Messiah: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 O-O 9.O-O a6 10.Bd3 Nc6 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Rc1 Qa5<After 12...h6 there might be perpetuals, but I vote for the very natural 12...Nd5 with equality. Probably 12...b5 is playable, either. This is a complex and rich position, I encourage you to contemplate on it for a while.>
13.Ne4 Rd8?
<The root of Black's tragedy. 13...Nd5 or the strange 13...Qd8!? were better. V P Moskalenko vs Baburin, 1989 had 13...Nxe4?! (also not terribly bad), but, interestingly, it was technically 12...Nxe4 - do you see why?>
14.a3?
<Missing the golden opportunity. 14.Nxf6+! gxf6 15.Rxc6! bxc6 16.Ne5!! brings the point home. Bxf6 will be good, but not this time. Can you see why? Let's return to this topic one move later.>
14...Bd7?
<This innocent-looking developing move is actually a mistake, reliveving the pressure on the d-file, although temporarily. But this short timeframe is enough for White to start a concrete offensive! 14...Nxe4 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Bxe4 Bd7 17.Bxb7 Rab8 18.Be4 Ba4 was the proper continuation, not enabling White to weaken the king shelter's dark squares. 14...Nd5?! 15.Rxc6! bxc6 16.Ne5! brings pain.>
15.Bxf6
<Finally, Acs finds the correct handling of Black's structural problems. Do you see why 15.Nxf6+ doesn't work this time?>
15...gxf6
<15...Bxf6? 16.Nxf6+ gxf6 17.Rc5 and goodbye.>
16.Nc5
<Probably 16.Rc5! was even better. By sacrificing the exchange White puts serious pressure on the king shelter's dark squares.>
16...Qb6 17.Rc3
<17. Bxh7+? is not good yet, because 17...Kxh7! 18.Ne5 Nxe5 19.dxe5 (19.Qh5+? Kg7 and Black can consolidate) Bxc5 20.Qh5+ Kg7 21.exf6+ Kxf6 22.Rxc5! (this is the only move) Ke7 23.Qh4+ Ke8 24.Qh8+ Ke7 is a perpetual, and White can be happy with the half point.>
17...Rab8?
<The immediate 17...f5 was obligatory, however, 18.Rb3 Qc7 19.Rxb7 Qc8 20.Rxd7 Rxd7 21.Nxd7 Qxd7 22.Bc4 is absolutely good for White. 17.... Bxc5 18.dxc5 Qc7 19.Qa4 Ne5 20.Qf4 Nxf3+ 21.Qxf3 might be an idea, but the king's position is still tragic. Black needs super precise play to have hopes for a draw.>
18.Bxh7+!
<Yes! Opening up the 3rd rank and the d-file, enabling the h pawn to begin its march (although this did not happen in the game), and smashing the king shelter pretty hard.>
18...Kf8
<18...Kxh7?? and 18...Kh8?? both lose to 19. Ne5!, and 18...Kg7? is terrible after the rather obvious 19.Nh4.>
19.Qd2 Ke8
<A sad necessity. Not even 19...Bxc5 helps.>
20.Re1 Bc8
<I tried to find a better move (for example 20...e5 or 20...Rbc8), but nothing helps anymore. White is 99.9% winning.>
21.Qf4
<The excellent 21.b4! shuts down Black's every hopes for a counterplay, and White can choose whatever plan he wants: increasing the pressure in the centre or starting The Great March with the h pawn.>
21...f5
<21...e5 does not help, because 22.Qh6 Rxd4 23.Ne4! pinpoints the horrific situation of the king, standing alone in the centre. The f6 pawn's future is not bright. Tricks like 21...Nxd4 cannot work for the same reason.>
22.Bxf5!
<Technically, a free pawn.>
22...exf5
<22...Bxc5 23.dxc5 Qxb2 (or whatever) 24.Rd3 does not relieve Black: the position is lost, because Qc7 ideas will hurt badly.>
23.Qg5 Be6
<I don't like 23...Qxc5?! at all, but some commenters suggest it, so let's check: it is obvious that Black avoids the immediate collapse with this hideous move, but the position remains terrible and completely unplayable. Just imagine what Black feels over the board in a line like 24.dxc5 Be6 25.Qg8+ Kd7 26.Rd3+ Kc7 27.Qg3+ Kc8 28.Rxd8+ Bxd8 29.h4 - not the comfiest thing I have ever seen.>
24.Qg8+ Bf8 25.Rxe6+! fxe6
<25...Ne7 26.Rxe7+! Kxe7 27.Re3+ Kd6 28.Qxf7 and sooner or later it's curtains.>
26.Qg6+
<Of course, 26...Ke7 27.Qxe6# finishes.>
1-0
Kibitzing
sac: 25.Rxe6+
