Game 3600201 Quite tough this one.. two nice tactics. (I won't count the pawn fork because I think black was fine trading a piece for two pawns there). I should also note that this is the first time I've ever annotated a game so any advice would be appreciated.
1. e4 – My typical opening move. Particularly when playing gambit lines, the tactical opportunities in this opening are overwhelming for some.
1. … c6 – The Caro-Kann Defense.
2. d4
2. … d5
3. Nc3
3. … dxe4
4. Nxe4 – Still following the mainline opening, something I am perfectly happy to do for most openings.
4. … Nd7 – Black ‘deviates’ into the Caro-Kann modern line.
5. Bc4 – My preference to a slightly more positional Nf3.
5. … Nf6
6. Ng5
6. … e6¬ – Protects the f7 pawn.
7. Qe2 – I personally like this move as it places the queen on a fairly strong square and helps my development far more than black’s.
7. … Nb6 – Puts the knight on a better square and supports his e6 pawn a little bit more.
8. Bb3
8. … h6 – Buys a little bit of space for development with a minor tempo gain.
9. Nf3
9. … c5
10. Bf4
10. … Nd5
11. Be5 – A more active alternative to Bg3
11. … Qa5+
12. Nd2
12. … b5
13. dxc5 – Prevents losing a bishop after black’s c4.
13. … Bxc5 – Regaining the pawn and continuing development.
14. Nf3 – Essentially finishing development for white and maintaining a slight advantage.
14. … O-O
15. O-O – Both sides have now castled and the fireworks are ready to begin.
15. … Bb7
16. c3 – Preparing for a short and easily defendable tactic.
16. … Nd7? – A poor move that both damages the position of black’s knight but also allows for a minor material gain through the following tactic.
17. Bxd5! – The B pawn is ready to do some damage.
17. ... Bxd5
18. b4 – White follows through with the fork and gains a slight advantage, though I personally believe the position to still be about equal.
18. … Bxb4 – Merely damage control.
19. cxb4
19. … Qxb4 – Black gets out of the fray damaged materially but about equal positionally.
20. a3! – Building a tempo that actually carries through to the finish.
20. … Qa5?! – I personally would have played Qc5 here instead but the error is minor if existent.
21. Bd6
21. … Rd8
22. Bb4 – Both helping with tempo and placing my bishop on a good square.
22. … Qb6 – Black’s queen is running out of decent squares.
23. Ne5
23. … a5?? – Pretty much seals black’s loss.
24. Be7! – A simple tactic that isn’t actually all that simple.
24. ... Re8
25. Nxd7
25. … Qb7 – Creating a very superficial fork.
26. Nf6+! – A nasty move by white to end the game in convincing fashion.
26. … gxf6
27. Bxf6! - White now has forced mate.
1-0
1) I think 6.Ng5 helps black, because the attack is easily defended, and probably defended with a gain in tempo...
2) 7.Qe2, IMO isn't that great, the Queen on e2 isn't that much of an improvement -- I think, the obvoius Nf3 should have been played.
3) "7. … Nb6 – Puts the knight on a better square and supports his e6 pawn a little bit more" I should Imagine the purpose of Nb6 was a) to threaten the bishop, and b) to expoit the weakness of the move Qe2 (uprotected d4 pawn), though that said its immediate capture probably isn't wise (eg: Qxd4 Be3 Qb4+? c3 Qe7? Rd1)
4) 20. a3 -- personally I'm not sure this deserves a ! as i dont think its that great a move...
for example, Rab1 develops the rook to an open file, and threatens the advanced b5 pawn.
5) 21. … Rd8 is probabaly weak after Rac1 (hence, I'd play Rac1 not Bb4)
Originally posted by Shinidokiall good points thankyou.
1) I think 6.Ng5 helps black, because the attack is easily defended, and probably defended with a gain in tempo...
2) 7.Qe2, IMO isn't that great, the Queen on e2 isn't that much of an improvement -- I think, the obvoius Nf3 should have been played.
3) "7. … Nb6 – Puts the knight on a better square and supports his e6 pawn a little bit more" I sho ...[text shortened]... d b5 pawn.
5) 21. … Rd8 is probabaly weak after Rac1 (hence, I'd play Rac1 not Bb4)
I may object a little to the a3 thing because It did put me back on the attack but it's true.. the rook blunder was actually the reason i had the tactic.
it was a good game
if i were black i woulda been rougher on you in the midgame lolm i'll have to look at it closer but around like move 10 or so until you guys castled i think black could have played a bit more aggressively on the pinned knight
but thats the kind of chess we love lol
Originally posted by yofidawgagressive play on that pin would easily be answered by a pawn move, gaining a tempo.
it was a good game
if i were black i woulda been rougher on you in the midgame lolm i'll have to look at it closer but around like move 10 or so until you guys castled i think black could have played a bit more aggressively on the pinned knight
but thats the kind of chess we love lol
you're correct at a second glance, but i stand by my charge that black could have played a bit better
for example, i think i would have played 11...Ng4 to chase the black bishop off from that good square to the awful g3. Then black can check with the queen because the bishop, a vital guard, isnt there.
Originally posted by yofidawgthe bishop doesn't have to retreat. after 11...Ng4, white can castle long, and if black takes the bishop with the knight, white can recapture with it's own knight, and have an excellent post there. removing that knight would require weakening the kingside for black. (I don't think g3 is an awful square for a bishop anyway.)
you're correct at a second glance, but i stand by my charge that black could have played a bit better
for example, i think i would have played 11...Ng4 to chase the black bishop off from that good square to the awful g3. Then black can check with the queen because the bishop, a vital guard, isnt there.
by the way, I was black in that game 🙂. and I know I didn't play a good game. I don't want to find any excuses, I blundered twice, but it was my first caro-kann, and I was trying to keep myself in the book, which brought me to positions that I wasn't familiar at all with. I learned my lesson: don't get obsessed with staying in the book, and most importantly, don't blunder 🙂
that was nice tactical play from ih8sens.