Windmill

Some considerable time ago, we had an example of a double seesaw/windmill here, in a game between Oliver Dunne and Pat Fitzsimons.

The theme arises again, and once again in a game of Oliver Dunne’s. This time he’s on the receiving end, in a game against Seán Cummins, from the Heidenfeld a couple of weeks ago.

The diagram shows a critical position, after White’s 19. Bd2-c3.

Cummins – Dunne, Heidenfeld Trophy 2019-20
19… ?

After 19… Be5! 20. Bxd4 Bxg3 the windmill arose, but this time White saw no way of converting it to a win, and after 21. Rg7+ Kh8 22. Rf7+ Kg8 23. Rg7+ Kh8 24 Rf7+ Kg8, the players agreed a draw, on Black’s offer.

Can White do better? White’s best seems to be to recapture with 21. fxg3, when 21… exd3 White uses the windmill to capture the pawns on g5, b7, and a7 and the knight on b6. Though White is then just a single pawn up, engines think it’s clearly winning. Instead 21… Rf7 is a better try, when after 22. Rxe4 the windmill is avoided and material is level, but engines still think White has a decisive advantage.

[Click to replay the full game.]

Many thanks to Oliver for sending the game.