learnt a lesson today

never trade both knights at the start of the game - bad very bad for the rest of the game.

Originally posted by trevor33
never trade both knights at the start of the game - bad very bad for the rest of the game.

never trade anything, unless it leaves you better or your opponent worse. a tempo wasted is worth about 0.3 pawns. keeping/grabbing initiative can be priceless.

Exchanging pieces aimlessly is a bad thing indeed, especially if it results in speeding your opponent’s development, relieves the pressure on his position or cedes an important positional consideration. Before you exchange, you should always ask: Will I be better or worse following the exchange of pieces? For example, I will readily trade both my Knights for the bishop pair if I think it will improve my chances of winning, even if there is no immediate gain of material (he who has the bishop pair has the future). However, I'm just as likely to cede the Bishop pair if it results in a won game for me. The point: exchanging pieces must have a purpose.

I don't know. If you don't understand a position, but a few exchanges leave you with a not too inferior position which you understand you may be better off making the exchanges.

Originally posted by trevor33
never trade both knights at the start of the game - bad very bad for the rest of the game.

Is the game in progress?
No? Want to share it with us?
Else? Wait until it's over.

Originally posted by trevor33
never trade both knights at the start of the game - bad very bad for the rest of the game.

thats like saying never trade rooks in the endgame!

it all depends...

Originally posted by FabianFnas
Is the game in progress?
No? Want to share it with us?
Else? Wait until it's over.

its still in the middle of the game, so i'll post it when its over. i think i gained the better position but i'm finding it hard to break down his defence with no knights.

ok here is the game Game 1942511 what are your thoughts?

was it right to take he second knight with the queen? it worked out ok in the end but maybe the bishop would have been better?

Originally posted by trevor33
ok here is the game Game 1942511 what are your thoughts?

was it right to take he second knight with the queen? it worked out ok in the end but maybe the bishop would have been better?

I'm speechless.

Why Ba8?

Originally posted by trevor33
never trade both knights at the start of the game - bad very bad for the rest of the game.

Trade anything you like, just do it for a reason. Quite common for patzers to try and trade everything against good players in hope for a drawn game.

Originally posted by infernalgnu
Why Ba8?

i don't know - it was either that or ra7, glad he moved his bishop though 🙂