The linchpin | CHESS AT THE BAG OF CATS

I intend to follow Jethro Tull’s advice and continue “living in the past” (completely taken out of context to suit my own purpose) a little while more. So, did I mention it before, that my Danish Club, Brönshöj, won “Xtra-Con skakligaen”, the Danish first division? I might have. Today’s game was played in the sixth round, a key round where we faced one of the strongest teams in the league “Aarhus/Skolerne”. To make it more of a challenge we were missing two of our strongest players and had to bring in the reserves. In the end we won the match with 5-3, with the four last boards scoring 3½. There, that’s the linchpin.

   [Event "52nd TCh-DEN XtraCon"]  [Site "Copenhagen"]  [Date "2014.01.26"]  [Round "6"]  [White "Palm, N."]  [Black "Ochsner, T."]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A46"]  [WhiteElo "2310"]  [BlackElo "2310"]  [PlyCount "81"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 {Nikolaj isn't much for long theoretical lines in  the opening, but rather steers towards positions that he likes.} b6 4. Bd3 Bb7  5. O-O Be7 6. b3 O-O 7. Bb2 Ne4 8. Nbd2 f5 9. c4 Na6 10. a3 Bd6 $6 {In  combination with Na6 this can hardly be good.} 11. Qe2 {Now c4-c5 is a threat.}  c5 {This does not feel right either, but it is the logical follow up to Bd6,  since the alternative is to go back with the bishop to e7.} 12. Rad1 ({The  standard move here is} 12. d5 {, but Nikolaj didn't like the complications  arising after} Nxd2 13. Qxd2 exd5 14. cxd5 Nc7 {. However, this is quite  clearly better for White after} 15. Rad1 {, followed by Rfe1 and e3-e4.}) 12...  Qc7 $2 {No, no, no. This is where the knight is going. The queen should be on  e7. Let's take a break here. If Black's knight on a6 was on more attractive  square then the chances might have been about equal. So, how to proceed? There  is a standard theme here that is even stronger than it would usually be...} 13.  Ne5 {There is nothing wrong with this move, but} (13. d5 $1 {is extra  super strong now that Na6 is not even able to participate. After} Nxd2 14. Qxd2  e5 (14... exd5 {is clearly awful. I refuse to analyze it.}) 15. Qc3 $1 Rae8 16.  Nh4 $1 g6 17. f4 $1 {, followed by Nf3 or e4, Black is out of business. It  might seem difficult to find such a line, but if you have seen the themes  involved it's really just like jumping from one stone to another.}) 13...  cxd4 ({The engine prefers} 13... Nxd2 14. Rxd2 Nb8 {but White keeps some  advantage here too after} 15. Bb1 Nc6 16. Rfd1) 14. exd4 Bxe5 $6 ({Here Black  could have activated the passive knight with} 14... Nac5 $1 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16.  Kh1 $5 {with only a small advantage for White.}) 15. dxe5 Nac5 16. Bc2 a5 17.  Nb1 $1 {An excellent move. There are no really safe squares for Black's  knights so there is no reason to allow Black to exchange one of the them.} h6  18. f3 Ng5 19. Nc3 Bc6 20. Ra1 $5 {Another nice move. Now b3-b4 is threatened.}  Na6 21. Rfd1 Nf7 22. Nb5 $1 Qd8 ({After} 22... Bxb5 $2 23. cxb5 Nc5 24. b4 axb4  25. axb4 Rxa1 26. Rxa1 Nb7 27. Bb3 {Black is completely passive. One possible  continuation is} Rb8 28. Ra7 Nh8 29. Bd4 Ng6 30. Qe3 {when the end is nigh.})  23. Bd4 Rb8 24. Qf2 Rb7 25. Rd2 $1 {Simple, strong. When the pressure mounts  on the d-file, Black will not be able to exchange on b5 - ever.} Qb8 26. f4 Nc7  27. Bd3 $5 ({Here} 27. a4 Na6 28. Bd1 {, followed by Bf3 and Rad1, was strong.}  ) 27... Rc8 (27... Nxb5 {Here Black should take the chance to play} 28. cxb5  Bd5 {although White has a clear advantage here too.}) 28. Nd6 $5 Nxd6 29. exd6  Ne8 30. Be5 b5 {Black has to do something quickly, or White will play h3 and g4  with a devastating attack.} ({It is unlikely that Black can survive after}  30... Nf6 31. Bxf6 gxf6 32. Qd4 {, since} Kg7 33. Re1 h5 {(planning to meet  Re3 with h4)} 34. Bxf5 {seems to win for White. The bishop can not be taken:}  exf5 35. Re7+ Kg6 36. Rd3 h4 37. Qf2 {and Black is unable to defend against  Qxh4 and Rg3+.}) 31. c5 b4 {This loses an exchange, but is still the best  chance as it was unhealthy to allow White to play b3-b4 (thereby cementing the  pawn chain b4-d6). Now - at least- White will have a weakness on c5.} 32. Ba6  bxa3 33. Bxb7 Qxb7 34. Rxa3 Qb4 35. Rda2 Bb5 $2 {This makes matters worse.} (  35... Nf6 36. Bxf6 gxf6 37. Rxa5 Qxb3 38. h3 {should win for White in the long  run, but Black has some tricks along the way.}) 36. h3 $1 {Making air for the  king is a good place to start, especially when you are short on time.} Rxc5 37.  Rxa5 Rc1+ 38. Kh2 Bc6 {This allows Nikolaj to carry out a nice finish.} 39. Ra8  $1 Kf7 40. Rxe8 $1 Kxe8 41. Qh4 {There is no way to avoid mate so Black  resigns. 1-0}