Ideas Behind the Openings (The RHP Way)

1. b3 {That is not a d-pawn or e-pawn so this is a mistake. Black has the advantage.} 1... h6 {Neither is this. White has got away with his first move blunder.} 2. Ba3 {He has developed his Bishop before both Knights. Fatal.} 2... g5 {Again breaking the rule about only moving a d-pawn or e-pawn in the opening. Black is trouble.} 3. Bb2 {This follows Rule three about picking the most suitable square for a piece and it also develops with a threat.} 3... f6 {This violates rules 1 (only d-pawns and e-pawns) and Rule 5 Make only one or two pawn moves in the opening..} 4. e4 {Rule one is obeyed.} 4... a6 {Another Rule 5 violation.} 5. Qh5 {Rule 6 about not bringing out your Queen has been disregarded. This move must be a mistake....Wait a minute it's checkmate.}

1. e4 {Correct.} 1... Nc6 {Hmmmmm.....Well the Knight is out before the Bishop so it must be OK.} 2. Nc3 {Correct.} 2... Nf6 {Hmmmm....I guess it must be OK as well.} 3. Nf3 {Correct.} 3... e5 {Correct and we have reach the Four Knights opening.} 4. Nd5 {There is nothing about moving pieces twice in the opening.....However.....} 4... Nxe4 {…since it drops a central pawn, thus violating rule 8 then 4.Nd5 must be considered a mistake.} 5. d3 {Correct.} 5... Nf6 6. Bg5 {The Bishop came out after the Knights so this is correct,} 6... Be7 {See last note. Correct.} 7. Qe2 {A quandary. Do not bring you Queen out too early (rule 6) but he is preparing (rule7) about castling. But on a more serious matter, White is breaking rule 10 about sacrificing needlessly.} 7... Nxd5 {I suppose this is correct. It looks good.} 8. O-O-O {Correct but not on the preferred Kingside. This rule about needless sacrificing has again been ignored.} 8... Bxg5+ 9. Nxg5 {This is one method of getting out check. It must be OK.} 9... Qxg5+ {He is breaking rule 6. Castling was called for. But he as this picks up a whole piece with check we can make an allowance. (are allowances allowed?)} 10. Kb1 O-O {Correct, both sides have castled. In theory the game is now on the verge of entering the middle game. The tally so far. Black is a pawn and two pieces up. Looking on the bright side, White is closer to the endgame than Black.} 11. Qf3 Nf4 12. h4 Qh6 13. Qe4 {White's middlegame plan is to get his Bishop to d3, chase away the Black Queen and mate on h7. The chances of that happening are absolutely zilch.} 13... d6 14. d4 Nxd4 15. Bd3 {15...Nxd3 and White's pipe dream middlegame plan is foiled.} 15... Nfe2 {You little tricky dicky bird. 16. Bxe2 then 16...Bf5! forces off the Queens and you take back on e2. Brilliant.} 16. g4 {Threatening absolutely nothing.} 16... Qf4 {OOPS!} 17. Qxh7 {Incredible.}

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 {The Philidor Defence. I've just checked with Reuben Fine’s ‘Ideas Behind the Openings’ , Apparently It's merit it it's solid, it's demerit is the lack of mobility. He goes for 3.d4 here.} 3. Be2 {This develops a piece (just and no more) but it is the prelude to a diabolical trap.} 3...Nf6 4. c3 {The trap is set. Now we wait..................} 4... Nxe4 {........The waiting is over.} 5. Qa4+ {And ping goes a piece.}

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Be2 g6 {Drats thinks White, I've been foiled.} 4. O-O Nf6 {Wait a minute, perhaps I can....} 5. c3 {The trap is set. Now we wait................(a very patient lad is our chmrjg.)} 5... Nxe4 {You do realise that you have just placed a piece on an undefended square when there is a check in the position.} 6. Qa4+ {And another piece lands in the net.} 6... Qd7

[FEN "8/1R6/3r4/4kp2/6p1/6K1/8/8 w - - 0 48"]

48. Rb4 Rd3+ {This is not looking all that good for White. Black has rolling connected passed pawns. It's pretty miserable defending such positions.} 49. Kf2 g3+ 50. Kg2 f4 51. Ra4 {White is trying to make it as hard as he can for his opponent by keeping the Black King cut off. But you sense the despair.} 51... Rd2+ 52. Kf3 {Now Rf2+ and g2 and it is all over.} 52... Rd1 {But what is this?} 53. Re4+ Kd5 54. Rxf4 Rf1+ {Ahh now we see what Black was up too. It's very clever. The King moves, Rook takes Rook, King takes Rook and g2 wins. Fantastic play. White resigned 0-1. What about instead of resigning.} 55. Kxg3 Rxf4 56. Kxf4 {Now I'm not the sharpest tool in the box when it comes to endings but that looks like a book draw to me.} 0-1

[FEN "8/8/5p2/6k1/5rp1/4RP2/5K2/8 w - - 0 47"]

47. Kg3 {Black now played f5 and the game was agreed a few moves later. The Black win is fairly easy.} 47... Rxf3+ 48. Rxf3 gxf3 49. Kxf3 {Now be careful because f5 draws. The win is....} 49... Kf5 {The Black king stays in front of the pawn till he can get to either e2 or g2 to cover f1.} 50. Kf2 Kf4 51. Kg1 Ke3 52. Kf1 f5 53. Ke1 f4 54. Kf1 {White is praying Black will play f3 when it's a book draw after Ke1. That has happened so many times on here.} 54... Kf3 {White has to allow Black onto e2 or g2.} 55. Kg1 Ke2 {The pawn strolls home.}

[FEN "8/8/8/8/R4pk1/8/3r2p1/6K1 w - - 0 76"]

76. Ra8 Kg3 77. Rg8+ Kf3 78. Rg3+ {A plausible try as either pawn takes Rook or King takes Rook is stalemate.} 78... Ke4 79. Rxg2 {Black now played Rd1+ and the game was drawn a few later. The winning method is the same as the last one.} 79... Rxg2+ 80. Kxg2 Ke3 81. Kf1 Kf3 {The White King must allow Black to play either Ke2 or Kg2 and nurse home the pawn. Another win chucked away.}

[FEN "8/8/1r2pk2/8/R5p1/8/6K1/8 w - - 0 48"]
48. Rxg4 Rb5 49. Rf4+ Kg5 {Now move the Rook....Anywhere.} 50. Kf3 {OH NO. I covered this basic error a few blogs ago. Is anybody reading them? Loads of players on here have played the defend the Rook with a King blunder.} 50... Rb3+ 51. Ke4 Rb4+ 52. Ke5 Rxf4 {White resigned.}