Whitewash and Moonlight

Aberystwyth faced some of our most formidable opponents yet in the form of Newport and Friends in the Welsh Chess Union Online League Open Section on Tuesday 11 May. Part of the problem in dealing with such a challenge is coontinuing to believe in yourself; all four of us in the Aber team started well enough but were unable to last the distance. On top board Rudy van Kemenade had achieved a comfortable opening against FM Grzegorz Toczek by transposing into a McCutcheon French when a miscalculation cost him a pawn. The closed postion then began to work against him, and his uncastled king became a target. Adam Watkin-Jones's unorthodox English against Ernest Gibiec arrived at a Stonewall formation, with both players having strong central knights. Moving his own knight away from its outpost proved fatal, as White's position collapsed quickly. Having declined Adam Rakos's Wing Gambit against my Siclian, I had to work fast to undermine his extended pawn centre before his kingside attack could get going, but was too defensive. Tom Gunn arrived via a Semi-Slav route at the sort of solid but dynamic queen's pawn game he likes and seemed at least equal against Chris Boyd when he dropped a pawn; again things turned against him quickly after that. A 4-0 win for Newport and Friends could have been so much better for Aber. By way of consolation I finish with a good win for Aber's Sam Holman, moonlighting for Cardigan against a strong opponent, David Pinch of Steynton A, in the Under 1800 section.

[Event "WCU Open 2 Online"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.05.11"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Toczek, Grzegorz"] [Black "Van Kemenade, R."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C12"] [WhiteElo "2326"] [BlackElo "1999"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 {avoiding prepared lines} e6 (2... d5 3. Bxf6 exf6 4. e3 c6 5. c4 {Toczek-Rybansky Vychod (Slavia) 2003,1-0}) 3. Nc3 d5 4. e4 Bb4 { transposing to a McCutcheon} 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Bd3 (8. Qg4 { main line theory}) 8... Nxd2 9. Qxd2 c5 10. Nf3 Qa5 (10... Nc6 11. O-O) (10... c4) (10... b6 11. O-O (11. a4) 11... Ba6 12. Ne1 {1.5-0.5}) 11. O-O Nc6 (11... b6 {is worth a try, to swap off bads B- 2 draws, 2 Bl wins} 12. Rfb1 O-O 13. a4 Ba6 14. Bb5 Bb7 15. Bd3 Ba6 16. Bb5 {Stockfish13}) 12. dxc5 (12. Rfd1 {main, 4% for Wh}) 12... d4 $6 {Bl miscounted the pawns after the Q swap & also hoped to get the QB out via a6} (12... Qxc5 $11 {58% for Wh, 59 games}) 13. Be4 (13. cxd4 Qxd2 14. Nxd2 Nxd4 15. Nc4 $18) 13... Qxc3 14. Bxc6+ bxc6 15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. Nxd4 {the N & advanced c pawndominate} Ba6 (16... Rb8 $5) 17. Rfb1 Rc8 ( 17... O-O {may well be best try, Stockfish13, hoping for some activity down the open lines} 18. Nxc6 Kh7 (18... Rfc8 $2 19. Ne7+) 19. Na5 Rfd8 20. Rd1 Rdc8 21. c6 Bb5 22. Rd6 Rab8 23. c4 Ba4 24. Rd7 Bxc6 25. Rxf7 a6 26. h4 $18 { Stockfish13}) (17... Kd7 {looks dangerous, Wh has sewveral ways to keep the advantage} 18. Rd1 (18. Rb4 Rhb8 19. Rab1 (19. c3 Rxb4 20. cxb4 Kc7 $14 { seems less effective}) 19... Rxb4 20. Rxb4 Kc7 21. h4 Rd8 22. Ra4 Kb7 23. Nb3 g5 24. hxg5 hxg5 25. Rb4+ Kc7 26. Rd4 $18) 18... Kc7 19. Nb3 Rab8 20. Rd6 Rb4 21. Rad1 Bc8 22. Na5 $18) 18. Rb4 Rc7 (18... O-O {must be better, though} 19. Nb3 Rfd8 20. f3 Rc7 21. Kf2 {and Bl has very little play, especially for the B} ) 19. Rb8+ Bc8 {the B never really got out, even though d5 looked a possibility earlier !?} 20. Rd1 Ke7 21. Nb3 (21. Ra8 Rd8 22. Rxa7 $18 { Stockfish13}) 21... Rd8 22. Rd6 Rb7 (22... Bd7 23. Rb4 (23. Rxd8 Kxd8 24. f4 $18) 23... a5 24. Ra4 f6 25. f4 Ra7 26. exf6+ gxf6 27. Nd4 $18 {Stockfish13}) 23. Na5 (23. Nd4 {Stockfish13}) 23... Rc7 24. f4 (24. Rxd8 Kxd8 25. Ra8 { lichess & Stockfish13}) 24... Bd7 25. Rb4 Rdc8 26. Nc4 {the N is coming to d6} Rd8 27. a4 Bc8 (27... Rf8 {and sit & wait may be best- exchange of a pair of Rs just makes Bl's K side pawns vulnerable}) 28. Rxd8 Kxd8 29. Nd6 f6 {other wise f7 goes} 30. Rb8 fxe5 31. fxe5 Kd7 32. Kf2 {the K will force an entry on the K side} Ba6 33. Rg8 g5 34. Rh8 Ke7 35. c4 Rd7 {Bl has run into zugzwang} 36. Re8# {Normal} 1-0 [Event "WCU Open 2 Online"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.05.11"] [Round "5.2"] [White "Watkin-Jones, Adam"] [Black "Gibiec, Ernest"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A12"] [WhiteElo "1918"] [BlackElo "2186"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,59,16,-59,71,36,29,-23,8,16,-11,-23,-15,-31,-10,-19,-19,5,0,-11,2,12, 14,-24,-18,-23,-37,-35,-29,-29,-32,-68,-36,-59,-41,-27,-6,-22,-23,-50,-44,-55, -33,-49,-30,-58,-60,-77,-60,-61,-53,-55,-48,-905,-87,-97,-91,-283,-188,-295, -306,-324]} 1. c4 c6 (1... Nf6 2. Nc3 {Watkin-Jones 2 Wh wins, 1 draw}) 2. e3 ( 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 {1 Wh win, 3 draws-Gibiec}) (2. Nf3 {main}) 2... d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. b3 (4. Nc3) 4... Bg4 5. Bb2 e6 6. Be2 Bd6 (6... Nbd7 7. O-O {main,also in elite GM}) 7. h3 Bxf3 (7... Bh5) 8. Bxf3 Nbd7 9. cxd5 (9. Nc3 ) (9. O-O {main lines}) 9... exd5 10. O-O O-O 11. Ba3 (11. d3 {2 draws ( though Wh keeps the 2 Bs)}) 11... Ne5 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. d4 (13. d3 $11 { preferred by Stockfish13 as it keeps e4 under control}) 13... Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3 Ne4 $15 {after the exchanges sought by Wh, Bl is better developed} 15. Rd1 f5 16. Nd2 Ng5 (16... Rae8 17. Nxe4 Rxe4 $17 {Stockfish13}) 17. Qh5 Qe7 18. Re1 $11 Rae8 19. f4 {should be OK since Wh establishes a N outpost} (19. Rac1 { is less committal}) 19... Ne4 20. Nf3 a5 21. Ne5 a4 22. Qe2 $11 (22. bxa4 $11) (22. Rec1 $11) 22... Ra8 23. Qb2 axb3 24. axb3 Qb4 25. Nd7 {looks in the wrong direction} (25. Nd3 Qb5 26. Ne5) 25... Rfe8 26. Rxa8 $2 (26. Ne5 $11) (26. Rec1 $11) 26... Rxa8 $2 (26... Qxe1+ $19) 27. Ra1 Ra6 28. Ne5 (28. Rxa6 Qe1+ 29. Kh2 bxa6 30. Qa3 Qg3+ 31. Kh1 Qe1+ 32. Kh2 Qg3+ $11 {Stockfish13}) 28... Qd2 $19 29. Rb1 Qxe3+ 30. Kh2 {Normal} 0-1 [Event "WCU Open 2 Online"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.05.11"] [Round "5.3"] [White "Rakos, Adam"] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B20"] [WhiteElo "2133"] [BlackElo "1648"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] 1. e4 c5 2. b4 e6 (2... b6 3. Bc4 e6 4. Nf3 Bb7 5. d3 Nc6 6. bxc5 bxc5 7. Bb2 Na5 8. Bb3 Nxb3 9. axb3 d5 {Rakos-Marin,WCU Open 2 Online rd2, 2021,1/2-1/2}) ( 2... cxb4 3. a3 e6 4. axb4 d5 5. e5 Nc6 6. d4 Bxb4+ 7. c3 Be7 8. Bd3 g6 9. Ne2 h5 10. O-O Nh6 11. Ba3 O-O 12. Nf4 {Rakos-Ujhelyi, HUN ch tm 2013,1-0}) 3. bxc5 Bxc5 4. d4 Bb6 5. Nf3 d5 6. e5 Ne7 (6... Nc6 {main}) 7. Bd3 Nbc6 8. c3 Nf5 ( 8... Bd7 {main}) (8... O-O 9. Bxh7+ {7-0}) 9. Bxf5 (9. Ba3 Bd7 10. Nbd2 (10. O-O Nce7 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Bxf5 (12. g4 $18) (12. Kh1 $18) 12... exf5 13. Qb3 Be6 $11 {Matasaru-Vulpe, ROM ch U10 girls Calimanesti 2014,0-1}) 10... Nfe7 11. O-O h6 12. Nh4 $18 {Lombardo-Miccoli, Napoli Vomero Primavera op 2009,1-0}) 9... exf5 10. O-O O-O $11 11. Bg5 Qc7 12. Na3 a6 13. Rc1 (13. c4 $5) 13... Na5 14. Nd2 (14. Nc2) 14... h6 15. Be3 Nc4 (15... Be6 $17 {Stockfish13} 16. Nb3 Rac8) 16. Naxc4 dxc4 17. f4 (17. Qf3 Be6 18. Rb1 Rad8 19. Qg3 Kh7 20. Rxb6 Qxb6 21. d5 Qb2 22. dxe6 Rxd2 23. Qf4 Rd5 24. Qxf5+ Kg8 25. exf7+ Rxf7 26. Qc8+ Kh7 27. Qxc4 $16 {Stockfish13-2 pawns for exchange & better mobility}) 17... Be6 18. h3 Qd7 19. Kh2 Ba7 (19... Bc7 $15 {keeps centre under pressure and looks at the K}) 20. Rg1 b5 21. g4 $5 {needs more preparation, but Bl fails to find the exact counter} (21. Qe2 Rab8 $15) 21... fxg4 22. hxg4 f5 (22... f6 { Bl needs to challenge the centre ( & why the bl squared B would have been better on c7)} 23. f5 Bd5 24. e6 {looks dangerous} Bb8+ 25. Kh3 Qb7 26. Qe2 a5 $15 {but Wh's K side expansion has been halted, while Bl is ready to move on the Q side}) 23. g5 $18 hxg5 (23... g6 $5 24. gxh6 Kh7 25. Nf3 Bd5 26. Qf1 $18 (26. Ng5+ Kxh6 $1 $15 {the Wh K is more exposed than the Bl one})) 24. Rxg5 Kf7 25. Qh5+ Ke7 26. Rxg7+ Rf7 27. Rcg1 (27. Qh4+ Ke8 28. Rg8+ Rf8 29. Rxf8+ Kxf8 30. Rg1 $18) 27... Raf8 28. Rxf7+ (28. Nf3) 28... Rxf7 (28... Bxf7 29. Rg7 Ke8 30. Qh7 Qc6 31. Kg3 Bb8 32. Nf3 $18 {Stockfish13}) 29. Rg8 b4 (29... Rf8) ( 29... Qd5 30. Qg5+ Kd7 31. Rd8+) 30. Qg5+ {Normal} 1-0 [Event "WCU Open 2 Online"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.05.11"] [Round "5.4"] [White "Gunn, Tom"] [Black "Boyd, Chris"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D46"] [WhiteElo "1398"] [BlackElo "1890"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "84"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,84,16,28,26,8,27,-14,-16,-12,33,45,43,45,72,49,48,48,48,40,40,35,51, 38,49,23,41,-9,-21,-68,6,-9,36,-3,30,30,89,79,60,51,41,55,76,63,69,51,102,69, 59,29,72,60,69,-16,-20,-39,-64,-91,-29,-69,-59,-52,-33,-83,-59,-97,-34,-32,-32, -40,-57,-62,-62,-70,-28,-84,-64,-166,-165,-203,-241,-769,-790,-790,-936,-29989, -29990]} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 (3. g3 c6 (3... e6 4. Bg2 Bd6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c6 7. Qc2 Nbd7 8. Nbd2 Re8 9. e4 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. Qxe4 Nf6 12. Qc2 Bd7 {May-Boyd, WCU Open Online 2020,1/2-1/2}) 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Bd6 6. c3 O-O 7. a3 a6 8. b3 Bd7 9. c4 dxc4 10. bxc4 b5 11. c5 Bc7 12. e3 a5 {Preti-Boyd, Saint Affrique op 2005,1-0}) (3. e3 {main for Gunn}) 3... e6 (3... c6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nbd2 Nbd7 8. Qc2 Re8 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Qxe4 e5 12. Bg5 exd4 13. Qd3 Qb6 14. Rfe1 {Bullen-Boyd, Cotswold Op 2018,1-0}) 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 (5. Bg5) 5... Bd6 (5... Nbd7) 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 h6 (10... Nf6 11. Bc2 h6 {alternative}) 11. Re1 (11. Bc2) 11... Nf6 12. Bd3 (12. Bc2 {71 games}) 12... c5 13. b3 (13. dxc5 {2 draws}) (13. Be3 { 1 draw}) 13... cxd4 14. Nxd4 e5 15. Nb5 Bb8 (15... Bb4 $15) 16. Bb2 $14 (16. Ba3 $16) 16... a6 17. Nc3 Qb6 18. Na4 $16 (18. Ne4 $16) 18... Qe6 19. Nc5 (19. c5 {Stockfish13} Bc7 20. Nb6 Bxb6 21. Rxe5 Qc6 22. cxb6 Qxb6 23. Qf3 Bd7 24. Qg3 $16 {Wh is developing a strong K side initiative}) 19... Qc6 20. Ne4 Re8 21. Nxf6+ (21. Qf3) 21... Qxf6 22. Qc2 (22. Be4) 22... Qh4 23. Re4 (23. h3 $16) (23. Re3 $16 {Wh has more space & development}) 23... Qh5 24. Qe2 Qxe2 (24... Qg5 $11) 25. Rxe2 f6 26. f4 $6 {gives the Bl Bs some open lines} (26. Be4 $14) (26. Rd1 Bg4 27. f3 Ba7+ 28. Kf1 Be6 29. Ba3 Kf7 $11) (26. h3 Ba7 27. Rd1 Be6 28. Be4 Rab8 29. Ba3 $14 {Wh may be able to advance his Q side majority at some point}) 26... Ba7+ 27. Kf1 Bg4 28. Ree1 (28. Rc2 exf4 $17) 28... exf4 ( 28... Red8 $1 29. Be2 Bxe2+ 30. Kxe2 exf4 $19 {Stockfish13}) 29. Bg6 (29. Be4 $11 {Stockfish13- not an easy move to find, but now the Wh Bs gain some activity} f3 (29... Rab8 30. Bd5+ Kh7 31. Rxe8 Rxe8 32. Re1 Rxe1+ 33. Kxe1 Bc8 34. Ke2 $11 {Stockfish13}) 30. Bd5+ Kh7 31. Bxf3 Bxf3 32. gxf3 Bc5 33. Bc3 Kg6 34. Rac1 $11 {Stockfish13}) 29... Re3 (29... Rxe1+ 30. Rxe1 Rd8 $15) 30. h3 Bd7 31. Rad1 (31. Rxe3 Bxe3 (31... fxe3 32. Rd1 Bc6 33. g4 b5 34. Ke2 {on e3, the pawn obstructs the Bl piece activity}) 32. Rd1 $11) 31... Bc6 32. Bc1 $2 { forces the Bl R to a better square} (32. Rxe3 Bxe3 33. Ba3 $11) 32... Bxg2+ ( 32... Rg3 {is even stronger according to Stockfish13, though a bit obscure to non-Engine eyes} 33. Be4 f3 34. Bxf3 (34. gxf3 Bc5 35. Be3 Bxe4 36. Bxc5 Rxf3+ 37. Bf2 Bc6 38. Re3 Rxe3 39. Bxe3 Re8 {the R & opposite colour B infiltrate Wh's K side, while Wh's Q side majority languishes.}) 34... Bxf3 35. gxf3 Bc5 36. Re6 Rxf3+ 37. Kg2 Rf2+ 38. Kg3 Rxa2 $19) 33. Kxg2 Rg3+ 34. Kh2 Rxg6 35. Bxf4 {in this variation Wh does have some open files, while the Bl Rs are temporarily off side} b5 (35... Bc5) 36. Rd7 Kh7 (36... bxc4 37. bxc4 Bb6 38. Rc1 Rc8 39. Rd5 Bc5 $15 {Stockfish13}) 37. Ree7 Bc5 38. Rf7 (38. Re1 Bb4 39. Re2 bxc4 40. bxc4 Rc8 41. Rc2 f5 $17 {Stockfish13}) 38... bxc4 (38... Re8 $19 { Stockfish13}) 39. bxc4 Re8 40. Rd2 (40. Rd1) 40... Bg1+ 41. Kh1 Re1 42. Rg2 Be3+ {Normal} 0-1 [Event "WCU U1800 Online; Cardigan-SteyntonA"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.05.11"] [Round "5.3"] [White "Holman, Sam"] [Black "Pinch, David"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A40"] [WhiteElo "1386"] [BlackElo "1798"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,87,61,48,72,115,109,77,65,-18,55,47,107,115,117,71,67,47,50,51,61,37, 75,47,96,79,93,68,62,25,41,49,82,59,94,79,79,71,124,124,126,131,146,146,140, 133,145,145,148,181,171,179,173,125,172,106,102,100,93,110,102,96,88,88,94,65, 99,68,115,133,113,100,136,109,176,101,97,119,432,474,529,518,526,811,811,811, 811,806,1273,29126]} 1. e4 b6 (1... d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e5 Nfd7 7. h4 c5 8. h5 {Holman-Pinch, Dyfed Closed Online 2021,1/2-1/2}) ( 1... d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. f4 e6 5. Nf3 b6 6. Bc4 Bb7 7. Be3 Nd7 8. Qd2 Ne7 9. h4 h5 10. O-O-O {Holman-Pinch, Dyfed Feb Rapid 2021,1-0}) 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 e6 4. c4 (4. Nf3 {main}) 4... d6 {Bl has another go at the Hippo} (4... f5 5. exf5 Bb4+ (5... Bxg2 6. Qh5+) 6. Kf1 Nf6 {has been played in elite GM games, mostly blitz or rapid}) (4... Bb4+) (4... Nc6 {both also elite GM, eg Nakamura. }) 5. Nc3 (5. Nf3 {transposes to 129 games}) 5... g6 (5... Nf6 {228 games}) 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Be3 Nd7 8. O-O Ne7 9. Qd2 h6 10. Rfe1 (10. b4) (10. Rac1) (10. d5 { most frequent moves here}) 10... a6 (10... g5 11. d5 Ng6 {Brynell-Spassky, Sigeman & Co, Malmo 1998,1/2-1/2}) 11. Rad1 $16 {4-0} c5 (11... g5 {Cloud Engines, a standard hippo plan, leaving the centre flexible for the moment}) 12. d5 e5 {its a King's Indian setup , with bot sides 's pieces on slightly unusual squares} 13. a4 {Normally played to prevent ..b5 by Bl; but here Wh needs open lines on the Q side} (13. Rb1 g5 14. b4 Bc8 15. Qc2 O-O {Bl will have to in the end & try for the usual attack on the K side} 16. Nd2 Ng6 17. Na4 Nf4 18. Bf1 Qf6 {Stockfish13 Assesses as wining on the Q side, though Bl must retain some chances.( Wh can sac on b6 to force matters)} 19. Nxb6 Nxb6 20. bxc5 dxc5 21. Bxc5 Nd7 22. Ba3 Qg6 23. Rbc1 $18 {Stockfish13, but Bl just has to keep going on the K side eg} h5 (23... Re8 24. c5 Nf6 25. c6 {and the centre pawns are critical})) 13... g5 (13... Bc8 $16 {Stockfish13- the B is needed towards the Wh K, it's Q side task is done- having provoked d5 to stabilize the centre}) 14. Ne2 (14. h4 Bc8 15. hxg5 hxg5 16. Bxg5 Nf8 17. Rb1 Nh7 18. Be3 Nf6 $16 {Stockfish13- Bl gets some attacking chances down the open files}) 14... Nf6 (14... a5 {seals up the Q side, since Wh no longer has a3 to force through b4. Hence Bl can play for 0-0-0 & a K side attack. Wh's best might then be a Iolo strategy, send the Wh K on a long march to the safety of the Q side.}) 15. Ng3 (15. b4 $18) 15... Bc8 (15... a5) 16. b3 (16. b4 $18 { Wh has his extra space on the Q side , with d5. So b4 & then maybe c5 can follow , depending on Bl reply.}) 16... Ng6 (16... Ng4 17. Rf1 a5 $16 { Stockfish13 & maybe then Kd7-c7 for Bl? The K should be safe, provided Wh is not allowed a piece sac on e5.}) 17. Nf5 Bxf5 (17... Kf8 {or}) (17... O-O { looks advisable}) 18. exf5 Nf4 $2 (18... Ne7 {Bl has to keep the centre closed} 19. Qc2 a5 20. Rf1 Kf8 (20... Qd7 21. Rde1 O-O-O {Stockfish13 still prefers Wh, but a breakthrough will be far from easy.}) 21. Nd2 $18 {Stockfish13-Wh will open up the K side, but it will be a long game}) 19. Bxf4 gxf4 20. Qxf4 $18 { it is the enhanced mobility of the Wh K side pawns that will decide; though Stockfish13 still thinks Bl can put up a fight} O-O $6 {makes Wh's task easier- a K side pawn storm & the Wh pieces will come through behind them} ( 20... h5 {restrains g4} 21. h4 (21. Qd2 Bh6 22. Qc3 a5 (22... Kd7 $2 23. Rxe5 $1 dxe5 $2 24. Nxe5+ Ke8 (24... Kc7 25. Nxf7) 25. Nc6 (25. Re1) 25... Qd6 26. Re1+ Kf8 27. Re6 Qf4 28. Qxf6 Bg7 29. Qe7+ Kg8 30. g3 Qd2 31. Nd8 $18)) 21... Kd7 22. Qc1 Bh6 23. Qc3 Rg8 24. g3 a5 25. Bc2 $16 {Stockfish13- though again it is far from clear what , if anything, Wh can make of his half pawn ahead}) 21. Qh4 Qd7 22. g4 Rae8 {Rs are bad defenders- here they just cut off escape routes for the Bl K} 23. Nd2 (23. g5 hxg5 24. Nxg5 e4 25. Bxe4 Re5 26. Kh1 $18 {Stockfish13}) 23... Re7 (23... e4 $5 {at least provides some activity for Bl's pieces ( a side attack is best met by opening up in the centre} 24. Bxe4 Re7 25. Re3 Rfe8 26. Rde1 Nh7 27. Kg2 b5) 24. Ne4 (24. Kh1) (24. g5) 24... Nxe4 25. Bxe4 f6 26. Rd3 Rff7 27. Kh1 b5 28. axb5 axb5 29. Qg3 bxc4 30. bxc4 Qa4 31. Rc3 Rb7 32. h4 {Bl is attacking pawns; Wh is K hunting} Qa5 33. Rec1 (33. Rg1) 33... Qd8 34. Rb3 {swapping off pieces helps Bl, especially if it comes down to an opposite colour B ending. Wh should continue on the K side for a bit longer, hoping to catch the Bl pieces on awkward squares before switching} (34. Qf3 Bf8 35. Rg1 Rh7 36. Kg2 Ra7 37. Qd1 Qa8 38. Qc1 Be7 39. Rh1 Qf8 40. Rb3 Bd8 41. Rhh3 Rhg7 42. Rhg3 Rgb7 43. Rxb7 Rxb7 44. Ra3 {Stockfish13- Bl has warded off an immediate K side breakthrough, but has to keep a watchful eye on itwhile Wh threatens now to come in through te Q side.}) 34... Qb8 (34... Rxb3 {Bl should welcome the swap} 35. Qxb3 Bf8 36. Rg1 Rg7 37. Qe3 Rh7 38. Kg2 Ra7 { waiting patiently}) 35. Rcb1 Kf8 (35... Rb4) 36. Rb5 Qa7 (36... Rxb5 37. cxb5 Qb6 38. Qe3 Rb7 39. Bd3 Qa7 40. Bc4 Kg8 41. g5 Qa4 42. Qc1 Qa8 43. g6 Bf8 44. Ra1 Qc8 45. Qb1 Be7 46. Ra6 Kf8 {Stockfish13 is convinced Wh is winnoingbut Wh still has to find a way to break the Bl blockade.}) 37. g5 hxg5 (37... Rxb5 38. cxb5 (38. Rxb5 $16) 38... Qa4 39. Qe3 hxg5 40. hxg5 Qd4 41. Qxd4 cxd4 42. g6 Rb7 43. b6 Bh6 44. Rb2 Kg8 45. Bd3 Kf8 46. Ba6 Rb8 47. b7 e4 48. Kg1 d3 49. Kf1 d2 50. Ke2 e3 51. fxe3 Bxe3 52. Rc2 Bc5 53. Kxd2 $18 {Stockfish13 nudged}) 38. hxg5 fxg5 (38... Qa8 39. g6 Rfd7 40. Kg2 Rxb5 41. Rxb5 Kg8 42. Qb3 Qe8 43. Rb8 Rd8 44. Rb7 Bf8 45. Bc2 Rd7 46. Qb5 Re7 47. Rb8 Qxb5 48. cxb5 $18 {Stockfish13} ) 39. Qxg5 Bf6 (39... Ke8 40. Rxb7 Rxb7 41. Qg6+ {picks up the d pawn}) 40. Qh6+ Bg7 (40... Ke8 41. Rxb7 Rxb7 42. Rxb7 Qxb7 43. Qxf6 $18) 41. Qxd6+ Kg8 42. Rxb7 Rxb7 43. Qe6+ Kf8 44. Qc8+ {Normal- Wh has broken through on all 3 fronts} 1-0