It was a weird experience. Playing in a league match, the opposing team’s top board (who I was playing) was ranked lower than our board 5. Despite that, our game should have really been a draw but I squeaked by with a win in time trouble and we won the match 4-1. The game can be replayed here (I was black).
The opening has been quite dry and I was trying my best to keep as many pieces on the board and try and outplay my opponent. Here, I initially thought that he might be able to play 16. Rxd5?!. I run into trouble after 16… exd5 17. Nxd5 Bb7 but then realized that 16… Bb7 17. Rd7 Qxd7 18. Qxb7 and black is better.
I debated between the text move and 18… Bf6, unsure as to which diagonal the bishop should sit on.
23… a4! never crossed my mind, but it fixes white’s pawns and gives me concrete targets to aim at. From this point on, my opponent loses the thread a bit, letting his pieces stay passive and allowing me to improve my position.
44… d4 was probably better, not yet allowing the bishop check on d3, as happens later in the game.
And this is definitely an error, and now the position is a dead draw! 46… Rb3, not allowing Bd3+ was needed.
My opponent now commits a fatal blunder, in deep time trouble – he was down to less than a minute by this point. 49. Rxd4 maintains the equilibrium.
Mate follows.
