[Event "2023 Irwin National Tournament of Senior"] [Site "Grand Rapids, MI"] [Date "2023.07.29"] [Round "1"] [White "Tagorda, Ramon"] [Black "Sloan, Thomas J"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A00"] [WhiteElo "1679"] [BlackElo "2155"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] {[%evp 0,82,16,42,40,41,41,23,23,12,56,56,49,16,16,-3,4,-42,-45,-44,-27,-63,-43,-83,-83,-133,-139,-153,-149,-210,-120,-130,-139,-171,-130,-239,-136,-136,-143,-146,-144,-171,-137,-137,-149,-177,-176,-205,-202,-211,-216,-232,-223,-242,-174,-166,-153,-205,-194,-217,-217,-217,-218,-250,-208,-212,-216,-245,-227,-220,-196,-220,-235,-577,-333,-348,-226,-432,-430,-408,-374,-374,-368,-368,-148]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. a3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. c3 O-O 9. O-O a6 10. Nbd2 b5 11. Ba2 Nf4 12. Ne4 Nxd3 13. Be3 c4 14. Qe2 Qc7 15. Rad1 Bb7 16. Ng3 Rad8 17. Bb1 Nf4 18. Bxf4 Qxf4 19. Bc2 Qc7 20. h4 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 Rd8 22. Re1 e5 23. h5 f5 24. hxg6 hxg6 25. Nh4 Ne7 26. Nf3 Bxf3 27. Qxf3 e4 28. Qe2 Nd5 29. Nf1 Nf4 30. Qe3 Nd3 31. Rb1 Qe5 32. Qg5 Qf6 33. Qg3 f4 34. Qh3 Rd5 35. Qc8+ Kh7 36. Bd1 Nxb2 37. Qh3+ Bh6 38. Bg4 Rd3 39. Qh2 Qxc3 40. Qh4 Qe5 41. Nh2 Qg5 0-1 [Event "2023 Irwin Senior Championship"] [Site "Grand Rapids, MI"] [Date "2023.07.30"] [Round "2"] [White "Burnett, IM Ronald"] [Black "Sloan, Thomas J"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A00"] [WhiteElo "2351"] [BlackElo "2149"] [Annotator "Thomas J Sloan"] [PlyCount "20"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] {[%evp 0,20,26,-5,56,8,42,-3,56,57,54,-27,-38,-45,-37,-40,-20,-28,-20,-140,-167,-414,-413]} 1. c4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 {This move is suspect so early in the game. It does end up with White's Bishop somewhat out of place in the center of the board where it will likely have to waste a move retreating back to g2 if it is attacked. Recommended is 5.d4 transposing into a normal Leningrad Dutch Defense.} fxe4 6. Nxe4 Nxe4 7. Bxe4 Nc6 {I wanted to prevent 8.d4.} ({A perfectly good alternative is} 7... c6 8. Ne2 d5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Bg2 Nc6 11. d4 Bg4 12. Be3 Qa5+ 13. Qd2 Qxd2+ 14. Kxd2 Rd8 15. Rhd1 h5 16. h3 Bf5 17. Rac1 O-O 18. Rc3 e6 {where Black has a very comfortable game, though it is about equal.} (18... e5 $2 19. Ke1 Rfe8 $10) 19. Ke1 (19. f3 $2 e5 $1 $17 {e.g.,} 20. g4 exd4 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 22. Bxd4 Nxd4 23. gxf5 Rxf5 $17) 19... Nb4 20. Kd2 Rc8 $10) 8. Ne2 ({Poor is} 8. Qc2 $2 Nd4 9. Qd3 c6 10. Ne2 d5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Bxg6+ hxg6 13. Nxd4 O-O 14. O-O Bh3 15. Re1 Qb6 16. Nf3 Rxf3 17. Qxf3 Rf8 $19) ({Another alternative is} 8. h4 {which Black must respond to accurately or get crushed!} e6 9. h5 d5 10. Bg2 O-O 11. hxg6 (11. h6 Bd4 12. Nf3 Ne5 13. Nxd4 (13. O-O Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 dxc4 $17) 13... Nd3+ 14. Ke2 dxc4 15. Nf3 e5 $17) 11... hxg6 12. d3 dxc4 13. Be4 Ne5 14. dxc4 Qxd1+ 15. Kxd1 Rxf2 16. Nh3 Rf8 (16... Rf6 17. Bg5 Rf7 18. Ke2 Bd7 19. Nf4 Bc6 20. Bxc6 Nxc6 21. Nxg6 Nd4+ 22. Kd3 Re8 $15) 17. Ng5 Ng4 18. Rh4 Nf2+ 19. Ke2 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Bd7 21. Bh6 Bc6 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Ke3 Rh8 24. Nc5 Rxh4 25. gxh4 Kf6 26. Rf1+ Ke7 27. Rg1 Rg8 28. b4 b6 29. Nd3 Be8 30. h5 g5 31. h6 Rh8 32. Rxg5 Rxh6 33. Rg7+ Kd8 34. Nf4 a6 35. Ke4 Rf6 36. Ne2 Rf1 37. Nd4 Re1+ 38. Kd3 Kc8 39. Kd2 Rf1 40. Re7 Bd7 41. Nxe6 Rf2+ 42. Kd3 Rxa2 43. Nf4 a5 44. bxa5 Rxa5 45. Nd5 $10) 8... Nd4 {I still wanted to stop 9.d4.} ({Slightly better was} 8... Ne5 9. Qc2 c6 10. d4 Nxc4 11. Qxc4 (11. Bxg6+ $2 hxg6 12. Qxc4 Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Qf5 14. O-O-O d6 15. Nc3 Be6 16. Qe2 Kd7 (16... Bxd4 17. Rhe1 Kd7 18. h4 Bf6 19. Ne4 Rhe8 20. Bc3 Bxc3 21. Nxc3 Bg8 $17) 17. Be3 Rh3 18. f3 Rah8 19. d5 Bxd5 20. Nxd5 cxd5 21. Qb5+ Kc7 22. Bxa7 Rxh2 23. Rxh2 Rxh2 24. Bb6+ Kb8 25. Qe8+ Qc8+ 26. Qxc8+ Kxc8 27. Rxd5 Rxb2 28. Bd4 Bxd4 29. Rxd4 Rf2 30. Rf4 Rxa2 $17 {or -+})) 9. d3 $2 ({Better was} 9. Nxd4 Bxd4 10. O-O O-O 11. d3 c6 12. Bh6 Rf7 {Black has fully equalized with a comfortable game. Play might continue} 13. Qe2 d6 14. h4 Bh3 15. Bg2 Qd7 16. Kh2 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 e5 18. f3 a5 19. Rae1 a4 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. Qxe3 c5 $10) 9... d5 $3 {A flash of genius! How I was inspired to find this move is unknown to me. I did observe that if I had a Bishop on g4 he would have to sacrifice his 'f' pawn to avoid loss of his Knight. I also noticed that if his Bishop on e4 was gone and my 'd' pawn was gone he would have problem with my Nf3+ followed by Bh3. Then it just came to me that I could accomplish both goals with momentum with 9...d5! My opponent spent 30 minutes on his next move. He had two reasonable choices, a poor choice, and a disastrous choice} 10. Bxd5 $4 ({His first reasonable choice was} 10. cxd5 $1 Bg4 11. Qa4+ $1 ({Another strong consideration is} 11. Nxd4 $3 Bxd1 12. Ne6 Qc8 (12... Qd7 13. Nxg7+ Kf7 14. Ne6 Bg4 15. O-O $1 Rhb8 (15... Bxe6 16. dxe6+ Qxe6 17. Bxb7 Rab8 18. Be4 Rb4 19. b3 $10) 16. Bf4 Bxe6 17. dxe6+ Kxe6 18. Rfe1 Kf7 19. Re3 c6 20. d4 $1 {White's Bishops are more powerful in this position than Black's Rooks.} Re8 (20... Qxd4 $2 21. Bc2 $1 $10 {Incredibly, the dynamics of White's pieces compensate for the material deficit! E.g.,} Re8 22. Rd1 Qc5 23. Bb3+ e6 24. Rd7+ Re7 25. Rxe6 Rxd7 26. Rxc6+ Qd5 27. Bxd5+ Rxd5 28. Rc7+ Ke6 29. Rxb7 $10) 21. Bc2 e6 22. Bb3 a5 23. a4 Ra6 24. Rf3 Kg7 25. Re1 Rb6 26. Rfe3 Kf6 27. Rf3 Kg7 28. Rfe3 Kf7 29. Rf3 Kg8 30. h4 (30. Rfe3 Rxb3 $1 31. Rxb3 g5 $1 32. Be5 (32. Bxg5 $4 Qd5 $19) 32... Re7 33. Rbe3 Rf7 34. g4 Qd5 $15 {or  Black is starting to make headway.}) 30... Rb4 31. Bh6 Rxb3 32. Rxb3 e5 (32... Qxd4 $2 33. Rxb7 $14 {Now White is better!. E.g.,} Qxa4 $2 34. Rg7+ Kh8 35. Rd7 c5 36. Red1 g5 37. hxg5 Qg4 38. R1d3 Qe4 39. Re3 Qf5 40. Rb3 Rg8 41. Rbb7 $18) 33. dxe5 Rxe5 34. Rxe5 Qd1+ 35. Kh2 Qxb3 36. Rxa5 Qxb2 37. Ra8+ Kf7 38. Be3 Qb4 39. a5 c5 40. a6 bxa6 41. Rxa6 h5 42. Rc6 c4 43. Bd4 Qb3 44. Rf6+ Ke7 45. Rxg6 Qd1 46. Rg7+ Kd6 47. Be3 c3 48. Bf4+ Ke6 49. Rc7 Qc2 50. Be3 $10) 13. Kxd1 Bf6 14. Bf4 Qd7 15. Nxc7+ Kf7 16. Nxa8 Rxa8 17. Ke2 Rc8 $1 (17... Bxb2 $2 18. Rab1 Bd4 19. d6 Bb6 20. dxe7 Kxe7 21. Rhe1 Qh3 22. Bxb7 Rf8 23. Rb4 Qxh2 24. Kd1+ Kd8 25. Rc4 Rf6 26. Bc6 Rxc6 27. Rxc6 Qxf2 28. Rd6+ Kc8 (28... Kc7 $4 29. Rxb6+ Kxb6 30. Be3+ $18) 29. Re8+ Kb7 30. Re7+ Ka6 31. Ree6 $10) 18. Kf3 Bxb2 19. Rab1 Bd4 20. Kg2 Rc2 21. Rhf1 b5 (21... Rxa2 $4 22. d6 {threatening Rxb7 and Bd5+} Rb2 23. Rxb2 (23. Bd5+ $4 Kf6 24. Rxb2 Bxb2 25. Rb1 Be5 $17) 23... Bxb2 24. Rb1 Qb5 25. d7 $18) 22. h4 a5 (22... Rxa2 $2 23. Rbc1 Bb6 24. d6 Qe6 25. Rc6 Re2 26. Bf3 exd6 27. Rxd6 Qe7 28. Bc6 Rc2 29. Bxb5 Qb7+ 30. Kg1 Qf3 31. Rd7+ Kg8 32. Bc4+ Kf8 33. Rf7+ Ke8 34. Be3 Qxf7 35. Bxf7+ Kxf7 36. Ra1 Rc3 37. Bxb6 axb6 38. Ra7+ Kg8 39. Rd7 b5 40. Kf1 b4 41. Ke2 Rc2+ 42. Ke3 b3 43. Rb7 b2 44. g4 Kf8 45. d4 Ke8 46. f3 h6 47. Ke4 Re2+ 48. Kd5 g5 49. h5 Kd8 50. Kd6 Ke8 $1 $10 {Incredibly, Black can draw this ending! E.g.,} ({not} 50... Kc8 $4 51. Rb4 $18) 51. d5 Kf8 $3 52. Rb3 Kf7 53. Kc6 Ke7 54. Rb7+ Kf6 55. d6 Ke6 $1 $10)) ({It should also be noted that} 11. Bh6 $2 {is bad} Bxe2 12. Bxg7 Bxd1 13. Bxd4 O-O $1 14. Rxd1 e6 $1 $17 {Black's position is way better than in the lines that follow where White sacrifices his Queen. An example of what might follow is:} 15. d6 cxd6 16. Bxb7 Qa5+ 17. Rd2 Rab8 18. Bc3 Qxa2 19. Bg2 Rb3 20. Bd4 Qa4 21. Bc3 d5 22. O-O (22. d4 Rxc3 23. bxc3 Qc4 24. f4 Qxc3 $19) 22... d4 23. Bh3 Re8 $19) 11... b5 ({It must be noted here that if Black only desires a draw from the game, he can play} 11... Bd7 {and White would either allow the position to be repeated with 12.Qd1 Bg4 or risk} 12. Qc4 (12. Qxd4 $2 Bxd4 13. Nxd4 Bh3 {This position is far better for Black than the variation where Black has his 'b' pawn on b5 as seen below. Here Black's pawn structure is not so ruined and White does not have quite enough dynamic compensation for his material disadvantage. Stockfish gives the evaluation of -1.66.}) 12... Bb5 13. Nxd4 (13. Qc5 b6 14. Nxd4 bxc5 15. Ne6 $1 (15. Nxb5 $2 c6 $1 16. Nc3 Bxc3+ 17. bxc3 cxd5 18. Bg2 Qa5 19. O-O (19. Bd2 Rd8 $17) 19... Qxc3 20. Bh6 Rd8 21. Rac1 Qxd3 22. Rxc5 Rf8 $1 $17 23. Rc7 Rf7 24. Rxa7 Qc2 25. a4 d4 26. a5 d3 27. Ra6 Rf5 28. Ra8 Rxa8 29. Bxa8 d2 30. Bxd2 Qxd2 31. a6 Ra5 32. Bb7 Kf7 33. h3 Ra2 $19) 15... Qd7 16. a4 Bxd3 17. Bxd3 Kf7 18. Ng5+ (18. Nxg7 $4 Qxd5 $19) 18... Kg8 19. Bc4 Qg4 $1 20. Bf4 $1 (20. f4 $2 Kf8 21. Ne6+ Kf7 22. O-O $1 Bf6 $1 23. Ra3 Rab8 24. h3 (24. d6 cxd6 25. Re1 (25. Ng5+ Ke8 26. h3 Qc8 27. Ne6 Rb4 28. Bd5 Bd4+ 29. Kg2 Kd7 $19) 25... Rb4 26. h3 Qh5 27. Ng5+ Kf8 $1 28. Be2 Qh6 29. Bb5 Kg7 30. Ne6+ Kf7 31. Ng5+ Kg7 32. Ne6+ Kg8 33. Bf1 Qh5 {Black is slowly making progress improving his position. .} 34. Rae3 Qf5 35. Kh2 h5 36. Bd3 Qd5 37. Bxg6 Rb3 38. Rxb3 Qxb3 39. Bf5 Kf7 40. Nc7 c4 41. Be6+ Kg7 42. Bd5 Rb8 $19) 24... Qxh3 25. d6 Qxe6 $3) 20... Bxb2 21. O-O $1 Bxa1 22. Rxa1 {Incredibly, Black is about a Rook ahead in material but there is no clear path to victory, if any victory at all} Kg7 23. Re1 h6 $1 24. h3 $1 (24. Be5+ $2 Kg8 $19) 24... Qf5 25. Be5+ Qxe5 $1 ({or} 25... Kf8 26. Ne6+ ({not} 26. Bxh8 $2 hxg5 27. Bc3 Rb8 $2 $19) 26... Kg8 27. d6 Qc2 28. Bd5 Qd2 29. Nxc7+ e6 $1 30. Bc3 $3 ({or} 30. Rb1 $1 Rf8 $1 (30... exd5 $4 31. Nxa8 $18) 31. Bxe6+ Kh7 32. Nd5 Qxf2+ 33. Kh1 Qf3+ 34. Kg1 Qf2+ {drawn by perpetual check!}) 30... Qxc3 31. Rxe6 $1 Kg7 $1 32. Re7+ Kf6 33. Re6+ Kg7 (33... Kf5 $4 34. Be4+ Kg5 35. f4+ Kh5 36. Bxg6#) 34. Re7+ Kf6 (34... Kf8 $4 35. Ne6+ Kg8 36. Nxc5+ Kf8 37. Nd7#) 35. Re6+ {again drawn by perpetual check!}) 26. Rxe5 hxg5 27. Rxe7+ Kh6 $1 28. Rxc7 Rhc8 29. Rf7 Rcb8 30. Rc7 Rb1+ 31. Kg2 Rc1 32. Bd3 Rd8 33. Rc6 $10) 13... Bxc4 14. Ne6 Qd6 15. O-O $1 (15. dxc4 Qb4+ 16. Bd2 Qxc4 17. Nxg7+ Kf7 18. Bg2 Kxg7 19. Rc1 (19. Bc3+ $2 Kf7 20. Bxh8 Rxh8 $17 {is bad for White}) 19... Qa6 {Black wants to keep White from castling.} 20. Bf1 ({Still bad for White is} 20. Bc3+ Kf7 21. Bxh8 Rxh8 22. Rxc7 Qa5+ 23. Rc3 Rc8 24. Kd2 Rxc3 25. bxc3 Qxa2+ $19) 20... Qd6 (20... Qxa2 21. Bc4 Qa4 22. b3 Qa3 23. Bc3+ Kf7 24. O-O b5 25. Bxb5 Qxb3 26. Bc6 Rhf8 27. Bd4 Rab8 28. Bxa7 Rb4 {=+ or  Black is definately better but it is hard for him to make headway, even though White has only two Bishops and no pawns for the Queen. )}) 21. Bc4 Rhf8 22. Bc3+ Kf7 23. O-O Ke8 24. a3 a5 25. Bb5+ Kd8 26. Rc2 Rf5 27. Bc4 Kd7 28. Rd1 h5 29. Bb5+ Kc8 30. Bc4 $15 {or  Same footnote as above.}) 15... Bxd5 (15... Bxd3 16. Bxd3 Kf7 17. Ng5+ Kg8 18. Bc2 h6 19. Ne6 g5 20. Be3 Rh7 (20... Bxb2 21. Rab1 Be5 22. Rxb7 Qa6 23. Nc5 Qa5 24. a4 Kf7 25. Rb5 Qc3 26. Rc1 Qa3 27. Nd3 Bf6 28. Bc5 Qc3 29. Bb1 Qd2 30. Bb4 Qe2 31. Re1 Qg4 32. Rxe7+ $1 Kg8 33. Re6 Kg7 34. Rc5 Rhf8 (34... Rac8 35. Rcc6 (35. Rec6 $4 Qd1+ $19) 35... Qd1+ 36. Re1 Qxa4 37. Bc2 Qa2 38. Ree6 a5 39. Rxf6 axb4 40. Rg6+ Kf8 41. Rcf6+ Ke8 42. Nxb4 Qa3 43. Re6+ Kf8 44. Rgf6+ Kg7 45. Rg6+ Kf8 46. Rgf6+ {drawn by perpetual check}) 35. Bc2 Rae8 36. Rxc7+ Rf7 37. Ne5 $3 Rxc7 $1 ({not} 37... Bxe5 38. Rg6+ Kh8 39. Rxf7 Qxb4 40. Rh7+ $1 Kxh7 41. Rb6+ Kg7 42. Rxb4 $16) ({possible is} 37... Qxe6 38. Nxf7 Qxf7 39. d6 $1 Kg8 40. Rxf7 Kxf7 41. Bb3+ Kg6 42. Bc5 $10) 38. Nxg4 Rxe6 39. dxe6 Rxc2 40. Ne3 Rc6 41. Nf5+ Kg6 42. e7 Re6 43. g4 h5 44. h3 hxg4 45. hxg4 Kf7 (45... Re4 46. f4 gxf4 47. Kf2 Bxe7 48. Bxe7 Rxa4 49. Kf3 a5 50. Bd8 Ra1 51. Kxf4 a4 52. Be7 a3 53. Bxa3 Rxa3 54. Ng3 $10 {A fairly easy draw for White}) 46. a5 Rc6 47. Kg2 a6 48. Kf3 Re6 49. Bd6 Bc3 50. Bc5 $1 Bf6 51. Bd6 $10 {A draw is the likely outcome.}) 21. Rfe1 Bf6 22. Bb3 Rf7 23. Rac1 Rc8 24. Bxa7 Bxb2 25. Rc4 b6 26. Re2 Ba3 27. Rc6 Qd7 28. Rec2 Rf6 29. Rxc7 Rxc7 30. Rxc7 Qe8 $10) 16. Bxd5 Be5 17. Bb3 (17. f4 $4 Qxd5 $19) 17... Rf8 $1 (17... Qxd3 18. Rd1 Qe2 19. Bh6 Bd6 20. Rac1 Rc8 21. Rd2 (21. Bc4 Qxb2 22. Rb1 Qc2 $10) 21... Qa6 22. Ng7+ Kd7 23. Be6+ Kd8 24. Bg4 c5 25. Ne6+ Ke8 26. Ng7+ Kd8 (26... Kf7 $4 27. Be6+ Kf6 (27... Kf8 28. Bxc8 $18) 28. Rc3 Rcd8 29. Rf3+ Bf4 30. Rxf4+ Ke5 31. Bd7 $18) 27. Ne6+ Ke8 28. Ng7+ Kd8 {is a perpetual check or White can try for more, though the position is equal} 29. b4 c4 $10) 18. Be3 Rf6 (18... Rf3 19. d4 Bf6 20. Rfe1 Rc8 21. Rac1 c6 $15 {It is very hard for Black to make any headway even though White has only a Bishop and Knight for the Queen.Stockfish rates the position as -.50 in Black's favor, which is a very small advantage. Play might continue} 22. d5 Bxb2 23. Rcd1 Rxe3 24. Rxe3 c5 25. Ba4+ Kf7 26. Ng5+ Kg8 27. Re6 Qc7 28. d6 exd6 29. Rexd6 Bd4 30. Rd7 Qe5 31. Nf3 Qf5 32. Nxd4 cxd4 33. R1xd4 Rf8 34. Rd2 Kh8 35. Bc2 $10) 19. Ng7+ Kf8 20. Bh6 $1 g5 21. Nf5+ Rxh6 22. Nxd6 exd6 $10) 12. Qxd4 $3 Bxd4 13. Nxd4 {Incredibly, White has only Knight, Bishop and pawn for Queen but has approximate equality due to Black's pawn and positional weakness and the dynamic ability of White's pieces. It is very hard for Black to make any progress. Only with superhuman moves (from Stockfish 15.1) and a number of amazing sacrifices was the chess engine able to eventually come up with lines that may be winning, but probably due to weak play by White.. In any event, Stockfish gives Black only -0.46 advantage to Black, which is very little (=+) and the likelihood is that in a real live game of humans White could have survived this line to a draw or maybe even won with less than accurate play by Black! E.g.,} Bh3 14. Be3 (14. Nxb5 $2 Rf8 $1 15. Nc3 c6 $1 16. dxc6 Qb6 17. Nd1 O-O-O 18. Be3 Qa6 19. Nc3 Rxd3 $1 20. Bxd3 Qxd3 21. Rd1 Qc2 22. Rd2 Qc1+ 23. Nd1 Qb1 $1 24. Rg1 Bg4 25. h3 Bf3 $1 26. g4 Rd8 27. Rxd8+ Kxd8 28. Kd2 Qxa2 29. c7+ Kxc7 30. Kc2 Be4+ 31. Kd2 Bf3 32. Kc2 Be4+ 33. Kd2 Qb1 34. Rg3 Qc2+ 35. Ke1 Qb1 36. Kd2 Qc2+ 37. Ke1 Bd3 38. Nc3 a5 $1 $19 {Only now is it clear that Black is winning, and that was after Black's weak 14th move.}) 14... Qd6 15. a3 O-O 16. Rc1 $1 (16. Nxb5 $2 Qf6 17. Bd4 Qa6 18. Nc3 c5 $1 {First of a series of incredible sacrifices.} 19. Bxc5 Rab8 20. b4 Rbc8 21. Nd1 (21. Kd2 Rxc5 22. bxc5 Qa5 23. f4 Qxc5 24. Nd1 Rb8 $17) 21... Qa4 22. Bxe7 Rce8 $3 23. Bxf8 Qc2 $3 24. Bc5 (24. Ne3 Qc3+ 25. Ke2 Qb2+ $19) 24... Qxd3 25. Ne3 Rxe4 26. Rd1 Qc3+ 27. Ke2 Bg4+ 28. f3 Qc4+ 29. Kf2 (29. Rd3 Bxf3+ 30. Kxf3 Qxd3 31. Re1 Re8 $2 32. Bxa7 (32. Re2 Qxa3 33. Rc2 Qd3 34. Re2 g5 35. Kf2 h5 36. h3 a6 37. h4 gxh4 38. gxh4 Re5 39. Re1 Kf7 40. Rf1 Qe4 41. Kg3+ Kg7 42. Rf3 Qg4+ 43. Kf2 Qxh4+ 44. Ke2 $19) 32... Rf8+ 33. Kg4 Qd2 34. Ng2 Qxg2 35. Re5 Qf3+ 36. Kh3 Qf1+ 37. Kh4 Qf6+ $19) 29... Qa2+ 30. Kf1 Bxf3 $19) 16... Rad8 (16... b4 17. Rc6 Qd7 18. axb4 Rab8 19. b5 Rf6 20. Rc5 Rfb6 21. Kd2 Rxb5 22. Nxb5 Rxb5 23. Rxb5 Qxb5 24. Bd4 $10) (16... Rae8 17. Rc6 Qd7 18. Ne6 $10) (16... a6 17. Rc6 Qe5 18. Kd2 Rad8 19. f4 Qg7 20. Rhc1 e5 21. fxe5 Qxe5 22. R1c5 $10) 17. Nxb5 Qe5 18. Bd4 Qh5 19. Nxc7 Rf3 20. Bxf3 Qxf3 21. Kd2 Bf5 22. Be3 a5 23. Rhd1 $10) ({His second reasonable choice was} 10. Bg2 dxc4 (10... Bg4 11. Qa4+ Bd7 ({or} 11... b5 12. cxb5 Bxe2 13. Be3 {is actually slightly better for White} Nf5 14. Kxe2 O-O 15. Bc5 Qd7 16. Rhe1 a6 17. Qb3 Rfd8 18. Kf1 ({not} 18. bxa6 Nd4+ 19. Bxd4 Bxd4 20. a7 c6 $15) 18... axb5 19. Kg1 e6 $14) 12. Qd1 Bg4 {if Black wants a draw}) 11. Nxd4 Qxd4 12. Qa4+ Bd7 13. Qxc4 Qxc4 14. dxc4 O-O-O 15. O-O Bf5 16. Re1 Rhe8 17. a4 a5 18. Ra3 c6 {Black stands slightly better here, despite his isolated 'e' pawn. Stockfish evaluates the position as -.45, about half a pawn in Black's favor.}) ({White's third choice is poor:} 10. Nxd4 $2 dxe4 11. Nb3 (11. Qa4+ $4 Bd7 $19 {loses a piece for nothing}) (11. Nb5 exd3 12. O-O O-O 13. Re1 e5 $17 {Black is a pawn ahead and White will sorely miss his white-squared Bishop.}) 11... exd3 12. O-O O-O 13. Nc5 Qd4 14. Be3 Qxc4 15. Qxd3 (15. Rc1 Qxa2 16. Qxd3 Bf5 $19) 15... Qxd3 16. Nxd3 Bf5 $17 17. Rad1 Rfd8 $17 {White has nothing to show for his pawn down and Black has the two Bishops.}) 10... Qxd5 $3 $19 {If 11.cxd5 Nf3+ 12.Kf1 Bh3 mate or if 11.Qa4+ Qc6 12.Qxc6+ Nxc6 Black is a piece up with a better position, so White resigned. This was the strongest player and the only titled player that I can recall ever beating, and of course, I was at an all time high at this point of the tournament. I hope you learned from and enjoyed this whirlwind adventure as much as I did.} 0-1 [Event "2023 Irwin National Tournament of Senior"] [Site "Grand Rapids, MI"] [Date "2023.07.30"] [Round "3"] [White "Sloan, Thomas J"] [Black "Kraai, GM Jesse"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A00"] [WhiteElo "2049"] [BlackElo "2452"] [PlyCount "90"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] {[%evp 0,90,16,34,35,42,36,29,33,-45,-45,-28,-23,-51,-28,-64,-48,-54,-49,-44,-42,-35,-42,-38,-48,-85,-55,-69,-51,-89,-64,-385,-412,-419,-403,-393,-315,-382,-277,-297,-257,-333,-303,-323,-359,-359,-372,-415,-423,-527,-440,-428,-439,-446,-409,-450,-409,-409,-443,-453,-452,-466,-445,-451,-447,-447,-377,-378,-365,-373,-354,-384,-380,-428,-435,-455,-426,-443,-476,-471,-483,-499,-523,-527,-539,-550,-565,-570,-607,-658,-713,-713,-723]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Qe2+ Be7 5. Bg5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Be3 Nf6 8. Nc3 O-O 9. h3 Bh5 10. g4 Bg6 11. Ne5 Bb4 12. O-O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 Ne4 14. Kb2 Qd6 15. Bf4 Nxc3 16. Nd3 Nxd1+ 17. Qxd1 Qe7 18. c3 Rfe8 19. Be3 Na5 20. Ne5 b5 21. Qc1 Rab8 22. Nxg6 hxg6 23. Bd2 Qe4 24. Rg1 Nc4+ 25. Bxc4 bxc4+ 26. Ka1 Qd3 27. Rg3 Qe2 28. Be3 Re6 29. Rg1 Reb6 30. Rd1 Rb2 31. Rd2 Rxd2 32. Qxd2 Qxd2 33. Bxd2 c6 34. Bf4 Rb7 35. Bd6 g5 36. Bc5 f6 37. Bb4 Kf7 38. a4 Ke6 39. a5 a6 40. Kb2 g6 41. Kc2 Rh7 42. Kd2 Rxh3 43. Ke2 f5 44. f3 fxg4 45. fxg4 Rg3 {White resigns} 0-1 [Event "2023 Irwin National Tournament of Senior"] [Site "Grand Rapids, MI"] [Date "2023.07.31"] [Round "4"] [White "Sloan, Thomas J"] [Black "Sevillano, GM Enico"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A00"] [WhiteElo "2155"] [BlackElo "2418"] [PlyCount "48"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] {[%evp 0,48,16,34,94,80,85,65,75,25,21,18,24,30,43,42,18,0,18,-18,-2,12,2,0,1,1,0,-51,-29,-31,-11,-14,-4,-7,-26,-143,-108,-138,-150,-183,-178,-170,-205,-387,-379,-700,-717,-929,-945,-1215,-1575]} 1. e4 g6 2. d4 c6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bg7 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Be3 Nh6 8. Qd2 Nf5 9. O-O-O O-O 10. Be2 Nd7 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Be2 Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Qc7 16. f4 Nd7 17. g3 Rfe8 18. Qd3 Qa5 19. a3 Nc5 20. Nxc5 Qxc5 21. b4 Qf2 22. Rd2 Re3 23. Bd1 Qxg3 24. Qd6 Rxa3 {White resigned.} 0-1 [Event "2023 Irwin National Tournament of Senior"] [Site "Grand Rapids, MI"] [Date "2023.07.31"] [Round "5"] [White "Fischer, Robert J"] [Black "Sloan, Thomas J"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A00"] [WhiteElo "2038"] [BlackElo "2155"] [PlyCount "44"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] {[%evp 0,44,34,11,41,34,32,21,37,36,20,20,32,36,36,29,22,29,30,7,12,0,27,-20,3,-5,10,0,-14,-6,3,-4,19,-19,-8,-12,-23,-13,-12,-12,-5,-3,-2,-8,-3,-4,-2]} 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qd3 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O d6 9. Nd5 Bg4 10. c3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Ne5 12. Qe2 e6 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14. Rd1 Rfd8 15. Be3 b6 16. Bd4 Nxf3+ 17. Qxf3 Qxf3 18. gxf3 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Kf8 20. Rad1 Ke7 21. Kg2 Rac8 22. f4 b5 1/2-1/2 [Event "2023 Irwin Senior Championship"] [Site "Grand Rapids, MI"] [Date "2023.08.01"] [Round "6"] [White "Sloan, Thomas J"] [Black "Inman, Brent"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B02"] [WhiteElo "2149"] [BlackElo "2019"] [Annotator "Thomas J Sloan"] [PlyCount "98"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] {[%evp 0,98,26,11,59,22,48,48,34,28,61,23,33,-17,16,-29,4,1,39,58,58,44,37,2,16,19,17,37,36,48,59,54,55,-10,-13,-77,-77,-86,-26,-29,-13,-14,-28,-28,-25,-37,-23,-19,-5,-17,0,-19,0,-48,-14,-15,-16,-9,4,1,0,9,15,15,13,9,13,15,15,15,13,16,13,17,13,-7,-12,-53,-46,-51,32,33,49,50,58,59,132,66,5,0,0,0,0,-9,0,0,0,-8,-8,-7,-7]} 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 Nxd5 4. Bc4 c6 (4... Nxc3 5. Qf3 e6 6. dxc3 Bd6 7. Qe2 O-O 8. Nf3 Nd7 9. Be3 b6 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. Kb1 Qf6 12. h4 Bxf3 13. gxf3 Ne5 14. Ba6 Rab8 15. f4 Ng6 16. Bd4 Qxf4 17. h5 Ne5 18. Rdg1 f6 19. Rh3 Bc5 20. Rhg3 Rf7 21. Rd1 Re7 22. a3 Bxd4 23. Rxd4 Qh6 24. Re3 Kf8 25. f4 Nc6 26. Rde4 e5 27. Qb5 Re6 28. Qf1 Rbe8 29. Qh3 Nd8 $10) 5. Qf3 e6 6. Qg3 $2 ({Better is} 6. d4 Bb4 7. a3 Ba5 8. Nge2 Nd7 9. O-O Bc7 10. Ne4 O-O 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bd2 b5 13. Ba2 a5 14. Rfe1 N7b6 15. Rad1 Kh8 16. b3 b4 17. c4 bxc3 18. N2xc3 e5 19. dxe5 fxe5 20. Qg3 Bf5 21. Bb1 Qe8 22. Ng5 Ne7 23. Bxf5 Nxf5 24. Qg4 Rd8 {with chances for both sides}) 6... Qd6 7. Ne4 (7. Nf3 b6 8. a3 Ba6 9. Bxa6 Nxa6 10. Ne4 Qxg3 11. hxg3 Nc5 12. d3 Nxe4 13. dxe4 Nf6 14. e5 Ng4 15. Bf4 g6 16. Ke2 Bg7 17. Rad1 h6 18. Rh4 h5 19. Rhh1 $10) 7... Qxg3 8. hxg3 Nb6 9. Be2 c5 10. Nf3 ({Better is} 10. b3 Be7 (10... Nc6 11. Bb2 Nb4 12. O-O-O $1 Nxa2+ 13. Kb1 Nb4 14. Bh5 $1 h6 15. Rh4 $1 c4 16. Rf4 Be7 17. Bxf7+ Kd8 18. Rf3 a5 19. Ne2 cxb3 20. cxb3 $16 {or += White stands better}) 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Ba3 N6d7 13. d4 b6 14. Nxc5 bxc5 (14... Nxc5 15. Bf3 Nd3+ 16. cxd3 Bxa3 17. Bxa8 Na6 18. Ne2 Nb4 19. O-O $1 Ba6 20. Bf3 Bxd3 21. Rad1 $1 Rc8 22. Rd2 $16 {Black has insufficient compensation for the exchange. E.g., 22...} Bc2 (22... g5 23. d5 $1 exd5 24. Re1 Kf8 25. Kh2 Bg6 26. Nd4 Bc1 27. Rdd1 Nxa2 28. Bxd5 $16) 23. d5 Nxd5 24. Nd4 Bg6 25. Bxd5 exd5 26. Nb5 Bb4 27. Rxd5 $18)) 10... Nc6 11. c3 $2 {I was needlessly afraid of Nb4. Now the problem is that my pieces will all become misplaced if Black plays correctly.} ({Still a good plan for White is} 11. b3) (11. b3 Nb4 12. Kd1 Be7 13. c3 N4d5 14. Ba3 Nd7 15. Kc2 $10 {or +=}) 11... e5 ({Strongest is} 11... f5 $1 12. Neg5 h6 13. d4 Rg8 14. Nh3 g5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Nhg1 g4 17. Nd2 Bd7 $3 {An excellent sacrifice by Black, which is playable for White but very dangerous. White must play very very accurately.} 18. Rxh6 ({Instead of accepting the pawn sacrifice, White can consider} 18. Nb3 Be7 $1 19. Be3 Nd5 20. Bc5 Ne5 21. O-O-O b6 22. Bxe7 Kxe7 23. Nd4 $10) 18... O-O-O 19. Nb3 Be7 20. Be3 Nd5 21. Bc5 ({Weaker is} 21. Bd2 Rh8 22. Rxh8 Rxh8 23. O-O-O Rh1 {Black gets too much counterplay on the Kingside. E.g.,} 24. f3 (24. Bd3 Ne5 25. Bc2 Rh2 $17) 24... e5 25. fxg4 (25. Bd3 Rh2 26. fxg4 (26. Bf1 $2 a5 27. a4 Be6 28. Kc2 Bf7 29. Ne2 gxf3 30. gxf3 Bh5 $17 31. Ng1 $4 Ne3+ $19) 26... fxg4 27. Re1) 25... fxg4 26. Bd3 Rh2 27. Re1 Nf6 28. Bb5 Rxg2 $17) 21... Bg5 22. Rh2 Rh8 23. Rxh8 Rxh8 24. Bc4 Rh1 25. f4 gxf3 26. Bxd5 exd5 27. Kf2 $3 ({Incredibly, the logical response} 27. gxf3 $2 {is weaker. White may be able to draw with best play, but it will require superhuman moves to do so.} f4 $1 28. g4 Bh4+ 29. Kf1 Bg3 $1 (29... Rh2 30. Ne2 d4 (30... Ne5 31. Bg1 Rh3 32. Nbd4 Nxf3 33. Nxf4 $10 Rg3 34. Bf2 Rxg4 35. Nxf3 Bxf2 36. Kxf2 Rxf4 37. Ke3 $10) 31. Bxd4 Bxg4 32. fxg4 f3 33. Kg1 Rxe2 34. Rf1 Rxb2 35. Rxf3 Rxa2 36. Rf8+ Kc7 37. Rf7+ $10) 30. Bf2 (30. Rd1 Ne5 {threatening Nxf3 and Bb5+} 31. Nd4 b6 32. Bd6 (32. Nde2 Rh2 $3 33. Rxd5 Nc4 34. Nxg3 fxg3 35. Bd4 Rxb2 36. Ne2 g2+ 37. Ke1 Rxa2 38. Rh5 a5 $19) 32... Nc4 $19) 30... Rh2 $1 31. Bxg3 fxg3 32. Rd1 $1 (32. Re1 $4 Rf2#) (32. Ne2 $4 Ne5 $1 33. Nxg3 $4 (33. Nbd4 Bb5 $3 34. Nxb5 Rf2+ 35. Ke1 Nxf3+ 36. Kd1 Rf1+ 37. Kc2 Rxa1 $19) 33... Bb5+ 34. Ke1 Nxf3+ 35. Kd1 Rg2 36. Nf5 Bd3 $1 {threatening Bc2# and Rg1# mates in four}) 32... a5 $1 {preventing 33.Rd2 since a4! wins a piece for Black.} ({Less convincing is} 32... Be6 33. Ke1 $1 d4 $1 34. Nxd4 Nxd4 35. Rxd4 Rxb2 36. a3 Bb3 37. Kf1 Rf2+ 38. Ke1 Ra2 39. Kf1 g2+ 40. Ke1 Rxa3 41. Kf2 Ra2+ 42. Kg3 a5 43. g5 Ra1 44. Kh2 a4 45. g6 Re1 46. g7 Re8 47. Rb4 Rg8 48. Kxg2 Rxg7+ 49. Kf2 Rg6 50. Ne2 Ra6 51. Nc1 Be6 52. Ke3 a3 53. Rb1 Kc7 54. Ra1 Kb6 55. Nd3 Bg8 56. Nb4 Ra8 57. Kd2 Kb5 58. Nc2 a2 59. Nb4 Bf7 60. Kc1 Ra3 61. Kd2 Ka4 62. Nc2 b5 63. Nxa3 Kxa3 64. Kd3 Kb2 65. Rg1 Bg6+ (65... a1=Q 66. Rxa1 Kxa1 67. Kd4 Kb2 68. Kc5 Bc4 69. Kb4 Kc2 70. f4 Kd3 71. f5 Ke4 72. f6 Kf5 73. f7 Bxf7 74. Kxb5 {drawn}) 66. Kd4 Bb1 67. Rg2+ Ka3 (67... Bc2 68. Rg1 $10) 68. Rxa2+ Bxa2 69. f4 Bc4 70. f5 Kb3 71. f6 Bf7 72. Kc5 Ka4 73. Kd4 Be6 74. Kc5 Bf7 75. Kd4 Kb3 76. Kc5 Ka4 77. Kd6 Bg6 78. Kc6 Ka5 79. Kb7 Be8 80. Ka7 $10 {An incredible draw! Black can make no progress.}) 33. Nc5 d4 $1 (33... Rxb2 34. Rxd5 Be8 35. Ne4 Rxa2 36. Rd2 $1 Rxd2 37. Nxd2 a4 38. Kg2 a3 39. Ne2 a2 40. Nb3 Bf7 41. Na1 Kc7 42. Kxg3 Bg6 43. f4 Bb1 44. f5 Kd6 45. Kf4 Kd5 46. g5 Ne7 47. f6 Ng6+ 48. Ke3 Ne5 49. Kd2 Nf3+ 50. Kc1 Nxg5 51. Kb2 Ke4 52. Nc1 $10) 34. a3 $1 (34. cxd4 $2 Nb4 35. Ne2 Bb5 $19) 34... a4 $1 (34... Rf2+ 35. Ke1 Rg2 (35... Rxb2 36. cxd4 Ra2 37. Ne2 g2 (37... Rxa3 38. Nxd7 Kxd7 39. Nxg3 Rxf3 40. Nf5 Rf4 41. d5 Ne5 42. Rb1 Kc7 43. Rb5 Re4+ 44. Kd2 b6 45. g5 Nf3+ 46. Kd3 Nxg5 (46... Rg4 47. d6+ Kc6 48. d7 Kxd7 49. Rxb6 Ne5+ 50. Kc2 Rxg5 51. Nd4 {White can draw the ending, even if he eventually has to sacrifice his Knight for the pawn since the remaining K+R+N cannot force a win against K+R.}) 47. d6+ Kc6 48. d7 Kxd7 49. Rxb6 $10 {Same as the note above.}) 38. Kf2 g1=Q+ 39. Rxg1 Nxd4 40. Rd1 $3 (40. Re1 $4 Bb5 $19) 40... Rxe2+ (40... Nxe2 41. Rxd7 b6 42. Ke3 $1 bxc5 43. Rd5 Rc2 44. g5 Nd4 45. g6 Kc7 46. f4 Kc6 47. Rg5 Ne6 48. f5 $1 Rc3+ 49. Ke2 $1 (49. Kd2 $4 Nxg5 50. Kxc3 Kd5 51. g7 Ne4+ 52. Kd3 Nf6 $19) 49... Rc2+ ({Surprisingly, also drawing is} 49... Nxg5 50. g7 Rc2+ $1 51. Ke3 (51. Kd1 $4 Rd2+ 52. Kxd2 (52. Ke1 Rd8 $19) 52... Ne4+ 53. Ke3 Nf6 $19) 51... Rc3+ $1 52. Ke2 Rc2+ $1 53. Kf1 Rc1+ 54. Kg2 Rc2+) 50. Kf1 $1 Rc1+ 51. Kg2 Rc2+ 52. Kf1 $1 $10 {Black must draw by perpetual check or he loses} ({White must allow the perpetual check since} 52. Kh1 $4 Nxg5 53. Kg1 (53. g7 Nf3 54. g8=Q Rh2#) 53... Ne4 $19)) 41. Kg3 $1 (41. Kf1 $4 Bb5 $19) 41... Nf5+ $1 42. Kf4 $1 Ne3 43. Rxd7 b6 44. Rd3 Ng2+ 45. Kg3 $1 bxc5 46. Rc3 Kc7 47. Rxc5+ Kb6 48. Rc3 ({or} 48. Rf5 Ne3 49. Re5 Nf1+ 50. Kf4 Rf2 51. Re6+ Kb5 52. Rh6 Nd2 53. Rh3 Nc4 54. g5 Rg2 55. Rg3 Rxg3 56. Kxg3 Nd6 57. Kg4 Ka4 58. f4 Kxa3 59. f5 Nxf5 $1 60. Kxf5 a4 61. g6 Kb2 62. g7 a3 63. g8=Q a2 {Drawn}) 48... Ne3 49. g5 Nf5+ (49... Rg2+ $2 50. Kh3 $14) 50. Kf4 Ng7 51. Kg3 $10 {Amazingly, Black can make no progress. White should draw.}) 36. Kf1 {This move is virtually forced. Black has a repetition of position if he wants with repeating Rf2+ Ke1 Rg2 etc.} (36. Ne2 $4 Ne5 37. Nxd4 Bb5 $1 38. f4 (38. Nxb5 $4 Nxf3+ 39. Kf1 Rf2#) 38... Rg1+ 39. Kd2 Rxd1+ 40. Kxd1 g2 $19) 36... Rxb2 37. cxd4 g2+ 38. Ke1 b5 (38... Ra2 39. Rd2 Rxd2 40. Kxd2 Nxd4 41. Nd3 $1 Bb5 42. Ne1 Bf1 43. f4 Kd7 44. Ke3 Nb5 45. Kf2 $1 Nxa3 46. Nxg2 Bxg2 47. Kxg2 $10) 39. g5 Bf5 40. d5 Ne5 41. d6 {threatening Rd5} Nd7 42. Rc1 $1 Kd8 43. Nb7+ Ke8 44. Rc8+ Kf7 45. Nxa5 Ne5 46. Rc3 Ke6 47. Nc6 Nd3+ (47... Kxd6 48. Nxe5 Kxe5 49. Re3+ Kf4 50. Re2 Rxe2+ 51. Kxe2 Kg3 52. Ke3 Kh2 53. Kf2 Bd3 54. f4 Kh1 55. Nf3 Bg6 56. Ng1 $10) 48. Rxd3 Bxd3 49. d7 Kxd7 50. Ne5+ Kd6 51. Nxd3 Ra2 52. Nf4 Ke5 53. Nxg2 $3 Rxg2 54. Ne2 Kf5 55. Kd2 Kxg5 56. Kd3 Kf6 57. Nc3 (57. Nd4 Rg5 58. f4 Rc5 59. Ke3 {also draws}) 57... Rb2 58. a4 (58. Kd4 Rb3 59. Ne4+ Ke7 60. Kc5 Kd7 61. f4 Ke6 62. f5+ Ke5 (62... Ke7 63. f6+ Ke6 64. f7 Ke7 65. Nd6 Rxa3 66. Nxb5 {still is a fairly easy draw}) 63. Nd6 Rc3+ 64. Kb4 Rf3 65. Nxb5 {draws easily}) 58... b4 59. Nd5+ Ke6 60. Kc4 Rc2+ 61. Kb3) 35. cxd4 (35. Nxa4 $2 Be6 36. cxd4 Bb3 37. Rc1 Bxa4 38. d5 Bb5+ 39. Ke1 Rg2 40. Nh3 Re2+ 41. Kd1 Rh2 42. Ng1 Rxb2 43. dxc6 bxc6 44. f4 Rg2 45. Nh3 Kd7 46. f5 Rh2 47. Ng1 Rg2 48. Nh3 Be2+ 49. Ke1 Bxg4 50. Nf4 Rg1+ 51. Kd2 Rxc1 52. Kxc1 Bf3 53. Nh3 g2 54. Ng1 Be4 55. f6 c5 56. a4 Ke6 57. a5 Kxf6 58. Nh3 Ke5 59. a6 Kd6 60. a7 Bd5 $19) 35... Na5 $1 {threatening Nc4} (35... Rxb2 $2 36. Nxa4 {is good for White}) 36. Nxd7 Kxd7 (36... Nc4 $4 37. Rc1 b5 38. Nb6+ Kb7 39. Nxc4 $18) 37. Rd3 $1 Rxb2 (37... Nc4 38. f4 $10 ({equally good is} 38. Ne2 Nxb2 39. Rc3 Rh1+ 40. Kg2 Rh2+ 41. Kf1 Nd1 42. Rd3 Nf2 43. Re3 $10) 38... Rxb2 39. Rxg3 Rb3 40. Nf3 $1 Rxa3 41. Ne5+ Ke6 42. Rxa3 Nxa3 43. f5+ Kf6 44. Nd7+ Kg5 45. f6 Kg6 46. Nb6 $1 $10) 38. g5 g2+ 39. Ke1 Rb3 40. Rd2 Rxa3 41. Rxg2 $1 (41. g6 $2 Ra1+ 42. Kf2 Ke6 43. d5+ Kf6 44. d6 Nc6 45. d7 Nd8 46. Kxg2 (46. Rd6+ $2 {Patszer sees a check, patszer gives a check.} Kg7 47. Kxg2 a3 48. Rd5 b6 49. Rd3 b5 50. Ne2 b4 $1 ({Though} 50... a2 {is still winning, it is extremely complex.} 51. Ra3 b4 52. Ra8 b3 53. Nc3 (53. Rxd8 Rd1 54. Ra8 b2 $19) 53... b2 $1 54. Rxd8 Rg1+ 55. Kh2 b1=Q 56. Rg8+ Kh6 57. Nxb1 Rd1 $1 58. d8=Q Rxd8 59. Rxd8 axb1=Q 60. Rh8+ Kxg6 61. Rh4 {Attempting a K+R+P blockade with tWhite's King next to his pawn and the Rook shifting between g4 & e4 , which will fail against the very best play by Black.Black needs to get his Queen behind the pawn and force the White King in front of the pawn and some cases gets his King behind the pawn and win it and then the game. More about this ending can be learned at http://www.k4it.de/index.php?topic=egtb&lang=en by accessing Nalimov Endgame Tablebases. I will only give the best defense for Black.} Qf1 62. Kg3 Qe1+ 63. Kh3 Kf5 64. Rg4 Qf1+ 65. Kg3 Ke5 $1 66. Re4+ Kd5 $1 67. Kg4 Qf2 68. Ra4 Qg1+ 69. Kf4 Ke6 70. Ra2 Kf6 71. Ra6+ Kf7 72. Rc6 Qf2 73. Kg4 Qg2+ 74. Kf4 Qh3 75. Rc7+ Kf6 76. Rc6+ Ke7 77. Ke3 Qh4 78. Rc3 Qb4 79. Rd3 Ke6 80. Rd4 Qe1+ 81. Kd3 Qf2 82. Rf4 Ke5 83. Re4+ Kd5 84. Re3 Qg2 85. Kc3 Qa2 86. Rd3+ Kc5 $1 87. Re3 Qf2 88. Kd3 Kd5 89. f4 Qxf4 90. Ke2 Kd4 91. Rd3+ Ke4 92. Rc3 Qg4+ 93. Kd2 Qg2+ 94. Ke1 Qb2 95. Rh3 Qc1+ 96. Ke2 Qc2+ 97. Kf1 Qd2 98. Rh7 Qf4+ 99. Ke2 Qf5 $1 100. Re7+ Kf4 101. Kd1 Qd5+ 102. Ke2 Qb5+ 103. Kd1 Kf3 104. Re1 Kf2 105. Re7 Qd3+ 106. Kc1 Qa3+ 107. Kc2 Qxe7 {wins the Rook & the game. Very instructive.}) 51. Rb3 Rd1 52. Rxb4 a2 53. Ra4 a1=Q 54. Rxa1 Rxa1 55. Nf4 Ra2+ 56. Kh3 Rd2 57. Kg4 Kf6 58. Nh5+ Kxg6 59. f4 Rxd7 $19) 46... a3 47. Rd5 $1 {stopping b4 and planning Ra5} Ra2+ (47... Kxg6 48. Ra5 Kf7 49. Ne2 Ke7 50. Nc3 {threatening 51.Nb5 and if a2 52.Nc3=} Nc6 51. Ra4 Kxd7 52. f4 (52. Nb5 $4 a2 53. Nc3 Nb4 $19) 52... Ke6 (52... Kd6 $2 53. Rxa3 $1 $10) 53. Kf2 Kf5 54. Ke2 $10 {planning Kd3-c2-b3=}) (47... b6 $4 48. Rd6+ $14) 48. Kg3 Kxg6 49. f4 Kf6 50. Nf3 Ke7 51. Ne5 b6 52. Rd1 $1 b5 53. Nd3 Rc2 54. Kf3 a2 55. Ke3 Rc3 56. Ra1 Ra3 57. Kd4 Ne6+ 58. Ke4 Kxd7 59. f5 Ng5+ 60. Kd4 Kd6 61. Nc1 Nf3+ 62. Ke4 Nd2+ 63. Kd4 $10) 41... Ra1+ 42. Kf2 a3 43. g6 Rc1 44. Kg3 $3 b5 45. Ne2 Rc8 46. Nf4 Rg8 47. Ra2 Nc4 (47... b4 48. Nd3 $1 Rxg6+ 49. Kf4 Rf6+ 50. Ke4 Re6+ 51. Kd5 Re3 52. Nxb4 Rxf3 53. Nc2 Nc6 54. Rxa3 {draws}) 48. Kh4 $1 Kd6 (48... b4 49. Nd3 $1 $10) 49. Nd3 $3 Rxg6 $1 50. Ne5 $3 {draws! Outstanding!}) 27... Ne5 28. Nh3 $3 Nd3+ 29. Kxf3 Ne5+ 30. Kf2 Ng4+ 31. Kf3 Nh2+ 32. Kf2 $10 {Again an incredible series of moves leads to a draw!}) 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. d3 f6 $2 (13... f5 $1 14. Neg5 h6 15. Bxc6 Bxc6 16. Nxe5 Bxg2 17. Rh5 $1 Nd7 $1 (17... Bd5 18. c4 Bd6 19. Ng6 Rg8 20. cxd5 hxg5 21. Rxg5 Kf7 22. Kf1 Nxd5 23. Rxf5+ Nf6 24. Nh4 $16 {White is a clear pawn up.}) 18. Ng6 Rg8 19. Ne6 Bd6 20. Rxf5 Bh3 21. Rd5 Bxe6 22. Rxd6 Kf7 23. Be3 (23. Bf4 Rge8 24. Ne5+ Nxe5 25. Bxe5 Bxa2 26. f4 Be6 27. Kd2 g6 28. Ke3 Rg8 29. Rh1 h5 30. b4 cxb4 31. Rb1 Rad8 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. Rxb4 $10) 23... Rae8 24. Nf4 Bg4 25. Kd2 Ke7 26. Rg6 Bf5 27. Nd5+ Kf7 28. Rd6 Ne5 29. Bxc5 (29. b3 Nxd3 30. c4 $10) 29... Nxd3 30. b4 (30. Bd4 $4 Nxb2 $19) 30... Rd8 $1 31. Ne3 Rxd6 32. Bxd6 Bh7 33. c4 (33. Ke2 Ke6 34. Bf4 Rc8 35. Nd1 Nxf4+ 36. gxf4 Rc4 37. Kf3 Bc2 38. Kg3 Bxd1 39. Rxd1 Rxc3+ 40. f3 Ra3 41. f5+ Kf6 42. Rd6+ Kxf5 43. Rd7 g5 44. Rxb7 Rxa2 45. Rh7 Kg6 46. Rc7 $1 $10 {White can hold a draw})) 14. Be3 a6 15. Bxc6 Bxc6 16. Bxc5 $2 {The blunder that prevented me from winning the game.} ({Instead} 16. Nxc5 $1 Nd5 17. Ne4 f5 (17... Rd8 18. Bc5 $16 {White is a clear pawn ahead}) 18. Ned2 Bd6 19. Nc4 $18) 16... Bxe4 $1 17. Bxf8 $4 {The second blunder that should have cost me the game} ({After the better} 17. Bxb6 Bxd3 {Black's two Bishops are slightly better than Black's Bishop and Knight.} 18. Nd2 (18. O-O-O Bb5 19. Nd2 Kf7 20. b3 (20. Ne4 Bc6 21. f3 h5 22. g4 h4 23. g3 h3 24. Rh2 (24. Kd2 h2 25. Ke1 Rh3 26. Kf2 Be7 27. b3 (27. Nd6+ $4 Bxd6 28. Rxd6 e4 $19) 27... Rh6 28. Nd2 Rc8 29. Nf1 Rch8 30. Ne3 g5 (30... e4 $2 31. f4 $10 {helps White blockade}) 31. a4 Rh3 32. Nd5 $15 {Black is better, but White might draw by playing a conservative waiting game.}) 24... Bxe4 25. fxe4 Rc8 $1 26. Rd7+ $2 Kg6 27. Be3 Rc4 $1 $19) 20... Rc8 21. Kb2 Be7 22. f3 (22. c4 Bc6 23. f3 f5 24. c5 e4 25. fxe4 Bf6+ 26. Kc2 fxe4 27. Nc4 e3 28. Nd6+ Kg6 29. Rhe1 Rcf8 30. Rxe3 Bxg2 31. Ba5 Bg5 32. Re2 Bf3 33. Re6+ Rf6 34. Rde1 $10) 22... Rc6 23. Be3 Be2 24. Rde1 Bd3 25. g4 h6 26. Rc1 e4 27. Rhe1 (27. Nxe4 $2 Re6 {is good for Black}) (27. f4 $2 Be2 $17) 27... Rd8 (27... exf3 28. Nxf3 Bh7 29. Bf2 Rd8 30. a4 Bf8 31. Nd4 Rcc8 32. Rcd1 Re8 33. Nf5 Rxe1 34. Rxe1 h5 35. Ne3 Rd8 36. Re2 hxg4 37. Nxg4 Rd1 38. Ne3 Rb1+ 39. Ka2 Rh1 40. Kb2 Be4 41. Bg3 g5 42. Bd6 Bxd6 43. Nc4 Bg3 44. Rxe4 f5 45. Re3 f4 46. Ne5+ Ke6 47. Re2 Kf5 48. Nf3 Rf1 49. Kc2 Kg4 50. Ne5+ Kh5 51. Nf3 g4 52. Re5+ Kh6 53. Re6+ Kg7 54. Ne5 f3 55. gxf3 Bxe5 (55... Re1 56. Rg6+ Kh7 57. Rb6 Bxe5 58. Rxb7+ Kh6 59. Rb6+ Kg5 60. fxg4 Re3 61. Rc6 Kxg4 62. b4 Kf4 63. Rc4+ Kf5 64. b5 $10) 56. Rxe5 Kf6 57. Re8 g3 58. Rg8 Rf2+ 59. Kd3 Rxf3+ 60. Kd2 Kf5 61. a5 Kf4 62. Rg7 Rf2+ 63. Ke1 Kf3 64. Rf7+ Kg2 65. Rxb7 Kh1 66. Rg7 Rf3 67. Rg6 $1 g2 68. Rh6+ Kg1 69. Rxa6 Rxc3 70. Rg6 $1 Re3+ 71. Kd2 Rxb3 72. a6 Ra3 73. Ke2 Ra1 74. Kd3 {draws}) (27... exf3 28. Nxf3 Bh7 $17)) 18... a5 19. f3 Ra6 20. Be3 a4 $15 {Black has a slightly better game. White should play a conservative waiting game and probably be happy with a draw.}) 17... Bxf3 18. Bxg7 Rg8 $2 (18... Bxg2 $1 19. Rh6 (19. Bxh8 Bxh1 20. Kd2 Kf7 21. Bxf6 Kxf6 22. Rxh1 {White has only two pawns for the Knight. With proper technique, Black should win.}) (19. Rh2 Rg8 20. Bxf6 Nd7 $19) (19. Rh5 Rg8 20. Bxf6 Nd7 21. Bxe5 Bf3 22. Rh6 Nxe5 23. Re6+ Kf7 24. Rxe5 Rae8 25. Re3 Rxe3+ 26. fxe3 Rxg3 27. Kf2 Rh3 28. Rg1 (28. Re1 Bg4 29. d4 h5 30. e4 Rf3+ 31. Kg2 Ke6 32. c4 Rd3 $19) 28... Bh5 29. c4 Rf3+ $19) 19... Rg8 20. Bxf6 Nd7 21. Bxe5 Nxe5 22. Re6+ Kd7 23. Rxe5 Rae8 24. Rxe8 Rxe8+ 25. Kd2 Rf8 26. Ke3 Rf3+ 27. Ke2 Rf6 $1 28. f4 Rh6 $1 29. Ke3 Rh2 (29... Rh2 30. Re1 Bh3 $1 31. Re2 (31. Kf3 h5 $1 32. Rb1 Bg4+ 33. Ke4 Re2+ 34. Kd4 Rg2 $19) 31... Rh1 32. b4 Bg4 33. Rg2 Bh3 34. Re2 Rg1 35. Kf3 h5 36. Re5 Bg4+ 37. Kf2 Rc1 $1 38. c4 Rc2+ 39. Ke3 Rg2 $1 40. f5 Rxg3+ 41. Kf4 Rxd3 $19 {Incredible!})) 19. Bxf6 $2 (19. Rxh7 $1 Bxg2 20. Bxf6 Nd7 21. Bh4 (21. Re7+ $2 Kd8 22. Bh4 Kc7) 21... Bh3 22. Kd2 Bf5 23. Rh5 Bg6 24. Rg5 Kf7 25. f4 exf4 26. Rf1 $10) 19... Nd7 20. gxf3 {I offer a draw.} Nxf6 21. O-O-O $2 ({Better is} 21. Rh4 O-O-O 22. Kd2 Rg5 23. Rah1 Rf5 24. Ke2 Rf8 25. a3 Kd8 26. b4 Nd7 27. Rxh7 Rxf3 28. R1h2 e4 29. dxe4 Rxc3 30. e5 Re8 31. f4 Rxa3 32. R2h6 Rxg3 33. Rf7 Rf8 34. Rfh7 Rxf4 35. Rd6 Kc8 36. Rhxd7 Rxb4 37. e6 Rb2+ 38. Kf1 Rf3+ 39. Kg1 Re3 40. Kf1 Rf3+ 41. Kg1 Rg3+ 42. Kf1 Rh3 43. Kg1 $10) 21... Kf7 ({Better is} 21... O-O-O 22. Rh4 Rg7 23. Kd2 Rgd7 (23... Rf7 24. Re1 Nd7 25. Re3 Nf8 26. Rc4+ Kb8 27. Ke2 Ng6 28. d4 exd4 29. Rxd4 Rxd4 30. cxd4 Kc7 31. f4 h5 32. Kf3 Kd7 33. d5 Ne7 34. Rb3 b5 35. Ke4 $10) 24. Kc2 Rf7 25. d4 exd4 26. Rhxd4 Rxd4 27. Rxd4 Nd7 28. f4 $15 {Black is better, but White has reasonable chances to hold a draw.}) 22. Rde1 Rae8 23. Rh4 b6 24. Rb4 Nd7 25. f4 $2 {I again offer a draw.} (25. Kd2 $10 {is correct} Re6 26. f4 Rf6 27. Ree4 Re8 28. fxe5 Rxf2+ 29. Ke3 Rh2 30. d4 b5 31. Rf4+ Ke7 32. a4 Rg2 (32... Rg8 33. axb5 a5 34. Rc4 Rxg3+ 35. Rf3 Rxf3+ 36. Kxf3 Rxb2 37. Rc6 Rxb5 38. Rh6 Nf8 39. Ke4 Rb3 40. c4 Rb4 41. Rc6 a4 42. d5 a3 43. Ra6 Rxc4+ 44. Kf5 Rc3 45. Ra7+ Ke8 46. Ra8+ Ke7 47. Ra7+ Kd8 48. e6 (48. Ra8+ $2 Kc7 49. d6+ Kb7) 48... Ke8 49. Ra8+ Ke7 50. Ra7+ Kd6 51. e7 Rc8 52. exf8=Q+ Rxf8+ 53. Ke4 Kc5 54. Rxa3 $10) 33. axb5 a5) 25... Rg6 (25... Rg4 26. Rh1 $1 Nf6 27. Rxb6 exf4 28. gxf4 Rxf4 29. Rxa6 h5 30. a4 Rxf2 31. a5 h4 32. Kb1 $1 $10) 26. Rbe4 $2 ({Simple and equalizing was} 26. fxe5 Nxe5 27. Rf4+ Rf6 28. Rxf6+ Kxf6 29. Re3 $10) 26... Rge6 $2 (26... Nc5 $1 27. R4e3 Rd8 28. Kc2 exf4 29. Re7+ Kg8 30. d4 Nd7 31. gxf4 Rg2 {Now Black is winning again, especially with the passed 'h' pawn.} 32. Kb3 Rg7 33. R7e6 h5 $17) 27. Kc2 exf4 28. Rxf4+ Rf6 (28... Nf6 29. Rxe6 Rxe6 30. Kd2 $10) 29. Rxf6+ Nxf6 30. Rxe8 Kxe8 31. Kd2 Ke7 $10 32. Ke3 Ng4+ $1 33. Kf3 h5 $10 34. d4 Ke6 35. c4 Kd6 36. Ke2 Ke6 37. f3 Nh6 38. Kd3 Nf5 39. g4 hxg4 40. fxg4 Nh6 41. g5 Nf7 42. g6 Ng5 $4 {Loses by force!} (42... Nd6 $1 {is correct} 43. Kc3 (43. a4 Nf5 {draws}) (43. c5 bxc5 44. dxc5 Nc8 45. Kc4 Ne7 46. Kb4 Nxg6 47. Ka5 Kd5 48. b4 Kc6 49. Kxa6 Ne7 50. a4 Nd5 51. b5+ Kxc5 52. Kb7 Nc3 {draws}) 43... Nf5 ({or} 43... Nb7 44. Kb4 (44. Kd3 Nd6 $10 {repeats}) 44... Kf6 45. c5 Kxg6 46. cxb6 Kf6 {is also drawn}) 44. c5 bxc5 (44... b5 $4 45. Kb4 Nxd4 46. Ka5 Nc6+ 47. Kxa6 b4 48. Kb7 Na5+ 49. Kb6 Nc4+ 50. Kb5 $18) 45. dxc5 Ne7 $1 46. Kb4 Nxg6 47. Ka5 Kd5 48. Kb6 Ne5 49. b4 Nc6 50. a3 Nd4 51. a4 Kc4 {draws}) 43. b4 $4 {I blow my one opportunity to clearly win the game! Let the records show that both of us had less than 5 minutes for the rest of the game, so perhaps the reader can forgive each of us for our back-to-back blunders.} ({The only winning move is} 43. c5 $1 bxc5 (43... b5 44. d5+ $3 Kf6 (44... Kxd5 45. g7 $18) 45. c6 $18) 44. dxc5 Kf6 (44... Ke7 45. Kc4 Ne6 46. a4 Kd7 47. Kb4 $1 Kc6 48. Ka5 $18 Kxc5 49. Kxa6 $1 Nc7+ 50. Kb7 Ne8 51. a5 Nd6+ 52. Kb8 Nf5 53. a6 {with an easy win for White.}) 45. Kc4 (45. c6 Ne6 46. Kc4 Ke7 47. Kb4 Kd6 48. Ka5 Kxc6 49. Kxa6 Nc7+ 50. Ka7 Ne8 51. a4 Kc5 52. a5 Kc6 {setting up a little trap} 53. b4 $1 ({Not} 53. a6 $4 Kc7 $1 54. b4 (54. Ka8 Kb6 $1 $10 55. g7 Nxg7 56. a7 Kc7 57. b4 ({Incredibly} 57. b3 $4 {loses!} Ne6 58. b4 Kc8 59. b5 Nc7#) 57... Ne6 58. b5 Kc8 59. b6 Nc7+ 60. bxc7 Kxc7 {Stalemate}) 54... Nd6 $3 {draws due to threat of 55...Nc8+ Nb6+ perpetual check!}) 53... Kb5 (53... Kc7 54. b5 $18) 54. a6 $18) 45... Ne6 46. Kd5 Ke7 47. Kc6 $18 a5 48. a4 Kd8 49. Kb6 Kd7 50. Kxa5 Kc6 51. b4 Ng7 52. Ka6 Ne6 53. Ka7 Ng7 54. b5+ Kxc5 55. b6 $18) 43... Kf6 44. d5 $2 ({A better try is} 44. c5 {although it still draws, it at least Black a chance to go wrong.} bxc5 (44... b5 $4 45. c6 $1 Ne6 46. d5 $18) 45. dxc5 (45. bxc5 Kxg6 46. c6 Nf7 $1 47. Kc4 Kf6 48. Kc5 Ke6 49. d5+ Ke5 50. c7 Nd6 51. Kc6 a5 52. a4 Nc8 {draws}) 45... Kxg6 46. c6 (46. Kd4 Kf6 47. Kd5 Ke7 48. Kc6 Ne6 49. Kb7 Kd7 50. c6+ Kd6 51. a4 Nd8+ 52. Kxa6 Kxc6 53. b5+ Kc7 54. Ka7 Nb7 55. Ka6 Nc5+ 56. Ka7 (56. Ka5 Nb7+ {draws})) 46... Ne6 47. a4 Kf6 48. b5 Ke7 49. bxa6 Nc7 50. a7 Kd6 {draws}) ({Another try is} 44. a4 Kxg6 45. b5 axb5 46. c5 bxc5 47. axb5 ({not} 47. a5 $4 c4+ 48. Kc3 Ne4+ 49. Kb4 Nd6 50. a6 Nc8 $19) 47... Ne6 48. d5 Nd8 49. Kc4 Nb7 50. d6 (50. b6 Kf5 51. Kb5 Ke5 52. Kc6 c4 53. Kxb7 c3 54. Ka7 c2 55. b7 c1=Q 56. b8=Q+ Kxd5 $10) 50... Nxd6+ 51. Kxc5 Nxb5 {draws}) ({One final try is} 44. b5 axb5 (44... a5 $4 45. c5 Ne6 46. cxb6 Nd8 47. Kc4 Kxg6 48. Kd5 $18) 45. cxb5 Kxg6 46. Kc4 (46. a4 Ne6 47. Kc4 Kf6 48. Kd5 Nxd4 $1 (48... Ke7 {also draws though not as flashy since} 49. Kc6 Nxd4+ 50. Kxb6 Kd6 51. a5 Nxb5 {draws}) 49. Kxd4 Ke6 {Incredibly, this is drawn!} 50. Kc4 Kd6 ({not} 50... Ke5 $4 51. a5 bxa5 52. b6 $1 Kd6 53. Kb5 a4 54. Ka6 $3 $18) 51. Kd3 Kd5 52. Kc3 Kd6 (52... Ke4 $4 53. a5 $18) 53. Kd4 (53. Kb4 Kc7 54. a5 bxa5+ 55. Kxa5 Kb7 {draws}) 53... Ke6 $10 {White can make no headway. It is a drawn ending. E.g.,} 54. a5 bxa5 55. Kc5 Kd7 $10) 46... Ne6 47. Kd5 Kf6 48. a4 Ke7 49. Kc6 Nxd4+ 50. Kxb6 Kd7 51. a5 Nxb5 52. Kxb5 Kc7 {draws}) 44... Kxg6 45. Kd4 (45. a4 Kf6 46. c5 bxc5 47. bxc5 ({not} 47. b5 $4 axb5 48. axb5 Ke5 49. Kc4 Kd6 50. b6 Nf3 51. b7 Ne5+ 52. Kb5 Nd7 $19) 47... Ke5 48. Kc4 Ne4 49. c6 ({not} 49. d6 $4 Ke6 50. Kd4 Nf6 $1 $19) 49... Kd6 50. Kb4 Nc5 51. Ka5 $10 {E.g.,} Kc7 52. Kb4 Nd3+ ({not} 52... Kd6 $4 53. c7 $1 $18) 53. Ka5 Nc5 $10 {or Nf4 =}) 45... Kf6 46. a4 Nf3+ 47. Ke4 Ng5+ 48. Kd4 ({No better is} 48. Kf4 Nf7 49. c5 bxc5 (49... b5 50. axb5 axb5 51. Ke4 Ng5+ 52. Kd4 Nf3+ 53. Ke4 Ng5+ $10) 50. bxc5 Ng5 51. c6 Nf7 52. Ke4 Ke7 53. Kd4 Kd6 54. Kc4 Kc7 55. Kb4 Kb6 56. a5+ Kc7 57. Kc5 Nd6 58. Kd4 Nf5+ 59. Ke5 Nd6 60. Kd4 $10 {Neither player can make any progress.} ({not} 60. Ke6 $4 Nc4 61. Ke7 Nxa5 62. d6+ Kxc6 63. d7 Nb7 $19)) 48... Nf3+ 49. Ke4 Ng5+ {After numerous draw offers, many mistakes on both sides, and though we both had a burning desire to win this game, perhaps it was poetic justice that a draw was the final conclusion! I hope you enjoyed this magical mystery tour of possibilities this game took or could have taken as much as I did.} 1/2-1/2