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21. Bd2
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Moving my Bishop primarily to connect my major pieces on the back rank. I want an Alekhines gun if possible on the C file. That's Queen and both rooks all on the C file with the Queen on c1....It is an extremely powerful battering ram and very difficult to defend against. Or possibly on the b file if it is more effective there. Lets see what occurs over the next few moves and I will try to keep the options open as long as possible. |
 
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21... Bxc5 22. bxc5
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Pity...that was an excellent knight. But OK the plan of Alekhine's gun still stands. |
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22... f4
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Ouch..that's a nuisance!..that spoils my plan. I need to protect my pawn on d4. I have the tactical possibility of playing the intervening move Bb4 and if black takes on e3 I can play Rxf8 and if she recaptures with Rxf8 I can playc6 threatening both the Bishop and Rook but my pawns would be shattered and Black would have a really dangerous pawn on e3. Further than that my plan was rubbish anyway Black only needs to plop her Bishop on c6 and the Alekhines Gun on the c file is rendered useless! I have to rethink and play for damage limitation here. |
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23. Qa2
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I am very frightened of Black playing f3 and I am breached beyond repair....But I have a good tactical resource in Qa2. It foirces the Queens off and my position becomes a little easier to defend. If Blacks Queen moves away I can simply take on f4 and all my troubles are over. So she will take on a2, I recapture with the rook and if she then plays f3 it is not so devastating. I can swap off and hopefully hold the position together. |
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23... f3
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OK I have forced the Queens off so now we see whether my position can be held...I think so but the advanced pawn is very dangerous. Play is obviously going to revolve around it she will probably take my Queen with her Bishop and I can't stop her if Black then decides to plop her Bishop comfortably into e4 and I'm not going to be able to shift it without losing material. Unpleasant but my passed pawn on the c file may compensate if I can get my rooks behind it....at least it may take the heat away from the kingside for a bit. |
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24. Qxd5
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Off she comes. |
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24... Bxd5
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Of course, to take with the pawn would have been a mistake. This makes it difficult for me. |
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25. Rf2 Bc6
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Oh Good. Black is worried about my passed pawn on the c file. Hopefully now if she doesn't spot it for one more move, I can get a rook to the efile, then push e4 after swapping off on f3. If I can sneak that move in then I am strategically in the best position....only then will I be in a position to devise a way to push through on the c file. Fingers crossed. |
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26. Re1 Rf5 27. gxf3
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OK here's the swap. I'm beginning to think that I may be able to win a pawn here...or at least hold a draw. It's opposite coloured Bishops so looks even more drawish if the rooks come off. |
1 comment
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27... Rg5+
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Yes I think I've won the pawn here. If Black plays exf3, I play e4 threatening the rook and the pawn, Black can't guard both. If Black doesn't take, I either axchange on e4 or pushf4...either way I come out a pawn up. |
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28. Kh1 exf3 29. e4
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OH dear!...I just noticed..Black has Rg4..I should have taken more time planning...it looked so simple. Now Rg4 places me in huge trouble! |
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29... Rg2
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Wow!..that's lucky Zed has missed Rg4. This means I do win a pawn. I think Rg4 would have actually won Black a pawn.
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30. Rxg2 fxg2+ 31. Kxg2
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The position is still drawish although I am up. I have a very simple plan now. I need my king in the centre to support a pawn advance there....if Black plays Rf8 immediately, I can play Kg3 then Bf4 then Kf3..that way I can cross my king over. As soon as my King is guarding the f4 pawn my rook will be free to create a bit of havoc. |
1 comment
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31... Rd8
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Oh. That is a clever move. I can't guard the d4 pawn with my Bishop from e3 because then my e4 pawns protection from my rook is cut off and she can take on e4. But if I protect the d4 pawn with Bc3 and then she plays Rf8 immediately, my King cannot cross the open f file to get over to the center. This is a major problem! It looks like a draw. I must play Bc3 and hope she doesn't move Rf8 immediately. Lets see what happens....Bc3. |
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32. Bc3 Kf7 33. Kf3 g5 34. Ke3
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Centralising the King. I know it seems as if I'm moving away from the action on the Kings wing, but on e3 the King can cover the pawns on d4 and e4 which is the only way to free up both the rook and the Bishop. My pieces are a little congested and getting in each others way. Black could break on both wings, I might have to give the pawn back at the appropriate time for some sort of counter thrust. |
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34... Kg6 35. Rf1 Re8 36. Bd2 h6 37. Kd3 b4 38. axb4
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Oh No!...I have now moved. I came back from a six day layoff and made loads of quick moves in all my games!...How could I have missed this?...I should resign it's a skewer and I lose my rook with no compensation. I will play on although it is a hopeless position. |
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38... Bb5+ 39. Ke3 Bxf1
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Well I should have resigned already. Well played Zed. I am really frustrated...I beat myself with moving too fast. But you played very well all through. It would have been interesting to see how it played out. |
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