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20. Rf2
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(?!) Here 20.f5! would probably have given White at least an even game. That central pawn phalanx, it seems to me, would be well worth a piece once Black's Q and B are left stranded behind enemy lines with no clear means of extraction. Now, however, Black gets a second chance... |
 
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20... b6
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(?!) But it's psychologically difficult to recognise that it is time to cut one's losses. This move maybe keeps the WQ out of c5, and plans ...c5 shortly. But Black hasn't time for this. 20...Qh6 was still indicated. Note that it momentarily stops 21.f5 owing to the pin along the Queen's diagonal. |
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21. f5
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(!) Fine move. Black's B and Q are cut off from the main army. |
1 comment
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21... Ne5
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(!?) Probably Black's best chance. 21...Ne7 22.Qg5 Rf7? 23.Rf4! h5 24.Nd1 Bxd1 (essential: 25.Nf2 was threatened) 25.Rxd1 and the only way to save the WQ is by 25...Nxf5. Instead of 22...Rf7, 22...Qh5 is an improvement, but White must have the edge after 23.Qxg7. |
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22. Raf1
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(?!) Too slow, maybe? More incisive is 22.Qf4 Nd7 23.Qxc7. Black can improve by fighting her way clear by giving up 2 minor pieces for a rook: 22.Qf4 Nf3 !? 23.Rxf3 Bxf3 24.Qxf3 Kf7 with the view to ...Kg8 and a measure of safety. At two pawns down for the exchange, Black would still have a fighting chance to save the game. |
1 comment
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22... Rd8
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(!?) Black could also have tried once more to cut and run: 22...Qh6 23.Qxh6 gxh6. But it doesn't look very enticing. But now White has another opportunity to assert his dominance. |
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23. Ne2
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(?) But not this way. With 23.Qf4 Nd7 24.Qxc7 Qh6 25.e5 White would have had a strong attack. After the game move Black could have turned the game back to around about evens once more. |
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23... Bxe2
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(!) |
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24. Qxe2 Ng4
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(?!) Insisting on attack. Instead 24...Qh6 and Black ought to be able to consolidate a defence (e.g. ...c5 to maintain the N on e5), after which there are prospects the extra piece will eventually come into its own. |
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25. Rf2f4 h5 26. e5
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(!) Classic instance of a central counteraction against a flank operation. White has the advantage now. |
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26... Rd7 27. e6
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(!?) Better was 27.d4, in my view: maintaining a close-order advance. |
1 comment
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27... Rd5
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Obvious and, as it transpires, a good move. It would have been much less effective had White played 27...d4. |
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28. c4 Rxd3
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(??) Clever and imaginative... and wrong. A tragedy, really. Much better was 28...Re5! and after 29.Qd2 Ke7, Black seems to have sufficiently solid defence to hold on. She could even try the more aggressive 29...g5!? 30.fxg6 e.p. Rxf4 31.Rxf4 Rg5 (NOT 31...Re1 32.Qxe1 Qxh2 33.Kf1 and Black runs out of attack) 32. Rf2 (say) Rxg6, with a battle still in front of both players. White would have had no alternative to 29.Qd2, either: [A] 29.Qg2?? Qxg2 ! 30.Kxg2 Ne3 wins for Black, as does [B] 29.Qc2? Rexf5!! 30.Rxf5 Qxf1!! 31.Kxf1 (31.Rxf1 Rxf1 is simpler for Black) 31...Rxf5 !! (astonishing move!) 32.Ke1 (say) Rf1 !! 33.Kxf1 Ne3 recovers the queen and wins! An extraordinary line: at move 32, only Kf1-e2 averts the fork, but gets the skewer ...Rf2 instead.
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1 comment
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29. Rxg4
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(!!) Naturally, White cannot take the rook (29.Qxd3?? Qxh2#). After this capture, Black is quite lost, though she resists stoutly for several moves. |
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29... Rb3 30. Rh4 Rxg3+
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(!) A clever response, but it just isn't enough in the face of those advanced centre pawns. |
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31. hxg3 Qxg3+ 32. Qg2 Qxh4 33. Qg6+
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(?!) Good enough to win, but White could have closed it out right here with 33.Qxc6 and mate in three: 33...Ke7 34.f6 ! Rxf6 35.Qd7 Kf8 36.Qd8# |
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33... Kd8
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Not 33...Ke7 34.Qxg7 Kd6 35.Rd1 Kc5 36.Qe7 (or Qxf8 ) Kxc4 37.Qb4# |
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34. Qxg7 Qg4+
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The only chance, slender though it is. |
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35. Qxg4 hxg4 36. f6 Ke8 37. Kg2 Rh8 38. Rd1
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38.Rh1 was as good. |
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38... b5
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Had Black played 38...Rf8 then 39.f7 Ke7 40.Re1 would have bailed up Black's K and R, allowing the WK to snaffle the g-pawn and then reinforce the advanced pawns. But this move shortens the game... |
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(2352)