Interesting game
A game against a NM
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7...d5 is what you suggested, but it seems iffy after 8. Exd5 a6 (Pawn is a terribly poisoned) 9. Nc3 Nf6 (b5 also seems to regain the pawn but delaying castling does not seem wise) and Black will regain the pawn, but after 10. d4?! I think White has an initiative and I think 7...Nf6 is best.
I also think 11. Qe1 deserves an Exclamation mark. Just the sort of subtle move that amkes masters so frightening.
I think 13...Nd5 wasn't best, and that Ne8!? would have shored up your dark squares better, and you probably wouldn't have needed to trade into an inferior engame, though you would've been a bit passive. But I think the blame goes to the dxe5 pawn exchange. But I'm not sure about that.
I also think you were over optimistic in terming the endgame a draw. He has a lovely passed pawn. In your variation 30. Kf4 and drving towards the heart of Black's pawns seems much stronger than taking the pawn. 30. Kf4 Rxd3 31. Ke5 Re2+ Kd6 and the a-pawn Queens sooner or later.
Interesting game, but I don't think you let a draw get away... I think your endgame analysis is quite flawed. 30. Rb3 white is clearly winning if not won... checked it with the computer (toga II), and the computer agrees.
Oct 2, 2008
0
#5
Yes, I think JG27Pyth is right, Bxg2 doesn't work because the rook endgame is losing. Otherwise though, you are in trouble because of weak e6 pawn.
Don't see what is so subtle about Qe1 in this game. Qe1-Qh4 is white's standard plan in this line, and is completely lacking in subtley.
This is following mainline theory of the Sicilian Defense: Grand Prix Attack, invented by a group of British Masters at the Grand Prix Circuit chess event (dunno what idiot gave that name)
This theory is 20-30 moves deep and the only deviation was his e5 advance, standard is Qh4, Bh6, Ng3, etc.
Good game.
Uh......
Gertler is an FM
Don't short him.
Good game.
Though after 14.Ne4 black already looks in a very uncomfortable position.
hmmm Just looking at it a few moves later, after 18.Nxf6, Everything I try to analyze ends up as looking almost lost (or just plain lost) for black. So it would be interesting to find the mistakes.
I have no idea what you're talking about with the "spectacular" Bxg2 moves. After 23. Rxf7, white is just winning. Sure, white can accept the bishop.
Nice job in analyzing, I agree with pretty much everything until 28.Rxb6, except I insist white is easily winning this endgame. The rest of your analysis plays illogical move for white, however. For instance: After 29...Rd2 the simple 30.Rb3 just wins immediately with Ra3 in place if you try to stop the pawn from the a file and your king too far away.... You have to sacrifice your c pawn, but then the passers will kill you on the queenside.
But even if you see that and avoid 29...Rd2, what else? 29...c4 30.a6! white is winning this variation, quite easily.
Bxg2 is a wonderfull looking move which nevertheless leads into a technically lost endgame, which is easily won by white. (You could hav played it in a different way, but white has all the winning chances, and I can't see how they can be stopped).
Man, I beat Phil the other day. Totally pwned him in the A00. But he let me take like 20 moves over, so it's all good.
I think White is still winning in the line you gave.
E.g. 29.Rb3 or even 30.Rb3
This way he has Ra3 at hand (protecting the passer) if you keep your king outside the promotion square & try to hit the advanced pawn. I don't think you have time to both enter the promotion square & move his rook to a3 (else the king is cut off through the b-file).
This sort of manoeuvre is quite typical in rook+pawns vs rook+pawns endings.
So i played against a NM in the state rapid tournament. In the end, we tied for first place. I had lost my game against him, but what a game! At one point I had a chance to draw him, spactacularly, and get clear first place. Heres our game, I was black.