gameid=624856: Public Commenting

4.e3

Nc6 on your last move is playable, but what I don't like about it is that it would block in your c-pawn. You may need the c-pawn later to attack the center. Plus if your knight blocks in the c7 pawn then your queen can't go to c7. Sometimes c7 turns out to be a good square for the queen. This is a very flexible opening. Lots of choices, but it's not tactical yet. Just development. 3 ...Bf5 is a good move for black IMO.

4 ...e6

e6 jumps out at me first -- opens diagonal for bishop, supports light bishop.
Nc6 seems OK.
g6 no longer seems as good,but I'm not sure why.
Moving the f6-Knight seems like a bad idea (moving same piece twice in opening).

5. Bd3

I'm offering a trade of bishops here. This is strictly a development move for white. I lose my "good" bishop, but I also develop my kingside and queen and try to get a little more lead in development over black. The white plan from here is to advance on the queenside, but keep control of the center while doing so. White has good control of e5, black has good control of e4.

As for your comment about moving the black kingside knight - I wouldn't move that piece again this early unless you see a clear advantage to win material or it's absolutely needed somewhere to save the game. The kingside knight is a great defensive piece. It defends d5, e4 and the h7 square. Plus you've already developed that piece to a good square.

5 ...c5
Game 624856

Thanks for your advice about the knight at the corner of a K-side castled position. I just noticed that we have nearly symetrical positions.

Bb5 will likely get chased back, losing a tempo Bd6 works for the same reasons as white's Bd3.
Bxd3 wastes a tempo.
Ne4 is cramping white, but threatens nothing.
c5 threatens to get rid of a strong central pawn before white has castled, with the bonus of development of the bishop in case white captures.

Black's King is still on the open light diagonal, but is safe. I think c5 is my best move. I still have trouble looking for good pawn moves.

As this thread gets longer, it might be a good idea to repost the game ID link with every player comment, to make it easier to refer to the board from the comments.

Thanks for doing this guys-- it's nice to see so much action in the chess forum.

6. Bxf5

http://www.timeforchess.com/gameanalysis/boardhistory.php?gameid=624856


By black playing c5 here white now has a couple of choices:
1. Capture the c-pawn with the white d-pawn. Bad idea trading a center pawn for a flank pawn. Especially this early in the game and with my king still in the center. Plus black can recapture with his dark-squared bishop and develop that piece for free.
2. White can play c3 and defend his d-pawn with the c-pawn. This will probably lead to an open c-file later in the game.
3. White can ignore the black c-pawn and just castle. Again though that would give up a center d-pawn for a flank c-pawn.
4. White can play Bxf5. This forces black to recapture with the e6 pawn and weaken the defense of the black d5 pawn. This slows whites' development but black can't take advantage of it because of the forced recaptures for black. White could then advance the c-pawn later and try to attack the center once the support of the black e-pawn has been moved to the f-file.
5. I don't like Nc3, Ne5 or any other knight move here for white. After the light-squared bishops are traded off White could play Nb-d2 in support of the center and the white c-pawn advance.

6 ...exf5
Game 624856

exf5 seems forced. Qa5+ is easily blocked, and does not develop the Q to a desirable square. Any other non-checking move loses the recapture.

7.0-0
Game 624856

I'm just gonna castle here and keep it simple and develop. The center could open up and I don't want my king there.

7 ...Be7
Game 624856

I think I need to complete development before I worry about my c-pawn. My f5-pawn can be used against your e3-pawn later.

Bd6 works fine, either with a trade or not.
Be7 prepares for castling, and prevents Bg5 pinning my knight to my Q. I like keeping a bishop
Nc6 seems fine.
b6 is a good move to keep a pawn center, but can be postponed, as dxc5 seems unlikely.
Qb6 threatens b2, but seems premature since the King is not safe yet.

8.c3
Game 624856

Just playing it safe here. I'm looking at Nd2, and maybe trading the c pawns and opening the c-file. Qd3 attacking the undefended black f-pawn also looks good.


(Edit: Looking back at this move now I see c3 looks rather timid. Still I wanted my b1 knight to d2 and I didn't want to block in my c-pawn. Plus c3 supports d4)

8 ...0-0
Game 624856

I still have several moves to make: castle, develop my knight, find a home for my Q, and maybe, support my f5 pawns advance.
0-0 and Nc6 seem equally good.

Originally posted by Paul Dirac
... Are you guys feeling any stage fright? 😲

9. Qc2
Game 624856

Just going after an undefended pawn here. This shouldn't cause you any trouble, but it is an attack and it develops the queen while staying out of the way of my queenside knight. So a move that attacks and develops can't be too bad.

9 ...Qd7
Game 624856

So here is something that I have changed recently. In a case like this, I used to ignore the pawn figuring it is a reasonable price to pay for my continued development. But now I will defend it. Now I try to hold on to every pawn.

Qd7 protects the pawn, and develops.
g3 permanently changes the K-side pawn cover, which I am reluctant to do. And in this case, it allows the dark square bishop access.

10.Nd2
Game 624856

You made by far the best move with Qd7. And your strategy now is correct, NEVER give up a pawn without some serious compensation. Just development is not enough compensation IMO. Your Qd7 move also defended your b7 pawn, which was my next target, and it defended your e7 bishop. I played Nd2. Continuing development and connecting my rooks.