It's not easy to play against opponents, who are a class better (+200 points more, in this case me with a rating of 2300 contra a 2500). In this game I was holding my ground for a while, yet finally I succumbed to constant pressure. The pressure started already with the opening and lasted till the very endgame. It was my choice of opening (= dubious gambit variation), which gave the stronger opponent the initiative, which he kept and carried over into a endgame of knight (me) versus bishop (him) with Black minting his advantage into a passed, free and remote pawn. The game contains some remarks at crucial points:
43. -Ke6 this is the critical position, worthy of some analysis. While playing my "active" 44. e4, I simply overlooked the consequences of 44. - Bd6+, which drives my king back and after 45. - Bb4 also my knight. Suppose I would have answered it with 46. Knb1 then 46. - Bc5+ would cost me a pawn and the game. My king cannot protect e4 and f2 at the same time, yes? Yet exchanging
the e-pawn on f5 allows the black king to invade my position on the white squares. So after all the "active" 44. e4 was most likely the loosing move here.
Yet suppose, I would have played a move like 44. h4 Bd6+ 45. Kf3 Bb4 46. Knb1 Kd5 and the black king threatens to march towards a2 or c2. Even if I march back my king I am bound to end in Zugzwang. So after 44. - Bd6+ there is only the "active" 45. Kg5 Bb4 46. Kb1 Be1 and the pawns are on the wrong color yet again! Now let's try 44. f3 Bd6+ 45. Kg5 Bb4 46. Knb1 Kd5 47. Kxf5 (now I have a pawn more, yet the black king breaks through to the knight) Kc4 48. Ke4 Kb3 49. Kd3 Ka2 50. Kc2 (just in time). So it seems, that only 44. f3 would have been a better option than e4 or h4? Let's look at that position too:
It looks in all variations, as if the endgame was clearly lost, yet so I never really perceived any way of breaking out from Black's hold from the very beginning.
Maybe you find some ideas for a better play?
I would be happy about a comment or two then...
