I played this game against a higher rated player, and found myself in a much better position than my opponent.  however, i ended up forcing the draw, because i couldn't find the winning move.  please read my comments in the game, and then take a look at my potential next moves below.  let me know what you think.  thanks. 

 

So my knight on f3 is not involved at all.  but i couldn't find a way to get him into the game.  Nh4 get's nothing done, because of Nh4...g6.  Nd2 allows for Bd7, chasing away my queen.  Trying to stack my rooks allowed for Kf8, which i probably should have allowed to happen.  it blocks in his rook on h8, effectively removing it from the game, but it allows for counterplay once his bishop is no longer pinned.  I decided on the draw, because i just didn't want to be forced into a mistake, and end up losing the game that i've worked to get into a "draw in the worst case" situation.  Do you have any thoughts for me?  thanks

Maybe I'm missing something, but would playing Bc5 when the black queen is on b8 be winning?

 

1. Bc5 Rc7; 2. Bd6

1. Bc5 Qc7; 2. Bxe7 Qxe7; 3. Qxc8

that was it matthias.  i couldn't find it.  thank you. 

I was too busy trying to get another piece into the game.  i had all i needed right there in front of me.  and to think about how long i spent on that move without seeing that

OK

The opening was the Tarrasch defence where black takes on an isolated pawn for development.

6 Nxd5 looks stronger to me but the position you got your self into was immense

I might have grabbed a pawn with

14 Bxc6 Bxc6 15 Bxa7

and in the final positon i couldnt see a win,my best was

rxc6 bxc6 qd7+ but i am not sure what it realy achieves your opponent is to solid

 

Edit:Your in good company i missed the winning line to!? :)

draco_alpine wrote:

and in the final positon i couldnt see a win,my best was

rxc6 bxc6 qd7+ but i am not sure what it realy achieves your opponent is to solid

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 I thought about that, but i didn't think it got me anywhere.  Matthais has the winning move, see above.  thanks for your thoughts

And I'm usually horribly slow and/or hopeless when it comes to the Daily Puzzles...

i'm amazed at how simple it was, now that i'm looking at it again after a few weeks.  i literally spent hours on that move, and i feel a bit stupid right now...  ah well

18 Bc5 Black does have 18... Rc7 (19 Bd6 Qc8).  I think I would probably play 18 Rc5 with the idea of Nxe5 (or maybe even Rxe5).  Or you can just consider doubling rooks on the d file with a big plus--Kf8 doesn't offer him much in the way of possibilities, since his e7 bishop can't really go anywhere, even if it's not pinned (18 Rc2 Kf8 19 Rcd2 Bb4 20 Rd8+).

Well played, but in my opinion way premature to offer draw... His king is stuck in the middle of the board, your rooks are dominating the open files. Black has so few moves available, even if he stops your threat, as in Nh4 g3 (perhaps you could swing your rook d3 f3 if this happened), you still have the freedom and initiative because he's not making any counter threat. The variations mathiassmall offered looked winning to me.

Edit: and tonydal's variations too... i never even considered Rc5 but boy that looks threatening.

I'm waiting for Loomis.

...and tonydal destroys Bc5. Anyways, I think I might need to make a diagram of some variations 'cause it's summer and I can't visualize anything 'cause my brain's not workin' too well...

How about 15. Bc4, then you could check and prevent castling?

you can get to the analysis board here:

http://www.chess.com/echess/game.html?id=8074017

thanks for all the replies.  i knew my position was great, i just spent so much time looking for what to do that i got fed up with myself and i took the draw against a "better" player.  this is very helpful to talk about it with everyone here, i'll try to post more of my games more often

Hope this helps!!!

Please could someone explain how

1. Bc5 Rc7; 2. Bd6

from Matthias is winning?  What about black moves Qc8?

adgab wrote:

Please could someone explain how

1. Bc5 Rc7; 2. Bd6

from Matthias is winning?  What about black moves Qc8?

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 tonydal already explained that it is not winning.  it puts you up a rook for a bishop though. 

I like Rd5, threatening Nxe5, fxe5, Rxe5.  I don't think there is an adequate defense for Qxe7.

If Bxd5 then Rxc8+

draco_alpine wrote:

Hope this helps!!!

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draco I think the simple Be8 defends.  If Nd7+, BxN, RxB then Rc1 is winning for black.  Rd5, I think is winning completely, let me know gigliott

@draco: you are wrong - in our variation, after 3. Nxe5 black has 3... Be8!

However, in the final possition of the game: 20. Rd5! and then your idea is correct: 20... Kf8 21. Rxe5 fe5 22. Nxe5 Be8 23. Rxc8. However, 20... Rf8 is better. Then white can play 21. b4 with an idea 22. a4, 23. b5. Black is pined, have no good moves.

Before in the game: 14. Bxa7 was possible!

And a move later: 15. Bc4 with a threat 16. Bf7+ Ke7 17. Bc5+ Kd8 18. Bb6 and black lost Q.

18 Rc5 Kf8 19 Nxe5 fe 20 Rxe5 seems winning.