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18... Bd4
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A very nice spot for the bishop. Pinned against c2, the knight can not move to make way for the c-pawn to drive the bishop away. |
 
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19. Qg4
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Switching his aim from h7 to g7 as the more vulnerable target. Among other things, this makes Bh6 a threat. |
1 comment
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19... Rf7
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This could probably have waited a move, but it would simply have meant a reversal of move order, as the alternative would have been 19...a5. |
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20. Rf3
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heading for the g- or h-file as seems most convenient. White's attack is developing slowly, but is progressing. The defensive counter-measures Black has undertaken seem to be now pretty much in place, not to be improved upon. Can Black undertake something positive? |
1 comment
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20... a5
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[!] Yes, he can! This is the small beginning of Black's counter-action. Whilst White attempts to batter down White's K-side defences, Black throws everything into counter-attack, leaving the King, rook and his pawn wall to hold on. |
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21. Rg3
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Now g2 is very well protected indeed, whilst Bh6 is a threat. |
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21... a4
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[!] Already threatening to open up the a-file.
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22. bxa4
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Best. 22.Nxa4 was unplayable on account of 22...Qxc2; and 22.b4 would have been met by 22...a3. |
2 comments
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22... Bxc3
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[!] This turned out to be a bit of a find. The exchange might look counter-intuitive: giving up a powerful bishop for a knight that isn't doing all that much and is pinned, into the bargain. But the idea is to weaken White along the back two ranks. It was the discovery that 23.Bxc3 was unplayable that determined this decision. Can you see why? |
1 comment
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23. bxc3
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[!] Absolutely essential. So why could White not have played 23.Bxc3? This is the 'hidden' queen 'sacrifice': 23.Bxc3 Rxa4 24.Qh5 Qxc3!! 25.bxc3 Ra1ch and mates. After 23...Rxa4, whatever White plays, he loses a bishop at least, and the game with it. |
1 comment
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23... Rxa4 24. c4
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White wanted to keep the Queen on the g-file, so he blocks the rook's threat. A good alternative might have been 24.d4!? |
1 comment
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24... Ra2
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It was very tempting to play 24...Ra1ch, here, but a follow-up seemed to be lacking. 24...b5 was another idea, though I don't recall considering it. The second rank was my target. |
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25. Be1
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Uncovering a defence for the rear c-pawn. After 25.Bc1 Ra1 26.Re1 Qa4 27.Qe2 or Qd1, and White is thrown upon the defensive. Attack is what he's after. |
1 comment
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25... Qa4 26. h4
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White is prepared to abandon his Q-side in the interests of attack. Here comes his infantry assault column. |
1 comment
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26... Rxc2 27. h5
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27.Rxc2 Qxc2 and it is hard to see how White can reinforce his attack. White plans to lever open at least one of the g- or h-files. |
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27... h6
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Circumspect; holding off the pawn, and apparently localising the attack to the g-file only. But White still has his dark-square bishop! |
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28. Kh2
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Obviating nuisance checks or pins along the back rank. |
1 comment
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28... Rc1 29. Bd2
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Black seems to have walked into this: the bishop vacates the back rank with a gain of tempo. Appearances are deceiving: Black has his own plan to pursue! |
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29... Rd1
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I very nearly played 29...Rf1, here, and that might even have been the better option. I don't think there is all that much in it, though. The Queen has a1 available. |
1 comment
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30. Bxh6
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At last, White seems to be threatening a breakthrough. The threat, Bxg7, is impossible to meet with the K-side defensive resources available. Black has to hurry forward his own attack. |
1 comment
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