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Could this drawn game have been won?

Could this drawn game have been won?

Only Chess

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This was one of those rare games that I finished the same day this game started, against a 1700 ranked player.

As black, I managed to be a minor piece up; so was there any point where I could've possibly won this game? (Skip to move 50, if you don't want to look at the whole game.)

  • 8
  • a
  • 7
  • b
  • 6
  • c
  • 5
  • d
  • 4
  • e
  • 3
  • f
  • 2
  • g
  • 1
  • h
1.e4d5
2.exd5Qd8xd5
3.d4Nb8c6
4.Ng1f3Bc8g4
5.Nb1c3Bg4xf3
6.gxf3Qd5xd4
7.Qd1e2O-O-O
8.Bc1e3Qd4b4
9.Bf1h3e6
10.Ra1b1Ng8f6
11.O-OBf8d6
12.a3Qb4h4
13.Kg1g2g5
14.Nc3b5g4
15.Nb5xd6cxd6
16.fxg4Rh8g8
17.f3h5
18.Be3f2Qh4g5
19.Kg2h1hxg4
20.Rf1g1Qg5h5
21.fxg4Qh5xh3
22.g5Rg8h8
23.Bf2g3Nf6h5
24.Qe2f2Rd8g8
25.Bg3xd6Qh3f5
26.Qf2xf5exf5
27.Rb1f1Rg8d8
28.Bd6c5f4
29.Rf1f2Nh5g3
30.Kh1g2Rd8d5
31.hxg3Rd5xc5
32.gxf4Rh8g8
33.Kg2h3Nc6d4
34.c3Nd4f5
35.Rg1e1Rg8h8
36.Kh3g4Rh8h4
37.Kg4f3Rc5c4
38.Re1e4Rh4h3
39.Kf3g4Rc4xe4
40.Kg4xh3Re4e1
41.Kh3g4Nf5e3
42.Kg4f3Ne3c4
43.Kf3g4Re1b1
44.Kg4f5Nc4d6
45.Kf5g4Rb1g1
46.Kg4f3Nd6f5
47.Kf3e4Nf5d6
48.Ke4e5Kc8d7
49.Rf2d2Rg1e1
50.Ke5f6Re1e6
51.Kf6g7Re6g6
52.Kg7f8Kd7e6
53.Rd2xd6Ke6xd6
54.Kf8xf7Rg6e6
55.f5Re6e7
56.Kf7f6Re7e8
57.Kf6f7Re8e7
58.Kf7f6Re7e8
59.Kf6f7Re8e7
60.Kf7f6Re7e8

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      Originally posted by vivify
      This was one of those rare games that I finished the same day this game started, against a 1700 ranked player.

      As black, I managed to be a minor piece up; so was there any point where I could've possibly won this game? (Skip to move 50, if you don't want to look at the whole game.)

      [pgn][Event "Open invite"]
      [Site "http://www.redhotpawn.com"]
      [Date e8e7 58. Kf7f6 Re7e8 59. Kf6f7 Re8e7 60. Kf7f6 Re7e8 1/2-1/2
      [/pgn]
      You needed to take advantage of the fact his queen was stuck defending. Around move 25 i think you should have brought your knight on c6 into the game... You're up a piece but what does it matter if you dont use it?

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      Originally posted by tomtom232
      You needed to take advantage of the fact his queen was stuck defending. Around move 25 i think you should have brought your knight on c6 into the game... You're up a piece but what does it matter if you dont use it?
      You're right. I didn't think of that. I think I was overly concerned about tempo, and wanted to keep up the attack. But you're right. I'll keep this important piece of advice in mind for the future.

      Also, I just realized, that at move 31, I should've played gx3, instead of capturing the bishop. That could've made a huge difference.

      1 edit
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      I would think 51...Ke7 maintains some winning chances. That unpins the N and stops white from playing f5.

      As you discovered, it was important to retain the f7 pawn.

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      quickly - doesn't 30...Ne4 looks good for black?

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      Originally posted by kbear1k
      quickly - doesn't 30...Ne4 looks good for black?
      *bangs head on keyboard*

      Holy freakin' crap. I had a great chance to beat 1700 ranked player in grasp, and didn't even see it.

      Thanks for your observation.

      Good god, maybe it's time to get into checkers.

      1 edit
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      The move I looked at was 24. Rdb8, it drops a pawn and lets white evacuate his bishop. Instead I like the look of 24. ... Nd4 (25. Qxd4? Nxg3+ 26. Rxg3 Qxg3 leaves you a rook ahead), it can move to e2, f3 or f5, depending on what white does, and from those squares it's putting pretty direct pressure on white's king. For example, after 25. Qg2 (25. Bh4 Ng3 and 25. Rbe1 Nf5 both look good for black) Nxg3+ 26. Qxg3 Qxg3 27. Rxg3 Ne2 (Nxc2? 28. Rc1) 28. Rg2 Nf4 heading for g6 and blockade duties, leaves you with a big material advantage and white's counterplay nicely contained. Unprotecting the pawn on d6 is problematic as it lets white release the pressure on g3 and win a pawn to boot. The open d-file was important at the end.

      Edit: I posted the above and then did a quick check with Crafty. It shows 24. ... Nd4 as sound (after about a minute it preferred 24. ... e5 keeping the bishop hemmed in, but it also thinks Nd4 is good), after about 5 minutes looking at the position after 24. ... Nd4 it's line of best play was: 25. Nbe1 Nf5 26. Bf4 e5! and white has to give up an exchange with 27. Re3 Nxe3 28. Bxe3

      Also Crafty pointed out a mistake in the opening, after 5. ... Bxf3 white had 6. Nxd5 Bxd1 7. Nxc7+ winning the exchange.


      "This was one of those rare games that I finished the same day this game started..."

      and then....

      "Holy freakin' crap. I had a great chance to beat 1700 ranked player in grasp, and didn't even see it. "

      I think the two are somehow kind of linked. 🙂

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