Annotated chess game

From what I've seen so far in these games, it is not much easier for White to get his pieces out than it is for Black! This is why, I think, Freddy mentions patience quite a bit in his comments on this line.

I think 12...Nd7 was an error on my part. As I recall, I had it worked out that I'd get your B and N for my Rook. Moving 12...Nd7 inexplicably gives up my N. 12...Na6 seems to be a better move.

Of course, Black would not choose to play 12...Qxe6 13.Nd8+ Kd6 14.Nxe6 Kxe6, though I think the subsequent game would be fightable for Black. The move 12...Nd7 looks like an attempt to prevent Nf7-e5+. The alternative, 12...Na6 might have been met by 13.Bc5 or 13.Ne5+...

But the price is high, even though Black unnecessarily gave up a piece. For the moment White has a considerable material lead, but Black will recover that in one move, since White hasn't time for f4-f5.

What about guarding b2: getting your other bishop should be a priority in this position, given that you've run out of peices to attack with.

Here, I reckon, is where white needs to look for an improvement in her game. The Knight retreat deals with the immediate problem of the f-pawn, but concedes ill-affordable ground, and doesn't really help with freeing the Q-side. Much preferable seems 16.Nd5! with the idea 16...Qd4+ 17.Ne3 Rf8 18.g3, after which White can set about breaking the chains on the Q-side by Rb1, b3, and Bb2. A possible line runs 18...c4 19.Rb1 Qb6 20.b3 Bc5 21.Kg2 Bxe3 22.dxe3 cxb3 23.Rxb3 Qc6 24.Bb2 and White has a very reasonable game.

Now 18...Re8 could be really annoying...

At first sight, Black's K-side attack is helping White free her game, but the long-term benefit to Black will be a favourable endgame with Q for R and B, and the more solid pawn structure. Not an easy decision (I feel) to go in for it, but Black has to find some way of making progress...

After this King retreat, Black has a strong attack among the weak squares in White's King's field: 21...c4! with the immediate idea 22.dxc4?? Qe4+ 23.Kg1 Bc5+, winning at least a minor piece. White can defend by 22.Re1, when Black might continue: 22...cxd3 23.Be3 Qe4+ 24.Ng2 (24.Kg1 d2 25.Re2 Qf3 looks uncomfortable for White) 24...Qd5 and prepare to push the d-pawn.

Instead of ...c5, Black has found an equally promising alternative line of attack.

Black could equally well have opened lines for a direct attack on the king by 23....hxg3 24.hxg3 Rh8+ 25.Kg2 Qc3! 26.Bb2 Qd2+ 27.Kf3 Bxf4!! 28.Bxh8(!) Qf3+ 29.Kg4 Qxg3+ 30.Kf5 Qg5+ 31.Ke4 Bd2, threatening a Q-fork at h5. But if, say, 32.Bb2, then 32...Qe3+ 33.Kf5 Qe6#. So 32.Kf3 Qh5+ wins the h8-Bishop, with good winning chances for Black.

Possibly Black's attack has been too tentative, when he might have been getting tore in with ...hxg3 at some point. White's position is starting to look a bit more solid.

I give Black the whisker of an edge, but it will be very difficult to win from here. White has emerged from her ordeal well, but, as she indicates with her note, there's still a battle to be fought.

And it's the only way at once to defend the king and the d-pawn. Black won't find it easy to exploit that pin, neither.