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15. Re1+
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Counterpunching, forcing Black to retreat a little, allowing White to slide out from the ropes... |
 
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15... Kd7
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Staying on rank 7 to allow the inactive rook to enter the game. About here, though, I began to apprehend the likelihood of Qa4+ at some point, forcing the K to the back rank. Too bad: it couldn't be helped. |
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16. g3
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Blocking the knock-out blow... |
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16... Qf7
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...but Black gets another shot in, at the f2-square just now left unguarded by the rook - as it were trading a guard to get in a counter-punch (15.Re1+), but also aiming a right hook by ...Qxd5-g2#. Can White defend? |
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17. Be3
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(?) Hard lines! This attempted block fails whereat White gets battered to the canvas. There were two possible defences here. One was to force himself off the ropes by 17.Kh2!? Qxf2+ 18.Kxh3 Bxd4 19.Nd2 (19.Nc3 and 19.Qg4+ also deserve consideration) 19...Qf5+ 20.Qg4 Rae8 (still smacking each other in the teeth) 21.Rxe8 Kxe8 22.Qxf5 Rxf5 with a roughly even game, but plenty of play left. The other was by delivering a left hook of his own: 17.Qa4+! (I think this might be the best line - it was the one I was expecting) 17...Kc8 (I hadn't quite yet made up my mind whether to play to d8 or c8, but the latter seems safest) 18.Bf4 (18.f4 Qg6 19.Kh2 Qh5) 18...Bxd4 19.Qxd4 g5 20.Re4 gxf4 21.Rxf4 Bf5 and it still seems to be anyone's game. |
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17... Qxd5
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A staggering right hook... |
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18. f3
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There's really nothing else. White has to cover g2, and as this defence is swept aside, conjure up further defences along the vacated rank 2. The blow 18.Qa4+ is easily parried now by 18...c6. |
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18... Bxd4
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What a peculiarly geometric picture the board presents! Black wants to batter though White's defences. White can not retake on d4 with the Queen (19.Qxd4 Qxf3 20.Qxg7+ Rf7)... |
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19. Bxd4
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...but maybe he could have staggered on after 19.Nc3 Bxe3+! 20.Rxe3 Qxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Be6 though the two pawns extra would have been near on a winning advantage for Black. |
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19... Rxf3 20. Bf2
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A doomed attempt to defend g3. I think, though, that my opponent had already read the writing on the wall. It's mate in two. He sportingly plays it out. |
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20... Rxg3+
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(!) |
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21. Bxg3 Qg2#
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White's 17th was the turning point of the whole game. After playing 16...Qf7 I thought we might have been heading for a very entertaining draw... |
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