Could anyone suggest a plan?

[Nick Burrows]

I reached the following position in the most important game of my life in the final round of the recent e2e4 High Wycombe Congress. I spent lots of time and failed to come up with an adequate plan.

3r2k1/p2rb1pp/4bp2/1qpp4/8/1PB1P1P1/PQ1R1PBP/3R2K1 w - - 0 22

I eventually played 22. a4?! Qb6 23. a5 Qb8 24. a6 Rd6 25. Ba5! R8d7 and came out unscathed from what surely must be a weakening plan in a position that requires constructively doing nothing. The comps don't have a clue what to play - so what would be a good human plan from this position?

[IM Jack Rudd]

You probably want to work towards e4, and meeting the likely ...d4 with some plan that then attacks the c5 pawn. Keith Arkell would no doubt make it look easy.

[Roger de Coverly]

I eventually played 22. a4?! Qb6 23. a5 Qb8 24. a6 Rd6 25. Ba5! R8d7 and came out unscathed from what surely must be a weakening plan in a position that requires constructively doing nothing.

It worked out though. Presumably later he had missed that devastating Rxe6, Bc4 trick winning the house.

[Nick Burrows]

I eventually played 22. a4?! Qb6 23. a5 Qb8 24. a6 Rd6 25. Ba5! R8d7 and came out unscathed from what surely must be a weakening plan in a position that requires constructively doing nothing.

It worked out though. Presumably later he had missed that devastating Rxe6, Bc4 trick winning the house.

The key position was:-

6k1/p2rb1pp/P2rbp2/B1p5/3P4/1q4P1/1Q1R1P1P/3R1BK1 w - - 0 28

Black just played 27..Qxb3 to which I replied 28. Bb5! Qxb2 29. Rxb2 Rxd4 30. Re1! after which he thought for 30 minutes.

6k1/p2rb1pp/P3bp2/BBp5/3r4/6P1/1R3P1P/4R1K1 b - - 0 30

There followed 30..R7d6 31. Rbe2 Bc4 32. Bxc4 Rxc4 33. Rxe7 Rxa6 with a winning position.

[Nick Burrows]

The strongest player at my club suggested 22.Rd3 which I had not considered as I was concerned about ..c4 which does not work in this position. White can then prepare to triple on the d-file with the better position. In the variation we considered White followed up with Qe2 and expanded on the kingside with his pawns!?

[Keith Arkell]

I think the position is equal Nick. I can't see anything useful to do in the centre or to the left. I Don't think I would look at a4 at all, and Jack's e4 plan, though well intentioned, is unworkable. In fact my attention would first go towards the idea of h3 with the idea of g4 ( my favourite move) and teasing him with g5 threats