Diagram 6.6.1- black has a choice- exchange bishops or move the bishop away, to avoid pawn structure damage upon Bxf5. After the exchange Bxc2, the position is roughly equal. But if black wants to play tricky, he can try Be6!? Attacking the a2 pawn. Notice that the simple a3 doesn’t work, due to Bb2; a4 also doesn’t work, due to Bc3 and the b4 pawn is defenseless. In this tactical variation, if we keep looking for forcing responses by white, we would find Be4! And now it’s going to be just an exchange, but one in which white gets the upper hand: …Bxa2, Bxc6 with a passed c pawn.
Challenge- is there a better way for black to respond to Be4 than taking on a2?
Hi Everyone,
Diagram 6.6.1- black has a choice- exchange bishops or move the bishop away, to avoid pawn structure damage upon Bxf5. After the exchange Bxc2, the position is roughly equal. But if black wants to play tricky, he can try Be6!? Attacking the a2 pawn. Notice that the simple a3 doesn’t work, due to Bb2; a4 also doesn’t work, due to Bc3 and the b4 pawn is defenseless. In this tactical variation, if we keep looking for forcing responses by white, we would find Be4! And now it’s going to be just an exchange, but one in which white gets the upper hand: …Bxa2, Bxc6 with a passed c pawn.
Challenge- is there a better way for black to respond to Be4 than taking on a2?