1.d4 d6 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be3
If White feels like forcing the pace, he can try 6.e5
here.
6...Nc6
7.Be2
e6!?
This is a very unusual idea. Black is taking some control over the d5 square so that he can meet White's eventual e5 by moving a Knight there.
8.Qd2
Ne7
9.e5
Perhaps 9.0-0-0
would have been wiser, leaving the center fluid for another move or two.
9...Nfd5
10.Nxd5
Nxd5
11.Bf2
Bh6
12.g3
b6
13.h4
dxe5
14.dxe5
Bb7
15.h5
It looks like White has a massive attack brewing. Somehow, Benjamin defuses it all.
15...Nxf4!?
Very spirited!
16.gxf4?!
This is a small slip, but it does not seem to me that it is to White's benefit to let the pawn on f4 come off with check. Instead, White should probably have tried 16.Qxd8
Raxd8
17.gxf4
Bxf4
18.Rh4.
16...Qxd2+
17.Kxd2
Bxf4+
18.Be3
Rad8+
19.Bd3
Bxf3
20.Bxf4
Bxh1
21.Rxh1
Material is just about equal, but White's pawns are quite weak.
21...Rd5
22.c4
Rd4
23.Bg5
White would love to sink a Bishop in at f6.
23...f5
24.hxg6
Here I would prefer to get more pawns off (and expose Black's King more) with 24.exf6
Rg4
25.Be3
Rxf6
26.hxg6
hxg6.
24...hxg6
25.Ke3
c5
26.Bf6
Rxf6
This exchange sacrifice is more or less forced, but that does not mean that it is bad. Black will shortly collect the pawn on f6 and will then have three connected passed pawns for the Bishop. Since Black's King will be free to join the fight and situated in the center, and since White's Bishop lacks pawn support, the imbalance actually favors Black somewhat.
27.exf6
a5
There is no reason to allow White to pick off a pawn quickly. Black puts this pawn out of harm's way (and on a dark square, where the Bishop cannot attack it, and on a square that helps him to meet any White pawn breaks with b4) before playing ...Kf7.
28.a3
e5
Since White is clearly preparing b4, Black defends his Rook with another pawn, freeing the c-pawn to capture on b4.
29.Be2
Kf7
Now there is nothing else useful to do, so Black brings up his King and rounds up the pawn on f6 in the process.
30.b4?
axb4!
Black is happy to kill off as many White pawns as possible. If White is left pawnless, Black can lose all of his pawns (not likely!) and still have a theoretical draw.
31.axb4
cxb4
32.Rb1
The point: White gets at least one of the b-pawns back.
32...Kxf6
33.Rxb4
Rd6!
There is no reason to give up the pawn on b6 here. Giving it up would turn White's c-pawn into a real threat.
34.Rb5
e4
The wall of pawns on light squares might be strong or weak depending on where pieces were placed. Here, it is strong: it restricts White's Bishop's freedom of motion and is not vulnerable to attack, since the Bishop cannot easily attack the base of the pawn chain at g6.
35.Bf1
Ke6
36.Bg2
Rd3+
37.Kf4
g5+
Black gives up two pawns in order to get White's Bishop off the board.
38.Kxg5
Rg3+
39.Kf4
Rg4+!
For a moment, White's King is on an excellent blockading square, attacking f5 and preventing Black's King from moving forward to e5 in the event of a check on b6. So before capturing the Bishop, Black takes a tempo to push White's King to e3, which is not such a good square.
40.Ke3
Rxg2
41.Rxb6+
Ke5
42.Rb5+
Kf6
Black's King comes around the other side of the f-pawn. This sort of decision takes strong nerves; Black has to be sure that White's c-pawn will not be a problem or that his own passed pawns will become very strong faster than White's c-pawn will. Otherwise, Black would have to leave his King close to the c-file -- but in that case, Black cannot hope to win.
43.Rb6+
Kg5
Continuing on his chosen course.
44.c5
As expected, White races forward with the pawn.
44...Rc2
In a race like this, Rooks really do belong behind passed pawns!
45.Kd4
White brings his King up to aid the pawn, since it cannot get past the 6th rank without the help of the King.
45...Kf4
Black brings his King forward and, incidentally, takes the opposition. It is now very difficult to find a good defensive idea for White.
46.Rb1
46.Kd5?
fails because White's pawn moves more slowly than Black's: 46...e3
47.Re6
Kf3
48.c6
f4
Black moves his pawns forward together with his King. That way, if White sacrifices his Rook for the e-pawn, Black's f-pawn will be far enough forward to win easily. 49.Kd6
e2
50.c7
Kf2
51.Re8
(If Black did not have an f-pawn here, the position would be a draw: White would play 51.Rxe2+
Kxe2
52.Kd7
forcing Black to give up his Rook for the c-pawn. But of course, Black *does* have an f-pawn.) 51...f3
52.c8Q
Rxc8
53.Rxc8
e1Q.
46...e3
47.c6
A last drawing attempt: White sees that he can win Black's e-pawn for his c-pawn. The problem is that Black can force the White King away from his remaining pawn.
47...Rxc6
This is not the only way to win, but it is the simplest.
48.Rf1+
Kg3!
Black takes this particular square very thoughtfully. He is already looking towards his next move.
49.Kxe3
After 49.Rxf5
there are several ways to win, but the simplest is 49...Re6!
Rooks belong behind passed pawns! 50.Kd5
Re8!
There is no need to be fancy and give up the Rook. The endgame of Q vs. R is actually rather tricky; good players enter it only if they have no other, simpler method of winning. 51.Rg5+
Kf4
Kicking the Rook so that White has no more checks. 52.Rg1
e2
53.Re1
Kf3-+
and Black's King will smoke out the Rook.
49...Re6+!
Forcing the King over one file, where it is cut off. After 49...Re6+! 50.Kd2 f4 Black easily forces the Lucena position.
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