You Be The Judge

(12) RcRaCiNfOoL (1958) - Webgogs (2338) [E68]

 http://www.chess.com/echess/game.html?id=10858329

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 c6 5.c4 0–0 6.0–0 d6 7.Nc3 a5 8.e4 Nbd7 9.Re1 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.b3 Qc7 12.Ba3 Re8 13.Bd6 Qd8

[13...Qb6 14.Na4]

From here on in my opponent plays the game quite literally with computer precision so I'm not going into any detail on White's moves. I ran 4 different engines on this game and the sites computer game analysis. If I can come to any conclusions about this game I'd have to say that my opponent is good enough for a GM norm.

  

 14.c5 [Rybka 2.2n2 mp 32-bit : 14.c5 b6 15.cxb6 Qxb6 16.Na4 Qa7 17.Qd2 Ba6 18.Qxa5 Ng4 19.Nc5 Nxc5 20.Qxc5 Qxc5 0.50/14 ] 14...b6 The computers suggest Bf8. I like to hang on to it for as long as I can. 15.cxb6 Qxb6 16.Na4 Qb5 This is to provoke my opponent into mistakes. 17.Nd2 Qd3 18.Nc4 Qxd1 19.Raxd1 Ba6 20.Bh3 [20.Ncb2 I was expecting something a little more positional. The computers agree. 20...Bf8 But the computers didn't thinks this was best. So let's do some serious digging. 21.Bh3 Ra7 22.Bxf8 (22.Nc3 Bb5 23.Nba4 Rb7 Black is gaining activity.) 22...Kxf8 23.Rd6 Bb5 24.Nc3 Rb8 The computers prefer the straight forward Ke7 but I think my idea encompasses that idea and gives my opponent more room to err. 25.Red1 Ke7 26.f4 exf4 27.gxf4 Nc5 28.e5 Nfe4 29.Nxe4 Nxe4 30.Rd7+ Rxd7 31.Rxd7+ Kf8 32.Ra7 Nc3 33.Rxa5 Ne2+ 34.Kf2 Nxf4]

 

 

20...Bb5 The chess.com computer analysis didn't like this move and called it a mistake. It suggested b4. But this move is extremely well motivated. [20...Bxc4 21.bxc4 I think this might have merit but the cumputers don't see the problems with the position. 21...Ra7 22.c5 This allows White to make long term plans. It would take away my chances to stir the pot. I have problems giving up activity for solidity.

 

Yes, I can make a fight on the b-file but when the smoke clears I've lost mobility. I believe that a permanent gain of space is a weakness that's harder to play with. Machines might thrive in lifeless positions but humans don't, except Karpov.] 21.Bc7 Re7 22.Nxa5

 

 

 

Ra7 This is worth a diagram. I looked long and hard at Nf8. In the end I couldn't find a way to stop White's initiative on the queen side. If I could have conjured up some kind of a trap I would have done it instantly because it solved a lot of my problems but I found nothing.

23.Bd6 Re8 24.Nc3 Rxa5 25.Bxd7 Nxd7 26.Bc7 [26.a4 Bxa4 27.bxa4 Nc5=] 26...Ra7 27.Rxd7 Rc8 Here I should have played f5. The move was long over due. I'll have to agree with the computers that the text was a bit of a slip. [27...f5 28.Kg2 Rc8 I needed to stake out my space. The text also offers my opponent a number of ways to go wrong.] 28.Rd8+ Rxd8 29.Bxd8 Rd7 Was this innacurate? The computers thinks so. Once again f5 should have been played but I turned down the chance once already. I still didn't see the urgency. [Rybka 2.2n2 mp 32-bit : 2) 29...f5 30.Bb6 Ra8 31.Bc5 Kf7 32.Rd1 fxe4 33.Rd7+ Kg8 34.Rc7 Ra6 35.a4 Bd3 36.Na2 [%eval 93,22]]

 

 

This was the expected course. The bishop proved tempting. But now I send the dark bishop to d4. I'll be a pawn down but white won't let me keep the bishop there and that will give me a passer. Then it becomes a simple endgame. 30.Nxb5 [30.Bb6 Ba6 31.Be3 Rybka 2.2n2 mp 32-bit : 31...Bf8 32.Na4 Bb5 33.Nc5 Bxc5 34.Bxc5 Rd2 35.a4 Be2 36.Kg2 Ra2 37.b4 f6 38.a5 [%eval 74,28]]

 

30...cxb5 31.Bb6 Bf8 This was an oopsie but it was the reason I didn't play f5. So ok, maybe I was a bit off the mark. Fortunately I didn't over estimate the position too much. This might have been to much risk to create chances. [31...b4 32.Rc1 Bf8 33.Be3 f5 34.exf5 gxf5 35.Kf1 Kf7 36.Ke2 [%eval 93,23] 36...Re7 37.Rc4 Re6] 32.a4 Bb4 [32...bxa4 33.bxa4 Be7 34.Rc1 Kg7 35.Rc8 f5 36.a5] 33.Rc1 bxa4 34.bxa4 Rd2 35.Rc4 Be7 36.Rc8+ Kg7 37.a5 Ra2 38.Ra8 Bb4 39.g4 Bc3 40.Kg2 Draw Accepted. Line