Operación 6: Cancelar
3.9. LOCALIZACIÓN Ámbito territorial:
nowing when and how to exchange queens is an issue that bedevils even grandmasters, though in my own games I favor queenless middlegames and have developed a handful of lines in which I can reach them early on. Swapping the ladies early decreases the chances of falling into a mating attack; it can create psychological discomfort for my opponent, who may not have been expecting a queenless middlegame; and it allows me to steer the game towards my favorite types of endings more quickly without too much risk.
One famous example of this strategy in top-level chess was Vladimir Kram-nik’s choice of the Berlin Defense when facing Garry Kasparov in the Ruy López at the 2000 World Chess Championship in London. Effectively shutting down the world champion’s winning chances with the white pieces, Kramnik survived 16 games against Kasparov without suffering a single loss! Since then, the Berlin has enjoyed wild popularity in elite chess competition and has been played in world championship matches by Vishy Anand. Personally, I rarely play 1…e5 so the opportunity to play the Berlin never arises in my games. However, I do have a number of tried-and-true setups that lead to queenless middlegames:
The King’s Indian Defense, Exchange Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Bg5:
I pretty much make my living by playing White’s side of this position. Many tournament players aren’t prepared for a long, boring game without queens when they play the KID, and White has nothing more than a tiny space advantage. Yet, Black lacks the dynamism that most KID players relish and instead is forced to passively play accurate moves just to maintain the balance. More often than not, my opponent will crack and give up control of a key square, allowing for a winning ending to appear on the board seemingly out of thin air.
The Trompowsky Attack
1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 c6 3.c3 Bf5 4.Nd2 Nd7 5.Qb3 Qb6:
In his book The Queen’s Bishop Attack: Revealed, GM James Plaskett gives excellent analysis of this type of position. In addition to the KID Exchange, these kinds of positions where the queens face off on b3 and b6 are my bread and butter. If Black captures on b3, then axb3 gives White a few mid-dlegame ideas. First of all, the pressure on the open a-file will be felt by Black’s a-pawn and often White will be able to double rooks on this file. And second, the doubled b-pawns can then be used like a tin can opener to march up the board and pry at Black’s position.
The Slav Defense 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nbd2 Bf5 5.Qb3 Qb6:
Another position that I reach frequently in my games, with similar ideas to the ones given for the Trompowsky.
The Rat Defense 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 dxe5 4.Qxd8+ Kxd8:
This is a system I sometimes use as Black to achieve a quick, queenless middlegame. Of course, White is not obligated to play 3.dxe5 and the games where White doesn’t exchange in the center can be wildly complex and interesting as well.
Now let’s see some examples of how this strategy works in practice.
Michael Shapiro – Jay Bonin New Jersey 2001
In our first game, my opponent attempts to play the Smith-Morra Gambit, which I transpose into a c3 Sicilian and by move 6 we find ourselves in a queenless middlegame. In the c3 Sicilian, White often will exchange queens early – Sveshnikov himself advocates the line 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.dxc5 Qxd1 7.Kxd1 e5 in The Complete c3 Sicilian. However, the present game features a slightly different variation in which White may have been too eager to remove the ladies from the board.
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 d5 4.Qxd4 dxe4 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8
It’s a little risky going into a queen-less middlegame here for White, as Black’s kingside pawn majority is a long-term positional trump and there’s no clear way to immediately punish Black for having an uncastled king. Having gambited a pawn, White must play actively with something like 6.f3 exf3 7.Nxf3 Nf6 8.Bc4 Ke8 9.0-0, with adequate compensation. Instead, he plays passively and allows me to catch up in development and find safe haven for my king.
6.Be3 Nc6 7.Nd2 Nf6 8.0-0-0 Kc7 9.Bc4 Bg4
I prefer to have my bishop outside the pawn chain whenever possible.
10.f3 exf3 11.Ngxf3 e6 12.Bf4+ Bd6
Not fearing the discovered check, as my king has a safe haven on e7.
13.Bxd6+ Kxd6 14.Ne4+ Ke7 15.Nd6 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Na5
And now the process begins. The winning procedure involves simplification followed by advancing the kingside majority.
17.Be2 Rhd8 18.Nb5 Nd5
Heading for f4 to dominate the bishop.
19.Rhe1 Nf4 20.Rxd8 Kxd8 21.Bf1 Ke7 22.Re4 g5 23.Nd4 Nc6
The knight has done a wonderful job on a5 and it will now die peacefully.
24.Nxc6+ bxc6 25.Ra4 e5
Having a 4-2 majority offsets my queenside weaknesses.
26.Kc2 f5 27.b4
Trying to get his majority going, but mine is winning the race.
27…h5 28.Ra6 g4 29.fxg4 hxg4 30.Rxc6 Rh8 31.Rc7+ Kf6 32.Rxa7 Rxh2+ 33.Kd1 Or 33.Kb3 Rf2.
33…Rh1 34.Ke1 g3 35.Ra6+ Kg5 36.Ra8 g2 0-1 Jay Bonin – IM Yurij Lapshun
New Jersey 2001 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 f6
A very sharp reaction.
3.Bh4
Recently, I have switched to 3.Bf4, to prevent Black’s next move.
3…Nh6 4.f3 c5
A strong gambit. If 5.dxc5, then 5… d4 followed by …e7-e5 right away.
5.c3 Nc6 6.dxc5 e5 7.Bf2 Bf5 8.e4
I return the pawn for piece activity at once, although preparing this pawn push with 8.Nd2 would have been slightly more accurate.
8…dxe4 9.Qxd8+ Rxd8 10.Nd2 exf3 11.gxf3
Capturing with the knight looks more natural, but the knight has no future on that square and would need to be redeployed, while maintaining a pawn on f3 halts the movement of Black’s majority. We’ve quickly reached a queenless middlegame in which both sides have 4-2 majorities and the race to push is on!
11…Be7 12.Ne2 Kf7
Of course he could have also just castled here, as it’s still a legal move.
13.Ng3 Be6 14.b3 Rd7 15.Bc4 Rhd8 16.0-0-0 f5
Black tries to get his majority rolling, but my f3-pawn holds it off.
17.h4
…Be7-h4 was another threat that this move prevents.
17…g5 18.Ne2 Bxc4 19.Nxc4 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 21.Kxd1 gxh4
Black wins a pawn, but it’s not going anywhere for now. I could have prevented this line, though, with 18.hxg5 Bxg5 19.Bxe6+ Kxe6 20.Ngf1 Ng8 21.Be3 f4 22.Bf2, with an objectively level position, when material would be equal but White’s position would be passive and under pressure.
22.Ke1 Ke6 23.b4 Now it’s my turn.
23…a6 24.a4 h3 25.Kf1
The king keeps an eye on Black’s h-pawn.
25…Nf7 26.b5 axb5 27.axb5 Nb8?!
27…Ncd8 is preferable, as it controls the c6 square and ensures that Black’s extra kingside pawn is felt. For instance, 28.Nd2 Kd7 29.Ng3 Bh4! when the power of Black’s majority is felt, and the f5-pawn is immune from capture because White drops a piece after 30.Nxf5 h2! 31.Kg2 Bxf2.
28.Na5
The b-pawn looks tasty!
28…Nd8 29.f4
Gaining control of d4.
29…Bf6 30.fxe5 Bxe5 31.Bh4 f4
A clever try. If 32.Bxd8? f3! (32… h2?! 33.Ng3! fxg3 34.Kg2) 33.Nd4+ Bxd4 34.Bc7 (34.cxd4?? h2!) 34…Be5 35.Bxe5 Kxe5 36.Nc4+ Kd5 37.Ne3+ Kxc5, White’s position is hopeless due to Black’s pawns on f3 and h3.
32.Nxf4+
But the text move nips these ideas in the bud.
32…Bxf4 33.Bxd8
Now the b-pawn is toast.
33…Nd7 34.Nxb7 Be3 35.c6 Nb6 36.Bxb6 Bxb6 37.c4
There is no stopping c4-c5 followed by the advance of my pawns. 1-0 Jay Bonin – Vladimir Getman
New Jersey 2001
1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 c6 3.c3 Bf5 4.Qb3 Qb6 5.Nd2 Nf6 5…Nbd7 is usually played before this.
6.Bxf6 exf6
I love playing against this structure. I can reach it via Larsen’s Opening: 1.b3 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6 3.Bxf6 exf6 4.c4. It’s very hard for the second player to plan any kind of pawn break with this structure.
7.e3 Be7 8.Ngf3 0-0 9.Nh4 Qxb3
Black blinks first. Neither player should trade queens in this type of position, because of the half-open a-file that results.
10.axb3 Be6
11.Bd3
Taking over the diagonal.
11…g6 12.b4 Nd7 13.0-0 Not 13.b5, because of 13…c5.
13…a6
The pressure on the a-file takes its toll. Now all the queenside pawns are on light squares:
potential targets for my bishop.
15…dxe4 16.Nxe4 f5 17.Nc5 Nxc5 18.bxc5 Fixing Black’s queenside.
18…Bd5 19.Rfe1 Bf6 20.Ne5 Rcd8 White threatened Nd7.
21.Re2 Rfe8 22.Rae1 h6 23.f4 Bh4 This helps me, but what can Black do?
24.g3 Bf6 25.h4 h5 26.Kf2
All of Black’s pawns are on light squares now.
26…Re7 27.Nc4 Rxe2+ 28.Rxe2 Bxc4
Black can’t stand the c4-knight any longer, but the bishop will turn out to be equally annoying.
29.Bxc4 Kf8 30.Rd2
Preparing the d4-d5 break comes next.
30…Be7 31.b4 Bf6
31…a5 is a better try: 32.bxa5 Bxc5, and now if 33.Rb2 then Black has the amazing 33…
Rxd4.
32.Be2
Preparing Bf3 with a d4-d5 or b4-b5 break in due course.
32…Rd7 33.Bf3 Ke7 34.Ke3 Overprotects d4.
34…Kd8 35.Rd3 Re7+ 36.Kd2 Kc7 37.d5 Kc8 38.d6 Rd7 39.c4 Rd8 40.Kc2 Kd7 41.b5 axb5 42.cxb5 Rb8 43.Rb3 cxb5 44.Rxb5 b6
Black tries to liquidate. But now White breaks through.
45.c6+ Kxd6 46.Rd5+ Ke6
Not 46…Kc6 47.Rf5 winning a piece; 46…Kc7 47.Rd7 is also embarrassing.
47.Rd7
The threat: 48.d5#!.
47…Be7 48.Bd5+ Kf6
Black’s king is boxed out and the c-pawn decides.
49.c7 Rc8 50.Bb7 1-0 Russel Porter – Jay Bonin New York 1995
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nge2 Nf6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e5
The Sveshnikov Sicilian, played when I was young and handsome. Since then, I’ve switched to the Kalashnikov, playing …e7-e5 without a preliminary 5…Nf6.
6.Ndb5 d6 7.Be3
Of course, 7.Bg5 is the standard move, leading to sharp if very well-known lines.
7…a6 8.Na3 d5
I waste no time playing this move, which frees my game. I expected 9.exd5 followed by Nc4, but instead got…
9.Nxd5 Nxe4 10.Bb6
You’d think I had overlooked this – but in fact I had a response ready.
10…Bc5
Now if the bishops get traded I have full equality, so White tries for complications and the queens come off early.
11.Bxd8 Bxf2+ 12.Ke2 Bg4+ 13.Kd3
White’s king wanders into a dangerous neighborhood.
13…Nc5+ 14.Kd2 Bxd1 15.Bb6 Bg4 16.Nc7+ Ke7 17.Bxc5+ Bxc5 18.Nxa8 Rxa8
White has won the exchange, but his king will have trouble finding haven from the Bonin Bishops. Yes, I suppose I like bishops too, when the time is right – and here the time is definitely right. White’s rooks remain undeveloped while my minor pieces are swarming around the stranded royal in the middle of the board.
19.Ke1 Nd4 20.Rc1
Stopping the threat of 20…Bxa3 21.bxa3 Nxc2+, but now the attack comes from a different direction. Better is the logical 20.Bd3, developing and defending at the same time, though White’s position would still be shaky due to his poorly located king, for instance 20.Bd3 Be6 21.c3 Nf5 22.Nc2 g6 23.b4 Ba7 24.c4 Nh4 25.g3 Nf3+ 26.Ke2 Nd4+ 27.Nxd4 Bxd4, and Black’s extra pawn and bishop pair are still more than adequate compensation for the exchange.
20…Nf3+ 21.Ke2 e4!
Taking away the d3 square. The knight is still immune from capture, as after 22.gxf3 Bxf3+
23.Ke1 Bxh1 White’s position is hopeless.
22.h3 Rd8
Now the threat of …Rd2# is in the air and the end is near.
23.Nb1 Nd4+ 24.Kd2
24.Ke1 Nxc2+ and …Rd1#.
24…Ne2+
Black wins back the exchange. This ambitious move, though, is less accurate than the simple retreat 24…Be6 which keeps all of the pressure on White.
25.Ke1 Ng3 26.hxg4 Nxh1 27.Bc4
Missing my next move; better but still leaving White worse would be 27.Nc3.
27…Be3
Black wins the other exchange.
28.Rd1 Bf2+ 29.Ke2 Ng3+ 30.Kxf2 Rxd1 31.Nc3 Nh1+
Luckily, I had this in-between move.
32.Ke2 Rg1 33.Nxe4 Rxg2+ 34.Kf3 Rxc2 35.Bf1
White will win the h1-knight, but at great cost: he loses all of his pawns.
35…Rxb2 36.Bg2 Rxa2 37.Bxh1 a5 The passed pawns will not be denied.
38.Ke3 b5 39.Kd3 Rh2 40.Bf3 a4 41.Nd2 Kf6 42.Ne4+ Ke5 The black king joins in the fun.
43.Nc3 a3 44.Bd5
And after making his move, White resigned, as now it’s clear that I will simply play 44…
Rh3+ and 45…Rxc3. 0-1
Jay Bonin – FM Konstantin Dolgitser New York 1995
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5
The Baltic Defense, a sharp line that yields the center and often leads to queenless middlegames.
3.cxd5 Bxb1 4.Rxb1 Qxd5 5.a3 Nc6 6.e3 e5 7.dxe5 Qxd1+ 8.Kxd1 Nxe5 9.f3
I was not overly worried about my king in this queenless middlegame, as it has a safe haven on c2. Because I enjoy the bishop pair and a more mobile pawn majority, I am in no rush to commit my pieces, and so seek first to restrict Black with the prophylactic 9.f3. It is important to take away squares from the black knights and quash Black’s counterplay possibilities before getting the pawns rolling.
9…Rd8+ 10.Kc2 As advertised.
10…Ne7 11.Nh3
Headed for the f2 square.
11…Nf5 12.Nf2 Be7 13.f4
Removing the offender so that I can develop my extra bishop.
13…Nd7 14.g4 Nd6
On h4, the knight would be out of play.
15.h4 f5
Trying to get more space, but this creates a target and weakens a critical diagonal.
16.g5 c5
Black tries to make use of his queenside majority, but it doesn’t get very far.
17.b3 b5 18.Bb2 Kf7 19.Bg2
Finally, with the threat of 20.Bd5+.
19…Nb6
Covers the d5 square but surrenders e5.
20.Nd3 Rhe8
Black tries to castle by hand, but my kingside pawns storm the gates.
21.Bc6 Rf8 22.h5 Rc8 23.g6+
Opening up the files for my rooks and creating multiple deadly threats.
23…Kg8
The only move. For instance, if 23…hxg6 24.hxg6+ Kg8 25.Rh7 Rf6 26.Rbh1 Rxg6 27.Rh8+.
24.h6 hxg6 25.hxg7 Rfd8 26.Rh6
The bishop is immune to capture: 26…Rxc6 27.Rh8+ Kf7 28.Ne5+ Kxg7 29.Nxc6+ Bf6 30.Rxd8 Nf7 31.Bxf6+ Kxf6 32.Rg8.
26…Kf7 27.Ne5+ Kxg7 28.Nd7+
The final offensive begins.
28…Kf7
Of course not 28…Kxh6 29.Rh1+ Bh4 30.Rxh4#.
29.Rh7+ Ke8 30.Ne5+ Rxc6 31.Nxc6 Rd7 32.Ne5 Rc7 33.Rh8+ Bf8 34.Nxg6 Rf7 35.Rd1 Ne4 36.Bg7
Now’s the time to simplify.
36…Nd7 37.Bxf8 Nxf8 38.Rd5 Rf6 39.Re5+
White wins a piece.
39…Kf7 40.Nxf8 Kg7 41.Nd7 Rd6 42.Rd8 Rd2+ 43.Kc1 Re2 44.Re7+ Kg6 45.Rg8+
Kh6 46.Rxe4 1-0
Jay Bonin – FM Stephen Muhammad New York 2001
1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 h6 3.Bh4 c6 4.c3 Bf5 5.Qb3 Qb6 6.Nd2 Nd7 7.Ngf3 Ngf6 8.e3 g5 9.Bg3 Nh5 10.c4 Nxg3 11.hxg3 Bg7 12.cxd5 Qxb3 13.Nxb3
Normally, I take back with the pawn in situations like this, but in this case I judged that I could use the c-file that was about to come open.
13…cxd5 14.Bb5
In this sterile position, I favor knights over bishops.
14…0-0-0 15.Rc1+ Kb8 16.Bxd7 Bxd7 17.Ne5 Be8
Not 17…Bxe5, after which my other knight will occupy d4 unchallenged.
18.Kd2
No need to castle here. My king is safe.
18…f6
Ousting my knight, but burying his bishop.
19.Nd3 b6
The c5 square is covered, but c6 is weak.
20.Rc3 e6
20…Rc8 must be played now. I control the c-file.
21.Nb4 Kb7 22.Rhc1 Rd7
This move stops Rc7, but it lets my knight in.
23.Nc6 Bg6 24.Nxa7
A cute combo to cash in on the pressure. If king captures knight, then Rc7 wins it all back.
24…Bf8 25.Nc6
Black threatened …Bb4.
25…Bd6 26.a4
This pawn push is like a can opener used to pry away Black’s control of the c5 square.
26…Rc7 27.a5 b5 28.Nc5+ Ka8 Not 28…Kxc6 29.Nxe6+.
29.Nb4
I could have taken on e6, but after 29…Rcc8 I couldn’t see how to get the e6-knight back into play. Post-mortem analysis shows that this was the best line after all, as White’s attack on the king doesn’t require extracting this knight, for instance 29.Nxe6 Rcc8 30.Rb3 Rhe8 (30…
Be8 31.Nb4 Rxc1 32.Kxc1 Bxb4 33.Rxb4 is no better for Black) 31.Rxb5 Rxe6 32.Rb6 Bb8 33.Rc5 Rf8 34.Rcb5 Ba7 35.Ra6 Rxc6 36.Rxc6 Bf5.
29…Bf7 30.Nbd3
Now it’s on to simplification mode.
30…e5
Black tries to get active…
31.Ne4
…but the hits just keep on coming.
31…Rxc3 32.Nxc3 exd4 33.Nxb5 dxe3+ 34.Kxe3 The king enters the action.
34…Bb8 35.Rc6 Re8+ 36.Kd2 Re6 37.Nc7+ Bxc7 38.Rxc7 Bh5 39.f3
All game long, the black bishops have lacked scope. This move closes yet another door on them.
39…Re8 40.Nc5 1-0 He’s had enough.
Jay Bonin – IM Joshua Waitzkin New York 1994
My opponent in this game was a top U.S. junior and the subject of the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer. No longer active, he’s now a martial-arts instructor and the author of The Art of Learning.
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.Bg2 Bg4 4.c4 e6 5.Qb3 Qb6 6.Ne5 Nf6
It is very risky to surrender a bishop for a knight in a position that could blow open at any moment. 6…Bf5 is better.
7.cxd5
7…Qxb3
Not 7…cxd5 8.Qa4+ winning a piece. The theme in these positions, with the queens staring at each other on b3 and b6, is that, in general, the player who initiates the trade will feel long-term pressure because of the open file created when the other player recaptures with the a-pawn.
8.axb3
As compensation for my doubled pawns, I have a half open a-file to work with and the a8-rook will be stuck babysitting the a-pawn for the rest of the game.
8…exd5 9.Nxg4 Nxg4 10.Bh3
Already using the bishop for a strong purpose. Knight retreats to f6 or h6 allow 11.Bc8, winning the b7-pawn.
10…f5 11.f3 Nh6 12.d4
Threatening to win the f-pawn by Bxh6.
12…Bb4+ 13.Kf2
Not 13.Bd2 Bxd2 14.Kxd2, when Black no longer need worry about Bxh6 ideas and the f-pawn will be safe.
13…0-0 14.Bxh6
Leaving all kinds of weak pawns.
14…gxh6 15.Na3 Heading for c2.
15…Kg7 16.Nc2 Be7 17.b4
Now the idea is 18.b5 cxb5 19.Ne3.
17…b5
Now the c- and a-pawns are backward.
18.Ra3
A versatile concept. I can double on the a-line while from a3 the rook can shuttle over to e3 as needed.
18…Bd6 19.Rha1 a6 20.Ne3 Kg6 21.Ng2
The f-pawn is looking like toast, while the b8-knight is a mere spectator.
21…Bxb4 22.Re3 Ra7 23.Nh4+ Kf6 24.Nxf5 h5 25.Nh4 Re7 I was threatening Re6+.
26.Rxe7 Kxe7 27.Nf5+ Kf6 28.Ne3 Ke7 29.Nc2 Bd6 30.Kg2
Breaking the pin and preparing to play 31.e4 dxe4 32.fxe4, with decisive control over the central squares.
30…h4 31.e4 dxe4 32.fxe4 hxg3 33.hxg3 c5 Too little, too late.
34.e5 Bc7 35.Ne3
Preparing the decisive invasion on the light squares.
35…cxd4 36.Nd5+ Kd8 37.Rc1
The final point. If 37…Bxe5, then 38.Rc8#.
37…Rf7 38.e6 1-0 39.e7 is next.
Evan Rosenberg – Jay Bonin New York 2012
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.d3 Nc6 6.e4 Nd4 Might as well grab a weak square.
7.Nge2 c5 8.0-0 d6 9.Nxd4 cxd4 10.Nb5 Ne8 I did not want to commit to …e7-e5 too soon.
11.b4
This only leads to weakening squares in White’s position.
11…a6 12.Na3 a5
Gaining control of the c5 square.
13.bxa5 Qxa5 14.Nb5 Qa4 Stopping a2-a4.
15.Bb2 Qxd1 16.Rfxd1 e5
Now …e7-e5 is in order, while the e8-knight covers the d6 square.
17.Ba3 Ra6
Thankfully, this rook lift is available as there is no other way to defend the weak pawn on d6.
18.Bb4
A good move, enabling a2-a4.
18…f6
Prepares …Rf7 and …Bf8.
19.a4 Rf7 20.f4
This advance is not as dangerous as it looks, as I can capture either way.
20…Bf8
This bishop seeks a more active role.
21.h3 Ng7
Aiming for …Ne6-c5.
22.Kh2 Bd7
The other bishop finally gets out.
23.Bf3 Ne6 24.Bg4 h5
I opt for the bishop pair instead.
25.Bxe6 Bxe6 26.fxe5
This exchange helps Black. Now …f6-f5 is a possible break.
26…dxe5 27.Bxf8 Kxf8 28.c5
Hoping to use the d6 square, but I have everything else.
28…f5
White may need to worry about his central pawns.
29.Rf1?!
Now Black gets the upper hand. Instead 29.exf5 Bxf5 30.Rd2 keeps the position equal.
29…fxe4
Now I have a protected passer as an insurance policy against any endings.
30.Rxf7+ Kxf7 31.dxe4 Ke7
Heading towards c6. The white pawns on the a- and c-files are starting to look weak.
32.a5 Kd7 33.Nd6 Kc6
Mission accomplished: now something must fall.
34.Kg2 b6
Gaining a pawn and forcing a winning ending, though more accurate is the patient 34…Ra7 35.Kf2 Kxc5 36.Nc8 Bxc8 37.Rc1+ Kb4 38.Rxc8 Rxa5 39.Rc7 Ra2+ 40.Kf3 b5, with a simple technical win for Black.
Gaining a pawn and forcing a winning ending, though more accurate is the patient 34…Ra7 35.Kf2 Kxc5 36.Nc8 Bxc8 37.Rc1+ Kb4 38.Rxc8 Rxa5 39.Rc7 Ra2+ 40.Kf3 b5, with a simple technical win for Black.