Annotated chess game: Let's play chess

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ANNOTATED GAME

Let's play chess
xiangzhi (1774) vs. dsb13 (1923)
Annotated by: dsb13

(2378)
Chess opening: Sicilian (B23), closed, Korchnoi variation

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25. Rd5

TIMEOUT. How does Black make the most of the zugzwang? The Nc3 defends the Rd5 which defends the Bc5, which blocks the attack on the Nc3.

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25... Kf7

Black brings his king into the game, mindful, always, of the possibility of Bxf8.

26. f4 Ke6 27. h4 Be7

Black completes the zugzwang on White's pieces - now the Rd5 has no escape squares and White is left to push his pawns. I don't know if White fancies his chances here. Given the material balance, I thought that my starting point should be to hold the draw rather than try to force a win. I think it's important to realise that in the current position, simply removing all the K-side pawns can only be to White's advantage. If White can get to a R+N+1 v Q endgame with all the pawns off the board, Black faces a long fight for a draw.

28. h5

TIMEOUT: What is Black going to do about the pawn position? Which is most important pawn? What benefit can he seize from White's problems with his pieces?

28... a5

Alfie the a-pawn is our hero. Having frozen White's position, it is imperative to play a5-a4-a3 if at all possible, so that if I can pick up the a2 pawn, there's only two small steps to adding to my material.

29. g4

Does White fail to appreciate Black's plan? 29. a4 could be met by 29. ... Bxc5 30. cxd5 (30. Rxc5 Qf3!) Qxd5 31. Nxd5 Kxd5 and Black looks to have the winning chances in the K+Ps endgame.

29... a4 30. f5+ Kf7

Not 30. ... gf 31. gf+ Kf7 when the lack of K-side tension can only assist White.

31. fxg6+ hxg6 32. hxg6+ Kxg6

TIMEOUT: 4 pawns have dropped off the board and it's worth considering whether White or Black has managed to improve his position as a result. White is still in zugzang but the less Black pawns are left on the board, the harder it is for me to achieve anything, and if White can activate his king, my queen is going to struggle to hold back the tide.

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33. Kf2 a3

Completing my plan from move 28. What's next?

34. Ne2 Kf7

Not 34. ... Qxd5?? 35. Nf4+ 1-0

35. Nf4

White has finally freed up the Bc5 by shifting his knight to f4, but has that left open the door?

35... Qa4 36. Ke3 Bxc5

If 36. ... Qd1, White plays Rd7 which is rather embarrassing.

37. Rxc5 Qd1 38. Rc7+

TIMEOUT. More material has gone and again it's worth taking stock. Can Black do anything with the a-pawn, or will White smash through with the d-pawn, supported by his rook and knight? What is Black's plan?

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38... Ke8 39. Nd5

Black's king is stuck on the back rank and one of his pawns is going to drop. Time to get active.

39... Qg1+

Feinting at the g4 pawn when in fact it's the a2 pawn that I'm targeting. If can pick up that pawn by checking with the queen, perhaps we can do something with this position.

40. Kd3

40. Ke4 (the only other move to defend d4) is met by Qg2+ picking up the Nd5 (and then the a2 pawn)

40... Qb1+ 41. Ke3 Kd8

41. ... Qxa2 42. Nxf6+ is just giving White a tempo. I can attack the rook, because the Nd5 can't move. Can White find a decent move?

42. Ra7

Obvious, but nothing saves the a2 pawn.

42... Qxa2 43. Ra8+ Kd7 44. Nxf6+

TIMEOUT: Suddenly White has two passed pawns, a5-a4-a3 is looking useful, my king is looking over-worked and the game is still unclear. First things first (as my Dad would say), let's see about stopping that g-pawn.

44... Ke6 45. Ra6+ Kf7 46. Nd7

White tries to get his knight back to take a3. If he can exchange his knight for the pawn, I have problems. The king can look after one of the pawns, but the queen is going to struggle against the other one.

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