a simple tactic and a question

A position from a recent game:

Black just played Re8.

The whole game is here. I think I was lucky because I really messed up the opening. (I've never played this opening.)


Could you please tell me what I should have done with my bishops? They worked out quite nicely but I think only because of the unfortunate rook move. I don't see anything for myself after Bg7 is played.

I think Bd3 was a bad idea because it cost me a tempo. What should I have done instead? Also, both Bc4 and Bf4 put my bishops on unprotected squares which probably wasn't good...

And what about 14.d5?

you did mess up the opening but it all worked out in the end.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 is the correct way to open.

Originally posted by utherpendragon
you did mess up the opening but it all worked out in the end.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 is the correct way to open.

There's actually nothing wrong with the way he'd play it. Its all "book" up to Bd3, which is indeed a bad move (because the d-pawn needs protecting). To answer the direct question, Bc4 is the most common move, although white has only a minimal advantage. The d-pawn is weak, but white has better piece placement. Practical results (lots of draws in master play) bear out this evaluation.

Originally posted by Erekose
There's actually nothing wrong with the way he'd play it. Its all "book" up to Bd3, which is indeed a bad move (because the d-pawn needs protecting). To answer the direct question, Bc4 is the most common move, although white has only a minimal advantage. The d-pawn is weak, but white has better piece placement. Practical results (lots of draws in master play) bear out this evaluation.

I beg to differ. 2.c4 may be "book" but its no good if it is.

This the best way to do it. White develops his Bishop to an attacking diagonal and prevents...Bf5

Originally posted by utherpendragon
I beg to differ. c4 is not "book".

You need a better book. 🙂 It's covered in NCO (for example) and over 3000 games in my database.

Sorry. see my edit.😳
Im a Lev Alburt man. This is the Exchange system of the Caro-Kann. Its a shortcut that will take Black out of his main lines immediately. I have had great success with it.

Originally posted by utherpendragon
Sorry. see my edit.😳
Im a Lev Alburt man. This is the Exchange system of the Caro-Kann. Its a shortcut that will take Black out of his main lines immediately. I have had great success with it.

The exchange variation is no better than 2 c4 if black knows what to do, as its main lines are well-trod. Both are drawish at the master level and perfectly fine openings below it.

If a player under 2000 says it suits his requirements against the players
he is meeting (and has the points to prove it.) then there is no argument.

utherpendragon scores very well on RHP with the White side of this.


And this following game shows Bd3 in all it's glory.

utherpendragon - Texan RHP 2010