Scholar wrote on 06/30/06 at 00:22:22:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Nb3 d5 7. Bg5 Be6 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. exd5 Qxd5 10. Qxd5 Bxd5 11. Nc3 Be6 12. O-O-O Nc6 13. Ne4 Bh6+ 14. Kb1 Ke7
Here I had looked at 15.Bb5 with the idea that after Rhg8 16.g4 Black's work is not done. Looking at BladezII's main line for inspiration, 15...Rac8 is another try. I'm sure that Black can draw the position, but on the whole I agree with Palliser's remarks -- and I am certainly one of those Black players who prefers to have a sound structure.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Nb3 d5 7. Bg5 Be6
8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. exd5 Qxd5 10. Qxd5 Bxd5 11. Nc3 Be6 12. O-O-O Nc6 13. Ne4 Bh6+ 14. Kb1 Ke7 15. Bb5
15... Rac8
Black is fine, well developed and his pieces are well placed. Am I the only one seeing that Black is better positioned than White for this endgame? Even Black's King is better placed than White's. Who else sees that Black's center pawns are doubled but mobile and they are a force, an offensive force that Black can and will use to press on. What does white have for him?
For example
16. Nec5 Rc7
17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. c3 a6 19. Bc4 Rg8 20. g3
(20. g4 e4! 21. Nd4 Nxd4 22. Rxd4 e3 23.Re4 Rc6 24. Bb3 Rg7 and then ...e5 Black is using those pawns like I said.)
20... f5
Black is pressing to use his trumps. Frankly, Black can ask if he can win this as much as white can ask this same question.