Generally with bishops of opposite colours, the endgame is drawn. I can't see either side winning with accurate play. Pushing a-pawn was probably best chance but I don't see it winning
Could white have won this?
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Oct 26, 2010
0
#3
After move 34 it looks very drawish to me. From then on it gets even more drawish.
Oct 27, 2010
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#4
40. Bc6 indeed. I had thought about that kind of thing earlier but it didn't even enter my mind at that point of the game. Anything major I could have done earlier in the game? He didn't give me a lot of targets but I think I kept the pressure on fairly well.
you note 22. a5 Na4, just seems like a bad idea for black. While the bishop must temporarily retreat to a1, black's knight is trapped on the rim. Seems like you could easily win a pawn in that line, if not the piece.
jlueke wrote:
40. Bc6 indeed. I had thought about that kind of thing earlier but it didn't even enter my mind at that point of the game. Anything major I could have done earlier in the game? He didn't give me a lot of targets but I think I kept the pressure on fairly well.
40. Bc6! TonyDal that's a very instructive move. Why didn't I see that? That's the second time I've seen that tactic in the past week -- failed both times.
At any rate, jlueke... I question your decision to trade queens. I admit trading queens is attractive because it takes away almost all his perpetual check resources... but I think you should have seen that his queen was an attackable liabilty. Your Queen was better, and better supported. So, don't trade queens, don't simplify when winning unless you see a clear winning path. Ok, so TonyDal showed us that there was indeed a clear winning path there... I didn't see it, you didn't see it... so I say don't trade queens yet. Attack his queen with your minors and leverage your way into further gains. On move 37 I would have played Qb4... this sets you up to win the pawn on b5 with your bishop and then you can pressure his two weakness... he's weak on b7 and on d6, your pieces are more active... something's got to give.
Bc6!
Oct 27, 2010
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#8
tbischel wrote:
you note 22. a5 Na4, just seems like a bad idea for black. While the bishop must temporarily retreat to a1, black's knight is trapped on the rim. Seems like you could easily win a pawn in that line, if not the piece.
I was thinking Ba1 Qd7 and then black can also follow up with a6 and maybe b5. The move I played was more concrete in my mind.
Oct 27, 2010
0
#9
@Catalyst_kh: 28. Bxe5 looks nice. But yes at some point the tactics thoughts get turned off. I am working on properly thinking at every move, at least look at the position, look for tacticts, double check, but I am not there yet. Winter is coming so more opportunities to practice.
As for endgame skills, you are probably correct. Part of the issue was the game had lasted over three hours and we both had about 7 minutes left on our clocks. This was the third game of the day so that's 8 hours of chess. The will to win gets dulled a little in those situations. But yes, even so, I need to understand what to think to win those types of positions. I think that may be a good one to play versus the computer.
@JG27Pyth: I was thinking the same thing but see above for my fatigue setting in. Also I am still scared of queens on an open board. Of course what I should do is purposely keep them on to get over the fear and learn how to play those positions and that's another area for improvement.
It seems like this should have been a winnable endgame. It's one of the best games I've played OTB but I couldn't find a good way to make the advantage pay off.