1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
e6
3.Nf3
d5
4.Nc3
Nbd7
5.Bg5
Be7
[I was hoping for 5...c6
6.e3
Qa5
with interesting play in the old-fashioned "Cambridge Springs" defense. But it was not to be.]
6.e3
0-0
7.Rc1
a6
8.c5!?
Stan goes for the big clamp on the queenside. We're still in known theoretical territory. [8.cxd5
exd5
9.Bd3
is a slightly more common way to play, banking on the advantages of the Carlsbad pawn structure to give White some ideas on both sides of the board, but principally on the queenside.]
8...Ne4!?
This move takes us to the theoretical fringes. In Mark Crowther's TWIC database there are only three examples -- not a very big theoretical sample.
9.Bxe7
[All three recent games went 9.Nxe4
dxe4
10.Bxe7
Qxe7
11.Nd2
when Black's most ambitious idea is 11...f5!?
Ostrowsky-Brodowski, Poland 2002 (0-1, 56).]
9...Qxe7
10.Bd3
f5
A positiona lly interesting decision. Black has a stonewall pawn structure -- and therefore, at present, a fair amount of central space -- but no darksquare bishop. [10...Nxc3
11.Rxc3
e5
also comes into consideration, but it leads to a completely different sort of game.]
11.0-0
g5!?
I have some doubts about this move, which looks overly ambitious. Surely Black doesn't think he can get in ...g4, ...Qh4, ...Rf6-h6 and ...Qxh2# Or does he?
12.Nd2
Ndf6
13.f3
Nxd2
14.Qxd2
e5
Black gets rid of the Stonewall structure and gives his bishop some breathing space.
15.e4!?
A frightening position. No doubt Jon wished he had his g-pawn safely back on g7!
15...exd4
[15...dxe4
]
16.Nxd5
Nxd5
17.exd5?!
This routine move may not be best. [17.Bc4!
keeps Black in suspense. It's probably better for White to recapture on d5 with a piece, and Black isn't in a position to stop it since 17...c6
18.exd5
Qe3+
19.Qxe3
dxe3
20.dxc6++/-
is ugly.]
17...Qe3+!
With his king badly exposed, Jon makes the right decision and gets queens off the board.
18.Qxe3
dxe3
Now Black's natural plan would be to reinforce his advanced pawn with ...f4, not out of any attacking ambitions but because otherwise the pawn will be weak.
19.f4
Naturally, White stops this plan.
19...gxf4
20.Rxf4
Material is equal, but White stands clearly better. Black's pawns are very weak and it is surprising that more don't fall.
20...Bd7
21.Re1
This routine move is not necessarily bad, but it strikes me as insufficiently sharp. [It looks better to break up Black's pawns immediately with 21.c6!
bxc6
22.dxc6
Bc8
and only now (22...Be6
23.Re1
Bxa2
24.Rxe3+/-
) 23.Re1+/-
when Black's bishop interferes with the coordination of his rooks.]
21...Rae8
22.g3?!
This is a small but definite error. White wants to play Rf3 without having to cope with ...f4 as a reply, but the precaution is needless and presents Black with a tempo that he puts to good use. [22.Rf3
f4
23.g3
seems to win a pawn.]
22...Re5
23.Bc4
Bb5
[Black can also play more simply with 23...Kg7
intending ...Kf6 when it is difficult for White to make progress.]
24.Bxb5
axb5
25.Rd4
Rd8
26.d6?
Rxc5!
27.Rxe3
cxd6
After all that excitement, White is a pawn down but Black's pawns are badly fractured. [27...Rxd6
28.Rxd6
cxd6
may offer Black some chances in the ending, e.g. 29.Re7
Rc1+
30.Kf2
Rc2+
and White will be very reluctant to trade rooks since then he will be outgunned in the pawn ending.]
28.Rb3
[On general principles I like to have the more active rooks, so I'd vote for 28.Re7
White has nothing to fear from 28...Rc1+
29.Kg2
Rc2+
30.Kh3
Rxb2
31.Rh4
when Black cannot hope to avoid a draw.]
28...d5
29.Kf2
Kf7
30.Ke3
Kf6
31.Rdb4
Re8+
32.Kd3
Re7
33.Rxb5
Rxb5
34.Rxb5
Ke5
35.Rb6
Rc7
36.a4
f4
37.gxf4+
Kxf4
38.b4
[If there were any winning chances here, which seems doubtful, they would have to be bound up with 38.Kd4
After 38...Rc4+
39.Kxd5
Rxa4
40.Rxb7
h5
at least White would have a passed pawn that Black cannot blockade with his king. Probably Black would play to pick off the pawn at h2 and then, if forced, sacrifice his rook for White's b-pawn and run the h-pawn for a touchdown. This should suffice to draw. Maybe.]
38...Ke5
39.a5
Rf7
40.b5
d4
41.Rh6
Rd7
42.a6
bxa6
43.Rxa6
Kd5
44.Rh6
With the material reduced this far, it isn't surprising that the position is drawn. Jon finds the right plan, which (as usual in rook endings) involves blockading the enemy passer with the king.
44...Kc5
45.Rh5+
Kb6
46.h4
It's almost Zugzwang -- but not quite. Black's pawns and rook cannot move, but his king can.
46...Ka5
47.Re5
Kb6
48.h5
Ka5
49.Rg5
Kb6
50.Rf5
Ka5
51.Rc5
Kb6
52.Re5
Ka5
53.Rf5
1/2-1/2