Only Chess
23 Oct 07
23 Oct 07
Although I admittedly still make my fare share of tactical blunders, I'm still trying to get a reasonable initial grip on the basics of tactical play. I recently finished Game 3694076, which was an incredibly closed up game, and I was looking for some criticisms or suggestions. I managed to make by bad bishop active, double up rooks, and control the only open file, but I'd still appreciate any comments.
Also, some other closed/positional games would be nice to see. Feel free to post away.
23 Oct 07
I'm 200 points below you, so I hesitate to offer advice, but a few things I've noticed in my own games:
I played 2 clan games with a great chap from Ireland, darksideofthemoonie:
Game 4120206
Game 4120207
Start about move 14 in both games. Note as both black and white he used a picket-fence or stonewall kind of pawn structure. As you have figured out, the trick is to open files and let the heavy pieces (R&Q) get behind that front row of pawns. The back row of pawns have no pawn support and can contain weaknesses. As you eliminate that back row of pawns, the front row becomes weak because their guard pawns are gone. You may find your opponent's defense is aimed towards his front lines and a couple of your rooks sweeping in from the flank can cause havoc.
Best,
Steve
23 Oct 07
Originally posted by wittywonkaWhite's d3 on move 1 looks peculiar. Black's bishop retreat Bc5e7 on move 8 loses a move. White's exchanging of his good bishop for the Black knight without any provocation on move 9 is wrong (he should have at least waited for h6 from Black). Black has a space advantage by move 10 and the game is probably already won strategically. Black's move 11...b5 looks interesting but might be premature if White challenges with 12 a4 on the next move. I don't understand White's 15 Nd2f1; he bypasses a good square at f3 for a place on the back row with no further retreat. The key to the rest of the game is the Bishops: he traded his good one and is stuck with a bad one, while you have gotten your bad bishop to the outside of the pawn chain and it dominates the dark squares. The power of the two bishops is a source of great strength in the endgame. I don’t think you should have swapped your light-squared bishop so quickly for his knight on move 24 because it allows White to create counterplay once he arranges his queen and rooks along the open g-file.
Although I admittedly still make my fare share of tactical blunders, I'm still trying to get a reasonable initial grip on the basics of tactical play. I recently finished Game 3694076, which was an incredibly closed up game, and I was looking for some criticisms or suggestions. I managed to make by bad bishop active, double up rooks, and control t ...[text shortened]... ts.
Also, some other closed/positional games would be nice to see. Feel free to post away.
24 Oct 07
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterI appreciate you looking at the game. It's nice for us to be amicable for once. 🙂
White's d3 on move 1 looks peculiar. Black's bishop retreat Bc5e7 on move 8 loses a move. White's exchanging of his good bishop for the Black knight without any provocation on move 9 is wrong (he should have at least waited for h6 from Black). Black has a space advantage by move 10 and the game is probably already won strategically. Black's move ...[text shortened]... ws White to create counterplay once he arranges his queen and rooks along the open g-file.
24 Oct 07
Originally posted by wittywonkaI felt as though, once black got the open a file, the white queen needed to be used to support the rooks in controlloing blacks advances. It looked like you were trying to engineer some sort of attack on the kingside but it was too easy for black to defend against and continue with his plan of intruding on the queenside.
Although I admittedly still make my fare share of tactical blunders, I'm still trying to get a reasonable initial grip on the basics of tactical play. I recently finished Game 3694076, which was an incredibly closed up game, and I was looking for some criticisms or suggestions. I managed to make by bad bishop active, double up rooks, and control t ...[text shortened]... ts.
Also, some other closed/positional games would be nice to see. Feel free to post away.
24 Oct 07
Originally posted by Tyrannosauruschexhe was black...
I felt as though, once black got the open a file, the white queen needed to be used to support the rooks in controlloing blacks advances. It looked like you were trying to engineer some sort of attack on the kingside but it was too easy for black to defend against and continue with his plan of intruding on the queenside.
24 Oct 07
1 edit
Game 3964526
There seemed to be no way to break through after move 37, so I tried to create some play with 38. ..d5!? : d6 would be an excellent outpost for my knight, and if 39. exd5 Nc8 40. Bxc8 (probably the best) Qxc8, I could've slowly made progress by moving my king to d6, return my queen to the a-file and either infiltrate through the 1st or the 2nd row (and then attack some of white's weaknesses (f5, h5, king)).
However 40. Rh2?! was pretty meaningless. After 40. ..Nd6 both Ra3 and e4 are coming up, and I have an excellent position.
after 41. Kf3? it was all over. 41 ..Ra3 threatens Nxc4, e4+, Rxd3+, and if Ke2 then Ra2 wins the queen.
25 Oct 07
Originally posted by wittywonkaAlekhine had a very distinct, but often effective positional style.
Also, some other closed/positional games would be nice to see. Feel free to post away.
Gruenfeld - Alekhine
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1012180
I do not know anything about Slav lines, so I do not really understand the ideas behind a6-b5 although of course they allows Black to facilitate Bb7 as in this game. But I was struck how easily Black equalized and there are few basic interesting points in Black's opening play here.
Naturally Black delays dxc4 until white has developed his bishop. I was particularly struck by how Black was able to play c5 and release his c8 bishop so easily. And naturally white's queen seems somewhat misplaced on c2 after cxd.
Relinquishing the bishop pair without coercion seems bad to me on principle; also white's "extraordinarily deep" plan of Bxf6 Qc2 threatening mate is easily thwarted by g6 and white is left with a rather passive position.
And the tactical finish is very nice.
I would recommend playing through some of Alekhine's more positional games and to really try to understand his ideas.
He had a good reputation in grinding down opponents too and was comfortable in fortress-type positions (but of course he seemed comfortable with all types of positions).
For example:
Khan - Alekhine 1933
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1012928
I have come enjoy fortress type positions as Black; there is something nice about keeping all the pawns and pieces on the board. Fortresses aren't necessarily passive, really! Here is a very nice win by Kramnik, who builds a fortress in a must win situation, keeping the pawns and pieces on the board, and is able to release his position for a win after white overextends his position with 21. Nf5.
Kasparov vs Kramnik 0-1 Botvinnik Mem Rapid Match 2001
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1210752
Below is one of my games in a closed position; the way Black's game opened up was interesting:
Game 3898845
25 Oct 07
Originally posted by wittywonkaThis is kind of a wierd one becuase it came out of the KGA (don't look past move 16 because overconfidence kills both of us).
Although I admittedly still make my fare share of tactical blunders, I'm still trying to get a reasonable initial grip on the basics of tactical play. I recently finished Game 3694076, which was an incredibly closed up game, and I was looking for some criticisms or suggestions. I managed to make by bad bishop active, double up rooks, and control t ...[text shortened]... ts.
Also, some other closed/positional games would be nice to see. Feel free to post away.
Game 4177001
25 Oct 07
Originally posted by YugaVery nice! I really liked your sacrifice of the Knight that started the whole attack. I take it you're a fan of Alekhine? Unfortunately, I've never really devoted much time to him, though I have gone through a collection of Chigorin's games several times. Korchnoi had a lot of praise for Alekhine when he said: The three great masters of attack are Alekhine, Keres and Spassky.
...Below is one of my games in a closed position; the way Black's game opened up was interesting:
Game 3898845
25 Oct 07
1 edit
Originally posted by wittywonkaI used to LOOOVe closing off positions, developing behind the lines, then opening them up to kill my opponent...
Although I admittedly still make my fare share of tactical blunders, I'm still trying to get a reasonable initial grip on the basics of tactical play. I recently finished Game 3694076, which was an incredibly closed up game, and I was looking for some criticisms or suggestions. I managed to make by bad bishop active, double up rooks, and control t ts.
Also, some other closed/positional games would be nice to see. Feel free to post away.
ok, in Closed Positions, SPACE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ON THE BOARD!
we quickly notice that your spacial advantage is on the queenside while his is on the kingside...
now, that means that you need to focus more on the queenside, and draw the opponent's attention away from his space.
After your opponent plays c4, you should have captured back instead of somewhat reclosing it with your move, no matter what he recaptures with, you will be able to take advantage of that file..
In one case you get a passed pawn, in the other you get an open file that you can quickly get a rook on and dominate. Either way, It looks like your advantage is winning.
25 Oct 07
Originally posted by tomtom23217. h5??
This is kind of a wierd one becuase it came out of the KGA (don't look past move 16 because overconfidence kills both of us).
Game 4177001
17.Be6! wins on the spot.
25 Oct 07
Originally posted by wittywonkaI wonder why white didn't try to get any attack down the g-file once he controlled g6...
Although I admittedly still make my fare share of tactical blunders, I'm still trying to get a reasonable initial grip on the basics of tactical play. I recently finished Game 3694076, which was an incredibly closed up game, and I was looking for some criticisms or suggestions. I managed to make by bad bishop active, double up rooks, and control t ...[text shortened]... ts.
Also, some other closed/positional games would be nice to see. Feel free to post away.
a rook on g1 or g2 and the queen would have done some damage, as your bishop couldn't do anything!