With the black king trapped in the centre, how about 22.Rd1, as this threatens Qd5 and how does black defend ? (if 22.Rd1 Nb6, then 23.Bb5 take's the black King's retreat away and white intends 24.Bxb6).
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Legally-Blonde wrote:
With the black king trapped in the centre, how about 22.Rd1, as this threatens Qd5 and how does black defend ? (if 22.Rd1 Nb6, then 23.Bb5 take's the black King's retreat away and white intends 24.Bxb6).
A good one. That didn't cross my mind. I didn't see my rook and King were forked.
Mine was Ra1 - h1, but yours is clearly better.
Also, if black defends with 22.Rd1 Qc6, then to me, a nice move is the Queen sacrifice 23.Qd4, intending Bc4+ (if black takes it, then 23.Qd4 exd4 24.Nxd4+ Ke5 25.f4+ Kxe4 26.Bf3+ Kxe3 27.Rd3 mate).
One line goes
22.Rd1 Qc6 23.Qd4 Rfc8 24.Bc4+ Qxc4 25.Rxe7+ Kxe7 26.Qxd6+ Kf7
27.Qxd7+ Kg6 28.Qf5+ Kf7 29.Qh7+ Ke8 30.Qd7+ Kf8 31.Bh6+ and mates.
But 27.Qxd7+ Kg8 makes it very hard for white to win.
So instead, after 22.Rd1 Qc6 23.Qd4 Rfc8, white can just play 24.Qd5+ Qxd5 25.exd5+ Bxd5 26.Bd3 winning.
Or not play Qd4 at all (really it is just hoping black will take) and continue 22.Rd1 Qc6 23.Qd5+
Sorry to my opponent. I should have lost. I don't know how it happened. I played in desperation.