22. Kxf1 Qh1+ 23.Kf2 Rfe8(threating mate in one) 24. Ne2 Re6 and I'm in bad shape (threat of Rf6 can't be handled)
22.Kf2 doesn't take the knight. However black still can't save it and saves white a tempo (doesn't allow Qh1+ for black) and also doesn't allow my bishop to get pinned by the queen, as the black knight is in the way.
Yeah ok I am ****ed. I didn't really considering White NOT taking the knight because on the surface something like that doesn't make sense but oh noze he wins it anyway and now I can't do any of that cool stuff I did before. Gotta move the queen as any other move and Bf4 will trap it, so at least I'll grab this stupid pawn or something while my Knight falls. This will put me -1 in material but honestly its worse than that because B+N > R right now. Way greater than just the worth of 1 pawn. How am I losing this game???? Grasshopper himself said I was winning in the low content thread a few days ago. Have i overlooked something obvious or have I just been mis fortunate. I can't wait to be able to read everyone's spoilers to find out. haha.
Side Notes: I have a LOT of **** going on right now. Game will slow down a lot starting this weekend and probably not ending anytime soon, but I will still try to move at least once every couple days.
22.Kxf1 seemed fine (White always has Qd1 to defend). I'm not sure why both players seemed to think this was bad for White -- it looks better than the game continuation (although Black is still lost here).
After 22.Kxf1 Qh1+ 23.Kf2 Rae8 24.Qd1 Qh2 something simply to unwind (25.Ne2 with an eventual Bf4 is pleasant and defends everything, for example, though White needs to take some care) looks sufficient.
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Actually, I decided to check my work with an engine rather than just post the above, and the computer suggested
Spoiler:
25.Qg4 instead with the point that if Black renews the threat [OK, so it wouldn't be mate anymore, but maybe the check on e1 is still annoying] with 25..Qh1 then 26.Bh6 is completely crushing.
Clever--defends everything and avoids any trouble, but not an idea I would have noticed on my own, although now that's it's out there, it looks pretty obvious. Maybe an interesting enough side note to make this a worthwhile post.
I'm back. Busyness should decrease for a little while..
23... Rae8
Spoiler:
I feel developing the rooks is more important than pawn grabbing at this point. I'm down in material and need to get at that king. If he wastes a move protecting that pawn I'd imagine that be good for me. Plus if any of his moves attack my queen THEN I'll just take the pawn which will be less of a waste of a move then simply having to move it if it were to get attacked later. Ya dig?
The threat here is Re6 followed by Rf6, pinning the queen. One candidate move is Be3. A possible line 24. Be3 Re6 25.Kg1 Rf6 26.Qg4 and if 26...Rg6 27.Qf4. How do I respond to 27...Qe6
24.Be3 Re6 if 25. Ne4 then black plays ...Qd5 and white loses a piece.
Another move is 24.Bf4. After 24...Qxd4 white has 25.Re1 followed by 26.Be6 winning an exchange, but black can play 25.Qc4+ stopping that.
24.Be3 Re6 25. Bf2 is interesting. If 25...Re6 then 26. Ne4. I've been spending too much time on this move and I need to move. I hope 24.Be3 Re6 25. Bf2 isn't exploitable. Dang, after Bf2 black has 25...Qh2 26. Bg1 Qb8 (threatening Re6 and Qxb2).
I see in the first line (24. Be3 Re6 25.Kg1 Rf6 26.Qg4 and if 26...Rg6 27.Qf4 Qe6) I can play Kh2. Well this is as far as I want to go with this analysis.
Black seems to be somewhat busted now, although not hopeless yet. Re6, Qb4 and f5 are options, maybe Qb4 (and if Rb1 then Re6) is the best way to try and overload the opponent's processor
I had the intention of playing Re6 but I'd imagine he'd play Kg1 and I wanted to cut off the king's escape root before I threatened the pin. I also didn't like his last move because it moves his bishop into attack and ties down the queen a bit.
So I wasted a move it appears for obvious reasons that I'm sure Grasshopper explained, absolutely terrible. Quick brag though since this game has started I have a new job, just moved out of my mother's house into what I think is a nice apartment, and I finally replaced my old falling apart cell phone with a nice one. Oh man, grasshoper will totally think this is some grand strategy post!
Black has a lot of threats here. Doubling on the E file, Re6-f6, Qb4, and white's bishop is also tied to defending the d-pawn. 26. Kg1 takes away a lot of pressure even though its passive and lets black keep the initiative. I just don't see a way to take the initiative and handle the threats.
If 26..Qb4 then 27.Rb1
If 26...Re6 then 27.Rf1
After looking at so many variations beyond 26. Kg1, I see 26. d5, a very active move. my plans are:
a) 26...cxd5 27.Nxd5 with c4,b3 soon to follow and make a very strong knight
b)26...c5 27.Bf4. 27. Rd1 is a possiblity to prepare Ne4, but 27.Qb6 gives black the initiative also i just realized 27. Ne4 is possible, since Qxd5 is met by Nf6+
c)26...Re5 loses to Bf4
d)26...Qb4 27.Rb1 Re5 I think this is black's best option At worst I have 28.Qf4 Qxf4 29.Bxf4 Rf5 30.Kg3 cxd5 In this line black regained a pawn. I still have two pieces for a rook.