Tournament: Part I

Hello all–

Here is the first part of a write-up for the last tournament I played in, as a sort of partial excuse for not having updated this blog in a while. Featuring: me scoring 1/3 in the first half of the tournament, my chip metaphors, and my rambling thoughts on boring, drawn games.

Blog Post: Blog Post 378

–HikaruShindo

Cheers GP,

I think you're right on both points but that I might post to explain what I was thinking at the time. With 15. Bg5, it was partly clear the d-file to play Rd1, d5, and exchange the isolated pawn, and partly that the bishop wasn't doing great. Playing 8. Nd2 over Nc3, I wanted to have the option for Nb3–Nc5, or to take back on c4. Thanks for the feedback, I do really welcome it, and I've taken your suggestion to include full names.

Originally posted by @greenpawn34

The last game v J.D. (give full name) you were White.
Just a few minor points which I noticed right away.

[fen]rnbqk2r/pp3ppp/2pb4/3p4/2PPn3/3B1N2/PP3PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 0 8[/fen]
8.Nc3 (which is theory) is better than 8.Nbd2 allowing that later Nxf2 trick that Black missed.

Here. White to play.

[fen]r2qr1k1/pp1n1ppp/2pb4/8/2QP4/5N ...[text shortened]... have
a Bishop (doing OK on d2) on g5 where a Knight hitting f7 and h7 should be.

Hi Sonhouse,

8...Bb5 = two minor pieces moving twice in the opening and
soon one or both of them will be moving again to be exchanged.
This is not usually a good opening plan and the threat can easily
be handled by a developing move 9.0-0 and Black is heading for an awkward position.