Middlegame Lessons From Crete II

IN this series I am looking at important middlegame tactical and positional decisions players faced in my games at the Amateur Chess Organization's world senior championship at the Fodele Beach Resort, Crete.

In round two I had a compulsory bye; in round three I had white against Peter Menzinger, a German with a Fide rating of 1938. The full game can be seen at https://beauchess.blogspot.com/2021/06/morphing-french-xx.html

How should White recapture on e5?

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16.Rxe5?

I thought I was fighting for control of the open file, but this move lets Black grab the file and so gain a sizeable advantage.

Best, according to the analysis engines Stockfish13 and Komodo12.1.1, is 16.fxe5, although the weakness of the white king gives Black an edge after 16...Nh7!? or 16...Nd7, according to Stockfish13 (Komodo12.1.1 is not so sure).

The other capture, 16.dxe5?! runs into 16...Nxg4!, when 17.Bxe7 loses to 17...Qb6+. So White has to either retreat the dark-square bishop or capture the knight - either way, White loses a pawn.

After the text the game saw 16...Nd7!, forcing 17.Rxe7 Rxe7 18.Bxe7, at which point PM inexplicably offered a draw before playing 18...Qxe7.

I was obliged to accept as Black's control of the e file, combined with the exposed white king, gives Black much the better game.