Annotated Game #350: Another ugly win ftw

The trajectory of this next tournament game could be viewed as a mashup of the previous several games analyzed - being an ugly come-from-behind win, in which I am able to grab the initiative in a very equal position and then make life difficult for my opponent, who goes wrong tactically in the end. The game itself was a useful learning experience for me as White in a King's Indian Defense, which the Colle can transpose to. I obtained a significant plus out of the opening (see moves 10-17) but then squandered it by allowing counterplay by Black on the queenside. The rest of the game becomes a back-and-forth roller coaster.

(I mention in the annotations not choosing a couple of "good enough" moves - see IM Junta Ikeda's related Substack post here: https://juntaikeda.substack.com/p/20-40-good-enough-moves)

[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "ChessAdmin"] [Black "Class C"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "ChessAdmin/Dragon 3.2"] [ECO "E61"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "79"] [GameId "2308393172614308"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Be2 O-O 5. O-O d6 {we now have a King's Indian on the board.} 6. c4 c5 {this pawn thrust is played much less often than the central e7-e5 one. I did not recall actually facing it over the board before, but there had in fact been one OTB game over a year before (which I lost).} 7. Nc3 {what I reacted with previously as well.} Nbd7 {a common move, but normally more associated with the e7-e5 plan.} 8. Qc2 {this is a good developing move for the queen in general, controlling e4 while clearing d1 for a rook. I did not yet want to commit to a specific plan in the center.} b6 {the only way to get the bishop out, with the knight sitting on d7.} 9. d5 {now it seems clearly better to commit the pawn and blunt the long diagonal for Black. The engines agree.} Nb8 $6 {Black now undevelops the knight, losing a lot of time in the process.} 10. Bd2 $16 {it's good to develop the bishop, even modestly in this case, as I now have a significant lead in development overall. However, this was not the most vigorous option.} (10. e4 {is the most active choice, supporting d5 and opening up the c1-h6 diagonal for the bishop.}) (10. Re1 $5 {is prepatory and lines up the rook on the e-file for greater support.}) 10... Na6 11. a3 {Black had to expect this, preventing the knight from going to b4.} Nc7 {the knight has spent a number of moves to get to this not-very-useful square.} 12. Rab1 $6 $14 {now was the time to play more directly for activity, taking advantage of Black's relative backwardness. This would also allow Black to play a 'small tactic' to equalize.} (12. e4 {again is best.}) (12. b4) 12... Bd7 (12... b5 {both of us missed this idea, the point being} 13. cxb5 (13. Nxb5 Nxb5 14. cxb5 Nxd5 $11) 13... Ncxd5 $11) 13. b4 Rb8 {this is a bit passive.} (13... cxb4 14. axb4 b5 $14) 14. bxc5 dxc5 $6 {this gives White too much of a free hand in the center, an opportunity which I now move to seize.} 15. e4 $1 $16 a6 (15... e6 {I was expecting this immediate challenge in the center. White is still doing very well after something like} 16. h3 exd5 17. cxd5 {as White's central pawn majority is more advanced and controlling than Black's queenside pawns.}) 16. h3 {a good prophylactic move, but there was a better one.} (16. a4 {more directly restrains Black's counterplay.}) 16... b5 17. g4 $6 {This move was an example of over-calculation. I was overly concerned about Black playing ...Bf5 in some lines, after the e-pawn advanced.} (17. Bf4 {was a more obvious choice and is "good enough"}) (17. Rfe1 {would develop the rook to a useful file and not weaken White's king position.}) 17... b4 {naturally pressing ahead.} 18. Na2 $6 {this was especially ironic after my previous move, the whole point of which was to set up} (18. e5 $16 {but I did not calculate this well either.} bxc3 19. exf6 Bxf6 20. Bxc3) 18... a5 $2 {I get lucky with this move from my opponent, as I had spotted} (18... b3 $1 19. Rxb3 Rxb3 20. Qxb3 Nxe4 $11) 19. Nc1 {now the danger is past.} (19. e5 $5 {is still possible.}) 19... Na6 $6 {the knight continues to eat tempi for Black.} (19... e6 $5) 20. Bf4 {I finally play this, as the obviously best place for the bishop, and the move now comes with tempo.} Rb6 $6 {Black is on the back foot anyway, but should have done something else to try to combat my strong central pawn duo.} (20... e5 $5 $16) 21. e5 $1 $18 {now Black is in real trouble, with her pieces cramped and uncoordinated as I dominate more territory.} Ne8 22. Qd2 $18 {I liked finding this 'small move' which greatly improves the queen's activity on multiple diagonals and the d-file.} e6 23. dxe6 $6 {this was far too accommodating.} (23. axb4 $1 cxb4 24. Nb3 {this is the key move, not worrying about} a4 {because of} 25. c5 $18 {hitting the awkwardly-placed rook, with additional pawn advances to follow.}) 23... Rxe6 $14 {now the awkward-looking rook lift idea actually proves useful for Black.} 24. Rd1 {getting the rook into the fight and asking Black how she wants to defend the pinned Bd7.} Nb8 $2 {the wrong choice.} (24... Re7 $14) 25. Nb3 $18 {the knight hops back into the fray on an ideal square, hitting the undefended c5 pawn.} Qb6 26. Ng5 {Continuing to press forward with more threats. I was starting to feel some time pressure here, so didn't spot the more effective backward bishop move. The text move is 'good enough' however.} (26. Be3 $1 $18 {c5 must fall now, and that is worth sacrificing the e5 pawn if necessary, given the captive Rf8 will be doomed.} Bxe5 27. Bxc5 Bc3 28. Qh6 Bg7 29. Qh4 $18) 26... Re7 27. Ne4 $6 {this is a reasonable idea, evacuating the knight to a central square before it is kicked, but Black can now equalize. I knew this was a problem when I played Ng5 originally, but as mentioned previously did not see anything better.} (27. Be3 $1) 27... Bxe5 $1 28. Nbxc5 (28. Bg5 $5 {would have been a better practical try, forcing Black to find} Bh2+ 29. Kxh2 Rxe4 $11) 28... Bxf4 $11 29. Qxf4 f5 {essentially forcing} 30. Nxd7 Nxd7 31. gxf5 $2 {unfortunately I miss the strength of Black's response.} (31. c5 $1 {with an equalizing counterattack.} Nxc5 32. Nxc5 Qxc5 33. axb4 axb4 34. Qc4+ Qxc4 35. Bxc4+ Kg7 {and now} 36. gxf5 {is fine:} Rxf5 37. Rxb4 Rf4 38. Rdb1 Ree4 39. Rb7+ $11) 31... Rxf5 $17 {the queen is tied to the defense of the Ne4 and has no good squares left.} 32. Qg4 $4 {this should drop a piece.} (32. Qe3 {looks best, although miserable after} Nc5 33. f3 Nf6 $17) (32. Qh4 g5 33. Qg3 Rxe4 {should be winning for Black, even if I could have found (unlikely)} 34. Bg4 {after} Rxg4 35. hxg4 Rf7 $19) 32... Ne5 $2 {I again get lucky, as both my opponent and I are short on time by now.} (32... Ndf6 {and unfortunately capturing with check does not save White:} 33. Nxf6+ Nxf6 {and both the Qg4 and Be2 are hanging.}) 33. Qg2 $11 {equality never felt so good.} Nc6 34. c5 {finally, some counterattacking.} Qc7 35. Bc4+ {still completely equal, but now I have the initiative.} Kg7 36. Nd6 $2 {needlessly complex and with a tactical flaw, but the threat has its desired effect.} (36. Bb5 $11) (36. Ng3 $11) 36... Rf6 {retreating to safety.} (36... Rxc5 $1 {and once again I am losing a piece.}) 37. Qd5 {here I was moving pretty quickly, but my opponent was also low on time. The obvious threat is Qg8+, although the Black king has an escape square on h6.} (37. Bb5 $1 {is a great tactical shot the engine finds, with a double attack on c6. I actually had spotted the possibility earlier, but played a safe move instead.} Nxd6) 37... Rf8 $2 {defending g8.} 38. Re1 {The Ne8 is pressured via x-ray down the e-file, although the threat can be liquidated after} (38. Bb5 $1 {still would win easily.}) 38... Rxe1+ 39. Rxe1 {now Black has one move to avoid losing, but does not find it.} Ne7 $4 {here a draw offer was made by my opponent. I immediately saw the refutation, but took a couple of minutes - about half my remaining time - to be sure I was 100% winning.} (39... Nxd6 $11) 40. Qe5+ 1-0