3

in this position: 

[FEN "rnbqk2r/pp2bppp/5n2/1Bpp4/8/3P1N2/PPP1QPPP/RNB1K2R b KQkq - 3 7"]

Stockfish 8 gives the move of Kf8, and claims my move of Bd7 is an inaccuracy. I don't quite understand why. I can see that it breaks the pin on my bishop on e7 and sets up for possible tactics with Qa5, but that's not going to happen against decent opposition and surely I'd rather my right to castle and connected rooks rather than my rook doing nothing on h8 and a somewhat weakened king.

Maybe this is just one of those positions where an engine gives moves too removed from human play to really comprehend?

Any help is appreciated, cheers.

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  • This is an odd one! I didn't realize how powerful ...Qa5 was even if White plays c3 after Kf8. I'd have thought it was too crude, but it was interesting to go through all the lines.
    – aschultz
    May 9, 2017 at 22:43

1 Answer 1

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10

sets up for possible tactics with Qa5, but that's not going to happen against decent opposition

Well, the Qa5+ tactics is exactly what's going to happen, and Black also threatens ...a6, ...b5 and ...c4 trapping the Bishop. It looks like White cannot avoid losing a piece, but he will only get a pawn and some light pressure in return.

[FEN "rnbqk2r/pp2bppp/5n2/1Bpp4/8/3P1N2/PPP1QPPP/RNB1K2R b KQkq - 3 7"]

1... Kf8 2. Ba4 {2. a4 doesn't help because of ...a6, trapping the bishop; 2. Nc3 fails to ...d4 and the bishop will again be unprotected} Qa5 3. Nc3 d4 4. O-O dxc3 5. Re1 Qd8 6. bxc3
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  • ah thankyou! I totally missed that the Bishop on b5 is short on squares. It's also interesting that the greedy move 5 ...Qxa4 looks good initially since the bishop is undefended but loses in short order. An interesting line to keep in mind, thanks!
    – espionn
    Jan 31, 2017 at 16:06

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