I wrote this and then read other replies - no one seems to think my minority attack plan is a concern, so I'm probably fulla beans but as RoundTower knows from earlier, I get creative sometimes -- I don't think my attack for white is as solid as I would like it to be - but if I were white it's still what I would do since I can't save that stupid e pawn
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Well, this is interesting in that I'm PRESUMING it's black to play, but I don't know do I
- I was all over and no way I'd be able to do this with 4 min to go -
for some reason I'm thinking more of white then black, but what white does will make a difference so ... this came up recently somewhere (I think on a Heisman Novice Nook) where it's better to evaulate positions without white/black to move for a more honest assessment - and it's easy to presume black since we're looking from his POV, but I don't know that and I'll assess whole position and read answers afterwards
I got two attack plans - one for white and one for black
1. h4 - bust up the pawn chain in front of the king since technically, I'm in a losing position anyways as white - I think the h pawn and the bishop (along with the rook can obliterate the pawn chain on the kingside with a minority attack thereby leaving counterplay vs the king - technically, since we can't save the e pawn anyways, that might be the best shot. He can play my black followup plan f6 here but then Rde1 makes a exf pawn capture viable and leaves an open white rook in the e file - long shot but it's what I got for white - if the Chain shortens to the f/g file, then a rook should be able to take down the g pawn and the bishop the f pawn - (hard to explain without an analysis board)
as black, I'd play Re8 then f6 to counteract this plan and then bring all forces to bear on the e pawn - now, there's another caveat which is right now, the white king and second f pawn can join the attack whereas the black king can't because the d4 square is the only one available - UNLESS a pawn gets to g4, so let's try to prevent that
so as white I'd play h4 for counterplay and as black I'd play Re6 first - and if he plays h4, I'd play f6 - once Re1 comes into play, I'll need to double rooks on that file asap and if I start with 1. f6, a doubled rook leave me susceptible to losing the file after exf6 whereas right now, the rook is hanging before they're doubled up
I dunno man - I didn't see anything on queenside worth fighting for - just reduction of material taking black into a superior endgame
SO white to move, I play 1. h4
black to move, I play Re6 with the idea of playing f6 if 2. h4, and Rae8 if Rde1 and then f6 -
POST EDIT after reading responses - I thought I couldn't see a way to open up queenside with the b pawn but didn't realize the a pawn could cause so much trouble - so I suppose yes, locking with a6 is good too - but personally, I am more concerned about the h4 attack then a6 - I don't want to play it out (just looking for visual analysis here live on the board) but I'm struggling to see a white passed pawn on queenside that can't be removed quickly by a rook on e6 or a knight - so I'm sticking with my original plan to be more concerned on the h file and damn to popular opinion
With white to move it might be possible to create counterplay on either end however I don't see a good way save white - more like a dying gasp - LOL