offramp: <Bob Loblaw: Now this is a truly remarkable game!> Yes! The opening is a bit wacky, and then we come to the really study-like bit. Black played 29...d3 and white seems to have realised that there is no way to stop the d-pawn queening. All he can do is try and create his own attack.
 click for larger viewWhite pushes the king around a bit and then in this position, unable to stop the promotion, he plays ....
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33.Nd6!
If now 33...d1=Q then white would march his king towards g6 and seriously threaten mate, and the advance of the g-pawn. Black gives up the exchange to annihilate the dreaded ♘ on d6 (but leaving a passed pawn in its place!), and he seems back in control when he plays 38...Ra8:
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In order to avoid a perpetual from the white rook, the black king steps out into the middle of the board - surely a tremendous relief! After 42.Re8 black sees that his king can now deal personally with that obdurate white d-pawn. But when white plays 44.Rxa8 black looks at the board with disgust! Now <he> cannot stop a pawn queening - but this time there is no escape! An ending with loads of paradoxical positions. |