Bc5!?
(LOL I had first put Kd6, typo doh... )

Or did we just examine 41. Bd4
Sorry for the (many) late comments but it just sort of thought he could take a slower approach to squeeze out a few squares?

[chuckleslovakian]

PoG plays 40...Nb3

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 Rc8
18. Qd3 d4
19. exd4 Qd5+
20. Qf3 Rc2
21. Bf4 Ne4
22. Be3 Rc6
23. Kg1 Rf6
24. Qg2 h5
25. Rac1 h4
26. Rc5 Qd6
27. Re5 Rxe5
28. dxe5 Qxe5
29. Rc1 Nc3
30. Re1 Rc6
31. Qf3 h3
32. g4 Nxa2
33. Qxh3 Qe6
34. Qg3 Qxb3
35. Bxa7 Qxg3+
36. hxg3 Rc1
37. Rxc1 Nxc1
38. Kg2 Kf8
39. Kf3 Ke7
40. Ke4 Nb3

Curtains

PoG

It is now Curtains turn

[curtains]

41. Kd5

Phew made it to time control