user7236: [fen "rn1qk1nr/pp4p1/2p2p2/4P2p/1bp5/2NbPPP1/PP2N1BP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq - 1 11"]

Komodo 8 and Stockfish agree on Nf4 here for white ( sacrificing the rook for development). It does not however show Bxf1 next for black but instead fxe5 and then Nxd3. Why shouldn't black just take the rook instead of fxe5. I get that after white swaps queens black will not be able to castle but wouldn't this still be worth it materially?

user10478: i'm No pro but I think that after:
Nf4 Bxf1
Qxd8 Kxd8 [Queen Trade]
Ne6+
wherever the king goes black is in a poor position
Ke7/Ke8 is followed by Nc7
Kd7 is perhaps black's best bet. But even in this case the kin is vulnerable to a discovered check by the white squared bishop.
Kc8 leaves black in a poor position.The black king is blocking his own rook

user10479: Also keep in mind that the rook isn't necessarily being sacrificed free and clear, because taking back on f1 is a possibility (if not playing Ne6+ right away), meaning white is only sacrificing the exchange, while trading queens and leaving the black king exposed and vulnerable and unable to castle, so it's not as costly.

7236: <pre><code>[fen "rn1qk1nr/pp4p1/2p2p2/4P2p/1bp5/2NbPPP1/PP2N1BP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq - 1 11"]
</code></pre>

<p>Komodo 8 and Stockfish agree on Nf4 here for white ( sacrificing the rook for development). It does not however show Bxf1 next for black but instead fxe5 and then Nxd3. Why shouldn't black just take the rook instead of fxe5. I get that after white swaps queens black will not be able to castle but wouldn't this still be worth it materially?</p>
 10478: <p>i'm No pro but I think that after:</p>

<p>Nf4 Bxf1<br/>
Qxd8 Kxd8 [Queen Trade]<br/>
Ne6+</p>

<p>wherever the king goes black is in a poor position<br/>
Ke7/Ke8 is followed by Nc7<br/><br/>
Kd7 is perhaps black's best bet. But even in this case the kin is vulnerable to a discovered check by the white squared bishop.<br/><br/>
Kc8 leaves black in a poor position.The black king is blocking his own rook</p>
 10479: <p>Also keep in mind that the rook isn't necessarily being sacrificed free and clear, because taking back on f1 is a possibility (if not playing Ne6+ right away), meaning white is only sacrificing the exchange, while trading queens and leaving the black king exposed and vulnerable and unable to castle, so it's not as costly.</p>
