Noir_Desir vs. Nikachu Malkovich game

[RoundTower]

Spoiler:

I much prefer Black now and have done for a little while. He isn't cramped and doesn't have problems finding something to do on the queenside and White has no kingside pressure. That should be all you can ask for in the Spanish.

[TexAg06]

Spoiler:

Black will have more activity, but a pawn is a pawn. It's up to black to prove his activity is worth the pawn. I think the position is closer to equal.

[YouKnowWho]

Spoiler:

what pawn are we talking about here? I am questioning my sanity cuz I just can't see where black loses a pawn

[TexAg06]

Originally Posted by YouKnowWho

Spoiler:

what pawn are we talking about here? I am questioning my sanity cuz I just can't see where black loses a pawn

Spoiler:

You are completely correct, I'm the one that needs to be questioning my sanity. I was playing through some variations in my head (miscalculating, of course) and inadvertantly posted about it. Sorry about that

[Noir_Desir]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6
5. 0-0 Be7
6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 d6
8. a4 Bg4
9. c3 0-0
10. h3 Bxf3
11. Qxf3 Na5
12. Bc2 b4
13. d4 c5
14. dxe5 dxe5
15. Rd1 Qc7
16. Bg5 Rab8
17. Nd2 c4
18. cxb4 Rxb4
19. Bxf6 Bxf6

Spoiler:

This move without comment scared me that i missed something tactical. But i don't see it.
After 20. b3 and mass exchanges (cxb3 21. Nxb3 Nxb3 22. Bxb3 i might end up on the very slightly worse end of a very drawish position because of his pressure against f7. But it should be manageable.
If he tries instead to bring his knight to d5 via f1-e3 he has to deal with the pressure on b2 first. This should give me enough time to prevent his maneuvre, probably Sveshnikov-style with Bg5 or given enough time more actively by Be7-c5. Let's see what he has on his mind.

[Noir_Desir]

Spoiler:

looking again, on b3 i can probably answer c3.

[John_Douglas]

Spoiler:

I think White's Bxf6 was the wrong idea. After Qc3 instead of Bf6, White has a normal position.
Imo, after 20.Qc3 Rfb8 21.b3 Nc6 and Nd4 only Black can be better.

[bigpooch]

Spoiler:

Yes, I agree with John_Douglas. White should be much worse here because of that bad bishop on c2; Black's counterpart seems better placed on e7, so even on 20. Qc3 Be7 as it's not clear that the Rf8 should be placed on b8.

[Nikachu]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6
5. 0-0 Be7
6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 d6
8. a4 Bg4
9. c3 0-0
10. h3 Bxf3
11. Qxf3 Na5
12. Bc2 b4
13. d4 c5
14. dxe5 dxe5
15. Rd1 Qc7
16. Bg5 Rab8
17. Nd2 c4
18. cxb4 Rxb4
19. Bxf6 Bxf6
20. Qc3

Spoiler:

At first I thought I missed 20...Qb6 but I think I'll play something strange to respond to it 21.Ra3 to prepare b3. I feel like the b2 pawn is safe because if Rxb2 I have Nxc4 and I should be fine

[airwave16]

Spoiler:

but what about Qb7? white can't respond Ra3 because of Rxb2 Nxc4 Nxc4 Qxc4 Rc8 winning the bishop, so white would need to play Ra2 or something?

[Noir_Desir]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6
5. 0-0 Be7
6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 d6
8. a4 Bg4
9. c3 0-0
10. h3 Bxf3
11. Qxf3 Na5
12. Bc2 b4
13. d4 c5
14. dxe5 dxe5
15. Rd1 Qc7
16. Bg5 Rab8
17. Nd2 c4
18. cxb4 Rxb4
19. Bxf6 Bxf6
20. Qc3 Be7

Spoiler:

Now i get the idea. He pins my c-pawn with tempo and wants to play b3 afterwards. I have different moves here, like Rb8 or Qb6. But the move i like most is Be7, immediately playcing the bishop on a route to an active diagonal and protecting the Rook in an economic way.
I also think that b3 doesn't work so well for white now, i simply play Rc8 and put pressure on his whole queenside configuration.

[TexAg06]

Originally Posted by airwave16

Spoiler:

but what about Qb7? white can't respond Ra3 because of Rxb2 Nxc4 Nxc4 Qxc4 Rc8 winning the bishop, so white would need to play Ra2 or something?

Spoiler:

I like your ...Qb7 idea a lot. It steps out of the c-file pin, pressures the b2 pawn, and also the e4 pawn. At that point it looks like white would be forced to play something passive like Rab1 or Ra2 to defend.

[KyleJRM82]

Spoiler:

Absolutely no hardcore analysis here, but I just like black. He's got space and positive pressure. It's going to be hard for white to mount a positive plan on the defensive.

[Nikachu]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6
5. 0-0 Be7
6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 d6
8. a4 Bg4
9. c3 0-0
10. h3 Bxf3
11. Qxf3 Na5
12. Bc2 b4
13. d4 c5
14. dxe5 dxe5
15. Rd1 Qc7
16. Bg5 Rab8
17. Nd2 c4
18. cxb4 Rxb4
19. Bxf6 Bxf6
20. Qc3 Be7
21. b3

Spoiler:

At first sight it looked like Be7 was suicidal because the e5 pawn is soft and I can clearly get b3 in to win on c4. But I think 21...Rc8 looks quite good protecting the queen. Even if I had a pawn cemented on c4 black looks positionally okay dominating on dark squares and the c4 pawn would block my light-squared bishop. I still prefer to be the guy with the pawn.

[airwave16]

Spoiler:

but you're not going to be the guy with a pawn because black can just recapture. white being a bit too optimistic with being able to win the c4 pawn?