|
|
|
15. Bd3
|
And as quickly as that, White has a huge advantage. Of course 15...Nxe3 won't work, because 16.Bxf5+ Nxf5 leaves Black with only two Bishops for his Queen, and little counterplay. |
  1 comment
|
| |
|
|
15... e4
|
This is best, I think, though of course the pawn fork is a sham as the pawn is still pinned to the BQ. |
1 comment
|
| |
|
|
16. Bxc2 Bd6
|
Black has to get all his forces into action immediately if he wants any chance to survive, so he develops the Bishop and prepares for Rook movement to the center as well. |
|
| |
|
|
17. Qd4
|
White centralizes his Queen with a powerful thrust, threatening to jump into the Black castle while pressuring e4 and g7. |
|
| |
|
|
17... c5
|
Giving White a passed pawn, but shutting down the White Queen's diagonal and giving her a kick. I fretted about my next move here for quite some time--transition to the queenside with Qc3 or Qd2? Give back some material for a counterattack play (18.Bxe4?! Nxe4 19.Qxg7 or 18...Qxe4 19.Qxe4 Nxe4 20.Ra5) and rely on my passed d-pawn to win? |
|
| |
|
|
18. dxc6 e.p.
|
!? Black has a nice combination available here, set up by his previous two moves. After analyzing it, I felt like I'd still be able to force a win, and the main result of the combination is to remove a lot of material from the board: an outcome I was perfectly okay with, being ahead by a full piece. There may well have been a more accurate move here, but I don't know what it was. |
1 comment
|
| |
|
|
18... Bh2+
|
Unleashing the discovered attack against the White Queen. |
|
| |
|
|
19. Kxh2 Rxd4 20. Nxd4 Qe5+ 21. Kg1
|
The dust has settled, and White has a Rook, Bishop, and pawn in exchange for his Queen, as well as his extra Bishop. It should be enough to win, but he'll still have to coordinate all his minor pieces while avoiding a mate from the remaining Black heavy forces. |
5 comments
|
| |
|
|
21... g5
|
Black immediately marches on g4, attempting to free it for a Knight to occupy. I think 21...Rd8 looks playable as well, as this Rook doesn't have many prospects on the kingside right now, and Black needs every piece to be operating at full force. |
3 comments
|
| |
|
|
22. cxb7+
|
Logical, bringing the Black King to where White can theoretically check him with Bxe4. The main draw of this move, of course, is removing obstacles to the White c4 pawn on its road to promotion. |
|
| |
|
|
22... Kxb7 23. b4
|
Preparing for Ra5 followed by Rfa1. |
1 comment
|
| |
|
|
23... g4
|
I just don't think Black has time to make this attack effective. His Rook is still out of the picture. |
1 comment
|
| |
|
|
24. Ra5 Qd6
|
Attempting to remain on the b8-h2 diagonal. The problem is, Black simply doesn't have the resources to defend everything that needs defending. |
2 comments
|
| |
|
|
25. hxg4
|
I'm not sure if this is best, but I don't see anything obviously better. 25.c5 was my other main consideration. The goal of the text is of course to bring my LSB into the battle with check after drawing away the Knight, and win a pawn in the process. |
1 comment
|
| |
|
|
25... Nxg4 26. Bxe4+ Kb8
|
White must, of course, be supremely careful, as Black is threatening instant mate on h2. But there is a swarm of minor pieces descending on the Black King... |
|
| |
|
|
27. Nc6+
|
White's goal is now to clean up the Black attack so that he can recoordinate and execute a mate. The plan starts by forcing the exposed Black King to submit to a fork or a discovered attack, losing material in the process. With correct play by White, it's only a matter of time now. |
|
| |
|
|
27... Kc7
|
Or: 27...Kb7 28.Ne5+, or 27...Ka8 28.Ne5+, or 27...Kc8 28.Bf5+ (winning the Ng4 in all cases). |
|
| |
|
|
28. Bb6+
|
! Forcing the BK onto one of the critical squares from which White can win further material. If 28...Kxb6? 29.c5+ wins the Queen. |
1 comment
|
| |
|
|
28... Kc8 29. Bf5+ Kb7 30. Bxg4 h5
|
There's really nothing better for Black at this point. Death will come swiftly. |
|
| |
|
|
31. Bf3 Qf4 32. Ne7+
|
Keeping the King in his corner. |
|
| |
|
(1886)