1.e4
d5
2.exd5
Nf6
3.d4
Nxd5
4.c4
Nb6
5.Nf3
Bf5
6.Nc3
e6
7.Be2
Be7
8.0-0
0-0
9.Be3
N8d7
10.Rc1
c6
11.Qd2
Nf6
12.Bg5
Ne4
Anticipating 13.Nxe4 Bxe4.
13.Bxe7?!
Simplifies into an advantageous endgame for Black, with pressure on d4 and c4 pawns.
13...Nxd2
14.Bxd8
Nxf3+
[Not 14...Nxf1
15.Bg5
Nxh2
16.Kxh2
when White has two pieces, including the bishop pair, for a rook and a pawn. ]
15.Bxf3
Rfxd8
16.c5
Nc4
17.Ne4
Bxe4
[17...Rxd4
also works.]
18.Rxc4?
[18.Bxe4
Rxd4
19.Rfe1
]
18...Bd3
19.Rb4
Bxf1
20.Kxf1
Rd7
21.Ke2
Kf8
22.h4
Ke7
23.Be4
h6
24.g3
Kf6
25.f4
Rad8
26.Ke3
Ke7
I was struggling to find a plan through this part of the game. I needed to get a file open for my rooks.
27.h5
g6
28.Bf3
Rg8
29.g4
gxh5
30.gxh5
Rg1
31.Ke2
Kd8
32.Kf2
Rg7
33.a4
Kc7
34.a5
a6
35.Rc4
Rd8
36.b4
Rdg8
37.Rc1
Rg3
38.Rh1
Kd7
Beginning new plan to bring king to f5.
39.Re1
Ke7?
Oops. That walks into a troublesome pin.
40.f5
[40.d5!
was a lot stronger. 40...Kd7
41.d6
]
40...Kf6
41.fxe6
fxe6
42.Rf1
Now that White no longer has a pawn covering g5, this square is available as a penetration point for my second rook. I formulate a plan to simplify on f3 into a winning king and pawns endgame.
42...R8g5
43.Re1
Rh3
44.Re4
Rf5
45.Re3
Kg5
Following a plan too far and too blindly is a common problem for many players. I could have just taken the h pawn here instead. [45...Rhxh5
]
46.Kg2
Rhxf3
47.Rxf3
Rxf3
48.Kxf3
Kxh5
49.Ke4
Kg6
50.Ke5
Kf7
51.Kd6
h5
52.Kc7
h4
53.Kxb7
h3
54.Kxa6
h2
55.Kb7
h1Q
56.a6
Qd5
This was the hard way, but it still wins. Dan Heisman was watching online and analyzed this endgame with us. The two basic winning plans are: Black captures White's b and d pawns, and then exchanges queens into a winning K+2P v K+P endgame; or a winning K+Q+2P v K+Q. In some lines, it's important that White's king can't capture on c6 because of a skewer tactic. [56...Qb1
57.a7
Qxb4+
58.Ka6
(58.Kxc6
Qxd4
59.a8Q
Qd5+
) 58...Qxd4
and now Black can give up his queen for White's a pawn and win with his passed e pawn. 59.a8Q
(59.Kb7
Qd7+
60.Kb8
Qxa7+
61.Kxa7
Ke7
62.Kb7
Kd7
) 59...Qa4+
60.Kb7
Qxa8+
61.Kxa8
Ke7
62.Kb7
Kd7
]
57.a7
Qd7+
58.Kb6?
Makes Black's task very easy. [58.Kb8
Qd8+
59.Kb7
Qxd4
60.a8Q
Qxb4+
61.Kc8
(61.Kxc6
Qe4+
) 61...Qxc5
]
58...Qc8
59.b5
cxb5
60.Kxb5
Qb7+
61.Kc4
Qxa7
62.Kb5
Ke7
63.Kc6
Kd8
64.Kd6
Qd7+
65.Ke5
Kc7
66.Ke4
Qd5+
67.Ke3
Kc6
68.Kd3
Kb5
69.Kc3
Qc4+
70.Kd2
Qxd4+
0-1