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| White has just played 19.Kh1-g1 in Kumar Suresh (2100) - Spanton (1954) |
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White has more space and has the better minor piece for cooperating with rooks.
But the bishop is bad (six of seven white pawns are on light squares), and the black knight should have few problems reaching a stable and useful outpost.
Bearing all the above in mind, I headed for a knight-v-bishop ending by exchanging rooks: 19...Rxc1!? 20.Rxc1 Rc8.
After the further moves 21.Rxc8+ Nxc8 I thought I would have decent winning chances.
However, Stockfish17 reckons White is slightly better, while Dragion1 gives White the upper hand.
One thing I failed to properly take into account is that the white king has an easier route to the centre of the board than its black counterpart.
At least as important, I believe, is that, while the bishop is undoubtedly bad, it can be made good - there is little to stop White advancing his g, f and e pawns on to dark squares.
This is basically what happened in the game, the following position being quickly reached.
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| I have just played 30...Na7-c6 and offered a draw |
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Luckily for me - the engines reckon White has a won game (I give one line here) - KS accepted my offer.
LESSON: unlike a bad egg, a bad bishop can be improved.
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