[Event "2022 Dorset Closed - Open"] [Site "?"] [Date "2022.06.19"] [Round "2"] [White "Pleasants, Allan"] [Black "Clark, Ian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D30"] [Annotator "peter"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2022.06.19"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.03.01"] 1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. O-O Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. d4 {The game has transposed to a Tarrasch Defence to the Queen's Gambit.} cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 { An unusual piece placement. The bishop normally goes to e7 in this structure.} (8... Be7 9. Nc3 O-O {leads back to one of the old mainlines of theTarrasch Defence}) 9. Nb3 (9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Qc2 {is awkward for Black}) 9... Bb6 10. Nc3 Be6 (10... d4 {is another typical move for this structure, often leading to a sharp tactical battle} 11. Na4 O-O) 11. Bg5 O-O 12. Na4 (12. Nxd5 Bxd5 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Qxd5 Qxb2) (12. a4) 12... Bc7 {Rather passive.} 13. Nac5 b6 $2 { Generally Nxe6 fxe6 helps Black in these positions as the d-pawn is strengthened and the half-open f-file can be useful to Black, so it is easy to see why Ian was tempted by 13...b6. However, it loses a pawn by force.} (13... Bc8) (13... Rb8 14. Rc1) 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Rc1 Ne7 (15... Qd7 16. Qc2 $18 { picking up a piece}) 16. Nd4 Qd7 (16... e5 17. Ne6 {picks up the exchange}) 17. Nxe6 Qxe6 (17... Rfc8 18. Nxc7 Rxc7 19. Rxc7 Qxc7 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Bxd5+ $18) 18. Rxc7 {White has an extra pawn, the better strucure, no real wekanesses and the two bishops. The win should be straightforward from here.} Rfd8 19. Bxf6 { An interesting and probably good choice, giving up the bishop pair to increase the pressure on the d-pawn} Qxf6 20. Qb3 Kh8 21. e3 a5 22. Qc3 d4 {Good move! Black gives up a second pawn for some activity. Objectively this may or may not be the best move but it seems like the best practical chance.} (22... Qxc3 23. bxc3 $1 Ng8 (23... Ng6 24. c4) 24. c4) (22... Qe6 23. Rd1 {threatening Bxd5 }) (22... Ng8 {tries to hang onto the pawn but leaves White firmly in control e.g.} 23. Rd1 Qxc3 24. Rxc3 Nf6 25. Rcd3 Rac8 26. Bxd5 Rc2 27. Bb3 Rxd3 28. Rxd3 Rc1+ 29. Kg2 $18) 23. exd4 Nd5 24. Bxd5 Rxd5 25. Re1 {This is a tricky move, but does relinquish a pawn, as shown in the game.} (25. Rd1 {Keeps the pawn and should win comfortably since Rad8 is well met by Rc6}) 25... Rf8 { Well spotted by Ian} (25... Qxd4 $2 26. Rc8+ Rd8 27. Rxa8 $18) (25... Rxd4 $6 26. Rc8+ Rd8 27. Rxa8 Rxa8 28. Qxf6 gxf6 29. Re6 $18 {White will regain the second pawn leaving a straightforward endgame conversion}) 26. f4 Rxd4 { In comparison with the position after White's 18th, he is still a pawn up but structurally has no real advantage and does not have the bishop pair any more.} 27. Rc8 Kg8 $2 {This is a pity. Black had fought his way back into the game only to falter.} (27... Rdd8 {and things are not so clear cut - it may still be winning for White but Black certainly has chances to hold e.g.} 28. Qxf6 gxf6 29. Rxd8 (29. Rc2 Kg7) 29... Rxd8 30. Re6 b5 31. Rxf6 Rd1+ 32. Kg2 Rd2+ 33. Kh3 Rxb2 {and this may be won for White but is not straightforward}) 28. Qb3+ Qf7 (28... Kh8 29. Ree8 $18) 29. Rxf8+ (29. Ree8 {was an instant kill}) 29... Kxf8 30. Qxb6 {White is back to being 2 pawns up and soon forces the queens off to leave a won rook ending.} Qd5 31. Qb8+ Kf7 32. Qe8+ Kf6 33. Qe7+ Kg6 34. Qe6+ Qxe6 35. Rxe6+ Kf5 36. Re2 a4 37. Kg2 Rd1 38. Kf3 Ra1 39. a3 1-0