Lim Zhuo Ren - Jimmy Liew

In the final round this morning, I needed to win to force a play-off.

[Event "National Closed"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2011.03.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Lim Zhuo Ren"]
[Black "Jimmy Liew"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A04"]
[Annotator ",Jimmy"]
[PlyCount "79"]

17... f5

Opening the f-file for attack is the best chance.

18. b3

This is necessary to defend the c-pawn and brings the knight back to the centre with Nc3.

Rf7 19. Be3 c5 20. Kh2 Rbf8 21. Qd2 fxe4


Zhuo Ren suggests 21... f4 22. gxf4 Rxf4 23. Bxf4 Rxf4 and the rook cannot be captured due to the pin on e5. This may be the best practical chances to play for win.

fxe4 22. Bxe4 Bd4!?

Just a bluff from me :)

The bishop can be taken 23. Bxd4 cxd4 24. f4 g5 25. Rf1 and black has no more pieces to pile on f4 square.

23. f4 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 g5 25. Bg2

Black has no time to capture on f4 as his bishop on e6 is hanging.

Bf5 26.fxg5 Ne5 27. Nc3 Bg4 28. Rd5 !?

28. Rf1 is better.

28...Bf3 29. Rd2 Rd2 Qd7 30. Nd5

30. Qxe5 Bxg2 31. Kxg2 Rf2+ wins material for black.

30... Bxd5

30... Bxg2 31. Kxg2 a4 (black tries to open lines for the queen to enter the attack) 32. Rcc2 axb3 33. axb3 Qb7 34. Qe4 (the diagonal must be closed, already black threatened ...e6) Qxb3 35. Nf4 and white has closed the dangerous f-file.

31. Bxd5 e6 32. Bg2 Nf3+ 33. Bxf3 Rxf3 34. Qxc5 Qb7

I spent some time considering 34... Qf7 but there is no win here either. 34.Qd4!
(White should not be greedy 35. Qxd6?? Rf2+ 36. Rxf2 Qxf2+ 37. Kh1 Qf3+ 38. Kh2 Qe2+ 39. Kh1 Qe4+ 40. Kg1 Qe3+ wins the rook.

35. Qd4 a4 36. Rb1 Rf1

There is nothing better. White has already fended off the attacking possibilities and should be winning with the extra pawns.

37. Rxf1 Rxf1 38. Rg2 axb3 39. axb3 Qxb3 40. Rb2

White offered to draw. Black is already losing after 40...Qa3 41. Rb8+ Rf8 42. Rxf8+
Kxf8 43. Qh8+ Ke7 44. Qxh7+
1/2-1/2

Replay game below: