Annotated chess game: - Walking the Walk -

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ANNOTATED GAME

- Walking the Walk -
alex_ratchkov (2015) vs. easy19 (2179)
Annotated by: alex_ratchkov (2458)
Chess opening: Alekhine's defence (B04), modern variation

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24... Qc3+

Black seeks to buy a valuable tempo with the check to deal with the threats created by the White knight.

25. Kf1 Bg6

Moving the Rook instead of the bishop would not have been any better, i.e. 25...Rxe7 26.Bxe7 or 25...Reb8 26.Nxf5

26. Qg4

White is aiming at e6, since Qe6+ is lethal for Black.

26... Nc5

Defending against both Qe6+ and Nxb7.

27. Rc1

Skewering the Queen and the knight at c5.

27... Qb3

Black is banking everything on the passed pawn at a3, ready to give up the knight if it will buy another tempo.

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28. Rxc5

Now b7 is onyl again vulnerable, but White has to take extreme care due to the impending threats with ...a2 and ...a1=Q

28... a2

The threat is a1=Q+

29. Rc1

Probably the only move, White must be willing to give up the extra material in order the neutralize Black's attack. Now 29...a1=Q 30.Rxa1 Bxa1 31.Nd2 Qd5 32.N2c4 Nd7 33.Nxe8 Rxe8 34.Ne3 Qe5 35.Qc4+ looks good for White.

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29... Qd5

Probably a mistake, since Black now loses more material. A better try might have been a1=Q, leading to 30.Rxa1 Bxa1 31.Nd2 Qd5 32.N2c4 Nd7 33.Nxe8 Rxe8 34.Ne3 Qe5 35.Qc4+ Kh8, which gains a rook and loses two pawns by comparison. White still has a better position but it is not as clear cut.

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30. Nxe8 Rxe8 31. Nh4

Opening up a line of defense for the Queen to defend the important bishop at e2, which is under some pressure from Black.

31... Bb1

Black now has a very tangible threat: ...a1=Q

32. Bf6

White threatens mate and creates an absolute pin (the strongest kind of pin!) on g7.

32... Qf7

Black must consolidate and guard g7 which is currently the focal point of White's attack.

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33. Ba1

Removing the promotion threat and banking on the power of the absolute pin - the white bishop is immune on a1 as long as the g7 bishop remains pinned to the king.

33... Qxe7

With the e7 finally undefended Black jumps on the opportunity to capture it, adding to the pressure on e2. Also worth considering was the prophylactic move ...Kh8

34. Re1

White consolidates king safety, adding another defender to e2 and creating discovery check threats.

34... Bd3

Black pins the bishop at e2 and adds even more pressure on it. 35.Bxd3?? Qxe1#

35. Nf5

White creates its own threats with which Black must deal immediately. Both the Queen and bishop at g7 are under attack, and the pressure on the h-file is also mounting. So in order to alleviate the pressure Black must give up some more material.

35... Bxe2+ 36. Rxe2 Qxe2+ 37. Qxe2 Rxe2 38. Kxe2

The dust has settled, and White find itself up a piece with the threat on a2 nearly neutralized. This endgame is easily won for White.

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