1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nb8c6 3. cxd5 Qd8xd5 4. Ng1f3 h6 5. Nb1c3 Qd5d8 6. e4 {I didn't expect to get this kind of lead in development from a higher rated player...} a6 7. Bf1e2 Bc8g4 8. Bc1e3 e6 {I had all kinds of ideas here revolving around Qa4 and Bb5. As it turned out it was all nonsense.} 9. d5 exd5 10. exd5 Bg4xf3 11. dxc6 Bf3xc6 {One pawn down, but still I've got pressure! There must be something...} 12. Be2c4 {Preparing Qb3 if Bxg2.} Qd8xd1 {Damn.} 13. Ra1xd1 Bc6xg2 {Now he takes it.} 14. Rh1g1 Bg2c6 15. Be3f4 {OK, I still have a lot of fire power. I see nothing special, but at least I can try to tie his pieces down.} Ra8c8 16. Rg1g3 g6 17. Rg3e3 Bf8e7 18. Bf4e5 Rh8h7 {This is looking quite nice, but I've no idea how I can improve my position further and I see no tactical shots.} 19. Nc3d5 {I'm sure it weakens my position if he takes it.} Bc6xd5 {Which he does.} 20. Bc4xd5 c6 21. Bd5b3 {And now Rd8 and that's about it. All the pressure is gone. I can try to fight for a draw.} Ke8f8 {Eyebrow duly raised. Maybe I missed something, but whatever, now I have hope again.} 22. Rd1d7 Be7b4 23. Ke1f1 h5 24. Rd7xb7 Bb4c5 25. Re3d3 Ng8h6 26. Rd3d7 Rc8e8 27. Be5f6 Kf8g8 28. Bb3c4 a5 29. Rb7c7 Bc5f8 30. Rc7xc6 Bf8g7 31. Bf6g5 Bg7xb2 32. Bg5xh6 Rh7xh6 {OK, guess what was played next. No looking please.}
Originally posted by 64squaresofpain I had to look (sorry) and I guessed right.
My only question is, why was this game drawn? It looks winning to me
I'm not sure it's winning -- I don't know enough theory, but I could see that the queening square of my only left passed pawn was the wrong color and that queening it would be probably way beyond my abilities. I was also really mad at myself for overseeing the fork that cost me the other passed pawn. And I was worried about my coming blunders. My opponent is rated higher than me so I was OK with a draw.
Originally posted by 64squaresofpain I had to look (sorry) and I guessed right.
My only question is, why was this game drawn? It looks winning to me
With best play it should be a draw, but if I were white I would have played on a few moves to make sure black had the right plan.
In the final position black has to capture the pawn on h2, then play Bh2-g1-c5 to make sure he can control f8. After that, white will have an extra pawn, but he can't do anything with it.
It seems I am learning this the hard way...
my head tells me "you are 2 pawns up, it must be winning!"
but theory seems to dictate otherwise.
I have a game in progress which looks like it should be a draw,
but I've carried on regardless as it is a tournament final game that I need to win in order to equalise!
Originally posted by 64squaresofpain "opposite colour bishop endgames are drawn"
It seems I am learning this the hard way...
my head tells me "you are 2 pawns up, it must be winning!"
but theory seems to dictate otherwise.
I have a game in progress which looks like it should be a draw,
but I've carried on regardless as it is a tournament final game that I need to win in order to equalise!
Perhaps I need to read up on these endgames
I am an habitually lazy player. I've never dug into games where players with an additional pawn or two or three had won such games. I'd bet it would be an educational opportunity and a wide, interesting study.
Originally posted by ChessPraxis I am an habitually lazy player. I've never dug into games where players with an additional pawn or two or three had won such games. I'd bet it would be an educational opportunity and a wide, interesting study.
I don't see the hidden message saying what the next move was so my guess is since you didn't play bx and grab the rook you probably took the pawn with your rook thinking you had a sneaky attack. Which just meant the king moved out of danger and the black pieces were still active.
If you had taken with bishop and won the rook you would have had a nasty mate threat.
Originally posted by WanderingKing I'm not sure it's winning -- I don't know enough theory, but I could see that the queening square of my only left passed pawn was the wrong color and that queening it would be probably way beyond my abilities. I was also really mad at myself for overseeing the fork that cost me the other passed pawn. And I was worried about my coming blunders. My opponent is rated higher than me so I was OK with a draw.
Your opponent is not substantially higher rated than you. The rating system is not precise enough for a difference of 60 to count for much. You should carry on with that game, it is a theoretical draw but your opponent could easily get it wrong and be forced to give up his bishop when your a-pawn will queen as you have the correct bishop. You are at almost no risk of losing in the final position as he has only one pawn and can't force you to swap off your bishop. Correct play in the final position is 47. ... Bxh2 48. f6 Bg1! (only move) 49. f7 Bc5 and the pawn can't be promoted, but if black does something like 47. ... Bxg2 48. f6 Kg6?? 49. f7 then he has to give up his bishop to prevent you promoting and the position is won. World Champions have missed easier moves than 48. ... Bg1 so don't automatically expect a 1,550 player to find it.
Originally posted by 64squaresofpain "opposite colour bishop endgames are drawn"
It seems I am learning this the hard way...
my head tells me "you are 2 pawns up, it must be winning!"
but theory seems to dictate otherwise.
I have a game in progress which looks like it should be a draw,
but I've carried on regardless as it is a tournament final game that I need to win in order to equalise!
Perhaps I need to read up on these endgames
It is the most drawish ending in chess.
In endgames, when you are up a pawn or two, you must constantly watch for ways that your opponent can trade down to opposite color Bishops. It's the best chance of saving a bad endgame.
Originally posted by DeepThought Your opponent is not substantially higher rated than you. The rating system is not precise enough for a difference of 60 to count for much. You should carry on with that game, it is a theoretical draw but your opponent could easily get it wrong and be forced to give up his bishop when your a-pawn will queen as you have the correct bishop. You are at a ...[text shortened]... automatically expect a 1,550 player to find it.
brain fart
22 Mar '14 07:451 edit
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