Puzzle of the week #239

Submitted by eugen on Sun, 12/01/2013 - 12:50

Forks (2)

Level
2-Knight
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #239"][Date "2013.12.01"][Result "0-1"]1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 g5 7.Bg3 Nxe4 8.Qd3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 d5 10.Bxe5 f6 11.Bg3 Bf5 12.Be2
Replay the opening moves available for this turn based game played online with 5 days per move reflection time. Neither side has castled yet as both sides were focused to develop their pieces the best they could. Your tasks:
a) Name the opening
b) Decide who stands better and why
c) What is the best play for Black from now on? Write no more than 3-5 moves

Total available points for this puzzle is 25. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #240.

Puzzle #238 solution:
Lisitzin, Chess strategy and tactics, puzzle #74. Maximum points = 7 solvers and half the points = 7 solvers is an OK result. All of you have chosen to play ahead (very good idea even if reasons were various); however only half got more or less the correct moves. Anya wrote:
a) I choose to play ahead because white could still have advantage.
Indeed White has an extra pawn, Rooks connected (it means more powerful), Black's King is stuck in the corner and most of the Black pieces are on White squares or in danger of being attacked by the Bishop.
b) Solution:
[Event "Puzzle #238"][Date "2013.12.01"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "7k/1r3p1r/8/1b4P1/5P2/6K1/B7/4R2R w - - 0 1"]1.Bxf7 Rxf7 2.g6 Rg7 (2...Rxh1 3.Rxh1+ Kg7 4.gxf7 Kxf7 5.Rh6 {White wins}) 3.Rxh7+ Rxh7 4.gxh7 {White wins}

Correct solutions:
Jalen, Toro, Anya, Coco, Brandon, Oliver, Bradley - 20 points
Illya, Mrinal, Eric, Benjamin, Cody, Jeffrey, Brian - 10 points
Aaron - 5 points

Coco - 5 points for #237

Standings:
Toro - 109 points
Brandon - 92 points
Oliver, Bradley - 90 points
Jalen - 88 points
Eric - 82 points
Coco - 81 points
Anya - 75 points
Illya - 69 points
Brian - 65 points
Cody - 60 points
Benjamin - 53 points
Mrinal - 40 points
Aaron - 35 points
Jeffrey - 30 points