The Hanging Pieces of Bennylon

Since I won this game, I'm not sure if this should be in 'Games Showcase', but the point is that I don't know if my opponent needed to resign in the end position. I'm pleased with the game in general, as I thought I played well, with a couple of nice tactics that gave me a strong advantage. Anyway, here's the game - any comments appreciated.

Thanks for that Tony. I agree, I thought at the time that it was still very open, and was actually quite excited to see how it would pan out. I was a bit disappointed to see him resign in the end.

It's interesting that you choose 29...Nd3; I thought that 29...Kf8 was his best line, but I suppose Nd3 is more active. What do you think? This seems the kind of position where choosing between a one-move passivity or activity decides the game.

The difference between the two is that Nd3 allows Ne6; Kf8 moves the king away from the check on h7 (with tempo). At the same time, Nd3 opens up Black's attacking options one move earlier.

Also, looking over my annotations to the game, I don't know why I put 27. Bh5! "this is the start of a nice [nice?!] sequence of moves..." when it's actually one move. But still, I was more pleased with the nature of the position, where three of my pieces are dependent on each other, and they would all be hanging if any were removed.

Anyway, thanks for the comments, tonydal.

Yes, it seems silly to give 29.Bg6?? an exclamation mark, but maybe you were convinced by the immediate resignation. I would call 29.Bg6 a blunder, but not because of tonydal's line. After 33.h3 in that line, black still has counterplay but nothing that dangerous. I believe white will be able to escape with a clear advantage. 29.Bg6 loses on the spot for a much simpler reason: 29...Qd3 breaks the pin with threat of mate.

Either way, I agree with tonydal that your best option was probably the 29.Ne6 line he gave.

Ah, you're right TonightOnly, Bg6 doesn't deserve an exclamation mark by any means. Tonydal's lines are interesting, but in the first, I don't think Black has enough compensation for the queen exchange sac, and the second seems to be a mistake since 31. Rxf4 isn't possible after 30. Rh3. Still, the Ne6-Nxe6-...fxe6 idea looks like  a better idea. I was kinda seduced by the aesthetic appeal of the Bh5-Bg6 manoeuvre.

Well, 31.Rxf4 is possible because there is a rook on f1. I agree that white is doing very well in both lines, and I wonder what specific complications tonydal was thinking of.

Maybe there is something to this line, though: 30...Qxh3  31.gxh3 Nd4, and the a-pawn all of a sudden looks very menacing.

BTW, I would say that the game analysis forum is for specific questions (like yours), and the game showcase forum is for "here is a game I played, analysis welcome."

Unfortunately, most posters think "analysis welcome" means it belongs in the game analysis forum.

True, that. Thanks TonightOnly - I got my rooks confused in my head there. I agree that pushing the a-pawn would be Black's best bet in the end position, but White should have enough resources to protect the b3 pawn.

No, the pawn will drop, due to the weakness of f5. Check it out again.

Well, given that the majority of Black's counterplay in that position would be down to the a-pawn, I'd rather cede the f5 pawn than b3. Unless you have a line losing more material if I don't give up b3?

Okay, so something like 32.Bd1 Bc8  and then maybe 33.h4 or 33.Re1?