Game 672803
1.d4
Thanks for the challenge, yamiyokaze! I all-capped the names in hopes that I might find this thread more easily when I go search for it.
I've chosen a strong opening that will defend c5 instantly in case you were thinking of pulling a somewhat creative reverse-Vant Kruij on me (e.g. the lucifershammer game you're playing simultaneously using white). I expect you'll try to play the center strong though. Don't know yet whether or not you'll mirror or play around with variations.
Public comment rules apply similar to Zucchini's games.
The thread setup guidelines we have so far are copy/edited below:
(1) Create a thread for the game in the Chess forum with the game number in the thread title as Game <ID#>: <name> v. <name>: Public. Include these guidelines in the first post, and also add a link to the game.
(2) Each player posts comments for their own move just before moving.
The first line of a move post should start with the move number and selected move in standard form in bold using the [ b ] tag.
Annotations follow in whatever form the poster desires.
(3) Others are allowed to post, but, to avoid confusion, should not make their post look like a move post by one of the players.
(4) Any rude comments should be alerted to the moderator immediately. I think this idea can be really good for this site, and I don't want to see people discouraged from participating, especially due to inexperience.
🙂
Game 672803
2.c4
They say it's all GQ to go QG, eh? This, perhaps, is my best move, according to me, in response to a queen's pawn mirror in move one. If you had done anything else developing in the first move, I most likely would not have so willingly attempted to jump my pawn into c4 with such a sacrificial position to start. But because you went with it, if you take my pawn, I'll press my knight to f3 and basically own the board on move three... according to center theory. Not really though since you'll have one of my pawns and I'll have zilch except a bunch of imaginary lines. Game's hardly started. 😀
2...g6
An unorthodox response to 2. c4, but it's the unorthodox ones you have to love. I'm preparing a bishop fianchetto for later use. They're fun to use in openings. I'm playing up...according to the book it's D06: Queen's Gambit: Symmetrical and Baltic Defences but I've seen it written as Queen's Gambit Declined: Alekhine Defense...
3.Nf3
Personally I feel that the people who fianchetto probably just like to say the word "fianchetto," so they fianchetto just so they can say it or type it. It rolls off the tongue rather nicely. Imagine yourself saying it while you type it. Fianchetto. See? We'll just have to wait and see how effective it really is though, won't we...
Regardless, the g6 maneuver doesn't really effect my development all that much. King's knight still moves to guard Queen's pawn, meanwhile placing secondary pressure on e5, central space. The only downside for me, knowing that you've declined the gambit for now, is that my pawn at c4 is still stranded, and my next move is heavily dependent upon your next move.
I may perhaps observe that your style of play at this point seems to be transforming into a more defensive counter of my strong center strategy focusing on the possibility of a fianchetto or even double fianchetto. However, the option to accept the c4 gambit pawn is still available to you without much complication... in this turn.
4.Qb3
4...dxc4
5.Qxc4
The forum posts fell behind the game a little bit. Sorry about that. Yesterday, apparently, when you moved before you posted your forum comment, I wasn't sure if you were going to post to the forum or not, so I went ahead and advanced Qb3 without a comment.
I totally understand about the fianchetto.
I mentioned pm-style in the message log. 🙂
So now you've taken the gambit pawn, and it's turned into an exchange variation. Regarding the Qb3 advance, my Qb3 offense strategy is a fairly aggressive tactic , unleashing the lady early in development. My tactic here is still heavily reliant in part on over developing in the beginning... thus my apprehension regarding my chances of victory endgame. It's about percentages though, so I guess neither of us can afford to make even the slightest slip at this point. I may have to recoil my lady in defense in a few moves and turn over some precious tempo to you if you make the right choices here.
5. Nbd7
A bad move on my part as I moved before I realized what exactly I had done...😳
Although 5. Nbd7 reinforces the knight on f6, it blocks my bishop on c8 and my queen on d8...Better would have been to develop my bishop in the fianchetto that I planned...
I'm such an idiot...I've lost tempo...and this might cost me the game.
Enjoy the vacation Yamiyo. 🙂
I'm gonna spend a little extra time pondering my next move.
Game 672803
6.Qa4
Relaxing and taking a vacation was a really good idea, Yamiy. There's plenty of time, and a day off to refresh and revitalize the chess sense gave me a bit of time to consider this move.
Now, my queen is already out there on the front line. Might as well make good use of her. You're right about your knight closing most of your offensive avenues at this point. I'm pinning him there. It will be easy enough for you to free up the pin while upping yourself an offensive tempo simultaneously.
Mostly, I'm just trying to project what you'll do. The fianchetto, it seems obvious, you can develop at your leisure. The bishop to g7 would have accomplished the same purpose as the knight in reinforcing the king's indian-knight. So, I think your purpose for moving queen's knight to d7 is primarily for the potential center spaces he can defend. Without the pin black poses a threat with pawns to both c5 and e5 targeting my stake at center position.
Your next move will determine how aggressive/defensive my next turn will be.
Game 672803
7.Bd2
Not true. You're dealing with the pin and regaining tempo simultaneously because in advancing your bishop you've also setup your king's escape from the pin in the next turn. My queen's going to find herself in a bit of trouble here shortly.
In this small measure of breathing room, I have virtually infinite possibilites to consider. Knowing that you're a smart player, however, I'll at least grant that you'll foresee and defend against any unsupported, superficial attacks or advancements of pieces into your territory, such as a gambit to e4 or a rather fun but harmless Ne5. On the other hand I also don't want to go completely on the defensive. So, I'm going to play a tactically defensive, passive-aggressive move and respond to your developing bishop with a developing bishop to open up my backcourt and artfully illustrate the powerful reaches of my position for the time being...
🙂
7...Ne4
Okay...expecting me to castle?
I admit...it looked sorely tempting...but I played the line out as far as I could and I hated where it left me...
7...Ne4 is more agressive and to my style. Most might think it's a horrible response to the position, but I think that positional play is exactly what I need.
Trust me...I'm not throwing the game away. 😉
8.Ba5
Excellent move. Bravo. Thinking in your favor, the option to castle is still there, and you've reinforced c5 with another knight. I think I see a c5 pawn advance in the near future. Perhaps you'll try to nab my queen. Doubtful that, at this point though, without losing yours. Question is, to figure out if it's better to move my queen and get her out of harm's way immediately or no...
hmmm, no... I think I can get her out of the way if you try to close in with the knights without losing ground. And, I can't force back your advanced knight in this turn either. With your style of play, I'm thinking I'd better move my bishop out of harm's way first or else I may have no bishop to move.
The major con of your move into what's mostly white space is that your knight may become vulnerable later because he's over-extended. Perhaps the best way to counter an encroachment of territory is with similar, reciprocal pressure into black space.
Thus, considering the possibility of the pawn to c5 advancement as your best response in the next move, I'm going to eliminate the possibility of your moving there by pinning the queen's bishop pawn at c7.
8. Ba5 was the best move for White...he's pinned my c6 pawn which would have allowed me to evade the pin and "unlock" my queen on d8. Now...I can never play pawn to c6.
8...b6
The pin that White set is catching up to me... 8...b6 is the only move I have as I have to get rid of the pieces attacking my queen-side or I'll set myself up for a very nasty position.
At the moment I'm thinking that White'll retreat his bishop to c3 where I can do an exchange with my knight and then castle.
Also...If I exchange my knight, I don't have to worry about it being a liability as I could lose it very easily.