Annotated chess game

White's game is playing itself. Black has neither defence nor counter-attack.

All roads lead to Rome. I might have cut to the chase with 56.c7ch here, forcing 56...Nxc7, as 56...Kb7 57.Ba6ch Kxa6 58.c8=Qch would have mated quickly. So, 56.c7ch Nxc7 57.bxc7ch Kxc7 58. Bb5 f5 59.Bxa4, and whether Black plays 59...f4 or ...fxg4, 60.Bc6 guarantees the win. The a-pawn can not be stopped (...Kb8; Kb6), and the bishop and f-pawn would be an impenetrable barrier to the Black pawns.

Hi Charles, just wanted to pass on my thanks for you taking the time to annotate this game. Its been great working through it move by move, many thanks again. Willy.........

It is mate in four: 57.c7ch Kb7 58.Ba6ch Kxa6 59.c8=Qch Ka5 60.Qa8#. Fascinating game, this, fluctuating fortunes, hidden possibilities, you name it. Although fortunes teetered back and forth, it was on the whole even(ish) until Black's oversight at move 46, but for which he might have made White's task a whole lot harder. Great game to play through and explore.

Many thanks for your comments guys! The fact that people appreciate these annotations gives me motivation to keep producing them! I am especially grateful to Ian (archduke_piccolo) for improving on my annotations!