...Not Noticing When You've Lost
Tournament 51 in the Team 45 45 League online came to an end for the team with this loss to Croatian opponent Ivio, where I had the black pieces. A good scrap led to one of those endings where the slightest slip costs you the full point, but just like crossing the event horizon of a black hole, you don't notice the point at which your situation becomes irredeemable.
Ivio-pauliewoll
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bh4 c5 4.c3 d5 5.Nd2 Nxd2 6.Qxd2 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nc6 8.a3 g6 9.e3 Bg7 10.Nf3 O-O 11.Bd3 Be6 12.O-O
39...Kd6 Better is 39...Kf6 to maintain opposition. The text move, which is probably the losing one, allows White to go after the kingside pawns with 40.Kg5 and White will clear the way for his own pawns more quickly than Black can for his. Instead White is slightly spooked by Black's feint to the queenside. He hesitates slightly, but the damage is already done for Black, and White wraps up the game nicely.
40.Ke4 Kc6 41.a4 b5 42.a5 Kd6 43.f4 h6 44.h4 a6 45.Kd4
We have zugzwang. Black has only 45...h5 to stall for time, but after 46.Ke4 he must give ground with his king and allow White in to win the game. I resign.
1-0
Ivio-pauliewoll
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bh4 c5 4.c3 d5 5.Nd2 Nxd2 6.Qxd2 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nc6 8.a3 g6 9.e3 Bg7 10.Nf3 O-O 11.Bd3 Be6 12.O-O
The messy opening sequence has given White a slight edge, thanks to Black's difficulties in playing any freeing pawn break.
12...Qd7 13.Rfe1 Rac8 14.h3 Bf5 15.Rac1 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 e6 17.Bg3 Qe7 18.Rc2 e5 19.dxe5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.Bxe5 Qxe5 22.Rec1 Rxc2 23.Rxc2 Rd8 24.Rd2 Qc7
Black has finally managed to play the pawn break but has left himself with an isolated d-pawn which White can target.
25.Rd1 Qc5 26.b4 Qc6 27.Qd4 b6 28.e4 Qa4 29.Rd3 Qc2 30.exd5 Qc1+ 31.Kh2 Qc7+ 32.d6 Qd7 33.Qf6 Re8 34.Re3 Re6 35.Rxe6 fxe6 36.Qe7
A mistake by White, allowing me to win back the pawn and go into an endgame that's slightly inferior, but with reasonable chances to hold on. White would do better using that advanced d pawn to keep Black cooped up: 36.Qf4 h6 47.h4 h5 38.g3 Kg7 39.a4 Qf7 40.Qd4+ Qf6 41.Qd2 Qd8 42.b5, and I can only watch White improve his position at his leisure.
36...Qxe7 37.dxe7 Kf7 38.Kg3 Kxe7 39.Kf4
39...Kd6 Better is 39...Kf6 to maintain opposition. The text move, which is probably the losing one, allows White to go after the kingside pawns with 40.Kg5 and White will clear the way for his own pawns more quickly than Black can for his. Instead White is slightly spooked by Black's feint to the queenside. He hesitates slightly, but the damage is already done for Black, and White wraps up the game nicely.
40.Ke4 Kc6 41.a4 b5 42.a5 Kd6 43.f4 h6 44.h4 a6 45.Kd4
We have zugzwang. Black has only 45...h5 to stall for time, but after 46.Ke4 he must give ground with his king and allow White in to win the game. I resign.
1-0
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