An Awesome game which I had to watch again..! Both tried... Good job Pillsbury!

I agree with vitali_10, but in case of 3rd: 23...Bxc5 24.Nxc5 Nxc5 25.dxc5 a5, I think White still wins by playing a3 and move the king in c-a side.

Good article.

Ah, now I see what you mean, vitali. This was a terrible game for black, but a brilliant one for Pillsbury.

vitali10 is right. Nice comment.

You're wrong Chessman22, if 36...b3 37.axb3 a3 38.Kc3 a2 39.Kb2 and white wins.

i think there was possibility for a draw in the next 3 cases:

1st: 20...b4

2nd: 22...Bxb4

3rd: 23...Bxc5 24.Nxc5 Nxc5 25.dxc5 a5

I would've left the king and the pawns right where they are and played b4. Then, advance the black a-file pawn to a promotion. Or, make a break for it with my b-file pawn. Black should've won this one.

36...a3 would actually lose for black! Then 37. Kc4 and the two black queenside pawns are gone while black cannot take the d5 pawn as the e6 pawn would promote.

Smart and ballsy play.  I love that Pillsbury ignores small threats in order to create a better ending for himself. 

cool game and i liked the title which made me read this brill article!

 

I enjoyed that pawn action.

cool

ok

I spent quite a while looking at variations of 36. ...a3 petekaplan, but I see no clear win for black still.  Could you please show us what you see?

Black would have won if 36. ....a3