Annotated Game #289: A Stonewall Attack annoyance

This first-round tournament game demonstrated how it is best to have some flexibility with the Stonewall Attack, especially when faced with an annoying early ...Bg4 by Black. In this case, I would have benefited more by taking it into Slow Slav territory, with c2-c4 followed by Qb3, rather than continuing with the Stonewall approach. That allowed my opponent to easily equalize and break with an early ...e5 in the center, although after some careful thought I was able to neutralize his initiative.

[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "ChessAdmin"] [Black "Class B"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D04"] [Annotator "ChessAdmin/Dragon 3.2"] [PlyCount "51"] [GameId "2099915250376804"] {[%evp 0,12,25,26,13,5,19,-7,43,29,30,23,36,-35,-31]} 1. d4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Bd3 c6 4. Nf3 {this allows the annoying follow-up pin, although the alternative may not be to everyone's liking.} (4. Nd2 Bg4 5. Ne2 $5 (5. f3 $5)) 4... Bg4 5. Nbd2 (5. c4 $5 {a typical reaction when the Bc8 moves early, allowing for Qb3 while pressuring the center.}) 5... Nbd7 6. O-O e5 {this pawn lever comes as no surprise. Exchanging the pawn is the best engine choice, although I also considered e3-e4 as an interesting alternative.} 7. dxe5 (7. e4 dxe4 (7... exd4 $6 8. Re1 $16) 8. Bxe4 exd4 9. Re1 Be7 10. Nb3 $11) 7... Nxe5 8. Be2 {a necessary concession.} Bxf3 {this is certainly good enough to assure equality, although not overly amibitious.} 9. Nxf3 Bd6 10. b3 {The Bc1 obviously belongs on b2.} O-O 11. Bb2 Qc7 {threatening the h2 pawn.} 12. h3 {here I spotted the tactical problem of the Nf3 being exchanged off and the h2 pawn hanging. However, the text move was not the only solution.} (12. Nd4 $5 {this is more active; Black's Ne5 does not have any good options for a discovered attack by the Q+B battery on h2.}) 12... Rae8 13. Rc1 (13. c4 {I considered, but didn't like because of} dxc4 14. bxc4 {splitting the pawns; however, Dragon 3.2 assesses there is dynamic compensation with the two bishops, plus at least temporary control of d5.}) (13. Nd4 {again is an excellent place for the knight, which has the f5 square available.}) 13... Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Be5 {I missed this idea, although it is not dangerous.} 15. Ba3 $5 {I thought this was the only way to keep some potential play going in the position, with minimal risk. My opponent did not choose the critical continuation, validating the choice to give him opportunities to deviate.} (15. Bxe5 Qxe5 16. Qd2 $11) 15... Bd6 (15... c5 {is the most challenging, even if still just equal.}) 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 {the exchange leaves Black's queen on a worse square, and I finally get in c2-c4, without a pawn structure compromise.} 17. c4 Rd8 18. cxd5 {I thought for a while here; there is nothing better.} Nxd5 19. Qe2 {clearing the square for a rook while defending on the 2nd rank.} Qf6 20. Qc4 {preventing ...Nc3} h6 {evidently played to avoid future back rank tactics.} 21. Rfd1 {time to get the rook into play.} Nb6 22. Qc2 (22. Qb4 $5 $14 {and the more active queen still gives White a slight edge.}) 22... Rxd1+ {now the game is headed for full equality again.} 23. Rxd1 Rd8 24. Be4 {thought for a while here, found nothing better. I did not expect my opponent to fall into a back-rank mate, which is possible now that the h7 square is covered by my bishop, but I figured it was still worth playing.} Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 g6 {no more back-rank problem (again).} 26. Qc2 {here I offered a draw, as there is no prospect for making further progress. The engine agrees.} 1/2-1/2