MNb wrote on 07/29/06 at 02:39:51:

MNb,

Thanks for the suggestions!  I just got back to catch new developments on this thread and haven't had a chance to look through then carefully, but at a first glance I'm happy with White's activity.

I had a similar feeling about 14.g4 not being best, but will still take a look anyway (no other way to really be sure).  I did look at 14.Rhe1 earlier tonight and liked what I saw in those lines as well.

There is more to explore, of course, but I think there is enough here already to say that 12...f6 does not quickly lead to an easy draw for Black (well, maybe after 14.g4 it might).

I'd be more inclined to play ...Nxf6 rather than Qxf6.  It would resolve one of the problems with the light-squared bishop.

And Ostap,

You're exactly right, I was hoping to find some sort of improvement as early as now instead of ...b5.  I'm still working on it.

Here's a couple of ideas:

...b6 with the idea of a5 and Ba6 (Problem:  HUGE holes on the light squares)

...b5 and try to find some improvements a move or two later in whichever line Ostap chooses (more on those after Ostap's choice is clear)


and of course the ubiquitous ...f6.

Any other ideas?  As Rudolph Spielmann found out, it's never too soon to resign.  

Cheers!

If we recall, that Spielmann was the most outspoken representant of forcing chess, the answer is clear. 12...f6 13.exf6 Qxf6 14.Rhf1 (he certainly does not consider 14.g4 as he does not see prospects for a pawn storm)
a) 14...Bxc3 15.Qxc3 (15.bxc3 b5 16.f5 unclear) Qxc3 16.bxc3 b5 17.Nd4 and Black has to make a concession.
b) 14...b5 15.Nd4 Bb7 16.Nxc6 Bxc6 17.Bd4.
c) 14...e5 15.Be2 Kh8 16.Qxd5 Bxc3 17.bxc3 and 18.Qe4.
But Spielmann does not bother with big philosophical problems like comparing White's current advantage with that of the initial position and how to maintain it. He is satisfied having interesting play.
So Ostapbender might keep on looking for more subtle continuations.

Well pretty easy draw is pretty difficult for me to believe, but I won't argue this until I've looked a bit deeper.  14.g4 is definitely a logical candidate move, but it's not the only one.  I will try to come up with a more substantive assessment, but this may take me a while.

MNb, what does Spielmann say?

Cheers,
Ostap

Cheers HgMan!

Yes, despite my facetious manner in suggesting it, I thought 12...f6 might have some merit based on 13.exf6 Qxf6 and then saddling White with doubled pawns after 14...Bxc3 (this might even draw our Winawer-fan Willempie into the French camp!).  I'm not sure this is necessarily an improvement on 12...b5 (without looking a bit deeper, anyway) but it certainly deserves consideration.

Interesting coincidence in our posts being written essentially simulataneously.  

BadPritt: Does Khalifman mention 12...f6?  If so, what does he say?

12 ... b5 looks like the standard approach here, but I'd be inclined to get Ostap (and White) out of book and fast.  What about 12 ... f6 ?  13 exf6 Qxf6, and I'd need to look deeper to see whether opening the center really helps to activate White's bishops against Black's kingside, or whether this is a clever way to get the Black queen into the game and stall White's kingside pawnstorm.  I must admit it looks a little tempting.  13 Nd4 fxe5 doesn't look too bad for Black either.

12 ... b6 also presents itself as a possible unorthodox response, but I have a sneaky feeling that you'll regret having those pawns not protecting each other down the line...

And my reply is 12.Bd3, so we have:

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 a6 11.Nb3 Bb4 12.Bd3

BadPritt wrote on 07/28/06 at 20:14:05:

Thanks for the Khalifman analysis, BadPritt!  I will look at this when I get home tonight.

Indeed, I think that MNb just might have a way of contacting Spielmann!