Notes by Clara McGrew
1.e4
e5
2.Nc3
Nf6
3.f4
d5
4.fxe5
Nxe4
5.Qf3
Nc6
6.Bb5
Nxc3
7.dxc3
Bd7
8.Qxd5
a6
9.Bxc6
Bxc6
10.Qxd8+
Rxd8
11.Nf3
Bc5
12.Bg5
Rd5
13.Rd1
Rxd1+
14.Kxd1
0-0
15.Re1
h6
16.Be3
Rd8+
17.Kc1
Be7
18.Bf4
g5
19.Bg3?
This move is not very good. Now after 19...g4, my pieces get tangled up.
19.Be3
was best to prevent Black from playing 19...g4 and 20...Bg5+.
19...g4
20.Nd4
Bg5+
21.Kd1??
There is always the principle to keep your King towards the center in the endgame. Here, however, this principle does not apply, for where does the White King go to after Ke2? Now Black can play 21... Bxg2 and after 22 Ke2 c5, White's King is trapped.
21.Kb1
was best not allowing the King to get tangled up. 21...Bxg2
22.e6!
A key pawn move in such positions. 22...c5
23.exf7+
Kxf7
24.Ne6!
The most important feature in this endgame is that White should trade off Black's dark-squared Bishop for his Knight. Then, there would be more drawing chances because of the opposite colored Bishops. Here, White forces Black to go into a Bishops of opposite color ending. 24...Re8
(24...Rd5
25.Nxg5+
Rxg5=
) 25.Nxg5+
hxg5
26.Rxe8
Kxe8=.
21...Bxg2
22.Ke2
c5
23.Kf2
23.Nb3
gives White an easier time. Black still has a big advantage, but at least he is
not winning.
23...cxd4-+
24.Kxg2
dxc3
25.bxc3
Rd2+
26.Kf1
Rxc2
27.Rb1
Rc1+
28.Rxc1
Bxc1
29.Ke2
Kf8
30.Kd3
Ke7
31.Ke4
Ke6
32.c4
Ba3
33.Bf2
Bb2
34.Bg3
b6
35.a4
Ba3
36.Kf4
h5
37.Kg5
Bc5
38.Kxh5
Kf5
39.h3
For some reason, I thought that this move was a brilliant sacrifice. If Black's Bishop was not on the diagonal from c1 to g1, I think that this would be a good move and would lead to a draw. However, this does not work because of Black's brilliant exploitation of my King on h4 and Bishop on g3.
39...gxh3
40.Kh4
0-1