Bromstein wrote on 02/19/10 at 05:58:58:


8...Be7 in which line exactly?

Bromstein wrote on 02/19/10 at 05:58:58:


Well by all means play it, if you think that.  I wouldn't go near Black's side of it in an MRAP.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FPCougar.jpg

I have played this variation a few times and while I think that it is black's best variation the evaluation still is strongly in white's favor not to mention the practical strength over the board.  Even if this variation was shown to be equal after 20 moves of perfect play, I would not even think of playing it because of the over the board nightmare.  5...Nxd5 is still a weaker alternative to 5...Na5, 5...Nd4, and 5...b5.  Anyways, most of the time black plays this variation they will face the Fried Liver Attack a lot, at least that has been my observation.

Hi Phil,

Thx for posting. Good piece of analysis!!!!.
There are some lines where white might improve a bit, but as far as I can say our overall conclusions and the most important evaluations are pretty much the same.

THUDandBLUNDER wrote on 08/22/06 at 20:28:29:

15 Ng5 looks much better
Quote:

Well the knight is still hanging so it cant be that good after the safe moves.

Willempie wrote on 08/22/06 at 10:06:13:

14. Na3 allows Black to get back the piece back.
eg. 
14....................0-0-0
15. Nxb5         Re8+

Willempie wrote on 08/22/06 at 10:06:13:


I think we both agree that 5.......Nxd5 is Black's fourth or fifth best move.

Yes, I agree that White is 'safe' after either of the above moves (and I think 9. f3 is better). 
Has the question now become 'Can Black win?'   

Willempie wrote on 08/21/06 at 08:04:06:


I agree that 10. Qf3 is better than Rf1 (which I hastily assumed was forced) but after
10..........Qxf3
11. Nxf3  Bb7
Black gets three pawns for the piece, a better pawn structure and development, a safer king, and the initiative.   

So think it's premature to claim that White is winning.

bob000 wrote on 08/15/06 at 03:14:16:

Continuing, after 9. cxd4 we have 9....Qxg2  10. Rf1 and Black has plenty of compensation for the knight.
Namely, a couple of pawns, better pawn structure, a safer king, and the initiative. 
Dan Heisman has produced a monograph (which I have not read) claiming that 6....Nxd4 is better than Bb4+ 

Play might continue
10...............Bb4+
11. Nc3        f6
12. Qc3        Qxc3
13. Nxc3      Bg4
14. Nd2        exd4
15. Nxb5      0-0-0
16. f3           Rhe8 and this rook should manage to get to the 7th.

Although Rybka rates this position =/+, it is possible that White's extra piece could prevail before the endgame.
For the above reasons, it prefers 9. f3 to an immediate cxd4.

But 7......f6 looks less strong.