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52. Rb3
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Mildly puzzling, and White withdrew the move at once after Black's reply. But maybe the move was played to draw Black off the c-file? |
 
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52... Rca2
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I now think thios ought to have been played only with the intention of exchanging rook for bishop and pawn on a7. I certainly gave that idea serious consideration, but perhaps overestimated the effect of the alternative actually chosen at Black's next move |
2 comments
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53. Rb1 Bb2
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(?!) This seemed such a good idea at the time! The enemy rook, cut off from the rest of the b-file is in effect immobilised. I didn't quite appreciate the effect on Black's own pieces. Two alternatives suggest themselves: [A] the sac on a7, though I didn't really fancy Black's chances with bishop against 4 pawns; or [B] simply 53...Rac2, inviting White to declare himself or repeat moves. |
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54. Kf3 Ke7 55. g4 h4
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(!?) A 50-50 call between this and ...hxg4, it seems to me. |
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56. g5 Kf7 57. e4 Rb4
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Carrying out his own plan.But it has become a game of "Bull Rush" (as it is called in New Zealand). Surely someone is bound to get through? Black wins a pawn, but a pawn is all he'll get. |
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58. Be3 Rxb5 59. Kg4
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(!) It was precisely here that realisation dawned just how bleak Black's prospects had become. The problem is the b-file, and the pin on the bishop at b2, not only against the rook - that can move away - but against the b7 and b8 squares. In immobilising White's rook, Black had stymied his own pieces even more. |
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59... Rb4 60. Kh5
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(!) 60.f3 looks good too, but not 60.Kxh4? Rxe4 61...Re8 and Black would have been back in the game. |
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60... Rba4 61. f4
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(!) Exploiting the immobility of Black's pieces. If 61...Rxe4 62.Rxb2 brings down the curtain. |
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61... Ra4a3 62. Bg1
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(!) After this Black is completely bereft of counterchances. |
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62... Rb3
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(?) Better was 62....Ra4, but it's no use. In effect the bishop is pinned anyway against b7 and b8, so the a2-rook is committed to its protection. |
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63. f5 Raa3
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(?) |
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64. g6+ Kg7
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(!?) A deliberate decision, played in full knowledge of the immediate material consequences. I did hope there would be some relief from the pressure as a result, though. There was none to be had from a line like 64....Ke7 65.e5! or 64...Kf8 65.e5! (65...dxe5 66.Bc5 etc). |
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65. Rxb2 Rxb2 66. Bd4+ Kf8 67. Bxb2 Rxa7 68. f6
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(!) Crushing. |
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68... Ra2
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Rooks go behind passed pawns :-) But it's really a case of playing a losing hand down to the last card... |
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69. Bc1
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(!) Ends the game at once. The threat is 70.Bh6 ... 71.f7 . 1-0.
Well maybe I didn't quite "walk the walk", and was outplayed, on the whole. But I enjoyed the game, especially once I managed to find counterplay, and for a long time it did seem that, just maybe, I could pull off the draw. Very well and imaginatively played by my opponent! |
3 comments
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