DcGentle: Too bad that Vachier-Lagrave missed the win at this position: click for larger viewBlack's 54th move was decisive.
[Event "Breisacher Memorial, some variants after move 54."]
[Site "Biel SUI"]
[Date "2013.07.30"]
[Round "8.2"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D86"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[Annotator "DcGentle"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/5p2/4p1kP/4P1P1/r7/p5K1/R7 b - - 0 54"] 54... Kxg4 {? Sometimes it's better not to grab the material offered immediately.} (54... Re3 {Black will get the e-pawn and the g-pawn.} 55. Rxa2 Rxe4 56. Kf3 (56. h6 Rxg4+) 56... Rxg4 57. Rh2 Rf4+ 58. Kg3 Kh6 {Now Black's passed pawns can march, the h-pawn is stopped and will fall later. Black should easily win.}) 55. h6 Rg3+
(55... Rh3 {trading the a-pawn with the h-pawn is not enough to win:} 56. Rxa2 Rxh6 57. Rf2 Kg5 58. Kf3 Rh3+ 59. Ke2 {and Black is stuck.}) (55... Ra4 {doesn't help either:} 56. h7 Ra8 57. h8=Q {and Black's rook is deflected!} Rxh8 58. Rxa2 Kf4 59. Rf2+ Kxe4 60. Rxf6 {is a theoretical draw.}) 56. Kf1 Kf3 57. Rxa2 Kxe4 58. Rf2 f5 59. Re2+ Kd5 60. Rh2 Rg8 61. h7 Rh8 62. Kf2 Ke6 63. Rh6+ Kf7 64. Kg3 Kg7 65. Re6 Rxh7 66. Rxe5 Kf6 1/2-1/2 Ģ |