Knight v Bishop (part 20)

White has just captured on c2 in Spanton (151) - Maurice Staples (198), London League Division 3 1989. Who stands better, and by how much? 

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Rival pawn-majorities usually favour the side with the bishop, but Stockfish12 and Komodo11.01 reckon the position is equal. I think this is because Black has more space on the queenside, where the white pawns are somewhat restricted, and has the more-active king.

32...b5 33.a3 a5 34.Kd2 Ke6 35.Ke2 Kf6 36.Kf3 Ke6 37.Kg3!?

Hoping to penetrate on the kingside, but decentralising a slow-moving piece such as the king is often double-edged. I presume I must have overestimated my position, and was pushing for a win, when playing for a draw was more realistic. Having said that, the engines still rate the position as equal.

37...b4 38.axb4 axb4 39.Bc5?

White preserves the draw with 39.cxb4 Nxb4 40.Bd2, according to the engines.

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39...bxc3?!

Black is winning after 39...b3 40.Be3 d4! 41.cxd4 Nb4 42.Bd2 Nd3 43.Bc3 Nc1 44.Kf3 Na2, threatening ...Nxc3.

40.bxc3 d4! 41.cxd4 c3

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42.Kf3

The engines' 42.Kh4! seems to draw, eg 42...c2 43.Ba3 Nxd4 44.Kg5 Kf7 45.f5 gxf5 46.gxf5 Nb3 47.Kh6 Kg8 48.f6 etc.

42...c2 43.Ba3 Nxd4+ 44.Ke4 Ne2 45.f5+ gxf5+ 46.gxf5+ Kf7 47.Ke5 c1=Q 48.Bxc1 Nxc1

White cannot in time threaten the h7 pawn while advancing the f pawn.

The game finished:
49.f6 Nb3 50.Kf5 Nc5 51.Kg5 Ne4+ 52.Kh6 Nxf6 53.h4 Kg8 54.h5 Kf7 55.Kg5 Ng8 56.Kf5 Kg7 57.Ke6 Kh6 58.Kf7 Kxh5 0-1