Searching for an Expert

[Event "Challenge"]
[Site "http://www.redhotpawn.com"]
[Date "2011.12.29"]
[EndDate "2012.01.15"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PhySiQ"]
[Black "Nezeru"]
[WhiteRating "1900"]
[BlackRating "1779"]
[WhiteElo "1900"]
[BlackElo "1779"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[GameId "8951540"]

1. c4 {English opening} c6 {I used to play 1...e5 and 1...c6 alternatively here. I am fine with transposing to the Panov-Botvinnik (Caro-Kann) after 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4, or 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.exd5 Nf6 (Pseudo-Panov), as well as the Slav Defense after 2.d4 d5. I also have something prepared against the 'Marin variation' with 2.g3.} 2. g3 {Marin variation (it's not actually called this but this is the general setup recommended in GM Mihail Marin's GM Repertoire 3, 4, and 5 on the English)} d5 {Threatening to take on c4 in many variations. This is generally considered to be a critical test of White's setup.} 3. cxd5 {Going into a rare type of Exchange variation. Much more common are 3.Nf3 and 3.Bg2. - Nezeru Fairly Safe. - Q} cxd5 {Qxd5 didn't really occur to me here as after White plays 4.Nf3, 5.Bg2, and castles, the queen will not be doing much on d5.} 4. d4 {Going into a rare Slav Exchange variation. I don't think the setup with g3 is best in this line. Better would have been 2.Nc3 d5 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bf4 Bf5 7.e3 e6 8.Bb5 or 8.Qb3, with chances for a small advantage. I feel like this position is basically equal. - Nezeru I disagree. White is still flexible and Bg2 makes e4! an interesting central counter. White and black have an equal chance for play on the c file - but advantage is to early to be decided.-Q} Ng8f6 {Developing naturally. White will add pressure to d5 and this is the only reasonable square for this Knight. Also it attacks the important e4-square. - Nezeru Agreed. White has no need of the dark squared bishop, I desire to trade it off with this important knight as LATE as is possible. - Q} 5. Bf1g2 Nb8c6 6. Ng1f3 Bc8f5 {Adding control to e4. In this particular variation I am not worried about the standard Qb3 ideas because d5 is adequately defended for now. - Nezeru sidelining my very weak light squares. - Q} 7. Nb1c3 e6 8. O-O {Nh4 was another idea, but I think this is best.} Ra8c8 {I haven't yet decided what to do with my f8-Bishop. Obviously I will castle kingside. The open c-file is the best place for this Rook, and I had some ideas involving Nb4 in some variations that might allow an Exchange sac on c3. - Nezeru delaying the Bishop development was quite accurate I think. Rc8 I feel accelerates whites Bg5, white must play a3 stopping Nb4 and keeping the c file blockaded until it can be disputed. - Q} 9. a3 {Preventing Nb4 ideas.} Bf8d6 {In this and similar structures, this move always has the drawback that e2-e4 will threaten e4-e5 winning a piece. However, it is the most active square for the Bishop and Black might want to play e6-e5 at some point! - Nezeru Perhaps better is Be7 with Qb6 ideas eventually. - Q} 10. Bc1g5 {I didn't like this move for White, because after the positionally desirable move h7-h6, Bg5xf6 is the only way to avoid strictly helping Black, and this gives up the bishop pair. That being said, I didn't see a good way to develop this Bishop for White. With Black delaying castling, Bc1-f4 can often be met by Bd6xf4 with the idea of h5, Rh8-h6-g6 or h5-h4-h3 with an attack on the King, leaving the Black King in the center. Black has adequate control of the e4-square that this might work. - Nezeru The bishop pair is often highly regarded. My analysis in this position is that white will only hold 3 dark promotable pawns, of which two are likely to be traded off - leaving only a single dark square promotable pawn of importance. This elevates the worth of my light squared bishop. Furthermore I don't feel that a knight hampers me. My analysis is that blacks knight is worth more than this dark squared bishop. -Q} h6 11. Bg5xf6 Qd8xf6 {The natural recapture, this also puts pressure on d4, which becomes important later.} 12. Ra1c1 O-O 13. Rf1e1 {Preparing e2-e4. - Nezeru !! here. Black has greatly hindered the strength of e4. -Q} Bf5g4 {! Indirectly pressuring d4 (by threatening to exchange on f3 and then take on d4) and in this way forcing a decision from White. e2-e3 is a positional concession as the Re1 is now doing nothing and it is not always desirable to leave this many light-square holes in a position.} 14. e4 {Taking up the challenge. e4-e5 is threatened. d5xe4 is met by Nc3xe4 attacking two pieces, despite isolating White's d4-pawn I feel like White would be better here. 14...Bg4xf3 15.Bg2xf3 Nc6xd4 was one idea here, but then after 16.Bf3-d2, Black can't really hold onto the d5-pawn. 16...dxe4? 17.Nxe4 is probably close to winning for White (17...Qe5! 18.f4 Rxc1 19.Qxc1 Qh5 20.Nxd6 Ne2+ 21.Rxe2 Qxe2 22.Nxb7 +/- is a sample variation)} Bd6e5 {!? This move actually didn't occur to me until the third or fourth time I looked back at this game. I immediately realized that it was the best try, preventing e4-e5 directly. The tactical justifications are that 15.d4xe5 Nc6xe5 attacks the pinned Knight on f3 three times and it is defended only twice, and 16.Re1-e3 is met by 16...d5-d4 winning, so 16.exd5 Nxf3+ 17.Bxf3 Bxf3 18.Qd3 Rcd8 (or Rfd8 but I prefer this Rook due to tactics down the c-file) looks good for Black. -Nezeru !! This move takes all the sting out of e4. If I had seen it before, I may very well have delayed e4. -Q} 15. exd5 Nc6xd4 {Only move.} 16. Re1e3 {Now the idea before with d5-d4 doesn't work because of the different piece placement.} exd5 17. Nc3xd5 Qf6d6 {Rxc1?? Nxf6 is check and winning for White.} 18. Rc1xc8 Rf8xc8 19. Nd5c3 {What I failed to realize going into this is that despite Black's apparent activity and better-placed pieces, the game will be drawn because of the massive liquidations that are about to occur. - Nezeru I must yard sale the pieces - black has great activity. -Q} Rc8d8 20. Qd1a4 Nd4xf3 {Forced, I think.} 21. Bg2xf3 Bg4xf3 22. Re3xf3 a6 {I offered a draw here because the White pawns are well-placed defensively, the Bishop and Knight will likely be traded leaving just Queens and Rooks with safe Kings and same pawns, which is pretty much always a draw. - Nezeru Gladly accepted - I don't see anything sneaky enough to play on. I had hoped to play out an ending with an existing d pawn where my knight could get a central home. Without this - I don't see any advantage worthy to continue. - Q} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Challenge"]
[Site "http://www.redhotpawn.com"]
[Date "2011.12.27"]
[EndDate "2012.01.15"]
[Round "?"]
[White "mikelom"]
[Black "PhySiQ"]
[WhiteRating "1913"]
[BlackRating "1900"]
[WhiteElo "1913"]
[BlackElo "1900"]
[Result "1-0"]
[GameId "8946769"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Ng8f6 {Nimzo or Queens Indian or...} 3. Nb1c3 b6 {Queens Indian...or...?} 4. Ng1f3 Bf8b4 {Nimzo Queens Hybrid (my favorite!)} 5. Qd1c2 {Daring to play this so early. This move freezes the e pawn. Why?} Bc8b7 6. a3 Bb7e4 {Now white can see the problem. Black can hinder white's game from here on out - if he's willing to.} 7. Qc2d2 Bb4xc3 8. Qd2xc3 Nb8c6 9. e3 {? Probably not best - but what else would you do?} Be4xf3 10. gxf3 {Now things seem ugly for white - yet the that coveted bishop pair is in his hands. I have met this position before, and I am very happy to see it again! White is in calamity, he really must play e4. ( f4? makes a nasty hole on f3. Black can seal off the dark squared bishop entirely with a5 and after castling has a gain of time (white doesn't want to castle here surely..) giving black a great advantage. ) Now after e4 there is a great hole on f4...If I maneuver my knights to that square I think they become very valuable.} O-O 11. Rh1g1 Nc6e7 {I'm preparing Ng6 and Nf4! First I'd like to sneak in Nh5, and Qf6...really any order will do.} 12. e4 {...pop goes the weasel!} Ne7g6 13. Bc1g5 h6 {This really isn't a concession for black... Bxf6 and Qxf6 and whites bishop pair is gone and Be2 or Bg2 defending f3 is answered with Nf4.} 14. Bg5e3 d6 {White has decided he wants that bishop pair. As a general rule a bishop pair is extremely advantageous when two pawn islands are split apart and the center is open. I have two knights - I want that sucker clogged! I'll be working as hard as I can to slowly clog the position, and try to create a central passed pawn.} 15. Bf1h3 {? Your guess is as good as mine..} Nf6h5 {Nf4 is prepared, I'd like to play Qf6... then I like the direction of things. The Q on f6 will also deter some exchange sac possibilities on g6 if things break down a bit.} 16. Bh3f1 Qd8f6 17. Bf1e2 {Whites light squared bishop is now a scarlet in his position - and the dark squared bishop? Is little better.} Nh5f4 18. Rg1g3 {Stopping some interesting ideas...} e5 {aha! White is not in position to accept this. I felt an open d file was more than enough compensation - but better is if he plays the cheeky d5! right into my clogged plans (which initially appears to favor his position).} 19. h3 {Interesting, I don't think this was absolutely required here...perhaps a waiting move? I'm not sure as to what whites plans are now, I'd very much like to force his hand..} Rf8d8 {This should illuminate the problem for him.. Rd8 and that d file is a surrealistic nightmare for whites position.} 20. d5 {Success at last. I now control the last valuable pawn break. A bit of maneuvering and I can bust open the position with c6 and plant a knight in the center. Eventually I'll gain material from a strong knight position, or he'll be forced to capture it and give me the central passed pawn.} Ra8c8 {preparing c6... There are still a few more things I'd like to have done before I push it though...I'd feel better if I could get that B on e2...to f1.} 21. Ra1d1 Qf6h4 {This move will gently suggest Bf1.. Its not so much the loss of the pawn thats so worrisome.. rather the creation of another hole.} 22. Be2f1 {Aha! Eureka! Now where does the queen belong after this?} Qh4e7 {Maybe not the best square. f6 might be better. I was looking at the possibilities on the 7th rank... b7 is an interesting square for her majesty. It would be interesting to re-maneuver that light bishpo...hemming it in on g2. If this is possible there becomes an interesting battery down the c file (Alas I don't think it was possible...making Qe7 a slight mistake) - Imagine Qb7 and Nh4... is it possible to encourage Bg2? What else would be required?} 23. b4 {too little too late I think.} c6 {!! Without further adieu...} 24. dxc6 Rc8xc6 25. Qc3b3 {A myriad of tactics were awash on c3 I noticed after this move. On b3 white opens up his own tactics on f7... take a look at removing the defender... after c5 Bxf4 and Rxg6... My queen is best suited on e7 and f6 for now.} Rc6c7 {f7. check. a7. check. While still available for c file battery. check.} 26. Rg3g4 Qe7f6 {Back to home again? more importantly I prepare to put a knight on e4 (that nice little central square has FINALLY opened) and Qf6 will do so with a threat in the works (no loss of time!) ... it also saves the life of a favorite pawn of mine.} 27. Rd1d2 Nf4e6 {Preparing to set that knight in the center - I've been waiting to do this for quite some time. Eventually white will be pressured into exchanging off the knight off of e4...but how long?} 28. Qb3d1 {Defending c3... also attacking d6.} Rc7c8 {As much as I appreciated c7, Rc8 is a sneaky move. I'm actually surprised mikelom saw this.. if 29. Rxd6 Rxd6 30. Qxd6 Qxf3 31. Qc6 Qxf3 32. Qa4 (or else) then Nf4 and white is in a nasty predicament. (I'll go further in the article related to this game titled Searching for an Expert)} 29. a4 Ng6f4 30. Rd2a2 h5 {I'm not looking to trade for a worthless bishop. Afterall this is a MIGHTY KNIGHT!} 31. Rg4g3 Ne6d4 {!! An entire game has been fought for the rights to this position.} 32. a5 b5 {I'll scratch your back - but you have to scratch mine harder.} 33. Be3xd4 {Ah! Merci!} exd4 34. cxb5 d3 {and thats the first nail in the coffin.} 35. b6 {I now see that this could have been delayed and Qd4 could have been played immediately... that would have saved the game if I had seen that.} axb6 36. Qd1a1 Rc8c3 {The threat here is the same regardless of the reply but Ra3(best) d2+ Kxd2 Qd4+ Ke1 Rc8 Rxc3 Rxc3 (then what? a6?) Re3+ winning the queen. anything not defending c1 loses immediately. If Qb1 (defending c1) then Ra3 winning the queen after Ra1!!} 37. Ra2a3 d2 38. Ke1xd2 {and this is where I'm prepared to play Qd4. I intended to play it, I even thought i did successfully play it. Apparently not. Old grubs like me should leave the conditional move board alone. I was confused in the mechanics of the conditional move nonsense and instead of queing up Rc8 after Qd4... I played...} Rd8c8 {?? All that to be capped off by such a silly gag. Oh well. Smoke if you got 'em! Qd4 is winning as said before. It was a silly mistake and I caught it upon my next login - I didn't even realize that I didn't successfully make Qd4 until a few hours later. A jewel of a game ruined by one missed stroke of the screen.} 39. Ra3xc3 1-0