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19... f5
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Black finally gets to make the most characteristic KID move, but this seems like the last nail in his coffin. In any case it's difficult to suggest a plan that can be executed without this move. |
 
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20. g3
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I think this move deserves an exclamation mark, not necessarily because of the lines that support it, but for the idea behind it. It comes almost as a direct refutation of Black's last and is a good thing to remember and watch out for as Black. |
1 comment
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20... Nh5 21. exf5
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Now Black has to capture with a piece on f5 or lose a pawn. My opponent chose the first but perhaps 21...Nf6 wasn't as bad. Losing a pawn in the KID is less dramatic than in other openings, since Black is playing for the attack only, his position cannot be sustained by normal means. But perhaps even after 21...Nf6, Black can't hope for much, after the very flashy Knight move 22. fxg6 hxg6 23. Nd4! and after a lot of forced exchanges, Black is still in misery. |
3 comments
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21... Nxf5 22. Nc6
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This Knight has made quite a trip to get here. From g1-f3-d2-b3-a5-c6. And it still can't be put out of the playing field. In case of 22...Bxc6 23. dxc6 Nd4 (more than necessary, or else I play c5) 24. Bg2 Qb6 25. Be3 Kh8 26. Qd2 and Black is out of useful moves. The threats are g4 followed by capturing on d4 or capturing on d4 directly. In case of 26...Kg8, 27. Qa2! creates even more threats. Black is all tied up. |
2 comments
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22... Qb6
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I think in view of my next move, 22...Qb7 would have been more adequate. |
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23. g4
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A very easy move to see but not easy to convince myself to make it work. The downside is that my King is weakened and Black gets some activity for his pieces. |
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23... Nh4
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23...Bxc6 seems better here since after 24. dxc6 Nh4 25. Qd5+ Kh8 26. Be3 Qb8, Black might just hold. It won't be fun but it might just be tenable. |
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24. Be3
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This Bishop is a late bloomer but it makes up for his inactivity so far. |
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24... Qb7 25. gxh5 Nf3+ 26. Kh1 Nxe1 27. Na5 Qa8 28. Qxe1
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This was the position I wanted when I played 23. g4. Black is in serious trouble here. The material deficit isn't immense but positionally he stands very bad.The c-pawn is very weak, his Bishops are very passive. The f-file can't be used for a while and even his King might become weak in the future. |
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28... Bxb5 29. cxb5 Qxd5+
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Regaining the material but still behind on position. |
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30. Kg1 Qe6
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Black's only hope for counterplay lies in his central pawns. If he can get them rolling far enough, he should be able to create enough problems to save the game. But unfortunately for him and fortunately for me, he just doesn't have time to do that. |
1 comment
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31. h6
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A first finesse. Even though the pawn might drop later, it's a serious nuisance and can always be used to intimidate the Black King. |
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31... Bf6 32. Bg2
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The second finesse. Forcing the advancement of the Black pawns is the easiest way to break his position. The point is to be able to fix them and create points for my pieces to blockade them. |
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32... e4
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32...d5 needs to be looked at as well. After 33. Nc6 e4 (if Black tries to forgo a second pawn advance and hold the pawn abreast, Nb4 follows and he's forced to make the concession in worse circumstances) 34. Qa5 Qd6 35. Qa7! Qd7 36. Bc5 Re8 37. Bd4 Qd6 38. Bh3! (with the last piece brought into play, Black just can't hold any longer. The c-pawn drops and soon the game) |
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33. Qc1
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The third and final finesse. This quiet Queen move connects all the pieces. |
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33... Qd5
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33...d5 looks very interesting and it might just draw unexpectedly.. After 34. Qxc7 d4 35. Bf4 e3 36. fxe3 dxe3 37. Qc6 Qxc6 38. Nxc6 e2 39. Bd2 Bg5 40. Bd5+ Kh8 41. Bc3+ Bf6 42. Ne5 e1Q+ 43. Bxe1 Bxe5 44. b6 Rc8 45. b7 Rc1 46. Kf2 Rb1 47. h4 and Black makes a study like draw. He either gives his Rook for my dsb and, after which I can't win since I don't have enough material to do so, or in case I sacrifice both Bishops to queen the b-pawn, erect a fortress which can be easily defended. It just goes to show the richness of a position in chess and that you should never give up looking for saving ideas. |
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34. Bf1
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Now Black is in too much trouble. His pawns are stuck and he can't formulate a decent plan of action. |
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34... Qf5 35. Bc4+
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The Bishop belongs on e2 for now, but it makes sense to drive away the Black King to the corner. |
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35... Kh8 36. Be2 Rc8
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36...Bh4 looks more tenacious but I think it's also insufficient. After 37. Qc3+ (37. Qxc7 wins as well but in more moves) Qf6 38. Qxf6+ Bxf6 39. Bc4 and the White pieces will slowly make good work of the Black Rook and Bishop. |
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37. Qc6 Qe6 38. Qb7
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Vacating c6 for the Knight. |
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