It looks like no one attempted to solve my challenging puzzle based on e-mail response. I will answer the questions that I asked, then show a link to the rest of the game.
1) Who is better and why? Ask yourself the following questions: Who has more material? Who has a safer King? Who has more active pieces? Who has a better pawn structure?
White is better for several reasons. White has a better pawn structure. Black has a weak backwards pawn on d6. His pawns on a6 and b5 will prove to be a weakness. In general in Sicilian defense pawn structures, the b5 pawn is a weakness in the late middle game and endgame because White can make the a4 pawn break. If Black had the same position with the b5 pawn on b7, then Black would not be nearly as weak. The kings appear to be equally safe, although this is not entirely the case. Because of White's space advantage on the kingside (due to his f5 pawn) and his strong knight on d5, White can break open Black's kingside by moving his pawn to f6 if he chooses to do so.
White's biggest advantage comes from his knight on the d5 square. It can not be attacked at all because it is on an outpost square. Because Black's only other minor piece is a dark squared bishop, the white knight will never have to be traded for the Bishop. Black's only reasonable hope of getting rid of the knight is by taking it with a rook (which is generally a stronger piece than a knight). Another thing to consider is that if White really had to do so, which he almost will never have to do, he can trade off his knight on d5 for the bishop on e7. Black does not have the luxury of making such a choice.
2) Is this a static (long term) or dynamic (short term) advantage.
White's advantages are long term (static).
3) How can Black get counter-play in a position like this?
Black really has no reasonable way to get counterplay (counter-attack) in my opinion. In most positions the weaker side has some kind of chance of getting counterplay. Here Black's activity is frozen.
4) Find White's best plan.
Play over the rest of the game... and you will see.
5) Find White's best move.
Observe the best move by watching the game.
Click here to see the conclusion of Fischer-Gadia.
1) Who is better and why? Ask yourself the following questions: Who has more material? Who has a safer King? Who has more active pieces? Who has a better pawn structure?
White is better for several reasons. White has a better pawn structure. Black has a weak backwards pawn on d6. His pawns on a6 and b5 will prove to be a weakness. In general in Sicilian defense pawn structures, the b5 pawn is a weakness in the late middle game and endgame because White can make the a4 pawn break. If Black had the same position with the b5 pawn on b7, then Black would not be nearly as weak. The kings appear to be equally safe, although this is not entirely the case. Because of White's space advantage on the kingside (due to his f5 pawn) and his strong knight on d5, White can break open Black's kingside by moving his pawn to f6 if he chooses to do so.
White's biggest advantage comes from his knight on the d5 square. It can not be attacked at all because it is on an outpost square. Because Black's only other minor piece is a dark squared bishop, the white knight will never have to be traded for the Bishop. Black's only reasonable hope of getting rid of the knight is by taking it with a rook (which is generally a stronger piece than a knight). Another thing to consider is that if White really had to do so, which he almost will never have to do, he can trade off his knight on d5 for the bishop on e7. Black does not have the luxury of making such a choice.
2) Is this a static (long term) or dynamic (short term) advantage.
White's advantages are long term (static).
3) How can Black get counter-play in a position like this?
Black really has no reasonable way to get counterplay (counter-attack) in my opinion. In most positions the weaker side has some kind of chance of getting counterplay. Here Black's activity is frozen.
4) Find White's best plan.
Play over the rest of the game... and you will see.
5) Find White's best move.
Observe the best move by watching the game.
Click here to see the conclusion of Fischer-Gadia.
