White to play...

[Nick Burrows]

My chess playing highlight from 7 games in the IOM U2100 just finished was the following attack. Curiously, it takes Komodo 10 on my quad core notebook just shy of 8 minutes to select the move I played!

My opponent finally made a move that had been in the position for many moves 39..b5 and is threatening to rip open my kingside. What do you play?

6k1/p1p2p1q/3pbBp1/rp5r/2P1PR1P/2PP4/P4Q2/1K4R1 w - - 0 40

[J T Melsom]

I've looked up the answer. Nice finish. There is still a fair bit going on in the position so I'm not surprised it takes an engine so long to eliminate alternatives. Being a less proficient player I think I'd have opted for Bd8.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I... is this quite difficult? I'm not seeing it, but it presumably involves Black's back rank or the h-file. Finding the quickest or most forcing way for White to get a queen to a8 or something?

[Michael Farthing]

Oh dear! I thought it looked obvious - so I've clearly missed something. Too scared to put my move

[Nick Burrows]

I... is this quite difficult? I'm not seeing it, but it presumably involves Black's back rank or the h-file. Finding the quickest or most forcing way for White to get a queen to a8 or something?

It is quite difficult (as the engine time indicates) its not a forced mate or such, just a nice idea that uses those threats to infiltrate

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Being too slow runs into Black playing bxc4 and Rb5+ and Rb8 to cover the back rank, so I am guessing it must be a bit forcing.

[David Robertson]

Let's try...

1 e5 Rxe5 (if 1...dxe5; 2 Qf3 +/-) 2 Qf3 d5; 3 Bxe5 +/-

and...if

1 e5 bxc4; (with the idea 2...Rb5+ and 3...Rb8); then 2 Kc1 Rb5; 3 Qxa7+/-

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Let's try...

1 e5 Rxe5 (if 1...dxe5; 2 Qf3 +/-) 2 Qf3 d5; 3 Bxe5 +/-

I was looking at 1.e5 (really!) and trying to work out if 1...bxc4 what White should play, as Black might get quite active after 2.exd6 if the h-rook swings across to b5 with check (even Bf5+ is a threat), so I am guessing White should not take on d6 and should play something else such as an immediate Qf3, but then Rb5+ and Rb8 leaves Black OK, surely? Maybe 2.dxc4 and if Black plays 2...Bxc4 then, er, something might be there? (Can't visualise it my head right now.)

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Let's try...

1 e5 Rxe5 (if 1...dxe5; 2 Qf3 +/-) 2 Qf3 d5; 3 Bxe5 +/-

and...if

1 e5 bxc4; (with the idea 2...Rb5+ and 3...Rb8); then 2 Kc1 Rb5; 3 Qxa7+/-

After 2.Kc1 Ra6 or Rc5 what then? I guess White just prods away with Qf3 again and Black falls apart as he is forced to play c6 and the e-pawn takes on d6 and becomes a queening threat.

[I want to know what Michael Farthing had in mind! ]

[David Robertson]

Nah, my line fails....

1 e5 Rxe5; 2 Qf3 Bd7, and B can play on. Too hard, no time. I'm off to play in ten minutes

[IM Jack Rudd]

My eyes have been drawn instantly to 1.Rf5, but I haven't yet done any calculation.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

My eyes have been drawn instantly to 1.Rf5, but I haven't yet done any calculation.

I did consider that (though not immediately). Was drawn first to 1.Rg5.

[IM Jack Rudd]

My mind was also drawn to the event this came from and the fact that I must therefore have inputted the game, and yet I'd already forgotten it. This past week was exhausting.

[Roger de Coverly]

My eyes have been drawn instantly to 1.Rf5, but I haven't yet done any calculation.

It's an engine's first thought as well.

I've played through the actual game, the win isn't obvious and engines at a fast setting don't spot that White is much better until a couple more moves further in.

[Michael Farthing]

[I want to know what Michael Farthing had in mind! ]

OK then, but don't be too nasty.

My idea was Qb2, which blunts blacks threats but which admittedly does not give much immediate penetration. Black, however, is a bit short of moves that don't weaken him. eg a6 and the queen returns to f2 now with access to a7
I was considering Rg5 in some lines as a possible follow up and had moved to thinking of that as the first move.

[Typical descriptionists muddling of a and h corrected]