|
|
|
52... c1=B
|
Low cunning, and a wry sense of humour. Of course White takes, regardless. |
  1 comment
|
| |
|
|
53. Nxc1 Rxc1 54. Rxh6+ Kg7 55. Rd6
|
Before continuing, it is the sort of sequence that began with White's 47th move that shows how far ahead a forcing line allows you to 'see'. After receiving Black's 46th move, I had worked out the whole line to here within two or three minutes. This ending is easily winning for White, simply because the King and Rook are so ideally placed for a rook ending of this type. The Black King is confined, and can do nothing but wait for the action to come to him. At least he's not cut off on the Q-side. |
|
| |
|
|
55... Rc2+ 56. Kh3
|
Getting cover from the checks. I play this ending very conservatively - no flourishes. |
|
| |
|
|
56... Rc5
|
Whether or not this is best, I figured Black would play it. White wants to play h4-h5, then bring the g-pawn up, followed by the King (depending on the activities of the enemy rook). Unable to play the h-pawn, White is then tempted to play the g-pawn up. But after 57.g4 Rc3+ White's King is also for the moment cut off. Rather than examine too closely the technical problems associated with the pawn move, the King advances instead. |
|
| |
|
|
57. Kg4
|
(!) |
|
| |
|
|
57... Rc7
|
(?) A surprise. I was expecting something like this: 57...Rc4+ 58.Kf5 (58.Kf3 is probably as good, if not better) ...Rc5+ 59.Ke4 ... (preparing to cover the nect check with 60.Rd4 with 61.g4 to follow) 59...Rh5 60.Rd5 Rh6 61.h5. |
|
| |
|
|
58. h5 Kg8 59. Kg5 Rg7+
|
(?) Totally out of the blue. I'm guessing that Freddy decided to play 'second best' moves either in the hope I'd play 'routinely' into a bad line, or looking for a stalemate. But the pawn ending was even more hopeless than the rook ending. |
1 comment
|
| |
|
|
60. Rg6
|
The pawn ending is the simplest way to go. |
|
| |
|
|
60... Kh8 61. Rxg7 Kxg7 62. g4
|
(!) A casual glance at the GK notes on this game will reveal that this was inferior to 62.h6+. Even if that were true, I'd still play this advance, adhering to the principle of keeping the pawns together. Only in special circumstances should the one abandon his comrade for the glory of promotion. But ... just check out the next couple of GK notes ... :) Yes, 62.g4 is the best move. |
3 comments
|
| |
|
|
62... Kh7 63. Kf6 Kh6 64. g5+
|
I did consider 64.Kf7, but this is simplest and straightforward. |
|
| |
|
|
64... Kh7
|
Of course, ...Kxh5 deprived Black with even the smallest hope of a Stalemate. |
|
| |
|
|
65. g6+ Kg8
|
White has a forced mate, but 65...Kh8 would have prolonged the game by one move. |
|
| |
|
|
66. g7 Kh7 67. Kf7 Kh6 68. g8=Q Kxh5 69. Qg3 Kh6 70. Qh4#
|
(#, 1-0) Of course, 70.Qg6 was also mate, but I have a fondness for this constellation. This was my first ever win against id=easy19, after two draws and I've lost count how many losses. It also brought me to within the half-point of the MT winner. This win almost - almost - made up for the disappointing loss with the Black pieces... |
|
| |
|
(2334)