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26. a5 Qa6
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White has a strong attack going, 4 pieces bearing down on a broken castle with only 3 defenders. I was surprised he played 26. a5. My response threatens the pawn. I have to play carefully here though, with White's strong attack. |
 
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27. b4 Bxc3
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White seems to have made his first mistake of the game. Black can safely take the pawn, forking White's rook on e1 and the pawn on b4. It's important here that both the bishop and the queen remain on defensive duty to save the f6 pawn and the subsequent mate threats. |
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28. Rxe8+ Rxe8
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A welcome trade since black now has a winning material advantage. This also evened the number of attackers and defenders by exchanging white's strong rook, part of his attack, for black's weak rook that was far removed from defending. |
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29. Qf4 Bxb4
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White's 29. Qf4 seems to defend the pawn at b4, but the defense is an illusion, for black takes the pawn anyway and now if 30. Qxb4??? then black wins instantly with 30. ... Qxf1 . 29. ... Bxb4 does allow white to play 30. Qxf6, but black's queen is still on defense so after 30. ... Qxf6 31. Rxf6??? Rf1 wins immediately for black. |
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30. h3 Bd2
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And now my piece de resistance. My favorite move of the game. If White's queen moves away, black wins the bishop on h6. If white captures Black's bishop he loses less material after 31. ... Qxf1 . |
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31. Qf2 Bxh6
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Remember that vow I made on my 22nd move? |
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32. Qa2+ Kg7
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The long range check is only a minor inconvenience now that the white bishop is gone from a6, and White's rook is still en prise on f1. |
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33. Rf2 Re1+
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Rf2 insures that White's two remaining pieces defend each other and defend their remaining pawns, too. But black has a combination that cracks White's defense open like an egg. With careful play, white can squirm out of immediate loss (at least I didn't find a forced mating combination here) but even those lines allow black to exchange White's queen and rook and win easily with a bishop and two pawns advantage. |
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34. Kh2 Be3 35. Rc2 Bf4+
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35. Rf3 saves White's game for now, but after 35. Bg2 white is in serious trouble. As played, white is now doomed. |
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36. g3 Qf1
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Not a check, white is not forced. But he has nothing. Black threatens mate on g1 and h1. The rook cannot protect both squares. 37. h4 loses to 37. ...Qh1 . White could try 37. Rc7 Bxc7 38. Qg2 to stop all the immediate checkmates, but 38. ... Re2 wins White's queen and black mates in a few moves with his bishop and queen. |
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37. gxf4 Qg1#
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Final position. |
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