18 Oct 04
Originally posted by kr1dudeGame 720263
sorry 720263
Just for any who are as lazy as I am. Now I'll have a look at it and let you know what I think...
18 Oct 04
1 edit
If the trap you mean was 11...Ne4+, leaving your other knight vulnerable to 12. Kxd3 as bait for 12...Nc5+, then I think that was very well spotted. Congratulations!
[EDIT] But of course your opponent didn't have to take the d3 knight, and other king moves were therefore better for him. I won't do an exhaustive analysis myself, but maybe some of our more active friends in this forum will. There may well have been better moves than 11...Ne4+. Nonetheless, spotting 12...Nc5+ was sharp. Good eyes.
19 Oct 04
Originally posted by kr1dudeI don't think that's possible 🙂 You had the better of the game from very early.
anyone want to post how he could have won
Mainly because I'm home sick from work today and a little bored, I will do a more thorough analysis, but keep in mind that it's still pretty superficial and I'm still just a patzer.
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. c3 cxd4
A mainline French Advance is 5...Qb6, intensifying pressure on d4 but exposing the Queen. 5...cxd4, on the other hand, relieves pressure on the center. Black has a range of options here besides the mainline, but 5...cxd4 was a slight strategic error.
6. Nxd4
This, of course, loses the e5 pawn. 6. cxd4 is better, protecting e5 and maintaining a two-pawn center.
6...Nxe5 7. Bb5+
I'm not sure I like this, because it gives Black the chance to trade his bad bishop for White's good bishop, solving the biggest strategic problem in the French Defense. Being a pawn down, White wants to avoid piece trades, especially when they benefit Black strategically.
7...Bd7 8. Qa4
This was a mistake, as you pointed out. I would have played 8. O-O myself, since the b5 bishop is already defended.
8...Nf6
I would have played 8...Nd3+ immediately. 9. Ke2 Nxc1+ 10. Rxc1 and then Black continues with development. White has problems, because his exposed king and backward development lead him to prefer exchanging pieces, while his pawn deficit leads him to avoid exchanging pieces. Quite a dilemma!
9. Bg5
A mistake, still allowing ...Nd3+. 9. O-O is better.
9...Be7
Not a bad move itself, but 9...Nd3+ is much stronger. 10. Kf1 (no longer any need to bring the king to the second rank, since the bishop has moved from c1) 10...Nxb2 (another extra pawn! with an attack on the queen!) 11. Qb3 Nc4 with a well posted knight. White must then trade with 12. Bxc4, regaining one pawn and killing the outpost knight, but simplifying for Black.
10. f4
This exposes the king even more, and fails to prevent your next move. 10. O-O was necessary.
10...Nd3
Excellent.
11. Kd2 Ne4
A clever trap. But I wonder if 11...Nxb2 might not be better. White is not forced to take the d3 bait next move, so grabbing the b2 pawn might be wiser. I'll leave that to the judgment of more qualified analysts, if any show up.
12. Kxd3
The big blunder! White should retreat, probably with 12. Kc2. Black would then have the advantage, but at least he wouldn't snatch the queen.
12...Nc5+ 13. Kd2 Nxa4 14. Bxe7
Not as good as resigning, but second-best.
Here my analysis ends, in large part because I have two young children who require my attention. Remember that all these comments are by an amateur. Good game!