A game with some interesting tactics and an unusual looking final position.
1. e4 e6
The French Defence. Black sets up a strong point on d5, defends on the kingside and looks for counterplay on the queenside.
2. d4 d5 3. Nb1c3 Ng8f6
3...Nf6. Usually not as double-edged as the Winawer variation. White has a couple of options.
4. e5
I go for the expansion. White gains a lot of space and leaves Black's Kingside rather bare of pieces, but White does make a lot of pawn moves without piece moves. The pressure on d4 can turn the game around for Black.
4... Nf6d7 5. f4 c5
White is expanding on the Queenside and Black is already hitting back on the Queenside and on d4.
6. Ng1f3 Nb8c6
Pressure is building up on d4.
7. Bc1e3 a6
Instead of continuing to press on d4, Black is going for a big pawn-push on the Queenside.
8. Qd1d2 b5 9. dxc5
I'm not sure why I exchanged on c5. It isn't a bad move, but looking at the game now I cant' see what it achieves.
9... Bf8xc5 10. Be3xc5 Nd7xc5 11. Nf3d4 Qd8b6
This sequence just seems to have helped Black. Trading off pieces when your position is cramped is a good strategy, and the one who started the trades was me! No idea what I was thinking.
12. O-O-O
A bit provocative. Castling into an attack. This was deliberate and it was to try to make my opponent attack before he was ready to. I guess it did work as he really should be completing his development and castling, but instead he started advancing on my King.
12... b4 13. Nc3e2 Nc5e4
A lovely centralised Knight. Although Black hasn't finished developing, I would say he has the better position. White hasn't completed development either and his pieces are starting to fall over each other.
