kylemeister wrote on 05/29/20 at 01:30:38:


That's my source also. I quite like that book for its thorough coverage. I guess it is the CS bible. It can be updated in spots through articles in ChessPublishing.

It's been a long time since I looked at or played the CS. However, I made a note to myself based upon the P/I analysis of this line:

"P&I recommend ...Ne4 when white tries queen-side expansion with either a3 or c4. They suggest ...Bd6 in response to queen moves, and also mention ...Bb4 as an option. Their analysis often supports ...Be7."

The ChessAssistant database has 1900 games after 17Bxf6 Nxf6. Black scores 50%. Wins, losses, and draws each occur in about one third of the games. Black need not be afraid of this line.

On the other hand, black should not be complacent. Black's position looks a bit passive and he has to attend to development, at some point freeing his queen bishop. Black has the two bishops. We have a strategical imbalance and I think both players can look forward to a interesting game.

That is a very logical move, are you sure it isn't covered? I would find that very weird. Ask a question in the forum of the course.

Anyway, you obviously take back with the knight and there are many ways White can continue. But if Black can play Bd6 and e5, it's a good plan. You open the position for the bishop pair to work.