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From	Message
coopershawk 18-Jan-11, 22:51	Two Bishops in the end game I offer this game as an illustration of the power of two bishops in the end game. The game was certainly not perfectly played by either of us, but I was happy that on move 15 my opponent gave me the opportunity to trade my rook and pawn for his knight and bishop, giving me the advantage of having two bishops. Otherwise the material was even at that point, and I think that the two bishops led directly to the win. However, in part the win was based on the fact that I was able trade my remaining rook for one of his rooks. I think if he had been able to keep the two linked rooks, it might have been a different result. The game is linked below. game Your comments are welcome.
blueshrimper 19-Jan-11, 12:29	Looks interesting I have played this through a couple of times quickly and found it interesting enough to want to have a slower look later this evening. I hope to get back with some sensible comments soon.
blueshrimper 19-Jan-11, 14:30	My Thoughts 1. d4 d5 I'm not a fan of d4 openings and I tend not to do well against them. 1.d5 seems a good response. 2. c4 Queen's gambit. 2. e6 Declined for the moment. I would have been torn here, I would probably have accepted the gambit in line with advice received many years ago, 'taking the offered piece in the opening is usually the strongest move'. Having said that, I accept that 2.e6 is a good response. 3. Nc3 Nf6 Both sides are looking at e4 4. Bg5 Be7 Black sensibly counters in order to keep his King's pawns intact if White decides to capture the f6 Knight. 5. e3 O-O Black commits to castling King side. My worry here would have been the weakening of Blacks defences if the f6 Knight is removed. Nf3 Nc6 This move wouldn't have been my choice in this position, but having spent a good deal of time looking at this position, I now think it is not too bad at all. There is a need here to generate some Queen side activity and this is a step in that direction. 7. Bd3 Nb4 To push the light Bishop back to a less favourable square? At the risk of slightly weakening the King's pawn structure, I would have been tempted to force White to reveal his intentions regarding the dark Bishop with 7. h6. 8. Be2 dxc4 The gambit is finally accepted, but surely White will recapture and have a slightly better central position. 9. Bxc4 b6 Preparing to fianchetto the light Bishop to put some pressure on f3 and g2. 10. O-O Bb7 Things seem to be turning slightly. My impression here is that Black's pieces now have a slight edge in terms of options and activity. 11. Qb3 Nbd5 Disregard my previous comment, I now think it is too close to call. 12. Ne5 Bd6 I felt here that the Knight didn't really need to be chased away. 12. Bd6 increases my fears regarding the f6 Knight. I would have been tempted to disturb White's central pawns with 12. c5. 13. e4 Nxc3 Black should gain a pawn through the exchanges but I'm worried about the general untidiness of the position.} 14. bxc3 Bxe4 Black does indeed gain the pawn, but where do we go from here? 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Qxe6+ Kh8 If we look now just in terms of material, Black is doing well, but White's active pieces are a major cause for concern. 17. Nf7+ Rxf7 Black now gains some breathing space but at the cost of rook which will even the score as far as material is concerned. 18. Qxf7 Bg6 I agree here that the White Queen has to be moved as a first step towards giving the Black Queen some mobility. 19. Qe6 Qf8 White missed the chance to pressurise the c7 pawn, which might have kept the Black Queen tied down to defensive duties. As it is, the annoying pin is now removed and the Black Queen has at least some potential now. 20. Bxf6 Qxf6 Black offers an exchange which, if accepted, will remove White's last immediate attacking threat. 21. Qxf6 gxf6 Taking stock at this point, Black has an extra pawn but no real passers. Sure White has a pair of Rooks and a better protected King but Black's active Bishops might just tip the balance. 22. Rfe1 Re8 23. g3 Rxe1+ Black breaks the pair of Rooks and this probably was the game winning move. Black certainly has the advantage here and the rest as they say is history. Of course, all of this shows that I know nothing as my concerns about the early moves prove to be unfounded. 24. Rxe1 Kg7 25. f4 Kf7 26. Kg2 Bd3 27. a4 a5 28. Kf3 h5 29. h3 f5 30. g4 fxg4+ 31. hxg4 hxg4+ 32. Kxg4 Kf6 33. Rc1 Be2+ 34. Kg3 Kf5 35. Kf2 Bc4 36. Kf3 Bxf4 37. Re1 Bb3 38. Re8 Bd6 39. Ke3 Bxa4 40. Rh8 Ke6 41. c4 Bb3 42. Rh6+ Kd7 43. Kd3 Bb4 44. Rh7+ Kc8 45. Rh1 a4 46. Ra1 a3 47. Rc1 a2 48. Ra1 Kb7 49. Rh1 Ka6 50. c5 bxc5 51. dxc5 Kb5 52. c6 Ka4 An excellent and interesting game, well played cascadejames.
coopershawk 19-Jan-11, 17:44	Comments Thanks for the comments Harry, I will go through them tonight and see if I can add anything.

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