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20. Rf1
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This rook is heading to g3! |
1 comment
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20... Ne7
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This knight returns to e7, having wasted some tempo by going to b6. |
2 comments
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21. Rf3 Rc8
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Black stakes a claim to the c file which white seems to be abondoning, and sets a nice pin as well. |
1 comment
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22. Rfg3 Qf7
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I think black is realizing the weakness of his g pawn, and tries to protect it further. |

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23. Be2
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?! This move is OK, but I later recognized that Nf3 followed by Ne5 was much stronger. |
1 comment
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23... Nc4
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Getting this knight to an active post and closer to the conflict. |

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24. Nxc4
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As my opponents last move would have stopped my previously mentioned knight trek to e5, I opt to go ahead and remove it, hoping to clear some room for tactical shots. |
1 comment
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24... dxc4 25. Bxh5
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! This one fell in my lap, as I didn't really see it after 23. Be2. Black can't take (25...gxB 26. RxR QxR 27. RxQ KxR with a very comfortable game for white). |
1 comment
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25... b5
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As he has a 3-2 advantage, black pushes ahead on the queenside. |

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26. Bf3
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Having done some good work, this bishop returns to exert influence on the long diagonal. |
1 comment
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26... a6
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This turns out to be a critical move for black - not weak by traditional standards as it supports his chain, but weak in the sense that b6 is now vulnerable to white's light squared bishop. Perhaps Nd5 was stronger (it was what I expected). |
1 comment
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27. Bb7
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This pawn killer goes hunting yet again. |
1 comment
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27... Rb8 28. Bxa6 Nd5
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Perhaps a turn too late, but effective still. |
1 comment
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29. Nxd5
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As white is up in material, this trade is welcome. |

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29... exd5 30. h4
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?! This pawn's intentions are obvious, but it was here that I realized with horror that my pet pawn killing bishop was in serious trouble. |

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30... Rb6
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! Strong move! Black now returns to equality. |

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31. Bxb5
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Since he's dead anyway, pawn killer goes down swinging. |

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31... Bxb5
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And black is back in the game big time. I do remember wondering if Rxb5 were better though. |
1 comment
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32. h5
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A little demoralized after losing that last skirmish, white presses ahead on the kingside and hopes to strip away the enemy king's defenses. |

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32... Be8
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Strong move yet again, as this hits g6. |

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