Annotated chess game

Response to charleshiggie's previous comment. Had Black played ...f6 instead of ...g6, White would have found it easier to undouble his pawns and obtain a K-side majority OR induce a further weakening in Black's K-side. with a timely advance of his g-pawn.

I agree with ION.

Better I think would have been 21...Re7, practically forcing the rooks off, and preserving his pawns for the time being.

I think you're right, Charles. This knight sortie is OK, but rather over-elaborate. There is a lot to be said for the idea of sacrificing the lame K-side majority to obtain a far more mobile and effective Q-side majority.

As white, I would've taken on c7.

Probably Black's best option, now: snuffs out White's attack plan.

I can also relate to what charleshiggie is saying because timing is everything, as kenneth_fiore_3 has stressed to me in some of my annotations.

I wouild have exchanged also, but this isn't so bad.

I concur, as well. As exchanging pieces while ahead is liquidation.

That's what I wonder, ION.

Better was 23...Re2 - a gentle enquiry: 'How would a draw sit with you?' Note that this would not be the same thing as an explicit draw offer: the enquiry into White's intentions would be communicated by the move itself.

Making an interesting point: black "says": "It's up to you to force a win; if you don't, I'll be glad with a draw".

If Im honest I never considered a draw, maybe I should, I still thought the position had potential, if I recall my opponent had over 40 minutes on his clock at the point and I was running a little low.

The same thought crossed my mind - the move seems aimless. 24....Re2 looks reasonable if Black wants to counterattack, or 24...Kf7 if Black wants to consolidate.

GM Susan Polgar has also emphasized what you posted in your last sentence, Charles.

It is high time for the White king to bestir himself and enter the fray.

Of those two moves that Charles mentioned, I would've played 25.Rd7 to attack the c7 pawn.

...preventing the BR to move on e2, going on with the back an forth game leading to a draw.

Good move. White was careless.

26...Rxg4 =. The text is more-or-less OK though.

Dead equality, after 27...gxf5 28.gxf5 Rxf5.

Black must have miscalculated something pretty badly. It is a move one might glance at but quickly reject in comparison with the alternatives suggested by Charles.

In fact, at the end of charleshiggie's variations, I think it would be a forced draw.

(!) Really a transposition, as White will soon take the knight anyway.

It is my belief that White has again hit on an over-elaborate plan. Instead 29.Nxe5ch fxe5 30.Rd7ch etc led to a winning rook ending.

I agree with ION, as now, white would be two pawns up.

The worst move he could have chosen. 29...Nxg6 was the only move to keep Black in the game: [A] 29...hxc6 30.Nxe5 fxe5 31.Rxc7 etc with a big advantage for White; [B] 29...Kxg6 30.Rg8ch!

I would play 30.Rh8, to force the win of a pawn.

'Nuff said!

As I thought that this would still be playable in the aftermath. However, he would stop that with his Knight. With that being said, I would've spent a little more time, and despite 30.Rh8 coming into consideration, this is what I also would've played. That is, unless it were a tournament with only a max of 5 minutes remaining. But, this will force a win since passed pawns must be pushed which is what white just did.

I think it's too little too late. Even though he won't have the extra Queen, preventing it means that black will be a R behind since after 31.g8=Q+, black's only options is 31...Rxg8.