Annotated Game #344: White wins again

In this final round game, I had only my second White in five games, with the pattern so far in the tournament of White winning in all of them. I certainly hoped that trend would continue.

My opponent was evidently unfamiliar with the Colle, but still did a creditable job in the opening, leaving the database on move 8. While I had a slight plus after that due to more space on the queenside, it was nothing special. Black's key error was a simple piece exchange, which is another object lesson in the mastery concept of the effects of piece exchanges. After that, my attack was sufficient to crash through my opponent's limited kingside defenses. Another victory for an initially unassuming-looking Colle.

[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "ChessAdmin"] [Black "Class C"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "ChessAdmin/Dragon 3.2"] [ECO "D05"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "45"] [GameId "2280365257781313"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 Nf6 {my opponent took some time on his last two moves, indicating he was not familiar with facing the Colle.} 4. Bd3 Nbd7 5. Nbd2 {I judged this the most flexible move-order, keeping control of e4.} c5 6. b3 cxd4 7. exd4 Bd6 8. Bb2 a5 {now out of the database.} 9. a4 $14 {this seemed the logical response, preventing a5-a4 which would be disruptive, and controlling b5.} b6 10. O-O (10. Qe2 {would prevent the ...Ba6 idea, which appears later.}) 10... O-O 11. Re1 Re8 12. Ne5 Ba6 13. Qe2 (13. c4 $5 {is clearly better, preserving the bishop from exchange and getting the c-pawn into the fight.}) 13... Nb8 $6 {Black should just go ahead and exchange off the Bd3.} 14. c4 {I thought about this for a while, unhappy that my excellently-placed Bd3 would eventually be exchanged off. Then it occurred to me that this need not happen, by playing the text move.} (14. Bb5 $5 $14 {is an interesting alternative. The point is that after} Bxb5 15. axb5 {White controls c6 and a6, While Black cannot get at the b5 pawn easily.}) 14... Bxe5 $4 {this simple-looking exchange loses for Black, as his kingside defenses are stripped away.} 15. dxe5 $1 $18 dxc4 {evidently this was my opponent's idea, which I had foreseen.} 16. bxc4 {for Black, the Ba6 is now out of play and the Nf6 is forced away from the king's defense.} Nfd7 17. Qh5 {I had a long think here, looking for a knockout blow. This is good enough to win, but not the most decisive move.} (17. Bxh7+ $1 {it is important to always look to see if this bishop sac on h7 can be played.} Kxh7 18. Qh5+ Kg8 19. Ra3 $1 {a key rook lift idea, which I had missed.} Nc5 20. Rh3 Kf8 21. Ne4 Nxe4 22. Rxe4 {the Qh5 covers the mate threat on d1.} Ke7 23. Rf4 $18) (17. Qe4 {initially looked attractive, forking the Ra8 and the mating square on h7. According to the engine it would have been another winning option, but ultimately I judged it did not work as well as the text move, instead offering Black at least a semblance of counterplay.} Nf8 18. Qxa8 Qxd3 $18) 17... h6 (17... g6 18. Qh6 {is what I primarily looked at during the game, and correctly concluded that the Nd2 could then decisively enter the attack via e4 or f3.}) 18. Ne4 $1 {bringing the knight into the attack via a central square.} Nc5 19. Nd6 (19. Nf6+ {I also looked at seriously, and is preferred by the engine. Howeer, I could not fully visualize its effects, so opted for the text move to continue the attack.} gxf6 20. Bh7+ Kxh7 21. Qxf7+ Kh8 22. Qg6 f5 23. Qxh6+ Kg8 24. Re3 $18) 19... Nxd3 {taking the material is just a distraction for Black, making it easier for me.} (19... Re7 20. Re3 $18 {was my planned continuation.}) (19... Rf8 20. Bb1 Qg5 21. Qe2 $18 {it is easy for the engine to retreat like this and still keep the pressure up, a good lesson for humans. Ra3-g3 is coming and the bishops and queen are still part of the kingside attack.}) 20. Qxf7+ {I assessed Black was lost after this.} Kh8 21. Nxe8 {threatening mate on g7.} Qg5 22. Bc1 (22. h4 {is more forcing, as the queen cannot move away from defending g7.}) 22... Nxc1 23. Raxc1 {and with more material loss on the way, my opponent resigned.} 1-0