|
« TAP TO LOG IN
|
ANNOTATED GAME
The Prairie
blackgnik (1439) vs. theshandykid (1425)
Annotated by: archduke_piccolo
(2332)
Chess opening: Trompovsky attack (Ruth, Opovcensky opening) (A45)
blackgnik (1439) vs. theshandykid (1425)
Annotated by: archduke_piccolo
(2332)
Chess opening: Trompovsky attack (Ruth, Opovcensky opening) (A45)
 Interactive |
• |  Show all comments |
• | All annotated games | • | View chessboard as: |
| |||||||||
|
16. Qd4 |
This centralisation looks OK, but now Black is able to consolidate his centre. | ||||||||
| 2 comments | |||||||||
|
16... f6 |
(!) Correctly identifying his central pawn phalanx as a key factor in Black's game. At the moment Black has three pawns for the bishop, a nominal material equality. The pawns are usually to be favoured when they are well advanced, the piece when they are far back, or weak. Here, the game seems to be roughly level, as though not far advanced, Black's centre pawns are, or have the potential to become, very strong (Personally, I set a high store on central pawn majorities: they can be and often are game winners). Before continuing, although pawn majorities tend to be 'positional' assets, this particular game retains a strong tactical flavour owing to White's highly active pieces. This game has just begun: there is a long way to go yet, and plenty of excitement to come. | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
17. Be2 Nc6 18. Qb2 Ne5 19. O-O Rac8 |
Over the last few moves, both sides have hastened to deploy their reserves. The battle lines have been drawn: game on! | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
20. Nb3 Rxc2 21. Qxc2 Qb6 |
Threatening ...Qxe3+, but this is easily thwarted. Black might have considered a Q exchange here (21...Qc7 22.Qxc7+ Kxc7) with the idea of reducing White's tactical chances. That would have added value to his central pawns. | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
22. Nd4 Bc5 23. Bb5+ |
(!?) Good was 23.Rc1. | ||||||||
| 2 comments | |||||||||
|
23... Ke7 24. a4 Bxd4 25. exd4 a6 |
Recognising that 25...Qxd4+?? would have lost: 26.Bf2 followed by 27.Qc7+ etc. But better was to seal off the c-file by 25...Nc6. | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
26. Be2 |
(!?) But even stronger was 26.a5! | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
26... Ng6 |
26...Nc6 still came into consideration. | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
27. Bg3 |
(!) White has a range of good moves hereabouts. For instance, 27.Rb1. | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
27... Kd7 28. Kh1 |
(?!) Understandable, with the idea of obviating any inconvenient checks by Black. But it wasn't necessary, and gives Black an extra move to consolidate his defences. Instead, 28.Rb1 would have been pretty close to winning. | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
28... Qxd4 |
(?) A mistake that could have lost quickly. Black had to retain watch and ward over c7 - a particularly vulnerable but vital square right now. | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
29. Qc7+ |
(!) Natch! | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
29... Ke8 30. Qc8+ |
Plausible, and good enough for a big advantage, but Black is just about able to stay (more or less) in touch. The winning line was 30.Rc1! Qa4 (say, hoping the Q can influence events) 31.Qxb7 Ne7 32.Bd6 Qd7 33.Qxa6 Kf7 34.Rc7. Black gets driven back and back and then has to give up material. | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
30... Kf7 31. Qxb7+ Ne7 32. Bh5+ |
Raining blows upon Black's game. But stronger was 32.Bd6. | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
32... g6 33. Be2 Qxa4 34. Bxa6 |
(!?) Very nasty would have been 34.Be5! with attack on the doubly pinned f6-pawn! | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
34... f5 |
Be5 was still threatened, so Black thwarts it. The downside, though it can't be helped, is that Black is now faced by a serious dark-square weakness that White is not slow to exploit. The game enters a new phase... | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
35. Bb5 |
(!) | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
35... Qa8 36. Qc7 Rc8 37. Qd7 Rd8 38. Qc7 |
Just testing the waters... | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
38... Rc8 39. Qf4 |
White has no reason to be interested in a draw. He still has the better of it, though Black is by no means out of the game yet! | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|
39... Rc5 40. Bd3 |
(?!) Another retreat that reduces White's attacking potential. Instead of this, 40.Bd7 would have retained a strong attack. Black now begins to recover some ground. | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
| |||||||||