1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6
6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 0-0 9.f4 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 h6 11.Bh4 Qa5
12.Bc4 e5 13.fxe5 dxe5 14.Qd3 Bg4 15.Rdf1
Yelena already played this variation, but in my
point of view the positions that appear here are quite difficult for
Black.
15...Be6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Kb1 Qc5 18.Bb3 a5 19.Nd5
Bxd5?
I was surprised when Yelena chose this continuation,
I thought that more challenging would be Bd8. Almost the same
kind of position arose in the game Motylev - Timofeev 2003, where
White won but the position was far from clear. The only plus
of Black here is 2 bishops and after Bd5 Black rests with no pluses.
At the same time, the attack that White is going to have on the
King-side is more dangerous with opposite-colors bishops.
20.Bxd5 a4 21.a3 Ra6 22.h4?!
I didn't see anything for Black after 22.c3 Rb6
23.Ka2 Qb5 24.Qc2 but decided that the endgame is more safe and
considering that I played in a team competition chose the endgame.
22...Rb6 23.g4 Qd4 24.Qxd4 exd4 25.Rf2 Rd6 26.Kc1
26.Bxb7 d3 27.Bd5 dxc2+ 28.Rxc2 Rb8 I was not sure
that I can make any progress here.
26...Rc8? 27.Bxb7
...but here I couldn't resist anymore.
I can't explain Black's desire to give this pawn
away, she had to try not to give any material.
27...Rb8 28.Bd5 Rdb6 29.b4 Rc8 30.Rh3
30.e5 Bxe5 31.Rxf7
30...Rc7 31.Kd1 Rb8 32.Rhf3 Kh7
32...Rf8? 33.g5 hxg5 34.Rg2
33.g5 hxg5 34.hxg5 Bxg5 35.Bxf7 Rb6
36.e5?
Missing Black's next move. Better was 36.Rg2
36...Rh6 37.Bd5 Rh1+ 38.Rf1 Rxf1+ 39.Rxf1 Rc3
40.b5
40.Rf3 it was not clear if I would be able to win,
so I decided to push my passed pawn.
40...g6!
Almost forcing White to exchange the rooks:
40...Rxa3 41.b6 d3 42.Be4+ g6 43.Rh1+ Kg7 44.cxd3 Ra1+ 45.Kc2 Rxh1
46.Bxh1 Be3 47.b7 Ba7 48.d4
41.Rf3 Rxf3 42.Bxf3 Bf4 43.e6 Kg7 44.b6
Here I have 2 passed pawns; that is very important
in this kind of ending. So it gives me some chances to win.
44...Kf6 45.Bd5 Bd6 46.b7 Ke7 47.Ke2 Kd8 48.Kd3
Kc7 49.Kc4 Bxa3 50.Kb5 Bd6 51.Kxa4 Kd8 52.Kb5 Bb8 53.Kc4 Ba7 54.Be4
54.Bf3 was better, but during the game I didn't yet
understand the winning plan. I need to put my Bishop on g4, my
King on d5 and use the zugzwang technique to promote my pawns into
Queens.
54...Ke7 55.Kd5 g5 56.Bf5 Kd8 57.Bg4 Ke7 58.Ke5
d3 59.c4!
Here I at last saw the way to win. After
59.cxd3 Bb8+ 60.Kf5 Bd6 61.Kxg5 Bb8 62.d4 Bd6 63.Kf5 Bc7 64.d5 Bd6
Analysis Diagram: After 64...Bd6
Despite three extra pawns White is not able to make
any progress.
59...d2 60.c5 Bb8+ 61.Kd5 Ba7 62.c6 Bb8 63.Kc5
Bc7
63...d1Q 64.Bxd1 Kxe6 65.Kb6 Kd6 66.Bf3! the main
zugzwang position. Black is forced to retreat 66...g4 67.Bh1
g3 68.Bg2+-
64.Kb5 Kd6 65.Ka6 d1Q 66.Bxd1 Kxc6 67.Ka7 Kd6
68.Bg4 1-0
Final Position: after 68.Bg4
