Annotated Game #370: What to do with the KID center (redux)

This first-round tournament game shows how Black, evidently an experienced King's Indian Defense (KID) player, is able to equalize quickly against my unsure central play after 6...c5. Studying the possible permutations after this (less common than the ...e5 thrust) should help my future play. Basically, exchanging on c5 is not the way to go. Other highlights include missing a major resource from my opponent, after he had gone for what should have been a (tricky) losing tactical sequence, which I (mostly) had calculated correctly.

[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "ChessAdmin"] [Black "Class B"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "ChessAdmin/Dragon 3.2"] [ECO "E60"] [PlyCount "58"] [GameId "2368579406819034"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Be2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. c4 c5 7. dxc5 $6 {this resolves the central tension too early and opens up the long diagonal for Black's Bg7.} (7. Nc3) 7... dxc5 {Black already has a slight positional edge, based on his superior bishop.} 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. a3 {based on the idea of preparing Qc2, but this is rather slow.} (9. Qb3 $5 {is the engines' recommendation.}) 9... a6 $11 {this seemed like a wasted tempo at the time, the engine agrees.} (9... Bf5 {targeting c2; if} 10. Nh4 $2 Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Bc2 12. Rd2 Bb3 $17) 10. Qc2 $6 {underestimating the annoyance of Black's next move.} (10. Qb3 $11 {would clear d1 for the rook and divert the Nc6 from the center if it goes to a5.}) (10. Bd2 Bf5 11. Qb3 $11) 10... Bf5 $1 11. e4 $1 {I had at least seen this was the best response.} Bg4 {this was stronger than I had originally anticipated.} 12. Rd1 $6 {trying for more dynamic play by hitting the queen with tempo. However, there were better moves.} (12. Be3 {developing the final minor piece with tempo due to it hitting the undefended c5 pawn.} Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Nd4 14. Qd2 Nxf3+ 15. gxf3 Qxd2 16. Bxd2 $11 {a bit ugly but manageable endgame.}) 12... Nd4 $6 {it is tempting to hit my queen in response, but exchanges help White more overall.} (12... Qc7 13. Nd5 {I over-estimated how good this would be.} Nxd5 14. exd5 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Nd4 $15) 13. Nxd4 cxd4 14. f3 $6 {played after a lot of thought about the alternatives. With multiple pieces hanging, it gets tricky.} (14. e5 $1 {an example of counterattack being the best option. The idea is to hit the defender of the Bg4.} Bf5 15. Bd3 Ng4 16. Bxf5 gxf5 17. Ne2 e6 18. Nxd4 Qe7 $11 (18... Nxe5 $2 19. Nxe6 $1 $18)) 14... Qb6 {I did not see this unpinning move as one of Black's alternatives, but correctly identified the saving move. The threat is ...d3 with a discovered check and a pawn fork.} 15. Na4 Qa7 {choosing to maintain the discovered check threat.} 16. c5 {the best follow-up, blocking the diagonal to the king.} Rac8 $2 (16... Be6 $11) 17. fxg4 $1 $18 {played (correctly) after much thought.} b5 {I anticipated this line, which attempts to trap the knight.} 18. cxb6 $1 {always capture en passant} Rxc2 19. bxa7 {the key of this tactical sequence is to exploit the pawn on the 7th rank, which cannot be stopped if supported.} Rxe2 20. Nb6 {I thought this was the simplest/most decisive way, but did briefly consider the option the engine prefers.} (20. Bf4 Ra8 21. Bb8 Nxg4 22. Nb6 $18) 20... Nxg4 21. a8=Q $2 {this was too hasty and my opponent found the correct follow-up.} (21. Bf4 {similar to the above variation, the idea is to block with the bishop on b8 and then queen the pawn, which is superior.}) 21... Rxa8 22. Nxa8 {I thought I was just a rook ahead at this point, and that Black did not have a real attack.} d3 $1 $11 {this gets Black a perpetual with best play by White, by protecting the Re2. Unfortunately, while I saw the back-rank cheapos my opponent had, I did not see what should have been an obvious centralizing bishop move and threat in response to my next move. Basically I did not register the fact that the d-pawn had cleared the d4 square and the bishop could occupy it, instead of capturing on b2.} 23. Bd2 $4 (23. Kf1 Nxh2+ (23... Rf2+ 24. Kg1 Re2 25. Kf1 $11) 24. Kg1 Ng4 25. Kf1 $11) 23... Bd4+ $1 {now all of Black's pieces are locked in on my king, with no help able to arrive in time.} (23... Bxb2 $19 {also wins because of ...Bd4 afterwards.}) 24. Kh1 Nf2+ 25. Kg1 Nxd1+ $19 {now Black has a choice of how to gobble up material.} 26. Kf1 Rxd2 27. Ke1 Rxg2 (27... Re2+ {mates, but the text is good enough to win.} 28. Kxd1 Be3 29. Rc1 Rxg2 30. Rc8+ Kg7 {and Black has the mate with ...Rg1}) 28. Rxd1 Rg1+ 29. Kd2 Be3+ $1 {finishing with an excellent deflection sacrifice. Black has an easily won material-up endgame.} 0-1