Annotated Game #306: The Stonewall Attack formula

The Stonewall Attack has an undeserved reputation as a "system" opening, although perhaps some people do play the first several moves always by rote. As with its Dutch Stonewall counterpart as Black - see Annotated Game #305 - it is important to pay attention to move-order issues and not expect the same sequence to work every time against different setups from your opponent. However, in certain circumstances there is indeed a "formula" that usually works for White, which I am able to achieve in this next tournament game. Here I demonstrate that I finally have learned the lesson of the e-pawn lever in this position-type - after which, I have at worst a pleasant game, while giving my opponent a chance to mishandle the defense, which he does on move 15.

[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "ChessAdmin"] [Black "Class B"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "ChessAdmin/Dragon 3.2"] [ECO "D00"] [PlyCount "63"] [GameId "2153324382056515"] {[%evp 0,14,19,31,14,5,12,-7,11,-30,-31,-48,-48,-47,-33,-45,-45]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. e3 d5 3. Bd3 e6 4. f4 c5 {my opponent was evidently unfamiliar with the Stonewall Attack setup and took a fair amount of time in the opening.} 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nf3 c4 {this significantly changes the character of the position. The middlegame plan of e3-e4 should now take priority.} 7. Bc2 b5 8. O-O Be7 9. Nbd2 {the move-order for White does not matter a lot here.} O-O 10. Ne5 {while this is fine, the natural reaction by Black which follows simply helps him develop a bit. The immediate e3-e4 or preparatory Qe2 look slightly better.} Bb7 11. Qe2 {here I debated playing the immediate e3-e4 pawn lever, but decided that I wanted additional control over e4 first. I did not see how Black could exploit the extra tempo.} b4 12. e4 bxc3 $6 {this intermediate pawn exchange does not get Black much, and gives the Bc1 a potentially good square on a3.} 13. bxc3 dxe4 {this was actually the point of the pawn lever, to get a knight on e4.} (13... Nxe5 14. fxe5 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 {is equal according to the engine, but is also a pleasant game for White.}) 14. Nxe4 $14 {now some tactical possibilities start to appear, based on the centralized pair of knights and the b1-h7 diagonal being open.} Nd5 $6 {while not immediately losing, the self-removal of the kingside defender on f6 makes things easier for White.} (14... Nxe4 {I had seen the following sequence, which gives a small advantage to White.} 15. Qxe4 {threatening mate on h7} f5 16. Nxc6 fxe4 17. Nxd8 Raxd8 18. Re1 $14) 15. Rf3 {I had a long think here and decided that the rook lift would be good to play regardless, also protecting the c3 pawn. However, there are tactical ideas in play involving d4 that make this not as desirable.} (15. Bd2 {is the engine recommendation, reinforcing c3 while connecting the rooks.}) 15... Nf6 $2 {this is the losing move, although I did not calculate the best follow-up. The defender, while back on f6, can be removed with tempo.} (15... f5 16. Ng5 {White no longer has a breakthrough opportunity, while Black has various equalizing moves, including the tactical sequence} Nxc3 17. Rxc3 Qxd4+ 18. Qe3 Bc5 19. Kf1 Nxe5 20. fxe5 Qd5 $11) 16. Rh3 $18 (16. Nxf6+ $1 Bxf6 17. Bxh7+ {I was not looking for this sacrificial idea at the time, as I was too focused on achieving a normal ("safe") capture on h7. However, the best tactical point of Rf3 is the rook lift threat, which comes into play in exactly these types of situations.} Kxh7 18. Rh3+ Bh4 {I had also seen a version of this blocking idea earlier, but now} (18... Kg8 19. Qh5 $18) 19. Qh5+ $1 Kg8 20. Rxh4 $18) 16... Nxe4 {this loses a piece, as the Nc6 is underprotected.} (16... g6 {is the best try and would have required much more effort to win.} 17. Rb1 Rb8 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Qe3 $18 {with threats on the dark squares (Qh6, Ba3), along with the current threat of Rxb7 getting two pieces for the rook.}) 17. Bxe4 {now the Nc6 is double attacked and h7 is also forked, so Black cannot parry both threats.} ({Not} 17. Qxe4 $2 f5 $11) (17. Qh5 {the engine validates this as the number 2 choice, but I could not make it work in my calculations, so chose the (superior) text move.} h6 18. Ng4 $1 {I missed this idea.} Nxd4 19. Nxh6+ gxh6 20. Qxh6 Bh4 21. Rxh4 Qxh4 22. Qxh4 Nxc2 23. Qg4+ Kh8 24. Rb1 $18) 17... f5 18. Bxc6 (18. Nxc6 {also works, but is more complicated and I was satisfied with the bishop capture leading to an easily winning position.}) 18... Bxc6 19. Nxc6 {played after first checking the immediate Qh5 possibilities, which are not decisive. I therefore left the queen on e2 as a superior square. Being a piece up and with no counterplay for Black, as long as I was careful, the win should be assured.} Qd6 20. Nxe7+ {no reason not to exchange down, while up material.} Qxe7 21. a4 {played to activate my extra piece.} Rab8 $2 {moving the wrong rook.} 22. Ba3 {it seems my opponent missed the long-distance bishop skewer. Now there is truly no doubt of the outcome, although I was still careful to avoid any back-rank threats.} Qb7 23. Bxf8 Kxf8 24. Qxe6 Re8 25. Qxf5+ Kg8 26. Qxh7+ Kf8 27. Rb1 {this activates my remaining passive piece, to good effect.} (27. Qg6 {leads to mate in 7 according to the engine, but I was not worried about the game outcome at this point, as just getting to the win worry-free was good enough.} Re4 28. Rh8+ Ke7 29. Qxg7+ Kd6 30. Qxb7 $18) 27... Qe7 {evidently hoping for a back-rank blunder on my part.} 28. Qh8+ Kf7 29. Qh5+ Kf8 30. Qc5 {the triangulation maneuver with the queen forces the trade, and was easiest on my brain.} Qxc5 31. dxc5 Rd8 32. Rh8+ 1-0