Key idea in fianchetto position

 


This time around, I am sharing a position arising from the game of my colleague Lizawati against a player from USIM. We see a very interesting position that is worth remembering. The position is reached after:

    1. e4     g6
    2. Nc3  Bg7
    3. Nf3   d6
    4. d4     Nf6
    5. Bc4   0-0
    6. 0-0    Nd7
    7. h3      a6
After 7. … a6. Find the best move for white.

 


In this kind of position, the key idea is to exploit the fact that black’s light coloured bishop is not protecting the e6 square. This calls for

  1.  e5      Nh5
  2. e6
After 9. e6. A very strong attack from white.

 


A possible continuation will be:

  1. …       Nb6
  2. exf7   Kh8
  3. Bd3   Rxf7
  4. Ng5
After 12. Ng5

 


Here we reach a position that should be enough for a short quiz to end this short discussion. Find the best move after black’s possible reply of

  1. …     Rf8
Find white’s best move in this position.