Monday, April 18, 2011

Improvement on my last Lemberger

I got an interesting comment on my last Lemberger game by Mr Sawyer.
He suggested to play 8.Bb5 ( see diagram ) after the Lemberger setup 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nxe4 Qxd4 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Qd8 7.Qe2 Be7, moving the king's bishop a second time, and following up with 8...Bd7 9.00 Nf6 10.Rd1


I feel quite reluctant about this move, as it 
- violates the principle of moving a piece twice in the opening
- does not allow for queenside castling ( with the subsequent rook on the open d file )
- does not seem forcing

After the suggested 10.Rd1, black can easily play 10...Nxe4


White has following options :
a/ 11.Qxe4 Bd6 
a1/ 12.c4 with complete equality, eg 12...a6 13.Ba4 Qe7=
a2/ 12.Be3 with black getting the initiative after12.. f5 13.Qd5 Qf6

b/ 11.Bxc6 
b1/ 11...bxc6 12.Qxe4 f6 with an interesting, but complicated position
b2/ 11...Nd6 12.Bxd7+ Qxd7 13.Nxe5 Qe6 with white regaining the pawn

So Tim's suggested 8.Bb5 is certainly safer than my continuation 8.Be3 f5 9.000 fxe4 10.Bxe4.

If it is better remains open - guess it boils down to the individual taste of the attacker - try to regain the pawn in favorable conditions or continue the attack at all cost. I obvioulsy opt for the second choice.






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