Southern Counties Chess Union 2007
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| White has just captured on d1 - who stands better? |
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Black is slightly better, according to the analysis engines Stockfish10 and Komodo10.
25...h4
This isolates the g5 pawn, but it is far from clear Black will be able to win it. The engines suggest a move such as 25...a5, 25...Ke5, 25...c5, 25...b6, etc..
26.Ke2 c5 27.Kd3 b5 28.a3
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28...f5?!
This position is trickier than it may seem. My notes show Junior 10.1 gave 28...a5? but that loses to 29.a4! bxa4 (if 29...b4 then 30.Kc4 Kd6 31.Kb5 etc, and if 29...c4+ then simply 30.Kd4) 30.Kc4 Kd6 31.Kb5. However the natural 28...Ke5 is among those moves that hold the balance.
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29.gxf6
The engines' 29.b3! puts great pressure on Black's position, eg 29...g6 30.b4 (30.exf5+ and probably 30.c3 also win) cxb4 31.axb4 Ke5 32.exf5 Kxf5 33.Kd4 Kxg5 34.Kf5 Kh6 35.Kxf4 Kh5 36.Ke5 Kg5 37.f4+ Kh6 38.Kf6 Kh5 39.Ke6 g5 40.Kf5 gxf4 41.Kxf4 followed by Kg4 and Kxh4 - a long line but a fairly forcing one. If 29...Ke5 then 30.exf5 Kxf5 31.c4 etc, and if 29...a5 then 30.a4.
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29...Kxf6?
Black draws with 29...gxf6, eg 30.c4 Kd6 31.cxb5 axb5 32.b3 Kc6 33.a4 c4+ (or 33...Kb6 but not 33...bxa4??) and now White has to find the only drawing move, but it is the obvious 34.Kc3.
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30.b4! cxb4
Or 30...c4+ 31.Kd4 Ke6 32.e5 (but losing is 32.Kc5? Ke5 33.Kb6 g5 34.Kxa6 g4 etc) g6 33.Ke4 g5 34.c3.
31.axb4 Ke5 32.Kc3 1-0
Black lost on time. The main line continues 32...g6 33.Kd3 g5 34.Ke2 (only drawing is 34.c3? Ke6 35.Kd4 Kd6 36.e5+ Ke7 [or 36...Kd7 but not 36...Ke6? 37.Ke4 etc] 37.Ke4 [not 37.Kd5? g4!] Ke6) Kd4 35.Kf2 Ke5 (not 35...Kc3 36.e5) 36.Ke1 Kd4 37.Ke2 Ke5 38.Kd3, which reaches the same position as after 33...g5 but with Black to move, which puts Black in zugzwang. There are alternatives along the way but the engines show White is winning.
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