03 June 2025

Annotated Game #310: A just result (karma-wise)

I unexpectedly had two Whites in a row in this tournament, so was able to immediately rectify my error of an incorrect e3-e4 pawn push in Annotated Game #309 with an example of a correct e3-e4 pawn lever. The difference here is that Black closes the center early, making the pawn break possible since White's d-pawn cannot be undermined or exchanged as a result. My opponent then makes a tactical error which should have led to a loss, but I fritter away my advantage into an even endgame. A late blunder as we officially agreed a draw was bad, but given that I should have easily won earlier, perhaps it was just karma evening out.


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1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bd3 e6 4.f4 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nf3 c4 this decision by Black to close the center now makes the e3-e4 pawn lever White's main (correct) idea. 7.Bc2 b5 8.0-0 a5 9.Qe2 the idea is to support the e-pawn push, while getting the queen off the back rank. 9.Nbd2 followed by e4 is better for development, however. 9...Be7 10.Nbd2 b4 11.e4 while Black's queenside pawns are further advanced and therefore control more space, White's central play more than offsets this. a4 12.Ne5 Qc7 13.Nxc6 bxc3? after a long think, my opponent goes for this trick option, which should in fact lose. 13...Qxc6 14.e5 Ng8 and White only has a slight plus, but this must have looked unappetizing. 14.Nxe7! also played after a long think, to make sure it worked tactically. cxd2 15.Nxd5+- the key follow-up. Nxd5 16.Bxd2 Nf6 17.Bc3 another long think here. While this isnt bad, I should have prevented castling instead. 17.Bb4 and White's task is much easier with the king in the center. 17...0-0 18.d5?! this unnecessarily loosens central control and gives back much of White's advantage. 18.a3 is simple and locks up Black's a-pawn while giving the bishop a postential outpost on b4. 18.Rac1 also works after a3 19.bxa3 Rxa3? 20.Bb4! 18...Qb6+?! 18...exd5 19.e5 Re8± 19.Kh1± exd5 20.exd5?! an example of too-materialistic thinking. 20.e5! Bg4 21.Qe1 d4 22.Qf2+- a nice tactical finesse with the pin, which I did not see. 20...Re8 21.Qf3 Re3?! 21...a3 breaking up the pawns, one way or another, would essentially equalize. 22.Qd1?! 22.Qf2!+- again missing the pinning idea. 22...Bg4 23.Qd4 the best choice. 23.Bd4 Qd6= 23...Qxd4 24.Bxd4 Re2 25.Bd1 Rd2?! 25...Re4 26.Bxf6 seizing the chance to inflict structural damage on Black. Rxd1 27.Raxd1 Bxd1 28.Rxd1 gxf6± Black's fragmented pawn structure gives White an obvious edge, but as the saying goes, "all rook endings are drawn" 29.Kg1?! 29.a3 again is a key idea, preventing the advance of Black's a-pawn. 29...Kf8 29...a3!= 30.Kf2 now my opponent recognizes the idea of the a-pawn advance, eliminating Black's pawn weakness on the queenside, after which she can cover the kingside adequately. a3!= 31.bxa3 Rxa3 now it's a draw. 32.Rd2 32.Rc1 Rxa2+ 33.Kf3 Ra4= 32...Ke7 33.d6+ Kd7 34.Ke2 c3 35.Rc2 Kxd6 36.Kd3 f5 37.g3 Kd5 38.h3 h5 39.Rxc3 Rxa2 40.Rc2?? if exchanged, this is now a lost K+P ending. I was hallucinating under time pressure and did not see how Black's king could penetrate. However, my opponent also was tired of the struggle and took the draw. 40.Rb3 Rg2 41.Rb5+= 40.Ke3 Rg2 41.Kf3= ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResECORnd
ChessAdmin-Class B-½–½D00
Posted by ChessAdmin at 9:28 PM

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