offramp: The players reach a ♗♘♘ v ♗♗♘ ending pretty quickly. It might seem a bit dull but this position is a seething powder-keg!
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Have a look, and then tell us all what you think of
30... Bxe4!
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31. fxe4 Nxe4.
<The threat is obviously ...Nxc3+ followed by ...Nxb1, regaining the piece. That Bb1 is really on a bad square!>
32. Kd1.
<White attacks the B on c1, but it can escape without loss of tempo...>
32...Bg5
33. Ne3!!. <Freeing the bishop on b1. If the B on g5 takes either of white's knights, then 34. Bxe4 leaves White a piece up!>
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33...Nxc3+▢
34. Kc2 Nxb1
35. Nhf5.
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Oddly, the black knight is trapped on the same square the white bishop was earlier. A cursed square!
35...Na3+ <to get white's king further away from the centre.>
36. Kb2 Ke8
37. Kxa3 Kd7.
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I have no idea who is winning in <that> position, perhaps it is level. However, in that position from the first diagram (which I'll give again)...
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Black could get his Bc1 out of the king's way <first>.
30... Bb2!!
31. Kd2 <to protect the c-pawn>.
31...Bxe4 <this time taking with the bishop is better>.
32. fxe4 Nxe4+.
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The c3 pawn will fall and so will that Covid-ridden bishop on b1, but this time the black pieces will be able to escape the lockdown. Who would guess that there was so many tactics in such a dreary-looking position? |