Owen 1 2 1 568 575 +7
Q1. Here's an interesting position from one of Owen's games.
Black has just moved the knight aggressively to d4. How should Owen respond?
Q2. In another game, Owen's queen is attacked. Is Qb5+ the best choice? Why or why not?
Q3. In that same game, Owen reached this position. Owen is up a pawn, but has a chance to be up a piece. Can you figure out the good move? (Hint: it will involve a discovered attack)
ANSWERS
A1. Remarkably, the computer pointed out that the best move is Qxe7+ Do you see why? You end up getting the bishop, gaining a pawn, ruining his castling, getting his queen, then either doubling his pawns and gaining a knight or losing a knight but gaining a rook for a knight. Play it out - you should come out 3 points ahead.
A2. Bad idea. The Queen has no retreat squares. 1. ... Bd7 leaves the queen without any good choices. For example, if 2.Qxb7 Bc7 and the Queen is done. Or 2. Qa5 b6 3. Qa3 Nxc2+ fork!
A3. Nc4 If Black moves the attacked bishop, Owen will play dxc6 with a discovered attack and pin on the bishop on d7. If instead black tries Qc7, white still plays dxc6 threatening both bishops and the best black can do is Bf4+ losing the bishop but forcing us to triple our pawns.
No comments:
Post a Comment