27 January 2014

Breaking Through

Playing on the Phone

After some inaccuracies late in the opening that left me slightly worse, my opponent grabbed a pawn with the consequence that he lost an exchange. The resulting position was almost locked up, but not entirely. I found ways to maneuver for a threatened breakthrough. Eventually my rooks penetrated and my opponent resigned.

This game was played on ChessTime, an iPhone/iPad app. The entire game lasted just over two weeks.

Stripes,J -- Opponent [D78]
Playing on Chess Time (1), 13.01.2014

Black to move

28... Nxf4?

28...Rd7 29.Ngf6+ Nxf6 30.Nxf6+ Bxf6 31.exf6 with approximate equality.

29.Nef6+?!

It was better to capture with the other knight: 29.Ngf6+ Kf8 30.Nxe8 Kxe8 and White has a slight advantage.

29...Bxf6?! 

Erasing White's inaccuracy.

30.Nxf6+ Kg7 31.Nxe8+ Rxe8 32.Kh2 Nd5

White to move

33.Bxd5?!

The dubious evaluation is a reflection of post-game engine evaluations. However, this evaluation must be treated skeptically. As a practical matter, it makes sense to eliminate Black's most active piece. On the other hand, Black's kingside pawn majority may get rolling. Then, the bishop could serve a defensive role while the rooks work to exploit weaknesses elsewhere.

33...exd5 34.Re2 Bf5

Preventing f7-f5

34...f5?? 35.exf6+ Kf7 36.Rxe8 Kxe8 37.Re1+ Kf7 38.Re7+ Kxf6 39.Rxh7+-

35.Kg3 Be6 36.b4 a6 37.Rd3 Bf5 38.Rb3 Be6 39.a4 Bd7

The time control was three days per move, but most moves by both players were made within hours of the adversary's last. I seem to recall spending a couple of days contemplating this position, however.

White to move

40.Kf4 Re6 41.Reb2 h6

41...f6 42.Re2

42.h4 Re8 43.Rg3 Re6 44.h5 g5+ 45.Ke3

Black to move

45...Re8

Black had a moment here to get the pawns rolling.

45...f5 46.f4 g4 47.Kf2 Be8 48.Rc3 Bxh5 49.b5

46.f4 f6 

White to move

47.Kd3

47.fxg5 was better 47...fxg5.

47...Bf5+ 48.Kc3 fxe5 49.fxe5 b5?? 

Black is helping create weaknesses that White may exploit. 49...Kf7 was better.

White to move

50.axb5

Perhaps hasty.

50.Rf2 Be6 51.Rgf3 bxa4 52.Rf6 Re7 53.Rg6+ Kh7 54.Rff6 Bf7 55.Rxh6+ Kg7 56.Rxc6+-.

50...axb5 51.Rf2

51.Ra2 might be slightly more accurate.

51...Be6

51...Bd7

52.Rf6

One rook breaks through. A rook on the seventh is called a pig. What do we call one on the sixth?

Black to move

52...Re7

52...Bf7 53.Rxc6 Ra8 54.Rg1

53.Rg6+ Kh7 54.Rf3 Bg4

54...Bf7 55.Rxc6

55.Rff6 1–0

Final position (Black to move)

The White rooks will eat all the vital pawns.


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