1...Nxe4 2.Bxe7 Nxd2 3.Bxf8 Kxf8 looks like a very interesting exchange sacrifice. You will win a second pawn on b3 and the position has opened up for your bishops. Would prefer Black here.
It's very complex, as White can also desperado the Queen. I would avoid it. The question is what can the White Knight do? I would probably look at ...Kh8 ideas - intending ...g5 later - to see if they work.
Nxe4 works, but the best line is quite hard to calculate. 1.Bxe7 Nxd2 2.Bxf8 Nxf1 3.Bxd6 Bxd6 Nxf1 gives Black the bishop pair. 1.Qxb4 Bxh4 followed by Nxh3+ has to be better for Black. But the crucial line is 1.Qxh6... /1
1.Qxh6 gxh6 2.Bxe7 Nd2 3.Bxf8 Nxf1 and Black is a pawn down for the bishop pair. I’d prefer to be a pawn up! But it looks like best line is after Bxf8 Kxf8 4.Re1 Nxb3 5.Rb1 Bf5 6.Re3 c4 - now d3 falls and Black wins back the exchange. /2
If I were black here, I kind of already like my position as is, and unless I could calculate something definitive, I would probably be looking more at Be6 and then activating my rooks on the a file.
I like it, remove that annoying pin and just keep the easier side of things. Probably pretty equal but I think your position is easier to play. How are you doing so far? Passers are 3-1 yet in 4-0 on board 2 so it's been a delight for me!
I’d be curious whether there was a concrete line that made you turn it down or not. It looks good to me, but there’s a certain feeling of chaos that might make me avoid it in a pretty comfortable position for black.
I like Black’s position already, and can’t work out whether I like it more or less after the complications (also not 100% sure I’ve thought of all the lines) so I wouldn’t go for it - maybe Be6 gives an edge?
I think this way of playing probably has a positive expected value - you might miss some spectacular wins but you still win from here fairly regularly and you’re less likely to go down in flames…
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