Najdorf adventures

Hello.

I finished a game in the Najdorf that featured an imbalanced endgame. The result of the game is somewhat irrelevant since it was decided by a blunder in time trouble, but the positions that preceded it have profoundly confused me, so I'd like some analysis on the complex endgame/ simple queenless middlegame that arises after I decide to exchange two minor pieces for a rook and pawn. Please help me.

Thanks,

chessman

Thanks 

27...Rxc2 was a creative idea but quite optimistic.

Did you think about the option 28.Ba5 for white ?

34.Ne2 was a blunder by your opponent. Simply 34.Rxc2, a5xb4 35.Ne2 b4xc3 36.Rxc3 or 36.Nxc3 and black is better but not winning immediately.

R×c2 nice idea!

I did take a quick look with Stockfish,

Surprisingly Stockfish claims that white was better to winning for some time, only towards the end black got a winning position.

(Edit : Not so surprising. My sleepyhead didn't count properly :(

You did, as black not win the exchange, but you gave bishop and knight for a rook).

Yeah, it was pretty optimistic! I've been trying to find antidotes to my usual knack for ending up in passive positions, so I wanted to imbalance the game, especially when my opponent has 3 minutes left. Ne2 was a blunder induced by time pressure, which is why I said the rest of the game required no comment.

Did Stockfish actually agree with my ..Rxc2 sacrifice?? That would be pretty surprising, though I'm a little bummed that the positions before that were mostly in White's favor. It's what I get for imbalancing the game so much! :)

Well played!

Thanks 

You're welcome!

Yes, Stockfish (with 4 sec./move) didn't complain about your ...Rxc2  :)

 I have some comments on the early game that appear in this font.

1 e4c52. Nf3d63. d4cxd44. Nxd4Nf65. Nc3a6Najdorf, an opening I'm pretty unfamiliar with from the Black side. 
6. Bd3?!Not a move I typically see, but I don't think there's anything fundamentally wrong with it.

 I don't think the bishop belongs here, its influence is limitted by the e pawn.
6... e5?!7. Nde2?!I think b3 and f3 are preferable squares for the knight.

  I think you are half right.  On f3 the N prevents the f pawn advancing, so it should go to b3.
7... Be68. O-OBe79. Ng3O-ONow, I think things are more or less equal. Both sides still need to develop completely. 
10. f4?!This is either a really good move or a really bad move. I try to take advantage of the weakened g1-a7 diagonal, but the possibility of an ...f5 advance makes matters less straightforward. I decide to embark on this imbalanced position anyway, because I believe Black is no worse.

 I think f4 is quite usual for white to play in this kind of position, and black is no worse.
10... Qb6+11. Kh1Ng4

I would give your 10th a ! and the 11th, attacking before completing development, either !? or ?.  It's not that your 11th leads to a bad posion, I am not sure what is going on either.  I just noticed Stockfish does't like it so its likely bad for black.

But 11... exf4 12 Rxf4 N-d7 [heading for e5 of course] leaves black somewhat better imho.  White has some trouble developing the Q side.

?? Which part are you referring to?

Hm, methinks such an evaluation is over-influenced by opening theory. At most, White's game is certainly tenable. The advantage seems only theoretical.

I meant theoretical just in the sense that, it's hardly winning. It's certainly a real advantage and better than the text, but I'm not convinced it's that significant. After 6.Nxc6, it seems like Black has merely dissipated White's advantage.

XD I see. I was just being obtuse haha.