00017.4.24 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell

1. b4 e5 2. Nc3 Bxb4

This pawn sacrifice was unjustified by White. With best

play, black should win.

3. Bb2 Nf6 4. e4 Nc6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. g3 Nd4

Black could've won another pawn using a tactical motif

called, "Removing the Defender". 6. ... Bxc3 7. Bxc3 Nxe4.

White cannot take on e5, or he will lose at least a piece

because of the pin on the e-line.

7. Bg2 d6 8. O-O Bg4 9. h3 Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 Bxf3

Why not win the pawn on h3? White can't trap the Bishop

with 11. g4 since by taking the pawn, the bishop would also

threaten the rook at f1. This concept is known as gaining

a tempo.

11. Qxf3 b5

?! Definitely dubious. This makes black's pawn structure

slightly weaker. Why not solidfy central control with ...c6,

Re8, with a ...d5 expansion? Remember, when ahead in material,

trade pieces, not pawns.

12. Nxb5 Bxd2

As a result of this interchange, white has 3 pawn islands,

black has 2. A pawn island is a group of pawns separated

by open files. This should give black a slight endgame

advantage. The reason that fewer pawn islands is better,

is that they don't need pieces to defend them (they can defend

each other).

13. Rad1 Rb8 14. Rxd2 Rxb5 15. Ba3 Ra5

Remember your heavy pieces (Queen, rooks) want to double on

the open file (column). Therefore, Qb8 would be quite strong,

to establish b-file control. Black could follow-up with ...Qb7

(pressuring white's e-pawn), ...Rfb8, and/or Rb1 with a

definite edge for black.

16. Rd3 Qb8

...Qa8! (pressuring white's e-pawn again) is quite strong...

white would have to be tied down with Re1, then Rb8, followed

by the killer shot ...d5 (white can't take because ...e4

would fork white's queen and rook).

17. Rb3 Qc8 18. Qc3 Ra6 19. Qc4 Nd7

The knight was already good on f6. Better was to oppose

white's control of the b-file with ...Rb6. This would also

free your queen from defense of the rook on a6, so ...Qxh3

is a real threat.

20. Rfb1 Rb6 21. f4

This is a dubious line opening by white. There are too

many hanging white pawns, plus this opens up White's king

considerably.

21... Rxb3 22. axb3 Nb6 23. Qf1 exf4 24. Qxf4

This is obviously an oversight by white. White had to play

gxf4, and if black tries to open things up with ..f5, then

e5 gives White a fighting chance.

24... Qxh3 25. Rd1 Nc8

Why not ...Nd7? The post on e5 would be very strong for

black. Remember, if you can, try to centralize your knights...

they drive a wedge in your opponent's position.

26. e5 Rd8 27. exd6 cxd6 28. Bxd6

? This loses. White's bishop is much stronger than the

knight at c8, plus when behind in material trade pawns,

not pieces. Since black's d-pawn is pinned, c4 looks likes

White's best chance. Now black can win a piece with ...Qe6.

Remember attack pinned pieces! You might win them.

28... Nxd6 29. c4 Nb7 30. Rxd8+ Nxd8 31. Qb8 Qd7 32. b4 Kf8

33. c5 Ke8 34. b5 a5

This is not right. ..Qd4+, then ...Qxc5 would force white

to resign. Notice ...Qxc5 defends a7, covers e5 against

potential checks by the white queen, and helps restrict

white's b-pawn. Why does the black queen do so much?

Because it's centralized! I can't emphasize the importance

of this enough.

35. b6

White had much stronger, c6! This threatens c6-c7-c8(Q).

Black would be forced to take the draw by perpetual check!

Remember, 2 connected passed pawns are very strong. White's

move allows a light-squared blockade by black.

35... Qb7

?? This loses by force! Again, ...Qd4+, 36. Kh1 Qxc5 37. b7 Qb5

wins for black.

36. Qe5+

? White could have had a beautiful win with 36. Qxb7 Nxb7

37. c6 Nc5 38. b7 Na6 39. c7!!, and black can't stop white

from queening. Chessplayers have this expression: "Two

passed pawns on the 6th rank (row) are worth a rook".

36... Ne6 37. Qd6 a4 38. c6 Qxb6+ 39. Kg2 Qc5 40. Qd7+ Kf8

41. Qc8+ Ke7 42. Qd7+ Kf6 43. g4 g5 44. Kf3 a3 45. Ke4 a2

46. Qd1 Qxc6+ 47. Ke3 Qa6

This wins, but 47. ...Qc3+ 48. K moves a1(Q) would make

white resign.

48. Qa1+ Ke7 49. Ke4 Nc5+ 50. Kf5 f6 51. Qxf6+ Qxf6#y

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