Answers.Body: <p>I guess there is none logical strategy to follow. You just need to try to calculate in your head somehow and use intuition.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-03-22T19:18:56.633Z
Answers.Text: I think adding an answer yourself, just to accept it, is not really in the spirit of stackexchange …
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
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Answers.CreationDate: 2016-05-25T10:14:27.797Z
Answers.Text: Given @BlindKungFuMaster's answer, clearly this answer is wrong...
Answers.UserDisplayName: hkBst
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Answers.CreationDate: 2015-03-21T21:55:26.747Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-03-21T21:55:26.747Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Eduard Roberts
Answers.Body: <p>I would say there are two tactical possibilities for black here:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>1…Bxd3 2.Rxd3 Rxa4 3.Qxa4 Nxb2 wins the pawn back with a better position (the a3 pawn is now weak).</p></li>
  <li><p>1…Rxe3 2.fe Nxe3 3.Qe2/d2 Bxd4 and the a4 Knight is hanging and the d1 rook is hanging with check … it still isn't over, in a game you should probably calculate further, but I'm to lazy to do that now.</p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>There actually is an easy rule to find both of these tactical strikes:</p>
  
  <p>Consider all captures!</p>
  
  <p>Usually this rule is even broader: Consider all forcing moves! This includes captures, checks and attacks on stronger pieces.</p>
  
  <p>Disclaimer: As with all rules this maxim has to be tempered by experience.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-03-17T17:24:34.107Z
Answers.Text: I don't think the former suggestion is very good; after 4. Qb3 Nxd3 5. Bxd3 Black has a worse pawn structure than White if anything. This is because while each side has a weak pawn (b7 and a3), it would be more serious for Black to lose their b7 pawn since the c6 pawn would be very weak and backwards afterwards. The position is pretty equal though but I would prefer to play White.
  
  That being said, the second suggestion looks pretty nice to me.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Sid
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Answers.CreationDate: 2015-03-17T17:46:03.147Z
Answers.Text: Hmm, I didn't see Qb3, but I guess you can play 5…Qa5 anyway, so you don't end up totally passive. Anyway, it regains the pawn and should be considered.
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
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Answers.CreationDate: 2015-03-17T19:37:49.423Z
Answers.Text: It is true that it returns the pawn and results in a endgame that's probably a draw. You clearly have a good tactical eye. However, in the original position Black already has more than adequate compensation for the pawn (even without the winning Rxe3 sacrifice) and therefore doesn't need to simplify like that. :-)
Answers.UserDisplayName: Sid
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Answers.CreationDate: 2015-03-17T11:30:07.290Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-03-17T11:30:07.290Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
Body: <p>This is kind of like magic to me. Once they show you it becomes obvious :) :(</p>
  
  <p>Can someone point out a good/easy strategy that a player can mentally train/use to decide what is the best move here for black?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Note:</strong> Guys, there is a best move for black there can lead to a checkmate later. The goal is not to find it, but to come up with a procedure to find it so it can be applied to other positions.</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/kDJBJ.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-03-17T00:08:48.610Z
Comments.Text: There are many tempting moves, but I'm guessing `1... Rxe3`.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Dag Oskar Madsen
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-03-17T01:25:41.603Z
Comments.Text: Could you please reupload the image with the red arrows removed? They are very distracting in my opinion.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Sid
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-03-17T01:47:50.567Z
Comments.Text: @Sid: I have edited the post with proper diagram.
Comments.UserDisplayName: AlwaysLearningNewStuff
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-03-17T01:53:13.237Z
Comments.Text: @AlwaysLearningNewStuff Good but the new diagram does not have the same position as before, now there is an additional black knight on f6.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Sid
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-03-17T02:06:37.030Z
Comments.Text: @Sid I've removed the additional knight.
Comments.UserDisplayName: dfan
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-03-17T03:43:56.650Z
Comments.Text: If there's a decisive move for Black I'm not seeing it. The only tactics that come to mind are to deflect the Queen so the Knight on `a4` drops, or fork various pieces by placing a Knight on `e4` or `b2`.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-03-17T03:49:12.460Z
Comments.Text: Guys, there is a best move for black. The goal is not to find it, but to come up with a procedure to find it so it can be applied to other positions.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Eduard Roberts
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-03-17T11:04:06.487Z
Comments.Text: Some relevant points: White has abandoned the kingside, has a loose knight on `a4` and a weird bishop on `b1`. On the other hand white has an extra pawn, and if they can consolidate and improve piece coordination they will be better. Which means that black has to strike NOW.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Dag Oskar Madsen
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-03-17T17:26:05.343Z
Comments.Text: All your pieces are doing something except your queen. Qe3 seems good to me, piling on the pressure on the weak spot e3 and ideas of Bh3.
Comments.UserDisplayName: TheMathemagician
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-03-18T12:24:59.227Z
Comments.Text: Huh what happened there? I meant Qg5 of course. The algorithm is: improve your worst-placed piece.
Comments.UserDisplayName: TheMathemagician
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-03-21T22:22:06.417Z
Comments.Text: First, look for patterns, for instance, Q on c2 and R on d1 is a fork pattern.
  
  Second, look for tactical possibilities, for instance, N on e3 would be a fork if R takes pawn on e3.
  
  Third, look for captures, for instance, Rxa4 Qxa4 would lead to a fork with Nb3 if the N on d3 wasn't there.
  
  Note: I'm sure that this is a DRAWISH position as it will lead to an opposite-colored Bishops endgame.
Comments.UserDisplayName: user5649
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-03-21T22:55:23.110Z
Comments.Text: Kotov's "Think Like a Grandmaster" might be helpful. It gives techniques on this very topic.  http://www.amazon.com/Think-Like-Grandmaster-Alexander-Kotov/dp/0713478853
Comments.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-03-22T14:43:02.457Z
Comments.Text: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it smells. The OP wants to know a technique to find the proper move, and then accepts hos own 0-upvoted answer that says, "there is no technique" when we know this is not true at all.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Tags: <theory><strategy><puzzles><middlegame>
Title: Can someone describe a good/easy mental procedure to choose the best move here?
ThreadText: # Can someone describe a good/easy mental procedure to choose the best move here?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2015-03-16)
  
  This is kind of like magic to me. Once they show you it becomes obvious :) :(
  
  Can someone point out a good/easy strategy that a player can mentally train/use to decide what is the best move here for black?
  
  **Note:** Guys, there is a best move for black there can lead to a checkmate later. The goal is not to find it, but to come up with a procedure to find it so it can be applied to other positions.
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/kDJBJ.png)
  
  **Tags:** theory, strategy, puzzles, middlegame
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: There are many tempting moves, but I'm guessing `1... Rxe3`.  
  > **username_2**: Could you please reupload the image with the red arrows removed? They are very distracting in my opinion.  
  > **username_3**: @username_2: I have edited the post with proper diagram.  
  > **username_2**: @username_3 Good but the new diagram does not have the same position as before, now there is an additional black knight on f6.  
  > **username_4**: @username_2 I've removed the additional knight.  
  > **username_5**: If there's a decisive move for Black I'm not seeing it. The only tactics that come to mind are to deflect the Queen so the Knight on `a4` drops, or fork various pieces by placing a Knight on `e4` or `b2`.  
  > **username_0**: Guys, there is a best move for black. The goal is not to find it, but to come up with a procedure to find it so it can be applied to other positions.  
  > **username_1**: Some relevant points: White has abandoned the kingside, has a loose knight on `a4` and a weird bishop on `b1`. On the other hand white has an extra pawn, and if they can consolidate and improve piece coordination they will be better. Which means that black has to strike NOW.  
  > **username_6**: All your pieces are doing something except your queen. Qe3 seems good to me, piling on the pressure on the weak spot e3 and ideas of Bh3.  
  > **username_6**: Huh what happened there? I meant Qg5 of course. The algorithm is: improve your worst-placed piece.  
  > **username_7**: First, look for patterns, for instance, Q on c2 and R on d1 is a fork pattern.  Second, look for tactical possibilities, for instance, N on e3 would be a fork if R takes pawn on e3.  Third, look for captures, for instance, Rxa4 Qxa4 would lead to a fork with Nb3 if the N on d3 wasn't there.  Note: I'm sure that this is a DRAWISH position as it will lead to an opposite-colored Bishops endgame.  
  > **username_5**: Kotov's "Think Like a Grandmaster" might be helpful. It gives techniques on this very topic.  http://www.amazon.com/Think-Like-Grandmaster-Alexander-Kotov/dp/0713478853  
  > **username_5**: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it smells. The OP wants to know a technique to find the proper move, and then accepts hos own 0-upvoted answer that says, "there is no technique" when we know this is not true at all.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_0 on 2015-03-21. Score: -6 | Accepted answer
  
  I guess there is none logical strategy to follow. You just need to try to calculate in your head somehow and use intuition.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_8**: I think adding an answer yourself, just to accept it, is not really in the spirit of stackexchange …  
  > **username_9**: Given @username_8's answer, clearly this answer is wrong...  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2015-03-17. Score: 6
  
  I would say there are two tactical possibilities for black here:
  
  * 1…Bxd3 2.Rxd3 Rxa4 3.Qxa4 Nxb2 wins the pawn back with a better position (the a3 pawn is now weak).
  * 1…Rxe3 2.fe Nxe3 3.Qe2/d2 Bxd4 and the a4 Knight is hanging and the d1 rook is hanging with check … it still isn't over, in a game you should probably calculate further, but I'm to lazy to do that now.
  
  There actually is an easy rule to find both of these tactical strikes:
  
  Consider all captures!
  
  Usually this rule is even broader: Consider all forcing moves! This includes captures, checks and attacks on stronger pieces.
  
  Disclaimer: As with all rules this maxim has to be tempered by experience.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: I don't think the former suggestion is very good; after 4. Qb3 Nxd3 5. Bxd3 Black has a worse pawn structure than White if anything. This is because while each side has a weak pawn (b7 and a3), it would be more serious for Black to lose their b7 pawn since the c6 pawn would be very weak and backwards afterwards. The position is pretty equal though but I would prefer to play White.  That being said, the second suggestion looks pretty nice to me.  
  > **username_8**: Hmm, I didn't see Qb3, but I guess you can play 5…Qa5 anyway, so you don't end up totally passive. Anyway, it regains the pawn and should be considered.  
  > **username_2**: It is true that it returns the pawn and results in a endgame that's probably a draw. You clearly have a good tactical eye. However, in the original position Black already has more than adequate compensation for the pawn (even without the winning Rxe3 sacrifice) and therefore doesn't need to simplify like that. :-)  
  
  ---
  
  