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15... Qh6
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Absolute pin. |
 
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16. Bf4
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Only defends the knight, doesn't actually break the pin as the Bishop is undefended...unless the knight can move with check, which it can't. |
1 comment
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16... Be7
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...attacks the knight again. |
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17. Ncxe4
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Here I aimed to exchange on e4 so that I can recapture with my Rook and resume the pin on the e-file. |
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17... fxe4 18. Rxe4
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Pins the bishop, the knight is safe for now. |
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18... Qf6 19. g3
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I think the reason why I didn't play my next move here instead was simply because of the threat to the bishop itself meant that I got tied up thinking defensively. |
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19... h6 20. Bxd6
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I initially noticed this move when I started thinking about the board schematically, saying to myself what needs to be changed to be able to force a mate? I thought I either needed the e-file opened with tempo, the c-7 pawn removed (or moved) to allow Rc4 or the Bishop to move so that my queen can safely move onto the back rank. With these thoughts in mind Bxd6 didn't seem so bad afterall! Capture with the Bishop results in mate in two:
20...Bxd6 21. Qa8 Kd7 22. Qxe8#.
Recapture with the pawn results in mate in three:
20...bxd6 21. Rc4 Kd8 22. Qb6 Kd7 23. Qc7#
or
20...bxd6 21. Rc4 Kd7 22. Qxb7 kd8 23. Qc7#.
Not capturing the Bishop would result in a decisive material gain |
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