International Chess Challenge: Central Explosion

Last week saw the first captures in our International Chess Challenge, giving us this position.

Hutt International Boys' School (New Zealand) v The Links (England)

Hutt now blew open the centre with 11 exd5.

The Links had to be careful here as the natural-looking 11 ...Nxd5 would lose a piece to 12 Qxg4, as the knight would no longer be defending the bishop on g4.

After some consideration, which included discussing the options of 11 ...Nxd5, 11 ...Qc8, 11 ....Rh8 and 11 ....Na5, the class voted on 11 ...Bxf3 as their top choice.

Hutt International Boys' School (New Zealand) v The Links (England)

Now Hutt need to assess which capture is the best one to make. 

Tune in next week to see what happens!