Puzzle of the week #171

Submitted by 64funadmin on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 19:18

The winding road to winning

Level
4-Rook
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #171"][Date "2011.10.16"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "1k3r2/2p5/8/3R3p/2n3pP/2P3B1/r4PP1/5NK1 b - - 0 36"]36...Nd6? 37.Rxd6 {I blundered a piece and lost the game shortly}
We kick start the new school year with a complex endgame position from one of my games played back in 1986 during my University years. It is the result of a French defence, exchange variation opening where Black has clearly outplayed White in the opening. I remember we were playing this game as part of the Timisoara City individual quarter finals; my opponent was a very well known amateur player who spent his free time as a retired person running the evening club for other amateurs. He was a great blitz player, very versatile in setting up all sort of traps at anytime. I was well aware of his chess credentials and played very carefully up to this point in order to avoid all tricks. Unfortunately this took time and I was running short of time on the clock. The result is I blundered a piece and lost in a few moves.
Your tasks:
a) Analyze the position for both sides
b) Propose the best possible plan and continuation for Black to win the game

Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #172.

Puzzle #170 solution:
See solution below:
[Event "Puzzle #170"][Date "2011.08.30"][Result "0-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]1.Nf3 d5 2.Nd4 Nf6 3.Nc6 Nfd7 4.Nxb8 Nxb8

FINAL STANDINGS top 3 (June 2011):
1. Ziyao - 449 points
2. Harmony - 443 points
3. James - 401 points


All 3 won the same prize of $20 each.