A positional masterpiece
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This was a friendly game played in Switzerland, between an English international junior (me, playing white), and an Austrian begginer (also a junior). I seized a small advantage on the Queenside on move 12 and increased it with every move until black's position became completely passive, before I converted the win having just entered the endgame. And black never got a hint of counterplay. Enjoy!
why not 11. pxc5?
drmr4vrmr wrote:
why not 11. pxc5?
Well if you read the commentary, " .... 11 bxc5 Qe7 12 d4 e5 was less clear cut, and since white is the stronger player he should keep everything under control."
In summary, white wants to keep everything under his control and bxc5 could go either way.
tonydal wrote:
I'd say 11 bc looks pretty strong. You could win the exchange with 25 Ne6 de 26 Qxd8 Rxd8 27 Bxb8. Again, 26 Qd6 seems to guarantee that you will win the exchange with the upcoming Ne6. You might also have taken the following route on your 27th: 27 Qxf6 Rxf6 28 Ne8 Rf8 29 Nd6. Now if Black plays 29... Ne6 he loses a piece (or worse) to 30 c6. But I doubt that I would've let him off so cheap in such a position! He only has a lone knight to annoy you; just play a4 (after protecting your c pawn with a rook) and his entire queenside will never escape.
Yes, Tonydal, I could win the exchange (I saw the possibility), but why exchange such a wonderful knight for an awful rook that has only 1 square anyway (b8), and let his bishop out?