Marching out to the battlefield...
perrypawnpusher - rffuse
Chess.com, 2026
20...Kg8
The King steps out of the line of fire and protects the h-pawn.
Instead, he could have braved 20...dxe5 21.fxe5+ Kg8, as his extra and well-placed Knight would rule the field.
21.Rae1
Missing my last chance: 21.f5 Nb4 (21...Qxe5 22.Rae1 Ne3 23.Rf3) 22.Qc3 Qxe5 23.Qxb4 with an even game.
21...dxe5 22.Rxe5 Qb6+ 23.Kh1 Rxe5 24.fxe5 Ne7
White's isolated, passed pawn is no match for Black's Knight.
25.Qd7 Rf8 26.Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.e6
I thought I might have a chance, until I saw my opponent's next move.
27...Qd6
Now what do I do?
28.h3
After the game, Stockfish 17.1 (34 ply) suggested that the pawn take 2 steps, although it saw the text as only 6/100th of a pawn worse than that choice.
28...g5
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
- Bob Dylan, "Subterranean Homesick Blues"
Black plans simply to have his King cooperate with his Queen to capture my advanced pawn, extinguishing all hope.
29.a3 Kg7 30. Kg1 Kf6 31.Kf2 Qxe6
32.Qxc7
Overlooking Black's response.
32...Qb6+ 33.Qxb6+ axb6 34.Ke3 Ke5 White resigned
Nicely done, my friend!
