31...
Ra8
Absolutely necessary, but
nevertheless an awful move for
Black to have to play. From here on,
White has two advantages: a big plus
in space and far better piece
positions. A passive rook is one of
the best predictors of a potentially
losing position.
32.Qg3
Nf6
33.Bg5
h6
34.Bxf6
Qxf6
35.Qe3
h5
36.g3
Ra6
37.Rc1
Nd7
38.h4
Qe7
39.Qg5
Qxg5
40.hxg5
Black's f-pawn, which should have
been advanced a long time ago, is
backward and weak.
40...
Kf8
41.f4
exf4
42.gxf4
Ke7
43.e5
dxe5
44.fxe5
With White now having a passed dpawn, and Black's rook still being
passive, the position is bound to
yield tactical opportunities for White.
44...
Kf8
45.Kh2
Ra7
46.d6
Taking control of c7 and e7.
46...
Ra8
47.Kh3
Kg7
48.Kg3
Kf8
49.Kh4
Ke8
50.Nxa5
Finally grabbing White's long-term
target: the a-pawn. The knight is
invulnerable because of the mate on
c8.
50...
Nxe5
The only playable defence.
51.Nb7
Nf3+
52.Kg3
Nxg5
Black's pawn-grabbing creates the
illusion of counterplay. In practice,
the advance of his kingside pawns
can never be supported.
53.Rc7
Ne4+
54.Kf3
Nf6
55.Nc5
Kf8
56.d7
Ke7
57.Rc8
Nxd7
58.Rxa8
Nxc5
59.a5
Nxb3
60.a6
Nd4+
61.Ke4
Nc6
62.Kd5
Kd7
63.Rf8
b3
Ironically, Black now holds a
material plus but, of course, the N is
no match for the R in the endgame.
Chess Kingdom - Carlos Orduna (Mexico)
SCCA Magazine 133
64.Rxf7+
Ne7+
65.Kc5
b2
66.Rf1
Nc8
67.Rb1
h4
68.Rxb2
What I liked about this game is that
every one of Black's moves was
superficially plausible in tactical
terms, whereas White's win came
from strategic thinking: forcing
weaknesses and achieving better
piece placement, just the way that the
masters of old told us to play!
I knew that Black could not match
my analytical efforts because I had
noted very early on that (a) his play
was brisk in the early stages, and (b)
he had far too many games in
progress, a sure sign that he was
relying excessively on his engine for
ideas.
1–0
Die Schachpartie – Max Oppenheimer (Germany)
8
Spring 2016