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14. Kd1
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(?) Both interpositions (14.c3 and 14.Nc3) were better. The latter would have preserved the e4-knight. |
  2 comments
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14... dxe4 15. Bb5+ Nd7
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(??) Here 15...c6 would have caused the bishop to relocate, leaving Black with a solid position. Note that 15...Nc6? wasn't much chop, as 16.Bxc6+ bxc6 would have disrupted and weakened Black's Q-side (17.Qc4!). In avoiding that, though, Black may have incurred worse... |
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16. Qf4
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(!?) Instead 16.Bxd7+! Kxd7 17.Qb5+ would have forked King and the Bishop at b4. You'd be surprised how often these little two-move sequences resulting in a destructive fork crop up in chess play. This isn't the first we have seen in this game... |
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16... a6
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(?) Allowing the exchange on d7 after all. But at least Qb5+ won't be an option... |
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17. Bxd7+
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(!) The right move, exchanging and decoying the King away from f7. |
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17... Kxd7 18. Qxf7+
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(!) 18.Qb5+ is now unavailable, but this is not a bad alternative! |
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18... Ne7
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(!) Relatively best. Any King move and he gets hunted down. Here's a possible continuation; 18...Kd6 19.Bf4+ Kd5 20.Qxc7 and mate can't be far off: 20...Nf6 (say) 21.c4+ Kxd4 22.Ke2 (to make way for the a1-rook and to cover the d3-square) 22...e3 23.Qe5+ Kxc4 24.b3# |
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19. Bg5
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(??) This overlooks a very nasty response that should have turned the tables in favour of Black... |
1 comment
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19... Rhf8
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(!!) A fine riposte that wins the White rook on a1. This is a rather unusual, though not uncommon, type of skewer. Now, skewers generally occur in which an attacked piece is forced to move aside and uncover a weaker, undefended piece to be taken. Sort of a 'pin reversed'. But here it is a vulnerable square that gets uncovered: f1. |
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20. Qxg7 e3
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(?) Not realising the power of his previous move. With 20...Rf1+, Black would have set up a second 'skewer', forcing the King to uncover his defenceless Rook on a1: 20...Rf1+ 21.Ke2 Rxa1, after which Black would have had slightly the better of it. |
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21. a3 Rf2
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(?) Black is playing aggressively, which is exactly what is called for in the circumstances. But he needs to be more alert to what the enemy is doing. Although less effective than a move earlier, 21...Rf1+ was still the best Black had, to stay in the game. But after 21...Rf1+ 22.Ke2 Rxa1 23.axb4 Re8 24.Qxh7 Black would still have been in trouble. |
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22. Ra2
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(??) Panic?? White must have overestimated Black's chances. Both 22.Bxe3 and 23.axb4 would have kept White on top. Now Black wins very quickly... |
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22... Raf8
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(?) Developing - but Black had a quick kill - mate in two, in fact: 22...e2+ 23.Kc1 e1=R# (In these circumstances, I like to underpromote to mate; of course e1=Q is as much #) |
2 comments
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23. axb4
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(!) Correct. Black has no longer a mate. Has he a sufficient attack? It ain't game over yet! |
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23... e2+
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(?!) a spirited try, but too late. Better was ...R8f7, to free up the Knight, pinned on on e7. |
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24. Ke1
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(?!) This looks OK, but it offers Black just one tempo (based on the possibility of ...Rf1+) with which to mount a counter-attack. See next note. Better was 24.Kd2. |
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24... Rf8f3
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(??) A tragedy, just when the game might have been salvageable. The idea is right, but (as so often), overlooks an immediately lethal response. With 24...Rf8f7 25.Qh8 Rf7f3!, White no longer can take the Knight with the Queen. The game might have continued: 26.Bh4 Rg2(!) 27.Kd2 e1=Q+(!) 28.Kxe1 Rxh3 29.Bf2 ... (essential, as Black is threatening Ra1#) 29....Rf3(!!). Material down, Black would have conjured up enough counterplay to give him realistic prospects of forcing a draw. Try these bishop moves: 30.Bh4 Rh3; 30.Bg3 Rfxg3; 30.Be3 Rxe3+ 31.Kf1 Reg3; 30.Bg1 Rxg1+ 31.Ke2 Rfg3, etc. |
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25. Qxe7+
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Deadly. |
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25... Kc6 26. Qxe6+ Kb5 27. Qd5+ Kxb4 28. c3+
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(?!) So far, so forced. Now instead, 28.Bd2+ would have finished the game at move 30. |
2 comments
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28... Rxc3 29. bxc3+ Kxc3 30. Qc5+ Kb3
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A fine forced mate to finish. Very much a game of ups and downs. Both sides were playing to ideas, but both overlooked short range tactical shots that might well have led to an earlier result to either side. |
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(2337)