Lessons From Bad Herrenalb V

THE following position was reached in my round-five game.

I have just played 14...Rfd8?

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At first glance this might be thought a typical IQP position.

Black has an isolated queen's pawn, but it is not under pressure, and the only black piece awaiting development is the queen's rook.

White has blockaded the isolani, but the knight on e2 is somewhat passive and none of the white heavy pieces has been developed.

But first impressions can be deceptive - here especially, as Black is lost!

The key is finding the move 15.Nf5, unblockading the d pawn but attacking both d6 and g7.

Black's best reply, according to Stockfish16.1 and Dragon1 is 15...Qd7!?, but they reckon 16.Bxf6 gxf6 (16...Qxf5!? loses the exchange) 17.Neg3 gives White a winning attack.

If instead 15...g6, White has 16.Nxg7! Kxg7 17.Nf4 Qf5 18.g4 with Nh5+ to come.

The game saw 15.Rc1? Ba7? 16.Nf4? Rac8?, both players oblivious to the critical nature of the position.

Finally my opponent played 17.Nf5, giving him an advantage worth more than a minor piece, according to the engines.

LESSON: the queen is as sensitive as it is powerful. The need to preserve it can create combinational chances for the opponent.