Squeezing water from a stone

Quad events are popular in the Northeast. Sections of four players with similar ratings play a three game round-robin. In this one, I'd won the first round and had an adjourned game in the second round with an uphill fight for a draw. So I needed a win with the black pieces in the third round to clinch at least a share of first.

In this third round game, I first had to equalize with Black and then try to find ways to improve the position enough to create winning chances. At times, this process feels like squeezing water from a stone.

Be sure to use the Move List to see all the commentary and a few of the unplayed variations.