Oliver Dunne has sent an interesting game, for which many thanks, from this year’s Heidenfeld Trophy.
This is from the penultimate round match between Phibsboro and the runaway leaders Dún Laoghaire, played on March 24.
17. ?
The diagrammed position looks overwhelming for White, given the difference in development and space, but I was surprised when I looked at the engine evaluation, which was a relatively modest +0.6 to +0.8.
Oliver found the best continuation, 17. Nd6!. After 17… exd6 18. exd6 Rxe1+ 19. Rxe1 Qxd6 20. Re8+ Bf8, best is apparently 21. Bxd8, with advantage.
Oliver instead played 21. Be7?. Black could have turned the tables with 21… Qxe7, when he has rook, knight, and bishop for the queen and a winning position.
Instead he erred with 21… Qxd3?, and after 22. Bxf8! had to resign, as the threat of immediate mate leads to massive material losses.