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12. Bb3
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This bishop has reached it's dream spot and will not move anymore for the rest of the game ;-)
Bxf7+ was very tempting at this point, following with e5 and using the open f-file, but I wasn't sure if it would really work out. |
 
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12... O-O
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Finally, Black gets his king into safety. |
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13. Rab1
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Occupying the file with tempo, as this threatens the simple Bxf7+ following a queen loss for white. |
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13... Qa5 14. e5
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That seemed to be the only move that makes sense in this position, further opening up the centre. I'm not sure whether White really is better in this position, I guess with precise play Black can defend and catch up in development?! |
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14... dxe5
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Take with pawn or knight, that is the question now... |
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15. dxe5
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I found this move to be more dynamic (opens d-file and drives away the knight), though it creates a pawn structure weakness in form of an isolated pawn. |
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15... Ng4
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Somehow I have overlooked that with this move, the pawn is hanging... the rook has to come to help |
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16. Rbe1
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At this point, only at move 16, we both have already consumed approx. 1 hour of our time!
Obviously, White wants to continue with h3, winning a piece. |
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16... Be6
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The second move which surprised me, I overlooked that Black can simply enforce an exchange of bishops! Now Bxe6 fxe6, h3 was the first tactic which came to my mind, but this doesn't work out since ...Rd8 drives my queen away and allows my knight on c3 to be taken. Instead I tried to prevent the exchange with... |
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17. Re4
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...this interesting move! If Black takes my bishop, I can simply take the knight with the following threat of Qxh6. The second important purpose of this move is to make space for the queen to leave the d-file, where she can still defend the knight on c3 (on e1). |
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17... Rd8 18. Qe1
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White's threat is now Bishop exchange, following Rxg4. |
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18... Qb6+
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A check in-between, unexpected but not having any unpleasing consequences. |
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19. Kh1 Bf5
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? Black should definitely have taken my bishop here to get rid of one of my best pieces, incessantly eyeing the weak f7 point. |
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20. Na4
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Driving the queen away from the a7/g1 diagonal, for preparing Rf4 without letting ...Ne3 happen. Bxf7+! would have probably been stronger, following with Na4 if the king takes. |
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20... Qa6
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Okay, after Rf4, ...Ne3 is still possible now, since a following Qxe3 would result in ...Qxf1+. But anyway, why not giving away the Exchange for an awesome position? |
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21. Rf4 Ne3 22. Qxe3
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Happily giving away the back-rank rook, knowing that I will soon get another piece for it. |
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22... Qxf1+ 23. Ng1
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The queen has to leave again, and the bishop is eaten on the next move, with huge pressure on f7. |
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23... Qb5 24. Rxf5 Rf8
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This rook is doomed to passivity now. |
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25. Qf2
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Increasing the pressure on the f-file and defending the rook, enabling the covered queen attack e6. |
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25... Na6 26. e6
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Again, poor queen has to move. |
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