When pawn pushes go too far...

Sort:
Avatar of jaydeeuk1

Used my pawns to good effect in this game, even my opponent described the game as being like a prison lock down! However, I end up pushing that much that neither of us can breakthrough, despite me owning a whole file and most of the board. Ended up in a draw, and me wondering where I could have done things differently.

Avatar of whirlwind2011

@OP: In a position such the final one in this game, I believe the principle of two weaknesses needs to be remembered. Your pawn structure isn't a strength, because although it's "invincible," so is your opponent's. (More examples: your King is passive, and so is Black's. Your Bishop is "good" by definition, but blunted; your opponent's Bishop is passive.) The only strength about your position is your dominant Rooks, but, as you recognized, your domination of the b-file is not enough to convert the win. If you could have provoked a second weakness on the Kingside before locking down the Pawns, then you might have given Black too much to defend on the different sides of the board. Take a closer look at what would have happened if you had played 36. hxg5, instead of 36. h5, and see whether the open b- and h-files would have been enough to lead to a win.