CCC Forum vs BigLion chess960

[Graham Banks]

I'm not sure of the value in playing h3. If the bishop retreats, the h3 pawn could become a future target?

[Christopher Conkie]

a4

[Spock]

c4 wins the vote

c4 - Graham, Matthias, Steve
h3 - Tano, Gerold
a4 - Chris

[Spock]

Which was a ponder hit, first one of the game, and BigLion responds immediately with Rbd8

[d] q2r1rk1/pp2pppp/1bpn1n2/3p4/2P3b1/1P1PPN2/PB2BPPP/QR2NRK1 w - -

The forum's turn to move again

[Graham Banks]

Bxf6 followed by cd looks like an option to consider. Then the isolated d pawn could be fixed with d4 and possibly attacked later on (assuming of course that Black recaptures on f6 with the e-pawn rather than the g-pawn).

[Steve B]

i like 9.Rc1
Places the R on a crucial file and threatens c5 which will probably make BL play 9..dXc4 and if we reply 10.bxc4 i think we have a very comfortable game

Steve

[Graham Banks]

Bxf6 followed by cd looks like an option to consider. Then the isolated d pawn could be fixed with d4 and possibly attacked later on (assuming of course that Black recaptures on f6 with the e-pawn rather than the g-pawn).

If we play 9.Bxf6, then Black is okay after 9......gf, so probably not our best plan.
I think our knight on e1 is going to be a pain, especially if we open a file without our rooks being connected.

[Graham Banks]

At this stage I'm going to vote for 9.Rd1, with the intention of playing Nc2.
If Black plays dc, I think that we should recapture with the d-pawn rather than the b-pawn. That way, we can contest the open d-file by connecting our rooks after the knight on e1 develops at either c2 or d3.

A bold plan perhaps worth checking out (but not for immediate play) involves h3, g4, Ng2.

[Matthias Gemuh]

9.Rc1

... called a "safety" in snooker .

Matthias.

[gerold]

9.Rc1

... called a "safety" in snooker .

Matthias.

Rc1 also.

Best.

Gerold.