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ANNOTATED GAME

Why is the Latvian Gambit Good for Black?
aci_duci (1694) vs. bleddy71 (1482)
Annotated by: bleddy71 (1200)
Chess opening: Latvian counter-gambit (C40)
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34. Nc5
Excellent move in that white forces an exchange of knights.
1 comment
 
34... Nxc5 35. Bxc5 a6
Black played this move with a defensive mindset - He was feeling the effects of his higher-rated opponent's endgame skills and he wanted to make it harder on him to clear a path for his queenside pawns.
1 comment
 
36. bxa6
takes

 
36... bxa6
takes

 
37. Kb2
White mobilizes his king - but where is it going?

 
37... Be4
A bad move - Black should have advanced the pawn. what is the value in securing the queening square if his pawn never gets there?
1 comment
 
38. Kb3
Black does not have much time left and he's allowed his presious passed pawn to sit idle for about 5 moves!

 
38... Kh5
Black moved his king here to that he could get get in front of the pawn. If he were to advance the pawn first, then White could move his bishop to e7 to take away the h4 square from my king.
3 comments
 
39. Kb4
White plays very methodically with a clear goal in mind.

 
39... Kg4
Black continues trying to advance the king in front of his pawn.

 
40. Be7
Good move - white further frustrates the Black king's efforts to escort the pawn. Black can't use the f4 square and if he moves my king to h4, then the pawn is pinned.

 
40... Kh5
Now Black has to back-track to let the pawn go first.

 
41. Ka5
White is clearly winning now. Black has to fight for a draw.

 
41... Bb7
Black tries to salvage the a pawn.

 
42. e4
White offers the e pawn to clear the way for the a pawn.

 
42... g4
Black refuses the offer as the game depends on frustrating Whites efforts to queen the a-pawn.

 
43. e5
It is looking pretty bad for Black now.

 
43... g3
Black plays the only card he has left.

 
44. e6
white keeps the e pawn coming. Now Black is starting to see the gravity of this situation...

 
44... Bd5
Black decides to take the e-pawn and deal with the a-pawn later.

 

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