little help

Originally posted by veager
I seem to fall for the same traps against an aggressive opponent. He always puts a knight on the G5 or B5 and it just kills me.

for exampleGame 719337

thanks

Hi Veager,

I wouldn't worry too much about knights on b5 or g5. There were a couple of things in that game that you could concentrate on in the future though.

Let's forget about the opening and look at the tactical stuff first.
Black's 11th move -

11 ...Re8 Perfect. You spotted the pin and played it. White has no hope of saving the queen.

12.0-0 Rxe2
13.Bxe2 (forced)

Let's stop right here and look at the position.

*You just won a queen for a rook (and two pawns earlier) so you have a material advantage

*Black has the initiative

*White's queenside is far behind in development.

*Black has an overall lead in development

*White's king is safe. Yours is a little shaky, but ok.

*Both players pawn structures are fine

*Black has much more space.

*The D and F files are half-open for black. The E file is open.

At this point you want to continue using your strengths. White's position is very shaky. What you DON'T want to do is make the game extremely tactical. All that does is give you a chance to blunder. Sorry, but it's true.

You played 13 ...Qe7. Good move. You attacked the undefended piece and took control of the open e-file

14.Re1 Nd7 Another good move. Developing a piece and getting your rook into the game.

15.c4 Nb4 (not bad, threatening a fork, but look at Nf4. See how much pressure that puts on the white bishop on e2 plus it attacks the white kingside. The white bishop is already attacked once. Why not attack it twice? Attack it every chance you get. Keep the initiative. Force white to respond to your moves. But Nb4 isn't a bad move there at all.

16.Nc3 Ne5 (Not good. You just blocked your e-file which was an advantage you had. Plus Ne5 doesn't attack anything or force a white response. When you have a material advantage you HAVE to do one of two things: Press the attack and go for it all, or trade down and simplify the game. If you just move pieces around without a reason your opponent will eventually catch up in development and maybe even in material.

17.Bd1 Nbd3 Not good. You're threatening a rook that will just move away and that leaves you with capturing the dark squared bishop. That bishop is useless for white so capturing it with your very active knight would be doing white a favor

18.Re3 Nxc4 A blunder.
19.Rxe7+ Kxe7

After hanging the queen you sort of lost your way. I know, it happens. But earlier you could have prevented all of that by having a plan.

When you're ahead in material either attack very specific targets by using your material advantage or trade off pieces and simplify the game. They are the only two options you have. When you're winning DON'T give your opponent counterplay.

You seem to have a good understanding of tactics and you spot them well. That's a huge plus for you. You'll win a lot of games with tactics alone. Just remember that winning material is only half the battle.

Anyway, Good Luck! Now go kick somebody's butt... :-)

Wib

Originally posted by wib

15.c4 Nb4 (not bad, threatening a fork, but look at Nf4. See how much pressure that puts on the white bishop on e2 plus it attacks the white kingside. The white bishop is already attacked once. Why not attack it twice? Attack it every ch ...[text shortened]... espond to your moves. But Nb4 isn't a bad move there at all.

Mightn't Nb4 even be best? Since the only non-material losing way to avoid the fork is 16. Na3, but then 17... Nd3!! diverts the rook and wins the bishop, and white can't even opt to drop the exchange instead w/o getting mated. Am I missing a counter-shot?

edit... although I guess Nf4 Nc3 Bxc3 d/bxc3 Nxe2 also wins the bishop and simplifies too.. but that also awkwardly self-pins the knight