zanzibar: These Exchange Variations seem to often end up as technical exercises. After the exchange of queens 18...Qxb3 19.axb3: (Black to move)
 click for larger viewThe position is technically even.
Things seem to go wrong for Black in handling White's break on the a-file. It can't really be stopped, but if Black is careful removing handy targets for White, it doesn't do much (*). But it seems Black makes subtle mistakes putting targets up for grabs... <19...b6 20.g3 Kf7 21.Ra4 c5> That's the problem with 21...c5, it gives the soon-to-be doubled b4-pawn a target. In fact, putting the pawn on c5 means White doesn't get doubled pawns when opening the file. <22.Rfa1 Rac8 23.b4> (After White's breakout 23.b4)
 click for larger view<23...axb4 24.cxb4 cxb4 25.Rxb4 Ne7> The knight comes over a little late(*).
<26.Rc4 Ke6 27.b4 b5 28.Rc5> Next, instead of playing 26...c5 and blocking off the bishop, Black plays 26...Ke3, where it becomes an X-ray target on the 6th. White immediately plays b4 and then occupies c5 with the rook, the very square Black could have owned. <28...c6 29.Ra6>
(Black to move)
 click for larger view<29...Ra8 30.Rb6 Rfd8 31.Rcxb5> The alarm bells are beginning to ring, yet Black invites White's rook onto the 6th with 29...Ra8 instead of playing the critical 29...Rb8, allowing the b5-pawn to fall to a pin. Once White wins the Q-side Black has little hope. Mecking does a nice job handing the technical execution of the game here. Side note- my <MillBase> version of the game continues with 37...Nc8 38.Rc7 (38.Bf8 or 38.Rh7 are both stronger though). (*) E.g. instead of 21...c5 Black is better playing
<21...Ne7 22.Rfa1 Rad8 23.b4 axb4 24.cxb4 Rd7 25.Kf1 Rfd8 26.Ra8 Nc8> |