Polish_fighter3000 vs mishanick: game review

18…Bg7 is a mistake: Black's winning chances go from 50% to 40%.

• White answers 19.f5, which takes e6 away from the Black queen on d7.
• Better was 18…gxf4 (0.00), which takes the pawn on f4.

Better: 18…gxf4 trades pawns and leaves White with an isolated pawn on g2. After 19.gxf4 c5 20.Bb5 Qf5 21.Be2 Qxc2+ 22.Kxc2 Rg8 23.dxc5 Bxc5 24.g3, the queens come off (0.00).

29.Rf3 lets the win slip: 29.Rc1 kept White winning. White's winning chances go from 76% to 62%.

• Black answers 29…Bxb5, which takes the bishop on b5.
• Better was 29.Rc1 (+3.12): the rook takes the half-open c-file, aiming at the c5 pawn.

Better: 29.Rc1 takes the half-open c-file, aiming at the c5 pawn. Engine line: 29…Bf8 30.Nc6+ Bxc6 31.Bxc6 Qc7 32.Qb3+ (+3.12).

31.Qxd7! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Takes the queen on d7.
• The next best move, 31.Qc2, would drop White's winning chances from 62% to 47% (−0.37).
• 31.Qxd7 wins a pawn and trades off the attacked queen instead of losing it to …Qxa4.
• Takes the queen on d7 and wins a pawn once the captures settle.
• Black was threatening …Qxa4, winning the queen. The queen takes something with it instead.
• Black answers 31…Rxd7, taking back.

34…Rc7! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• The rook takes the open c-file, aiming at the knight on c5.
• Attacks the knight on c5, which is undefended.
• The next best move, 34…Re7, would drop Black's winning chances from 48% to 25% (+2.97).
• 34…Rc7 gets the rook out of the way of Nxd7+ and threatens …e4, winning a rook, picking it up with 36…Bxc3.
• White was threatening Nxd7+, winning a rook and a rook. The rook steps away.
• It threatens …e4, winning a rook, picking it up with 36…Bxc3, so White has to spend the next move on it.

37…f2!! A real sacrifice: Black gives up material and the engine still rates it best.

• Leaves the rook on c7 where it can be taken.
• Taking is too dangerous: White's best reply is 38.Rh1 Rd7 39.Nb4 a5 instead (the engine rates it +0.06).
• Creates a passed pawn on f2: no enemy pawn can stop it any more.
• Moves the attacked pawn to safety.
• 37…f2 threatens …f1=Q+, with mate in 4, and stops gxf3.
• It threatens …f1=Q+, with mate in 4, so White has to spend the next move on it.

• The idea: 37…f2!! leaves the rook on c7 hanging. Taking it lets Black's pawn become a queen.
• What Black gives up: The rook on c7 is attacked by the knight on d5, and 37…f2 doesn't save it. That's a whole rook on offer.
• What it does instead: It threatens …f1=Q+ and mate.
• If White takes the rook: 38.Nxc7 is met by 38…f1=Q+. Then 39…Qe2 threatens mate, and 40…Qxa6 takes the knight on a6. Black ends up 6 points of material ahead: Black is winning (−5.55).
• White's best try: White's best is to leave the rook alone and play 38.Rh1. Black answers 38…Rd7, and the rook on c7 gets away, threatening …Rxd5, winning a knight. Then 39…a5 threatens …axb4, winning a knight, and 41…Rb7 adds pressure on the b2 pawn. Material is level and Black holds the balance (+0.06).

38.Rh1! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• The next best move, 38.Ne3, would drop White's winning chances from 51% to 5% (−7.93).
• 38.Rh1 stops the mate threat …f1=Q+.
• Black was threatening …f1=Q+, with mate in 4. Rh1 takes care of it.
• The engine's plan continues with Nb4 and Nc2: this move is the first step.
• Black answers 38…Rd7, attacking the knight on d5, which is undefended.
• Engine line: 38…Rd7 39.Nb4 a5 40.Nc2 Bf6 41.Rf1 (+0.02).

55.Rb4! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Shores up the b2 pawn, which was under as much attack as it had defence (2 against 1).
• The next best move, 55.Rxd4+, would drop White's winning chances from 50% to 14% (−5.04).
• 55.Rb4 stops …Rxb2+.
• Black was threatening …Rxb2+, winning a pawn. Rb4 takes care of it.
• Black answers 55…Rg2, attacking the g5 pawn, which is undefended.
• Engine line: 55…Rg2 56.Rb3+ Kc4 57.Rb4+ Kc5 58.Rb8 (0.00).

65.Rb4! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Moves the attacked rook to safety.
• Shores up the b2 pawn, which was under as much attack as it had defence (2 against 1).
• The next best move, 65.Rc1, would drop White's winning chances from 50% to 0% (#−12).
• 65.Rb4 stops the mate threat …Rxb2+.
• Black was threatening …Rxb2+, with mate in 5. Rb4 takes care of it.
• Black answers 65…Kc2, leaving White with a king with pawns missing from its shelter.

• Both sides followed opening theory up to 11…Nd7: 22 moves in all, 11 by White and 11 by Black.
• Theory runs out after 11…Nd7: too few games between strong players reached this position to go further.