This game was played in round 1 of the New Years’ Tournament between Mooney1979 and Mariposa. Mari asked me to give a few comments on the game. I think it is instructive because it looks so simple, and yet, there is so much that could have been different. And I am sure, comments on my comments may prove that statement to be even more true.
It was a good game, and I understand also played in a very friendly mode. That is what RHP is about. Enjoy reading. Comments welcome.
Gil.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.e3
Not one of the more common moves like c4, g3, Bg5, Bf4
3... Bg7 4.Nc3
Again unusual, Nbd2, c4, Be2, Bd3, b3 are more common. Better to keep the c-pawn flexible. Knight may want to go to d2.
4... d6 5.Bc4 Nbd7?
Not good! 5… 0-0 or d5! see next move from white
6.Ng5?
Not seen by white either. With 6.Bxf7+, Kf8 (Kxf7?,Ng5+!, Kg8, Ne6, Qd8, Nxc7, Qf7, Nxa8 etc...) Ng5! white has a plus pawn and the much better position .
6... 0-0?
Mari was expecting white to exchange twice on f7. B+N for R+P.I would then have a lead in development of 3 pieces to 1. But, much better was d5! (Bxd5? Nxd5, Nxd5,e6! wins)
7.0-0 See comment above
7.... Nb6 the danger is gone
8.b3?
Better to avoid letting to take this bishop (Bd3, Be2, Bb5) with bad pawn structure
8... Nxc4 9.bxc4 h6 10.Nge4 [or Nf3] Nxe4 11.Nxe4 Bf5
Black has equalised. Now. 11…. e5 was also strong(er?).
12.Qf3 Qf3 pins the knight to c2 pawn. Better g3!
12…. c6 [or e5!]
13.Rb1 Qc7 14.Rb2
Seems to pin the d-pawn to the rook, but see next moves
14….c5?? b6 was better see comment next move
15.Re1? White doesn't see it either: Rxb7! Qxb7, Nf6+ and QxQb7
15.... cxd4? Better Rab8 to avoid that combination
16.exd4 [or still Rxb7]
16... Bxd7 Still Rab8 better
17.Rb1? Still Rxb7!
17..... Bg7? better b6
18.Ng3? [still Rxb7]
18... Bc8
19.a3 Or Qe4 to put pressure on e7
19... e6 Better Qxc4, Rxe7?, Qxc2
20.Bd2 Some protection of c4 was needed.
20…. Qxc4 21.Bb4 Rd8 22.Qe2? [Ne4] Qxe2 23.Rxe2 [or Nxe2] b624.Ne4 d5
25.Nd6? looks a natural move,but will get trapped
25.... Ba6!
The knight can't get out. Even stronger is 25….a5!
26.Rd2 ?
c4 would cost a pawn,but the rook is needed on e-file to stop the bishop getting to e5.
26…. Be5!
Finally traps the knight. The game is (allmost) over.
27.Nxf7 Kxf7 28.Re1 Bd6 29.Bxd6 Rxd6 30.a4 Rc8 31.Red1 Rdc6 32.Rc1 Bc4 33.Rd4 Bb3! 34.Rf4+ Kg7 35.g3 Rxc2 36.Rxc2 Rxc2 37.Kg2 Rc4 38.Rxc4 dxc4 39.h4 c3 40.g4 c2 41.g5 c1Q 42.gxh6+ Qxh6 43.a5 Qxh4 44.a6 Bd5 45.f3 Qg4
46 Kh2 nice try for a draw.
46….Qxf3
Resigned
0-1
Originally posted by MontaguesGood remark. 16. Rxb7 Qa5 is not bad at all for black. White could play Nd2. But I think black has a small advantage then. Thanks.
Excellent entertainment, players and analysis, thanks to all involved. My only minor contibution. 15. Rxb7 wins as pointed out but is it so simple a move later after 15. Re1 cxd4?
if 16.Rxb7 Qa5 is interesting
btw. blacks 16-th move should read: Bxd4 (thanks Montagues for that correction).
Gil.
I agree with Montagues wholeheartedly...excellent stuff. Thanks to the players for playing and to Gil for taking the time to analyse and post a very instructive and interesting game.
Makes me wonder about the huge amount I must miss in my games, especially early doors.
Dave Tebb once said to me that just knowing how to play openings (by that I'm sure he meant opening principles, rather than specific moves) you'll beat the vast majority of players ranked under 1400 here. Tempo and development in the opening are relatively straightforward things to get a grip on, and will improve one's game HUGELY, far more than learning off by heart the moves for long book openings. I have found in games amongst lower rated to middle rated players, there is almost a gentle, easing oneself into the game kinda feel to the opening. I remember playing what I thought was a strong game only to have it analysed afterwards by someone and they found a whole host of better and sharper and more aggressive moves for me, beginning as early as move 5!!
And so in this game.
I drew two main lessons from the game.
Lesson 1: I think the lesson to be learnt here is to play hard straight from the gun. Every move look for the weaknesses of the opponent's last move, rather than just blindly developing and *then* playing. Go straight from the off. After 5...Nbd4 white should leap onto it and be out to inflict some serious grief. I doubt I would have spotted the continuation for white that Gil posts, and instead would have carried on steadily developing, almost ignoring what black was doing, being content to just develop and thus missing out on a chance to draw first blood.
Lesson 2: In chess there are a whole set of little "rules" that govern positional play, and "tricks" which govern tactical play. Learning these little ideas are a great way to improve. It took me a long time to learn the difference between positional play and tactical play. The best way (that I've found) of learning and discovering little tricks and things is to watch games that top players play against lower rated players. I've mentioned a few of them before in previous posts, such as taking knights which defend central pawns, the opponent recaptures with something other than a knight thus allowing you to scoop the pawn, or the one where a bishop pins a knight to a queen or a king and then a pawn gets pushed forward to attack the pinned piece in conjunction with the bishop. The knight can't move because of the pin and so the pawn can take it. Those two are very simple ones, here there is a slightly more subtle one, namely the discovered attack with use of check. The "Rxb7! Qxb7, Nf6+ and QxQb7". There's just something very beautiful about this.
In summary:-
1. Adhere to the mantra "develop all pieces before embarking on a plan", but only if your opponent is playing soundly. Never ignore what the opponent is doing even right at the start, prey on the slightest weakness.
2. Note the tactical trick whereby white used the check with his knight to allow the discovered attack, thus winning the black queen since black has to defend the check (and hence not defend the queen).
Good luck in your final two remaining games in your group mooney1979! Congratulations on your win Mari 🙂
Mark
I quite enjoyed 46.Kh2 hoping for 46...Bxf3 and stalemate! Of course, the game was long since over but it was a nice and cheeky attempt!