English Chess Forum

I'd put it in terms of Black being cramped and having no obvious ouposts for either of his knights. It allows White to seize space (and to threaten to grab more space with g4-g5) without worrying too much about Black being able to exploit the holes which are left behind.

What's White's advantage in:
r4rk1/1p3pp1/2n4p/2P1pq2/pPPp4/R4PP1/1Q3P1P/4RBK1 b - - 0 23
?

If W to move then W's advantage is clear since after 1.Bd3 Q moves, 2.Be4, the bishop is superior, to B's N, as it can support the advance of W's pawn majority on the Q-side while helping to block the advance of B's central pawn pair. Also, B's a-pawn is weak, fixed and probably lost.

If B to move then W's advantage is reduced since B has time to move his Q and get his f & g pawns rolling to try to create counterplay in the centre and on the K-side, too, perhaps.

John McKenna wrote:If W to move then W's advantage is clear since after 1.Bd3 Q moves

For good measure there's a cheapo as well, since if 1. .. Qxf3, 2. Bh7 check wins the Queen. That's why there's a White Rook on a3.

Why would White be better in:
r2qr1k1/5pp1/pn1p1bnp/2pP4/1p2PPP1/1P2B1N1/P1B3P1/1R1Q1RK1 b - f3 0 24

soheil_hooshdaran wrote:Why would White be better in:

More space, Black isn't threatening very much, the chance to punt the e5 pawn break.

Why would White have a slight advantage in:
r3k2r/pR3ppp/1n2p3/4P3/3N4/2P5/q4PPP/Q4RK1 b kq - 0 17(Sulava-Kharlov 1996)?

soheil_hooshdaran wrote:Why would White have a slight advantage in:

Isn't the a7 pawn about to drop?

Yes, he has a Rook on the 7th. and he wins the a pawn next move. If it's Whites move in the position, then he wins the Queen for nothing !

I was about to mention that Isn't the black king nearly terminally weak as well? Presume he basically has to swap queens then o-o & a clean pawn down ending with a bit of comp vs c3.

Oh dear my brain hurts. What's wrong with 1..Qa4?

Michael Farthing wrote:What's wrong with 1..Qa4?

That looks to be the move. Presumably White will trade on a4, play c3-c4 and then pile up on the a7 pawn coupled with threats to advance the c pawn.

After the c pawn advance black castles and surely has interesting counterplay on the b,c d files. White will need to spend a move to give his king an escape (as black may need to do) but it doesn't strike me as plain sailing for white. Comments?

Michael Farthing wrote: White will need to spend a move to give his king an escape (as black may need to do) but it doesn't strike me as plain sailing for white.

The original question did ask why White had a slight advantage.

O.K. !