Knight v Bishop (part 51)

White has just captured on d5 in Spanton (2018) - Geoffrey Makumbi (2195), Hastings 2005-6. Who stands better, and by how much?

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The position is dead-equal, according to the analysis engines Stockfish12 and Komodo12.1.1.

48...Kf5 49.Kf2 Kg4 50.Bc1 Nd7 51.Bd2 Kf5 52.Bc1 b5!?

I see from my original notes that FM Steve Giddins reckoned this is the correct plan, but implemented too early. The text was Fritz9's choice, while my modern engines very slightly prefer standing pat with 52...Kg4 or 52...Ne5.

53.cxb5

This is the modern engines' choice, very narrowly ahead of the surprising - to me, at any rate - 53.g4+!? Kxg4 54.cxb5, which I am certain would not have occurred to me over the board.

53...Ke5 54.Bb2!?

Once shown this move, it comes to be Komodo12.1.1's second choice, at least for a while, but 54.Nf3 is more natural. I cannot recall my thinking, but it may have been connected with my next move.

54...Kxd5 55.c4+

Played with the coming piece-sacrifice in mind.

55...dxc3 56.Bxc3 c4 57.dxc4+ Kxc4 58.Bxf6!?

Saving the bishop while giving up the b pawn is also dead-equal, even though Black is a pawn up, according to Stockfish12 and Komodo12.1.1.

58...Nxf6 59.b6 Kd5 60.b7 Nd7 61.Kf3 Ke5 62.Kg4 Kf6 63.Kh5 1-0

GM was disqualified after his phone rang - twice! - while he was considering his next move.