Game 2225086
My initial thought was that this game could not possibly have been played by the same person who played the previous one. I don't know which is more typical and I hope this was just an off day.
The strategic errors mentioned in the last game were also evident here and by move 8 your development was significantly better. 9.a4 would have cemented your strategic advantage as it would have prevented b5 but you didn't play this and I can only assume it was because you did not realise how bad blacks position was. Your position was not won at this stage but your advantage was such that any GM playing with white would beat another GM playing with black.
At this stage however you made a series of tactical blunders that threw away pieces and hand the initiative to black.
C J Horse - Hawaiianhomegrown
Tutorial
I am going to restrict myself to comments on whites moves in this game 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 h6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.0–0 c6 6.d4 Nbd7 7.d5 c5 8.Be3 a6 at this stage white has kept his head in the face of some strategically bad black moves and concentrated on normal development of pieces. My only reservation is that d5 blocks the c4 B rendering it pretty ineffective. Meanwhile black has a number of strategic weaknesses particularly d6 and is significantly behind in development. In particular the c8 B although b5 creating space and a Q-side attack is now threatened. If allowed this could free blacks game. White stands significantly better 9.Qe2?? [This move traps his own B with the obvious black move 9.a4! preventing the freeing b5! was necessary to keep the strategic advantage] 9...b5 10.Nxb5 because the B is trapped this move is vitually forced. For any other reason the sacrifice is unsound as sufficient force cannot be bought to bear on the black K. see
Game 2246765 for a game where this type of sacrifice works. 10...axb5 11.Bxb5 Nxe4 12.Bc1?? [There is no need to move this piece but if it is moved 12.Bxh6 Rxh6 13.Qxe4 wins back a pawn but may expose white to a dangerous attack on the h file. It is certainly better than the retreat. 12.Bc6 protecting the d pawn, maintaining the pin, getting a decent outpost for the B and attacking a8 is best.] 12...Nef6 13.Bc4?? [13.Bc6; 13.Rd1; 13.c4 are all better than the move played. Bs are better in front of rather than behind pawns as they can offer mutual protection and maintain an attack.] 13...Bb7 14.Bf4?? Pointless. An example of pinning for the shear sake of it. This offers no threat and the pin can be relieved instantly 14...Be7 15.Bd2 losing another tempo 15...Bxd5 16.Qd3?? The c4 B is lost so this wastes another move as the Q needs to recapture on c4 anyway [16.Bxd5 Nxd5 17.c4] 16...Bxc4 [16...e4!! is much stronger 17.Qe2 exf3 18.gxf3 Bxc4 19.Qxc4] 17.Qxc4 0–0 18.Rfe1 d5 19.Qd3 e4 20.Qe3 Qb6 21.b3?? [21.Nh4 is necessary to save the N] 21...Ra6 22.Qf4 [22.Nh4 is still necessary] 22...Bd6 23.Qf5 exf3 24.Qxd7?? [somewhat worse than 24.Qxf3 Qc7 25.Qh3] 24...Nxd7 0–1
What lessons can be learnt here?
1. continue to try and understand weaknesses so you can exploit them;
2. look at the reason for a move and your intended follow up. 14 Bf4 is a good example of this as after a little thought you would have realised that the move achieved nothing and that you had no follow up;
3. look to see what your opponent threatens and unless you can conjure up a greater threat protect against it in a way that enharnces your attack if possible;
4. consider always how your opponent can respond to your move and what new threats he can create.
Tutorial offered
14 Aug '06 12:08
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