Knight v Bishop (part 17)

Black has just captured on d8 in Spanton (1890) - Karl-Heinz Stolzenwald (1623), Bad Wörishofen (Bavaria) 2019. Who stands better, and by how much?

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White has much the better pawn-structure, but no pawn-majority to work with. Stockfish12 and Komodo11.01 reckon White is slightly better.

K-HS offered a draw as I thought about my next move, but I had no intention of accepting.

27.Nc1 Ke6 28.Nd3 Be7 29.Kf1 f5 30.f3 Bd6 31.Ke2 fxe4!?

Undoubling pawns is natural, and the text is Komodo11.01's choice, but it does free the f3 square for use by White's pieces. On the other hand, if Black does not capture on e4, White can capture on f5 at a time of his choosing and use the e4 square.

32.fxe4 Be7!?

Stockfish12 much prefers 32...Kf6, but Komodo11.01 is fine with the text.

33.Kf3 h5 34.Nc1 Kf6 35.Ne2 Kg5 36.g3

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36...Bd6?

Correct is 36...fxg3, which I intended meeting with 37.Nxg3 and Nf5. White has the easier game, but Black is not significantly worse, according to the engines.

37.h4+ Kf6?

Better, but almost certainly still losing, is 37...Kg6 or 37...Kh6, both of which allow Black to defend the h5 pawn without exchanging minor pieces.

38.gxf4 exf4 39.Nxf4 Ke5

39...Bxf4 40.Kxf4 is hopeless for Black.

40.Ke3 Kf6 41.Nxh5+ Kg6 42.Nf4+ Kf6 43.Nd3 Bf8 44.Kf4 Kg6 1-0