Answers.Body: <p><em>Disclaimer</em> :  in any case you are lost if your opponent plays reasonnably enough.</p>
  
  <p>Assuming that you don't want to resign at move 10, my suggestion would be to continue with 10.Bg3 gf4 11.Bf4. Black's king is slightly weakened, you hit h6 and plan to continue with 0-0-0,f3,g4,h4,g5 to try and open his kingside as much as possible. In positions with opposite castles, material is not the single most important criteria, king security and initiative matter too.</p>
  
  <p>If Black plays passively or conservatively, say 11...Kg7, then 12.f3 prevents Ne4, and with Bd3 and g4-g5 you may be able to muddy waters enough to induce later mistakes by Black.</p>
  
  <p>If he plays actively and purposefully, with 11...Ne4 (or even 10...Ne4) 12.Qd3 e5!, not worrying about the Ph6 and intending ...Bf5, well, you hardly have anything to hope for...</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-02-06T13:28:55.557Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-02-07T08:26:29.110Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2018-02-07T08:26:29.110Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Evargalo
Answers.Body: <p>The position is lost since you lose a piece for at most a pawn and no real compensation if black knows what to do.</p>
  
  <p>For the <em>best possible move</em> in such situation you could consult a computer which would give you a move that it thinks is best based on its evaluation function. Likely it would still evaluate your position as -3 or so.</p>
  
  <p>Anyway, if you are playing against a human, you don't want the objectively best move here, but the move (or line) that gives you <strong>the most practical chances</strong> or a move/line that gives your <strong>opponent more chances to go wrong</strong>.  Some people call this "hope chess" which should normally be avoided, but in emergency situations could be your only hope.</p>
  
  <p>Generally speaking this often means that in lost positions like this you:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>avoid simplification of the position, i.e. avoid the exchange of pieces</li>
  <li>try to complicate the position for instance by having more than one center of action</li>
  <li>try to set tactical traps</li>
  <li>go for a direct mating attack</li>
  <li>aim for getting stalemated (only works rarely and only in endgames)</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>For the position at hand, I believe the most practical chances would give you an attack on the black king.  A few factors help you here: Black has weakened the pawn structure in front of his king, a large part of black's forces are concentrated on the queenside far away from the king. Your plan should be to move as many forces as possible to the kingside and to open a file or two for your rooks. Also acting quickly would be essential before black can make use of his extra piece.</p>
  
  <p>Apart from winning a piece, black also has Ne4 which is very unpleasant because of the pin of the knight on c3; and e5 which frees black bishop on c8 and threatens to open the center against the uncastled white king. There is not much white can do to prevent these, or any attempt would basically mean passive play which is not what is needed here.</p>
  
  <p>With this in mind you can think of how to achieve your goals and analyze concrete lines. Keep in mind that there is no (objective) right or wrong here, so I just give a few thoughts without saying that one line is better than the other.</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><ol>
  <li>Bxg5 hxg5 You win a pawn, but material is not important in this situation. Also your knight ends up being attacked and you lose another move having to move the knight. Also you don't have any good square for the knight: on h5 it gets exchanged, on d3 you run into Ne4 and on h3 it is on the rim and stands in the way for your attack.</li>
  </ol></li>
  <li><ol>
  <li>g3 with the idea that if black takes on h4 or f4 you can retake gxf4 or hxh4 getting an open g file for your rook and potential attacks on the king.</li>
  </ol></li>
  <li><ol>
  <li>Nh5 hoping for Nxh5  2. Bxh5 gxh4 which would have removed one black defender from the kingside and created a half-open g file. Potentally you could transfer your queen via e2-f3 (or g4) to the kingside.</li>
  </ol></li>
  <li><ol>
  <li>Bd3 hoping that some tactics might turn up along this diagonal.</li>
  </ol></li>
  <li><ol>
  <li>g4 aiming for eventually playing g5, either supported by a rook from g1 or (if black takes gxf4 2. exf4) by a pawn from f4.</li>
  </ol></li>
  <li><ol>
  <li>Bg3 and the continuation given by Evargalo</li>
  </ol></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Disclaimer: All of the above is for a position where your opponent still has to convert the advantage not for a position where you are lost because of a mating attack.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-02-06T12:14:52.233Z
Answers.Text: So... what is your suggested move??????  Also, show me a possible counter to my move if you think you are so good?
Answers.UserDisplayName: QuIcKmAtHs
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-02-06T12:30:27.247Z
Answers.Text: @XcoderX He mentioned ...Ne4 and ...e5 as Black's potential next moves. Black can simply continue with those two and his threats will be much stronger than White's. E.g. 1.g3 gxh4 2. gxh4 Ne4 3. Qd3 e5 4.Rg1+ Kh8  5.Nh5 Qxh4 -+ (threatening to take on f2 with either queen or knight and preventing f3 due to the pin)
Answers.UserDisplayName: Annatar
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-02-06T12:51:38.617Z
Answers.Text: @XcoderX: As I was trying to make clear, in lost positions, there is not going to be a best move and it is kind of meaningless to argue for or against any of the lines I gave. I still believe that all of them give white at least some swindle chances. PS: No idea why you doubt that I play chess.
Answers.UserDisplayName: user1583209
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-02-06T12:54:27.620Z
Answers.Text: @XcoderX: Annatar answered your second question. Besides just saying 1. g3 and you have a winning position is a bit vague....
Answers.UserDisplayName: user1583209
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-02-06T09:53:41.917Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-02-06T19:43:38.050Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2018-02-06T19:43:38.050Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: user1583209
Answers.Body: <p>The position is completely lost. Computers don't evaluate swindle potential. I would try Nd3, because a half-open g-file has some value and the pawn (after ...gxh4) is quite weak. Meanwhile you hit the annoying bishop that is pinning your Knight. ...Bxc3; bc3 gh4; f3 (immediate e4 embarrassed by ...Nxe4) and hope your opponent makes a serious error.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-02-07T03:24:08.303Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-02-07T03:24:08.303Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew Lazarus
Answers.Body: <p>Seeing the position, it seems like you are lost, as you certainly lose a piece to the fork. Assuming you do not want to resign at this point, I recommend playing Bxg5 hxg5 Nd3, followed by h4 to try and open the position and incite your opponent to make a mistake.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-02-07T01:32:00.547Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-02-07T01:32:00.547Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Qwerty Dvorak
Answers.Body: <p>My Elo: 1900 on Lichess. My vote would be to take the pawn with the bishop here. That way at least you would have damaged the king side pawn structure and get an semi-open h-file, which might be useful going forward. Because of the fork, you cannot avoid losing one of your pieces anyway.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-02-06T06:37:54.863Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-02-07T04:21:07.100Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2018-02-07T04:21:07.100Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Keshav
Answers.Body: <p>There are three elements to chess. Space, time and forces. Since you are a man down, you can compensate with trying to gain more space and control and try to run their time down. Capturing the pawn grabs a pawn and messes up his space meaning it is extremely logical. 1.Bxg5 hxg5 2 Nh5 trying to gain initiative and rip open his position. White is also not so good because he isn't castled and the bishop will mess the pawn structure up. Try to complicate the position, create traps and avoid exchanges.</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2018-03-22T01:49:37.193Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-03-22T01:49:37.193Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Evin Switzer
Body: <p>I am a beginner playing white and it's my turn to move. What is the best possible move in response to this fork?</p>
  
  <pre><code> [title "Game position after fork:"]
   [fen "r1bqr1k1/ppp2p2/2n1pn1p/3p2p1/1b1P1N1B/2N1P3/PPPQBPPP/R3K2R w KQ - 0 1"]
  </code></pre>
  
Tags: <analysis><beginner>
Title: Best practical chances after g5 forking knight and bishop
ThreadText: # Best practical chances after g5 forking knight and bishop
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2018-02-06)
  
  I am a beginner playing white and it's my turn to move. What is the best possible move in response to this fork?
  
  ```
   [title "Game position after fork:"]
   [fen "r1bqr1k1/ppp2p2/2n1pn1p/3p2p1/1b1P1N1B/2N1P3/PPPQBPPP/R3K2R w KQ - 0 1"]
  
  ```
  
  **Tags:** analysis, beginner
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 6 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2018-02-06. Score: 5
  
  *Disclaimer* : in any case you are lost if your opponent plays reasonnably enough.
  
  Assuming that you don't want to resign at move 10, my suggestion would be to continue with 10.Bg3 gf4 11.Bf4. Black's king is slightly weakened, you hit h6 and plan to continue with 0-0-0,f3,g4,h4,g5 to try and open his kingside as much as possible. In positions with opposite castles, material is not the single most important criteria, king security and initiative matter too.
  
  If Black plays passively or conservatively, say 11...Kg7, then 12.f3 prevents Ne4, and with Bd3 and g4-g5 you may be able to muddy waters enough to induce later mistakes by Black.
  
  If he plays actively and purposefully, with 11...Ne4 (or even 10...Ne4) 12.Qd3 e5!, not worrying about the Ph6 and intending ...Bf5, well, you hardly have anything to hope for...
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2018-02-06. Score: 3
  
  The position is lost since you lose a piece for at most a pawn and no real compensation if black knows what to do.
  
  For the *best possible move* in such situation you could consult a computer which would give you a move that it thinks is best based on its evaluation function. Likely it would still evaluate your position as -3 or so.
  
  Anyway, if you are playing against a human, you don't want the objectively best move here, but the move (or line) that gives you **the most practical chances** or a move/line that gives your **opponent more chances to go wrong**. Some people call this "hope chess" which should normally be avoided, but in emergency situations could be your only hope.
  
  Generally speaking this often means that in lost positions like this you:
  
  * avoid simplification of the position, i.e. avoid the exchange of pieces
  * try to complicate the position for instance by having more than one center of action
  * try to set tactical traps
  * go for a direct mating attack
  * aim for getting stalemated (only works rarely and only in endgames)
  
  For the position at hand, I believe the most practical chances would give you an attack on the black king. A few factors help you here: Black has weakened the pawn structure in front of his king, a large part of black's forces are concentrated on the queenside far away from the king. Your plan should be to move as many forces as possible to the kingside and to open a file or two for your rooks. Also acting quickly would be essential before black can make use of his extra piece.
  
  Apart from winning a piece, black also has Ne4 which is very unpleasant because of the pin of the knight on c3; and e5 which frees black bishop on c8 and threatens to open the center against the uncastled white king. There is not much white can do to prevent these, or any attempt would basically mean passive play which is not what is needed here.
  
  With this in mind you can think of how to achieve your goals and analyze concrete lines. Keep in mind that there is no (objective) right or wrong here, so I just give a few thoughts without saying that one line is better than the other.
  
  * 1. Bxg5 hxg5 You win a pawn, but material is not important in this situation. Also your knight ends up being attacked and you lose another move having to move the knight. Also you don't have any good square for the knight: on h5 it gets exchanged, on d3 you run into Ne4 and on h3 it is on the rim and stands in the way for your attack.
  * 1. g3 with the idea that if black takes on h4 or f4 you can retake gxf4 or hxh4 getting an open g file for your rook and potential attacks on the king.
  * 1. Nh5 hoping for Nxh5 2. Bxh5 gxh4 which would have removed one black defender from the kingside and created a half-open g file. Potentally you could transfer your queen via e2-f3 (or g4) to the kingside.
  * 1. Bd3 hoping that some tactics might turn up along this diagonal.
  * 1. g4 aiming for eventually playing g5, either supported by a rook from g1 or (if black takes gxf4 2. exf4) by a pawn from f4.
  * 1. Bg3 and the continuation given by username_1
  
  Disclaimer: All of the above is for a position where your opponent still has to convert the advantage not for a position where you are lost because of a mating attack.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: So... what is your suggested move??????  Also, show me a possible counter to my move if you think you are so good?  
  > **username_4**: @XcoderX He mentioned ...Ne4 and ...e5 as Black's potential next moves. Black can simply continue with those two and his threats will be much stronger than White's. E.g. 1.g3 gxh4 2. gxh4 Ne4 3. Qd3 e5 4.Rg1+ Kh8  5.Nh5 Qxh4 -+ (threatening to take on f2 with either queen or knight and preventing f3 due to the pin)  
  > **username_2**: @XcoderX: As I was trying to make clear, in lost positions, there is not going to be a best move and it is kind of meaningless to argue for or against any of the lines I gave. I still believe that all of them give white at least some swindle chances. PS: No idea why you doubt that I play chess.  
  > **username_2**: @XcoderX: username_4 answered your second question. Besides just saying 1. g3 and you have a winning position is a bit vague....  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2018-02-07. Score: 2
  
  The position is completely lost. Computers don't evaluate swindle potential. I would try Nd3, because a half-open g-file has some value and the pawn (after ...gxh4) is quite weak. Meanwhile you hit the annoying bishop that is pinning your Knight. ...Bxc3; bc3 gh4; f3 (immediate e4 embarrassed by ...Nxe4) and hope your opponent makes a serious error.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2018-02-07. Score: 1
  
  Seeing the position, it seems like you are lost, as you certainly lose a piece to the fork. Assuming you do not want to resign at this point, I recommend playing Bxg5 hxg5 Nd3, followed by h4 to try and open the position and incite your opponent to make a mistake.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2018-02-06. Score: 1
  
  My Elo: 1900 on Lichess. My vote would be to take the pawn with the bishop here. That way at least you would have damaged the king side pawn structure and get an semi-open h-file, which might be useful going forward. Because of the fork, you cannot avoid losing one of your pieces anyway.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2018-03-22. Score: 0
  
  There are three elements to chess. Space, time and forces. Since you are a man down, you can compensate with trying to gain more space and control and try to run their time down. Capturing the pawn grabs a pawn and messes up his space meaning it is extremely logical. 1.Bxg5 hxg5 2 Nh5 trying to gain initiative and rip open his position. White is also not so good because he isn't castled and the bishop will mess the pawn structure up. Try to complicate the position, create traps and avoid exchanges.
  
  
  ---
  
  