mclure%sri-prism@sri-unix.UUCP (09/30/84)
The Vote Tally
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The winner is: 14 ... Ne8
There were 16 votes. We had a wide mixture. The group seemed to have
difficulty forming a plan. Many different plans were suggested.
The Machine Moves
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Depth Move Time for search Nodes Machine's Estimate
8 ply h3 6 hrs, 4 mins 2.18x10^ +4% of a pawn
(P-KR3)
Humans Move # Votes
BR ** -- BQ BN BR BK ** 14 ... Ne8 4
** BP ** -- BB BP BP BP 14 ... Rc8 3
BP ** -- BP -- ** -- ** 14 ... Nh5 3
** -- ** WP BP -- ** -- 14 ... Nd7 2
-- ** -- ** WP ** BB ** 14 ... Qd7 2
** -- WN -- WB WN ** WP 14 ... Nxe4 1
WP WP -- ** WQ WP WP ** 14 ... Qb6 1
WR -- ** -- WR -- WK --
Prestige 8-ply
The machine's evaluation turned from negative to slightly positive.
Apparently it likes this position somewhat but still considers the
position even.
The Game So Far
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1. e4 (P-K4) c5 (P-QB4) 11. Be2 (B-K2) Nxe2 (NxB)
2. Nf3 (N-KB3) d6 (P-Q3) 12. Qxe2 (QxN) Be7 (B-K2)
3. Bb5+(B-N5ch) Nc6 (N-QB3) 13. Nc3 (N-QB3) O-O (O-O)
4. o-o (O-O) Bd7 (B-Q2) 14. Be3 (B-K3) Ne8 (N-K1)
5. c3 (P-QB3) Nf6 (N-KB3) 15. h3 (P-KR3)
6. Re1 (R-K1) a6 (P-QR3)
7. Bf1 (B-KB1) e5 (P-K4)
8. d4 (P-Q4) cxd4 (PXP)
9. cxd4 (PXP) Bg4 (B-N5)
10. d5 (P-Q5) Nd4 (N-Q5)
Commentary
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BLEE.ES@XEROX
14 ... Ne8 as
14 ... Nh5?; 15. h3 B:f3 (if 15 ... Bd7?; 16. N:e5
and white wins a pawn) 16. Q:f3 Nf6 (now we've lost
the bishop pair, a tempo and the knight still blockades
the f pawn and the white queen is active...)
(if 16 ... g6?; 16. Bh6 Ng7; 17. g4 and black can't support f5 because
the light square bishop is gone) while
14 ... Nd7?; 15. h3 Bh5; 16. g4 Bg6; and black has trouble supporting
f5. I expect play to proceed:
15. h3 Bd7
16. g4 g6
17. Bh6 Ng7
18. Qd3 f5 (at last!)
19. g:f5 g:f5
JPERRY@SRI-KL
In keeping with the obvious strategic plan of f5, I
vote for 14...N-K1. N-Q2 looks plausible but I would
rather reserve that square for another piece.
SMILE@UT-SALLY
14 ... Nh5.
Paves the way for f5. Other possibility is Qd7 first. Either
way I believe f5 is the key (as it often is!).
REM@MIT-MC
I'm not much for attacking correctly, so let's prepare
to double rooks: 14. ... Q-Q2 (Qd7) (It also helps a
K-side attack if somebody else can work out the details.)
VANGELDER@SU-SCORE
14. ... Nxe4 (vote)
In spite of what the master says, White can indefinitely prevent f5 by
h3, Bd7, g4. Will the computer find this after Ne8 by Black?
Stronger over the board is 14 ... Nxe4. If 15. Nxe4 f5 16. N/4g5 f4
and Black regains the piece with advantage. The
majority will probably not select this move, which may
be just as well, as attack-by-committee could present
some real problems. Nevertheless, the computer
presumably saw and examined several ply on this line and
it would be interesting to see what it thinks White's
best defense is. An alternate line for White is 15.
Nxe4 f5 16. N/4d2 e4 17. h3 Bh5 18. Bd4 Bg4!? 19.
Nxe4 fxe4 20. Qxe4 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Rf4.
There are many variations, but most are not decisive in
8 ply, so the computer's evaluation function would be
put to the acid test.
ACHEN.PA@XEROX
13 ... Nh5 (keep up the pressure)
this might provoke 14 g3 Bd7, either 15 Nd2 or h4 to
start a counter attack. the black is hoping to exchange
the remaining knight with queen's bishop 16 ... Nf4
then maybe attempt to encircle the white with Qb6
attacking the weakside behind the pawns. (note: if 13
... Nh5 can't 14 ... f5 for the obvious reason)
Solicitation
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Your move, please?
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