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21. b4
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Trying to complicate - but resigning myself to the loss of at least a pawn. |
 
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21... Qxe2 22. Nxe2 Nd3 23. Bc3 Nc6
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After that forced burst of tactics, this position looks difficult for white. It will be very tough to rid myself of that troublesome horse. |
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24. a3
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Setting a little trap... |
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24... Ncxe5
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Which I cannot believe he falls into! The point of the sacrifice was to reactivate the bishop - but now with the added menace of that pin to the h8 rook, for which black's opportunism will pay the price. |
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25. f4
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Of course. |
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25... gxf4 26. Nxf4
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Threatening Nxd3. |
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26... Rg8
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Saving the knight. Apparently. But there is a snag... |
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27. Nxd3 Nxd3 28. Rad1
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The knight is trapped. |
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28... Rd8
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Delaying the inevitable - and further simplifying matters in my favour. |
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29. Rf3 Nxb4 30. Rxd8+ Kxd8 31. axb4
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Leaving a clearly won endgame. |
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31... Rg4
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Trying to cause trouble. |
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32. Rd3+ Ke8 33. Rd4
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Offering the exchange. |
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33... f5
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Which, for some reason, he allows - I felt that his only chance in this ending was to keep the rooks on the board. |
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34. Rxg4 fxg4 35. Kf2
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Rather inaccurate really - the win could now be a lot harder - as after c6 and b5, the bishop has nothing to attack with the pawns all on light squares! |
1 comment
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35... Kf7
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Returning the favour. |
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36. Ke3 Kg6 37. Kf4 h5 38. b5
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By now I had woken up! This is a necessary prelude to Be5 - now if a5, that pawn will never reach the other side (even after Be5 and Bxc7, this ds bishop will cover a1). Meanwhile after ...axb5 cxb5, the c-pawn is fixed in place as the bishop's prey, as any advance would lose to either bxc6 or bxc6 en passant. |
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38... axb5 39. cxb5
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Black resigned. A fortunate game indeed, after I misplayed a good early position (a situation which seems to happen to me a lot!). As always, thanks for taking the time to have a look through, and I greatly appreciate all comments and analysis of your own. Anyway, game 3 is on Tuesday, so I'd better go prepare for that! |
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