White plays a good game and gains the upper hand. However, by not making timely utilization of this advantage to exchange off pieces, he loses not only the initiative but the game!

Ogey    --    oliverjonas
   Red Hot Pawn
2003.09.06     0-1     D20l


1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e6?!
( 3...Nc6 4.Be3 )
4.Bxc4 c6 5.Nf3 Bb4+?! 6.Nc3 Ne7 7.a3 Bxc3+
doesn't do much for black other than losing a B for a N and strengthens white's central Ps
8.bxc3 h6 9.a4 (D)

BR BN BB BQ BK :: BR
BP BP :: BN BP BP
:: BP :: BP :: BP
:: :: :: ::
WP :: WB WP WP :: ::
:: WP :: WN ::
:: :: WP WP WP
WR WB WQ WK :: WR

a good idea since it neutralizes ...b5 by gaining territory deeper in black's territory
9...b6 10.Ba3
( 10.Ne5 O-O 11.Qg4 +/- )
10...Ba6 11.Qd3
( 11.Bxa6 Nxa6 12.Qe2 now the N has to retreat )
11...Bxc4 12.Qxc4 a6?!
( 12...O-O 13.O-O )
13.O-O b5? (D)

BR BN BQ BK :: BR
:: :: BN BP BP
BP :: BP :: BP :: BP
:: BP :: :: ::
WP :: WQ WP WP :: ::
WB WP :: WN ::
:: :: WP WP WP
WR :: :: WR WK

14.Qb4?!
white has the initiative so why not use it?
( 14.Bxe7 Qc7 15.axb5 axb5 )
14...Nd7 15.Rad1
( 15.c4 a5? 16.Qxe7+ Qxe7 17.Bxe7 Kxe7 18.cxb5 cxb5 19.axb5 (D)

BR :: :: :: BR
:: :: BN BK BP BP
:: :: BP :: BP
BP WP :: :: ::
:: WP WP :: ::
:: :: :: WN ::
:: :: WP WP WP
WR :: :: WR WK

with things exchanged off, white should win due to extra P )
15...a5 16.Qd6 bxa4 17.Rb1 Nb8? (D)

BR BN BQ BK :: BR
:: :: BN BP BP
:: BP WQ BP :: BP
BP :: :: ::
BP :: WP WP :: ::
WB WP :: WN ::
:: :: WP WP WP
:: WR :: :: WR WK

( 17...Ra6 18.d5 +/- )
18.Rb7 Qxd6 19.Bxd6 Nd7 20.Ne5 Rd8 21.Rc7?
( 21.Bxe7 Kxe7 22.Nxc6+ Kd6 23.Nxd8 Rxd8 24.Ra7 +- )
21...f6? 22.Nxc6
doesn't pack the same punch since the e7N exists
( 22.Bxe7 Kxe7 23.Nxc6+ -+ )
22...Nxc6 23.Rxc6 Nb8 24.Bxb8 Rxb8 25.Rxe6+ Kf7 (D)

BR :: :: BR
:: :: :: BK BP
:: :: WR BP BP
BP :: :: ::
BP :: WP WP :: ::
:: WP :: ::
:: :: WP WP WP
:: :: :: WR WK

26.d5?!
why not Ra6? it happens next move anyway
26...Rhc8 27.Ra6 Rb5 28.Ra7+ Kg6 29.Rc1?
there is nothing defendable here
29...Rxc3 30.Ra1 Rd3 31.h3 Rd4 32.f3 f5 33.e5 Rbxd5
the doubled Rs are now a serious threat
34.Re1 Rd1 35.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 36.Kh2
Kf2 would have kept the K centralized
36...Rd5! (D)

:: :: :: ::
WR :: :: BP
:: :: :: BK BP
BP :: BR WP BP ::
BP :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: WP :: WP
:: :: :: WP WK
:: :: :: ::

making use of that 'extra' tempo a check gives
37.e6?
the P can't make it on its own and white has far more pressing problems on the afile
37...a3 38.e7 Kf7 39.Rc7 a2 40.Rc1 Kxe7 41.Kg3 Rd2 42.h4 Rc2 43.Re1+ Kd6 44.Kf4 Rxg2 45.Kxf5 Kc5 46.f4 Kb4 47.Ke4 Kb3 48.Kf3 Rc2 49.Kg4 Kb2 50.Kh5 a1=Q 51.Rxa1 Kxa1 52.Kg6 Rc4 53.f5 Rg4+ 54.Kh5?
now the K will be trapped on the hfile
54...Rg2 55.f6 gxf6 56.Kxh6 f5 57.h5 f4 58.Kh7 f3 59.Kh8 f2 60.h6 f1=Q 61.Kh7 Qf7+ 62.Kh8 Rg8# 0-1