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Converting a Pawn

After White chose an incorrect recapture on c3, we left off with this position last time.

Converting a Pawn1

Black is up a pawn with very active pieces; winning with correct play. He just has to be mindful of potential counterplay against his king. With that in mind, 35…Qe5! was an excellent choice.

Converting a Pawn2

White has no good way to avoid what would be a highly unfavorable trade of queens! The exchange would mean the end of any possible counterplay against the Black king, leaving Black with a pleasant technical task in the endgame. If the White queen retreats, her Black counterpart will dominate the board. White no longer has any access to Black’s 7th or 8th ranks. Black duly went on to win.

In just two moves, without any tactical blunder, the position went from being completely playable for White to winning for Black! White’s incorrect decision to retain the dark-squared bishops, followed by Black’s strong offer of a queen exchange, decided this contest.

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