AboutTony D'Aloisio Expertise I've read a good deal on the subject and I can answer a lot of chess history questions (or at least I'll know where to look them up). Also questions regarding analyzing specific positions (although with the advent of powerful chess software, this isn't likely to have the importance it once did).
Experience I was a national master in the US for a number of years. My peak USCF rating was 2290, and I was ranked in the top 150 in the state of California. My current published rating is 2177.
Education/Credentials B.A. Sonoma State University 1984 (English major with Communications emphasis)
Question Who is better in this position with white to move? White pawns: a2,b2,c2,f2,g2,h2 Rooks on a1&h1, Qd1, Ke1, Nf3. Black: pawns a7,b7,d5,f7,g7,h7, Rooks on a8&h8, Qd8, Ke8, Bc5. What is the best plan for the side that this position favors?
Answer White has a bit of an advantage here. He should probably play 1 Qe2+ to trade off more pieces. This will either trade off queens or force Black to forego castling (1... Be7 2 Qb5+). White should attempt to aim for an endgame where he can take advantage of Black's isolated d-pawn (having no other Black pawns beside it, it has to rely on Black's pieces for protection).
