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ANNOTATED GAME
muek54's mini-tournament IX
pilou (1905) vs. dsb13 (1959)
Annotated by: dsb13
(2378)
Chess opening: Alekhine's defence (B02), Scandinavian variation
pilou (1905) vs. dsb13 (1959)
Annotated by: dsb13
(2378)
Chess opening: Alekhine's defence (B02), Scandinavian variation
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20... Rd7 21. c5 |
So what's Black's next move? | ||||||
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21... Rad8 |
21. ... Rad8! A zwischenzug, or 'in-between' move. 21. ... Bc7 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Rxd7+ gives White lots of compensation for his pawn - his Q-side pawns are up and running and my pieces are passive. Now, suddenly, the tables are turned. White has to go backwards at this point. 22. cxb6 Rxd5 23. Rxd5 Rxd5 24. bxa7 Nxa7 and White's pawns go nowhere. Suddenly, I felt as if I might survive on the Q-side and take advantage. Firstly, though, I wanted to get the rooks off because I thought that would minimise White's winning chances and give me the best chance in the endgame. | ||||||
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22. Bb3 Rd7xd1 |
22. ... Bc7 is supposed to be stronger according the GK analysis, but is too messy for my liking. Here, I get rid of the rooks and use my endgame technique. | ||||||
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23. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 24. Bxd1 Bd8 |
Now we have an interesting endgame. This is one of those positions where it's worth stopping and looking at it. White's pawns are more advanced, but Black's king can get there first. The Bh6 could find itself trapped if it's not careful and the Nc6 can hop into d4 where it dominates the board. Much as I like the visceral thrill of a direct attack on the king, this is a tense, dynamic position. | ||||||
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25. f4 |
White blinks first. Giving Black a passed pawn can only end in trouble, although the alternative sees Black play ... a5 and (if necessary) ... b6 to neutralise the Q-side. White can pick up the h7 pawn but at a cost. 25. Bb3 a5 26. bxa5 Bxa5 27. Bg8 Kd7 28. h4 Bd8 30. Bf8 Be7 31. Bxe7 Kxe7 32. h5 Kf7 is the line suggested by the computer as best for White, albeit practically equal. | ||||||
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25... Kf7 |
25. ... Bc7 is likely to be met by 26. fxe5 Bxe5 27. g4 Bd4+ 28. Kg2 Ke6 29. h3 Bb2 30. Be3 a6 31. gxf5+ Kxf5 32. Bg4+ Ke5 33. Bc8 when the Q-side pawns start to disappear. I think that White can hold the draw by a timely sacrifice of bishop for 2 pawns in this line. | ||||||
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26. Bh5+ |
White is lured into a check. What are those bishops up to? | ||||||
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26... Ke7 27. Kf2 Bc7 28. g3 a5 |
Finally, Black gets to break up those pesky White pawns. | ||||||
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29. b5 Nd4 |
And the knight gets big. | ||||||
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30. b6 Bb8 |
One of those difficult choices. 30. Bd8 avoids the possibility that the bishop gets trapped, but 30. ... Bd8 31. fxe5 fxe5 allows the bishop out and gives White chances again. I was a bit worried by 32. Bg5 and 33. Bxd8, although 32. Bd1 is probably better, restricting the knight's squares and meeting Ke6/d7 with Bf8, Ba4 and c6 if he can get away with it. | ||||||
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31. Bd1 exf4 |
So which way does White recapture? | ||||||
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32. gxf4 |
Whilst this looks to leave the Bh6 trapped, 32. Bxf4 Bxf4 33. gxf4 Ke6! is winning for Black. 33. ... Ne6? 34. c6! is, however, not so hot. | ||||||
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32... Ne6 33. Bb3 |
33. ... Nd4 34. Bg8 is unclear 33. ... Bxf4 34. Bxe6 Bxh6 35. Bxf5 throws it all away. 33. ... Nxf4 34. Bxf4 Bxf4 35. Bd5 is embarrassing. Any ideas? | ||||||
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33... a4 |
33. ... a4 is, I suppose, one of those logical, dynamic continuations in a position like this. It feels as if it should work (if the Force is with you). 34. Bxa4 Nxc5 35. Bc2 Bd6 and the Bh6 is trapped. | ||||||
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34. Bxe6 Kxe6 |
The possibility of opposite coloured bishops disappears, White's pawns are on the wrong coloured squares and if I can activate the bishop, we're quids in. | ||||||
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35. Ke3 Kd5 |
A hint of psychology to this move. It looks aggressive, and White's reply is pretty forced, but White is now looking to hold the draw, and gets suckered into a repetition. 35. ... Kd7 is stronger because I can triangulate the king to lose a tempo if necessary. 36. Bg7 Ke7 37. Bh6 Kf7 38. h4 Ke6 39. h5 Ke7 40. Bg7 Kf7 and I can waste a move by playing Ke7. | ||||||
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36. Bf8 Ke6 37. Bh6 |
? 37. Bg7 is, I think, stronger. White doesn't realise how short of moves he's going to get, and the bishop needs to be on g7 to give flexibility as to when it goes to f8. Black's not exactly blessed in the moves category at this point - his bishop may have potential energy, but that's about it, whilst his pawns aren't going anywhere. A tempo here or there will make all the difference. | ||||||
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37... Kf7 38. h4 |
Offering a draw, but I've got one more plan. | ||||||
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38... Kg6 39. Bf8 h5 |
Now 40. Bd6 is met by Bxd6 and the King covers the d-pawn whilst White's King is stuck stopping Eddie (né Duncan). Amusingly, 40. Be7 Kf7 41. Bd8 Kd6 42. Bc7 Bxc7 43. bxc7 Kd7 also shows the power of zugswang. In this line, if White ever tries to move the King, f4 falls. | ||||||
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40. c6 |
Surely that's it? Except it's still not that simple. | ||||||
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