Stefan Buecker wrote on 06/18/11 at 19:14:08:
Gambiteer, an interesting idea which I'll study. White had intended to get his a1 rook to e1, a plan which you are spoiling. What do you think about my second proposal (in reply #20) 14.Nbd2?
It's an interesting move. If I was going to play the
8.Qa4 line, I think I'd be inclined to play
14.Nbd2 and I'd give serious consideration to the intriguing
15.b4 cxd4 16.cxd4 g4 17.Bb2 gxf3 18.Rac1 sacrifice outlined in your earlier diagram.
In looking at the 8.Qa4 Bd7 9.Qb3 Na5 positions with the computer, I've noticed that our silicon friends seem hell bent on white moving d5 which is not a move that appeals to me even if it does carry with it a certain logic. The computer apparently wants to lock the pawn structure in order to make it easier for white to attack the backward d6 pawn with Nc4 despite the fact that ...b5 rains on the parade.
Here's an example that preempts ...b5:
14.Nbd2 Ne7 15.Qb3+ Kg6 16.d5 Kh7 17.a4Another example where the computer prefers d5 but for different reasons:
8.Qa4 Bd7 9.Qb3 Na5 10.Bxf7+ Ke7 11.Qa3 Kxf7 12.Qxa5 c5 13.Qa3 Qc7 14.Qb3+ Kg6 15.d5 Nf6 16.Qc2 Kf7 17.c4 =/+ Curiously, d5 is a recurring theme for the computer.