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29. Qxh6
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I think I would have been inclined to try 29.g7 at once in the hope of tying down Black's defences. It would have had the added virtue of covering the h8-square against possible pins along the file. |
 
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29... Kc7 30. g7 Be6
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The g8-square is now well guarded against an intruder. What else can White try? |
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31. Rf6 Bxa2
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[!] Some interesting tactics appear hereabouts. Has Black blundered a piece? |
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32. Rxd6 g3
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[!] No. The threat to the back rank forces White to return the equivalent of the material just won. |
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33. Rxc6+
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The saving clause. This was the least expensive way to prevent the back rank mate. |
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33... bxc6 34. Qf4+
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[!] Not bad! A tempo gainer to pick up the menacing g-pawn. |
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34... Kb7 35. Qxg3
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Restoring the status quo as it existed at White's 30th move: a -2 material deficit. |
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35... Bg8
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Cautious consolidation once again. White has too few points to attack. Black can afford to slow down the pace. |
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36. Qd6 a5
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The bad part for White is that there is only one piece available even to slow down this pawn. White's own pawns are pretty much move bound - they are in no position to exert any leverage at all. The g-pawns are simply blockaded, and for the moment the c- and d-pawns can not advance either. |
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37. Qa3 a4
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Nailing down the Queen. |
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38. Kh2 Ra5
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Not the best, by the look, though White still hasn't enough seriously to discommode Black. |
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39. c4
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[!] Hoping to decoy the Bishop (39...Bxc4?? 40.Qb4ch). A clever try, when it seemed as though these pawns were completely stymied. Unfortunately the more direct 39.Qb4ch at once doesn't improve things much after 39...Rb5 40.Qf8! Rh5ch! 41.Kg1 Ra8 42.Qe7ch Kb6 43.Qb4ch Rb5 44.Qf8 Ka7 45.Qe7ch Ka6 46.Qf8 Rab8! and after 47...Bd5 Black will have consolidated totally, presenting no discernible weakness for White to target. |
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39... Kc7 40. d5
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If 40.Qf8, Raa8 would have held everything for Black. |
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40... cxd5 41. cxd5 Raa8
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At this point the players agreed to share the honours (1/2 - 1/2). Could White indeed have checked Black indefinitely? Let's see: 42.Qc5ch Kd7 43.Qc6ch Ke7 44.Qc7ch Kf6 45.Qf4ch! Kxg7 -(It seems inconceivable that Black might escape without taking this pawn!)- 46.Qg5ch and now [a] 46...Kf7 47.Qf4ch! Ke7 48.Qc7ch; or 46...Kf8 47.Qf6ch Bf7 48.Qh8ch Ke7 49.Qe5ch Kd7 50.Qf5ch. Now, as 50...Ke7 51.Qe5 repeats the position, Black will have to sacrifice his bishop: 50... Kd6 51.Qxf7 a3 -(what else?)- 52.Qg6ch (say) Kxd5 53.Qd3ch, and with all Black's troops standing at the edge of the board, they are in no position to intervene against White's roaming Queen. So the GK engine notwithstanding, the final position, objectively speaking and with best play, should lead to a draw anyhow. Note my wording here. It would be wrong to call the position 'drawn' and I consider the GK engine's evaluation probably about right in the circumstances. It would have been so easy for White in particular to have fallen into a losing line - she would have had to walk a narrow path to safety. What a game: high quality, hard fought and combative. Well done, both!
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(2352)