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TomTom

The result isn't important here. What concerns me is the way I had a crushing lead after 20 moves but couldn't turn it into a win for another 10 moves or so. Why? I had all my pawns left and couldn't get my rooks into the game. Is there any kind of all-purpose strategy for situations like this? Any advice/comments/criticism welcome. Cheers.


likesforests
Yeah, you need to open lines for your rooks. After 20...Qxf4 you wasted several moves before finally stumbling upon 26...c5! After that move, your victory was swift. Actually, even when the game is even, opening lines for your rooks is usually a good idea.
TheOldReb
Rooks are clumsy pieces, especially when they have no open files to operate on. On move 22  .......f6 you could have played 22.....e5 instead and used a "rook lift" to e6 and then to g6,f6 or c6 as needed. Rook lifts are often used in this manner when there are no open files handy.
Don1
Actually at move 15 i would play Rfc8 starting to prepare c5 at a future move, or the immediate a5(a temporary sac. but you can recover the pawn with superior position--not that you don't have that already).
ferlop

halo

sorry a i have to mutch to do

can you explain better "rook lift" please

love ...

 


likesforests
Method #1: Rook Lift

 

 


See how the rook is lifted "up" and off the back rank?
likesforests

Method #2: Pawn Break

 

 

Black advances (sacrifices, in this case) a pawn to break open the position. 


likesforests

What was played in the actual game:

 


likesforests
In this position, I think I prefer Reb's method. No surprise there.  Smile