Ufim 8.02+Mephisto London 030 vs. CCC Forum Chess960

[tano-urayoan]

Draw offer

[Carlos777]

I agree with Tano that this position is drawish, but we can try to play a little more before offering a draw.

33. ... Be8

[Matthias Gemuh]

33 ... Kf6

... preparing g6-g5.

Matthias.

[Graham Banks]

[D] rr6/4pbk1/2Rb2p1/3p4/3N1PB1/1P2P3/8/2R3K1 b

33.....Rb4, but I could be convinced to change with good arguments.
Is Ra2 worth looking at?

[tano-urayoan]

Rb4 is a nice tricky move threatening Bxf4. I as human should answer Rxd6 against that move and then Rc6 again. Maybe some mistery engine will concur will me (probably not just a joke)

Ra2 is positional correct a la Nimzowitch occupying the 7th rank but there is nothing to attack from there,(apart our rook will be alone there) maybe trying Rh8 and Rhh2.

[gerold]

[D] rr6/4pbk1/2Rb2p1/3p4/3N1PB1/1P2P3/8/2R3K1 b

33.....Rb4, but I could be convinced to change with good arguments.
Is Ra2 worth looking at?

Ra2.

Ra2 looks good.
It may force the Rooks trade which will break up White's
double Rook.


Best,

Gerold.

P.S. I would like to play this game to the finish. Looks good
for Black.

[Steve B]

The Voting is early yet but so far we have..

33..Ra2(Gerold)
33..Be8(Carlos)
33..Rb4(Graham)
33..Kf6(Matthias)
33..Draw Offer??-Tano

not sure if Tano is staying with the draw offer or suggesting a move?

Steve

[Graham Banks]

Ra2 is positional correct a la Nimzowitch occupying the 7th rank but there is nothing to attack from there,(apart our rook will be alone there) maybe trying Rh8 and Rhh2.

Yes - that was the main purpose in suggesting Ra2. The bishop on d6 could then cause problems if it could put pressure on the e3 pawn.

Rb4 not only threatens Bxf4, but also keeps the knight in place for now while we decide how to follow up with the other rook.
Your exchange sac idea on d6 for Black seems playable regardless of most moves we could play. Not sure if it's all that great though.

Ra2 is probably the more active plan.

[Carlos777]

Ra2 is probably the more active plan.

Probably, but after 34. R1c2 Rxc2 35. Rxc2 Kf6 looks like a dead draw. Anyway, your move Rb4 threatening Bxf4 looks more promising.

The idea behind my move (Be8) is to expulse the rook from c6 and after 34. R6c2 Rb4 (with the threat Bxf4)

Regards,
Carlos

[Sven]

I propose Ra2 which looks obvious for me. White probably answers R6c2, and then we can either play Rba8 or Rxc2.

Rb4 does not directly threat Bxf4 yet due to Nc2. We could answer Bxe3+?! Nxe3 Rxb3 and continue with three pawns against knight but we would have lost our bishop pair and would fight for draw in this case. Better we already have the second rook on a2 since then Rb4 would really threat Bxf4.

Another plan for later could be to play g5 in order to remove the f4 pawn and prepare e7-e5. I still think we can try to win a pawn somehow, even if the resulting endgame could be drawish. Maybe our opponent does not have all tablebase draws in mind

Sven