Knight v Bishop (part 41)

Black has just captured on d8 in Spanton (171) - Claudio Moni (-), Summer League 150 Average (Battersea) 2019. Who stands better, and by how much?

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Black has doubled f pawns, and White has the better minor piece for working with rival pawn-majorities. Stockfish12 reckons White has the upper hand (+.76), but Komodo12.1.1 gives White just a slight edge.

27.f3 Nc6 28.Bc3 b5

The engines reckon 28...f4!? and 28...Ke6!? equalise.

29.Kf2

The engines want White to play 29.f4!?, which I think I did not seriously consider because it gives Black the e4 square for his knight, but perhaps I overrated that factor.

29...Ke6

Again the engines reckon Black equalises with ...f4!?

30.Ke3 g5 31.Bd4 a6

Black has equalised, according to the engines.

Note that 31...Nxd4?? is a horrible blunder as the pawn-ending is lost for Black.

32.a3 Ne7 33.Kd3 Nd5!?

This looks like a good square for the knight, but the engines prefer kingside play with 33...Ng6 or 33...h5.

34.Be3 h5 35.b3

CM offered a draw.

35...Ke5 36.c3 g4!?

This comes to be Stockfish12's choice, although it later switches between the text and 36...h4. Komodo12.1.1 prefers 36...Ne7.

37.a4 Kd6 38.axb5 axb5 39.c4 bxc4+ 40.bxc4 f4?

This loses a pawn. The engines suggest 40...Ne7 or 40...Nb4+.

The game finished:

41.Bd2 Nb6 42.Bxf4+ Kc6 43.fxg4 hxg4 44.Kd4 Nd7 45.h4 gxh3 46.gxh3 Nf8 47.Be3 Ne6+ 48.Ke4 Nc5+? 49.Bxc5 Kxc5 50.h4 1-0