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ANNOTATED GAME
Pawn Poison can be fatal...
ethansiegel (1817) vs. reubenfine (1612)
Annotated by: ethansiegel
(1986)
Chess opening: Sicilian (B27), Hungarian variation
ethansiegel (1817) vs. reubenfine (1612)
Annotated by: ethansiegel
(1986)
Chess opening: Sicilian (B27), Hungarian variation
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17... Rac8 |
Threatening Bxb3, where the bishop is immune due to the pin along the c-file. White would love to play Kb2, but that pesky bishop on g7 prevents it. | ||||
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18. Bc4 |
! A good continuation. Now Bxb3 is impossible. How will black respond? | ||||
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18... a5 |
? Too slow, I think. Perhaps best for black was to play b5 immediately, or even to play Rxc4, giving up the exchange for a pawn and the bishop pair (and chances). One mistake doesn't usually lose the game, but two can be decisive. Now, white has the means to win the bishop. | ||||
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19. Bd4 |
! Blocking the dark-squared bishop's path to the b2 square, and allowing the king to get in there. Note the contrast between the positional power of the white bishops after this move vs. after black's 14th. | ||||
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19... b5 |
This is definitely too slow now. Black needed to try Rxc4 and try his luck in an inferior endgame. | ||||
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20. Bxg7 |
! The black bishop on a2 is lost now. Black must recapture with the king or white simply has an overwhelming advantage. | ||||
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20... Kxg7 21. Bd5 |
! Much better than Bxb5, where black escapes with equality. The Ba2 is completely trapped. | ||||
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21... Rfd8 |
Attempting to complicate... | ||||
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22. Kb2 |
But the threat is a phantom. The bishop will fall and all black will get is a pawn at most. After 22. ... Rc5 (the only way to threaten the light-squared bishop), 23. Rh-d1 clinches the win for white. Black resigns 1-0. This game just goes to show that pawn-grabbing is not just bad in the opening, but can be fatal even in the endgame! | ||||
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