White appears to have won a pawn, and has a dominating
position, with an advanced pawn in the center (d5) and a half-open
file already occupied with a rook that is aimed right at the black
king's castled position.
1...Nxd5
Black takes advantage of the loose (unprotected) white
bishop on g5 to regain the pawn. White has three choices:
I. Exchange bishops
on e7;
II. Capture the knight; or
III. Retreat the bishop to d2.
I. 2.Bxe7 Nxe7
After the exchange black's knight is no longer in
danger of being captured, he's regained the pawn, and has roughly
equal chances.
II. 2.exd5 Bxg5
Black has regained the pawn, and saddled White with
doubled d-pawns. Chances are roughly equal, though if anyone has
any advantage here it is Black.
III. 2.Bd2 Nb4 (or even 2...Nf6)
Once again black has regained the pawn, and again
chances are roughly equal.
Here's another variation of this theme:
Work it through for yourself, then look for similar
situations to occur in your games!
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