28 Kc3 Kc7 29 Kb4 Kb6 30 f5 looks horrible.  I don't know how or why I overlooked 30 f5, but it certainly looks like I should avoid it.  One of the most obvious ways to do that is 28 ... f6, though I'm still looking at Smyslov_Fan's 28 ... Ra8 as well...

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 a6 5.Be3 Qc7 6.h4 h6 7.g4 Bd7 8.h5 e6 9.f4 c5 10.Nf3 cxd4 11.Qxd4 Nc6 12.Qb6 Qxb6 13.Bxb6 Bb4 14.0-0-0 Nge7 15.Ne2 Ba5 16.Bxa5 Nxa5 17.Ned4 Rc8 18.Bd3 Nec6 19.c3 Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Nc6 21.Kd2 Nxd4 22.cxd4 Bb5 23.Bxb5 axb5 24.Rc1 Rc4 25.Kd3 Kd7 26.b3 Rc6 27.Rxc6




with conditional moves: 27...bxc6 28.Kc3

[Edit: deleted a couple of extraneous letters in the FEN notation (due to a careless cut and paste, 7r was preceeded by 4k which dropped a black rook and gave and extra black king!).  This should fix the diagram. Sorry!  ]

Also checked 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 a6 5.Be3 Qc7 6.h4 h6 7.g4 Bd7 8.h5 e6 9.f4 c5 10.Nf3 cxd4 11.Qxd4 Nc6 12.Qb6 Qxb6 13.Bxb6 Bb4 14.0-0-0 Nge7 15.Ne2 Ba5 16.Bxa5 Nxa5 17.Ned4 Rc8 18.Bd3 Nec6 19.c3 Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Nc6 21.Kd2 Nxd4 22.cxd4 Bb5 23.Bxb5 axb5 24.Rc1 Rc4 25. Kd3 Kd7 26. b3 Rc6 27.Rxc6 bxc6 28.Kc3 Kc7 29. Kb4 Kb6 
This looks even stronger to me for white as 30. f5 looks like an improved version of 29. f5 which is also very good. eg 30. f5 Ra8 31. a3 Ra7 32. Rf1

Therefore I am tempted to think 28... Ra8 may be best.

So after these considerations without further ado I will accept HgMan's conditional moves and move into the single rook ending:
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 a6 5.Be3 Qc7 6.h4 h6 7.g4 Bd7 8.h5 e6 9.f4 c5 10.Nf3 cxd4 11.Qxd4 Nc6 12.Qb6 Qxb6 13.Bxb6 Bb4 14.0-0-0 Nge7 15.Ne2 Ba5 16.Bxa5 Nxa5 17.Ned4 Rc8 18.Bd3 Nec6 19.c3 Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Nc6 21.Kd2 Nxd4 22.cxd4 Bb5 23.Bxb5 axb5 24.Rc1 Rc4 25. Kd3 Kd7 26. b3 Rc6 27. Rxc6

Hi All,

I am just back at work after a 2 week holiday, which was one week more than I had thought originally
So my apologies to all and especially my opponent for the delay.

I will check the position and comments of all (some 3 pages on a quick glance) and deliver my move as quickly as possible.

PS thanks for the diagrams that will come in very handy.

I'm not sure, isn't it White's move now?    

Sacapawn wrote on 08/04/06 at 01:08:39:

In this line 31...c5 looks kind of dubious.  I think Black can improve with 31...Ra8 then after 32.Rf7 Rxa2 33.Rxg7 Rg2 34.Rg6 Rg3+ 35.Kd2 

[35.Kc2 b4 36.Rxe6 (36.Rxh6 Rxg4=) 36...Rg2+ 37.Kd3 Rg3+ 38.Ke2 Rxg4=] 

35...b4 36.Ke2 Rxb3 37.Rxh6 Kb5 I see Black holding this final position.

HgMan wrote on 08/03/06 at 21:14:00:

HgMan,

I'm still not convinced by 28...Kc7 because I don't like allowing White the passed a-pawn in your main line (as it diverts defensive resources away from the impending kingside pawn storm).  If a draw can be demonstrated in Smyslov_Fan's 28...Ra8 line, I think it could be a better way to go.  

In know, here we go again...

Having learned my lesson earlier(?) ...

... I will withhold any further comments on the relative merits of the two lines until I have looked at your line more carefully (and have a better idea of the impact of the white passed a-pawn).  

Sacapawn wrote on 08/03/06 at 16:58:08:

I should clarify that this was Smyslov_Fan's analysis.  I just tidied up his previous post and added a few diagrams (BTW, he owes me - BIG TIME! ).

I think your 31.Kd4 is a nice idea and I will try to look at variations in a bit more detail when I have more time - as will SF, no doubt. when he returns from his vacation.  I imagine HgMan will be analyzing this even sooner! 

Here's the position after 36.Re8 in your line:



After a quick glance, I think White is already winning at this point.  If so, then the improvement for Black must come earlier.

Incidentally, my first thought was that 36...Rxa2 looked like an obvious blunder (after which Black is indeed slaughtered quickly), and  surely defending the e6-pawn with 36...Kd7 is better. However, after 37.Rg8 Rxa2 38.Rxg7+ Kc6 then 39.Rg6 looks absolutely crushing.

Maybe Black can improve on the ...b4/...Ra5/...Rxc5 plan (or look for improvements earlier in Smyslov_Fan's line).

Excellent contribution, Sacapawn!  If earlier improvements are found, you heads up may end up saving HgMan's life.  Otherwise, you may have just forecast his death...


[Edit: Taking another look, I think 34...Rxc5 is a blunder.  Black can improve with 34...Ra7 (since the white c5-pawn is not going anywhere it can be scooped up at a more opportune moment).  I don't know if this is enough to hold the position in the long run, but it's certainly a big improvement.  From here, my main line runs 35.Rf8 Rxa2 36.Rc8+ Kd7 37.Rg8 Rd2+ 38.Ke3 Rb2 39.Rxg7+ Kc6 40.Rg6 Kxc5 41.Rxh6 Rxb3+ 42.Kd2 Rg3 and I see Black holding this final position.  I doubt if this line represents best play, however.
One fiinal observation: if Black is not going to play 34...Rxc5 after all, then there's not much point to 32...Ra5.  Maybe another place for Black to look for an improvement.]