Lessons From Bad Bertrich: Material Is Not The Only Advantage

MY round two game reached a critical position after 18 moves.

Here Fide master Peter Dittmar (2128) came up with the strong 19.d5!, which seems to be a novelty

How should Black respond?

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I played 19...cxd5?!, but after 20.exd5 Bf7 21.Ne5 I was losing the f pawn, while lagging in development.

Stockfish17 and Dragon1 suggest giving up a pawn immediately by simply retreating the bishop with 19...Bf7.

After 20.dxc6 Qxc6 21.exf5 White has won a pawn, but Black's pieces are so much more active than in the game.

A possible continuation is 21...Qc5+ 22.Kh1 Nd7, when Black has the better queen and the only long-range minor piece - full compensation for a pawn, according to the engines.

LESSON: more activity can be just as much an advantage as more material.