The critical position arose after White played 15.Nb5-a3.
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| Black to play and win a pawn |
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During the game I can remember being pleased with myself for spotting the apparent strength of 15...Nc3!?, which more-or-less obliges White to reply 16.Qe1 as 16.Qd2 is hit by 16...Nd4!, when 17.Nxd4 Qxd4! wins a pawn, as Black can meet 18.Qxd4? with 18...Nxe2+ etc.
However, even this line is far from clear, as Stockfish17 and Dragon1 point out the strength of 18.Re1!?, when 18...Qxd2 19.Bxd2 Ne4 20.Be3 leaves White with what the engines reckon is full compensation for a pawn.
Nevertheless, 16.Qe1 is the better move, and I could not resist replying 16...Na4?!, although I knew I would come under pressure.
White continued 17.e4?!, but the engines agree the move I feared, 17.Nc4, is much stronger.
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| Position after 17.Nc4 |
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I planned 17...Nb6, which is best, as 17...b5? loses horribly to several moves, including 18.Nh4!?
After 17...Nb6 the engines give 18.Nxb6 Qxb6 19.Ba3, when the black king will be trapped in the centre a long time.
Best play, according to the engines, runs 19...Be4 20.Qc1!? h6!? 21.Qe3!? Bd5, with what they claim is a won game for White.
The position is certainly not resignable, but a sample line runs 22.Rfb1 Qc7 23.Qd3 f5!? 24.Nh4!? Bxg2 25.Kxg2 Ba7 26.d5 0-0-0!? 27.d6 Qa5!? 28.Ng6 Rhe8 29.Ra2 with continuing strong pressure.
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| Admittedly the game would go on, but I suspect few players would want the black pieces here |
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Going back to the game's 15.Nb5-a3, what are the warning signs that my mini-combination, 15...Nc3!? 16.Qe1 Nxa4?!, was inadvisable?
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| Here is the position after I have grabbed the pawn |
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I believe the following are warning signs.
1. Black is behind in development - three minor pieces in play (the bishop on b8 does not count as it will almost certainly have to move again), while White, in addition to having developed three minor pieces, has castled and developed the queen's rook (the latter courtesy of my capturing the white a pawn).
2. The black knight at a4 is hanging, ie it is unprotected by a friendly piece or pawn, and, as John Nunn cautions, "loose pieces drop off."
3. White has a simple plan to prevent kingside castling, ie 17.Nc4 followed by Ba3.
LESSON: Cecil Purdy, the first world correspondence champion, advised (I paraphrase) that 'neglecting development for an advantage in an endgame that may never arise is not a paying proposition'.
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