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Originally posted by Dragon Fire
Here is my analysis of your first game
Game 2224501

You won this game. Well done. The most important thing is you were never out of it and except briefy (move 14 when Nh4 was dreadful and could have been capitalised on by black) you were never really behind.

That said you missed a number of opportunities to finish the game sooner and against ...[text shortened]... our level) watching out for forks, pins, etc - you certainly should not be missing a mate in 1)

Thank you for the analysis – it has given me a good deal to think about, not least the need to think a bit longer before I move. A possible problem is that I don’t always appreciate how strong pieces are in relation to each other in a given position. Move 16 Nxe7 – your comment was “why give away a strong knight for nothing”. I (clearly misguidedly) thought I was a) opening up black’s position a bit and b) swapping a knight for a bishop, which is often not a bad idea.

I suspect that I missed the mate in 1 because I had already seen it in 2 and didn’t look any further, which might have been embarrassing if my mate in 2 turned out to be an illusion.

Originally posted by Dragon Fire
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 woul ...[text shortened]... consider always how your opponent can respond to your move and what new threats he can create.

Thank you again. As I responded to the first analysis, I really need to think about the consequences of my moves before I commit myself to them. I remember being not particularly pleased with the game, but this has happened to me before when opponents push pawns at me instead of pieces (6 of black’s first 8 moves were pawns). I know it’s theoretically weak on their part, but I can never find the right response.

I can now see that 9.a4 would have been a stronger move in the circumstances. I did not even consider it. What coaching (very little) that I have had in the game has discouraged me from moving a and h pawns at such an early stage.

Game 2224499

General comments. You were never losing this game but you tried hard to give away your advantage at times.

1 serious strategic mistake giving up your strong black bishop on move 14. Lots of tactical errors - you really could have won this much sooner.

You need to work on tactics. Look at the key moments in this game and hopefully find some inspiration.

bambee - C J Horse

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.a3 Nf6 4.Bc4 Nxe4 5.Qe2 Nf6 6.Ba2? d5 7.0–0 Bc5 [7...Bd6 immediately , protecting e5 putting pressure on h2 is stronger] 8.Re1 Bd6 no longer necessary. Now Ng4 would be stronger. The B is not badly placed on B5 so why move it a second time now? [e.g. 8...Ng4 9.Rf1 e4 10.d3 with a significant advantage to black] 9.b4 0–0 10.Bb2 e4 11.Nd4 Nxd4 missing a few better moves [e.g. 11...Bxh2+ 12.Kh1 (12.Kxh2?? Ng4+ 13.Kg1 Qh4! winning) 12...Bd6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 with a significant advantage for black] 12.Bxd4 c6 13.h3 Re8 14.Bb2 Be5 [why exchange such a strong B? e.g. 14...Bc7 15.Qe3 Qd6 with devastating threats down the b8-h7 diagonal] 15.Bxe5 Rxe5 16.d3 Rg5 17.dxe4 Bxh3 18.g3 Re5 19.Qd3 Qe7 [the pawn can be won immediately. e.g. 19...Nxe4 20.Nd2 Qf6 21.Nxe4 Rxe4 22.c3] 20.Nd2 Rd8 [again weaker than 20...dxe4 21.Qc3] 21.Kh2? Rh5 much weaker than a number of other moves [e.g. 21...dxe4 22.Qc3 Ng4+ 23.Kg1 Qf6 24.Nxe4 Rxe4 25.Qxf6 Nxf6 winning easily; or even 21...Ng4+ 22.Kg1 dxe4 23.Qc3 Qf6 transposing to previous line] 22.Qf3?? Bg4+ 23.Kg2 Bxf3+ 24.Nxf3 Qd6 [far stronger is 24...dxe4 25.Nh4 Ng4 26.Rad1 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 Qf6 28.Rd2 g5 etc] 25.exd5 cxd5 26.Red1 Ne4 27.Re1 Qe6 28.Nh4 g5 [if not for the fact that black is winning easily this would be a serious blunder. 28...Rxh4 is much stronger 29.Rh1 (29.gxh4 Qg4+ 30.Kh2 Qxh4+ 31.Kg2 Qxf2+ 32.Kh1 Ng3🙄 29...Qf5 30.f3 Rxh1 31.Rxh1 Ng5 32.Kf1 Qxf3+ 33.Ke1 Re8+ 34.Kd2 Qe3+ 35.Kd1 Nf3 36.Bxd5 Qd2#] 29.Nf3?? about the worst possible move available for white [29.f3 staves off an immediately forced mate] 29...Qh3+ 30.Kg1 Qh1# 0–1

Originally posted by Dragon Fire
for only 1 person at the moment!

You must never have exceeded a rating of 1400, a subscriber (to RHP) and it must be clear from your profile and attitude to games that you are serious and want to improve.

Post your name here and I will contact the successful applicant.

I have never done this before so will be playing it by ear. The intention is ...[text shortened]... until we get your rating to 1600 or until either of us feel no further improvement is possible.

I am interested.

cheers
-t

I'd very much like to volonteer but I have just recently become a member of RHP and haven't played 5 games yet. I think I have pretty good potential though as I beat a lot of players that I have played a lot longer then me. Could you make an exception with me? I would be very greatfull.

I'd be very interested, too!

Originally posted by Dragon Fire
Game 2224499

General comments. You were never losing this game but you tried hard to give away your advantage at times.

1 serious strategic mistake giving up your strong black bishop on move 14. Lots of tactical errors - you really could have won this much sooner.

You need to work on tactics. Look at the key moments in this game and hopefu ...[text shortened]... move available for white [29.f3 staves off an immediately forced mate] 29...Qh3+ 30.Kg1 Qh1# 0–1

Thanks once again for the analysis. I follow all that you say and find it staggering that you have pointed out so many possible better moves which now seem obvious (given the perfect clarity of all hindsight). As you say, I need to work on tactics – do you have any particular tips for this?

Here is my analysis of Game 2280002

You were never really in this game which is hardly surprising as you faced a much stronger opponent. What really jumps out at me was your failure (and your opponents failure for some time) to grasp the significance of f7 and a number of strategic and tactical blunders occurred as a result.

Again I have looked at this mainly from blacks side and therefore restricted my comments and analysis of blacks moves in most cases.

Krapsparov - C J Horse

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 exf4 [this is a Vienna Game 3...d5 is perhaps safest here followed by 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Nf3 ... etc] 4.e5 I can find no reference to this being a recognised move. 4. Nf3 is normal 4...Ng8 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.d4 d6 7.Bxf4 Up to now you have played a series of slightly inaccurate moves but not outright bad moves 7...Nge7?? [7...dxe5 8.dxe5 Bb4 9.Qxd8+ Nxd8 10.Bd2 With the liquidation of whites centre, he only has a small advantage] 8.Bc4?? [returning the favor 8.exd6 cxd6 9.Qe2 is overwhelming for white] 8...Nf5? [another mistake, breaking basic rules about developing all your pieces before moving them a second time. The f7 square is the danger that you must protect 8...d5 would do this adequately 9.Bb5 a6] 9.Ng5+- Nh6 10.0–0 Bf5?? [10...Be7 trying to get rid of that attack on f7 is much better although white now has a significant advantage 11.Qh5 0–0 12.e6 fxe6 13.Nxe6 Bxe6 14.Bxe6+ Kh8 15.Bxh6 gxh6 16.Ne2] 11.Re1?? [returning the favour. Even white does not realise the strength of his attach on f7 11.e6 f6 12.Nf7 Nxf7 13.exf7+ Kd7 14.Re1] 11...f6?? continuing to ignore the danger [11...dxe5 at least stops e6 although white is still significantly better 12.Bxe5 Kd7 13.Nxf7 Nxf7 14.Bxf7 Kc8] 12.exf6+ Kd7 13.Ne6 [13.Be6+ is stronger 13...Bxe6 14.Nxe6 Qxf6 15.Bxh6 Re8] 13...Qxf6 14.Nxc7 Kxc7?? clearly bad [14...Bg4 is better but by now the game is lost 15.Qd2 Rc8] 15.Nd5+ Kd8 16.Nxf6 gxf6 17.Qh5 Nxd4?? [17...Bg6 is much better but blacks game is over 18.Qh4 Ng8 19.Bxg8 Rxg8 20.Qxf6+ Kc7] 18.Qe8+

Hope this is useful. If you have any questions let me know.

Originally posted by Dragon Fire
Here is my analysis of Game 2280002

You were never really in this game which is hardly surprising as you faced a much stronger opponent. What really jumps out at me was your failure (and your opponents failure for some time) to grasp the significance of f7 and a number of strategic and tactical blunders occurred as a result.

Again I have look ...[text shortened]... 9.Bxg8 Rxg8 20.Qxf6+ Kc7] 18.Qe8+

Hope this is useful. If you have any questions let me know.

Thank you again.

7 .. Nge7 – horrible, and what’s worse is I can’t remember (after much thinking) why I thought it was any good.

You said it is a Vienna Game, which I’ve never heard of. How many standard openings would you say it is good to know (apart from as many as possible) and how important is it to know which one is being played against you?

Originally posted by C J Horse
Thank you again.

7 .. Nge7 – horrible, and what’s worse is I can’t remember (after much thinking) why I thought it was any good.

You said it is a Vienna Game, which I’ve never heard of. How many standard openings would you say it is good to know (apart from as many as possible) and how important is it to know which one is being played against you?

You don't need to know the names. I only found out what this was when looking up the correct moves in Batsfords Modern Chess Openings.

At your level knowing the opening principles is more important than knowing the openings and knowing the names has no relevance.

I would suggest you need to decide on your first move as white (I always play 1. e4 unless I am messing around) and if you play 1. e4 develop a single response to 1. e5, 1. c5, 1. e6 and 1. c6 as these are what you will face 95% of the time. In fact I'd say you'll face 8 2. e5, 6 2. c5, 2 2. e6, 1. 2. c6 and 1 of something other every 20 games so developing a good response to e5 and c5 is most important.

As black you actually need to know more. First decide how you will respond to d4, e4 and c4 (the most common openings) and steer them down lines you can control if possible.

I am interested too (although you now seem to have a long waiting list).

OK here are my comments on your final game Game 2236449

My over whelming impression was how hard you tried not to win a game you were never behind in. Many winning opportunities, including the final position, were missed.

C J Horse - Chinsky
You (white) were never behind in this game and the final position was a win for you so a draw should not have been agreed. Once again I will restrict my comments to your moves only. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Nxe5 Qd6 6.d4 Be6 7.0–0 Nd7 8.Re1 f6 9.Nxd7 Kxd7 10.Qe2 [10.Bb3 preparing c4 and Nc3 is the better move e.g. 10...Re8 11.c4 Ne7 12.Nc3 (12.c5 is also strong)] 10...Re8 11.Nc3 Nf4 12.Qe4 [12.Bxf4!! is immediately decisive 12...Qxf4 13.Bxe6+ Kd8 (13...Rxe6?? 14.Qxe6+ Kd8 15.Qe8 mate) 14.Qb5 Rxe6 15.Rxe6 and black has nothing] 12...f5 13.Bxe6+?? throwing away all the advantage you had [13.Qxf4 Bxc4 14.Qxf5+ Be6 15.Qh5+-] 13...Rxe6 14.Qxf5 g6 15.Qf7+ Re7 16.Rxe7+ Bxe7 17.Bxf4 Qf6 18.Qxf6 [18.Qd5+ is another missed decisive move 18...Bd6 19.Be5 Qd8+-] 18...Bxf6 19.d5 [19.Ne4!? is better 19...Rf8 20.Rd1 b6+-] 19...Bxc3 20.bxc3 Re8 21.h3 [21.f3!? keeps it simple 21...Re2 allowing the Rook to penetrate is not a worry e.g. 22.Rc1 c5 23.c4 b6 24.a4 Kc8 25.Kf1 and the Rook must finally retreat with whites position much improved] 21...Re4 22.Bg3 Rc4 23.Rd1 Rxc3 24.d6 cxd6 25.Bxd6 Rxc2 26.a3 Ke6 27.g4 Rc6 28.Bg3 Rc3 29.Kg2 [29.Re1+ Kd5 30.Re3 keeps it simple] 29...Rxa3 30.f4 - Draw agreed -

... but why as white wins easily. e.g. 30...b5 31.f5+ gxf5 32.gxf5+ Kxf5 33.Rd5+ Kg6 34.Rxb5 a5 35.h4 a4 36.h5+ Kf6 37.Ra5 Ke6 38.Bf2 Ra1 39.h6 Kf7 40.Kf3 Kg6 41.Be3 a3 42.Kg4 Kf7 43.Kf5 a2 44.Ra7+ Ke8 45.Kg5 Re1 46.Bd4 Rd1 47.Be5 Rf1 48.Rxa2 and its all over

I will now play a demonstration game Game 2660753 against User 242021. I do not intend to win this unless horsey makes it difficult for me to do otherwise and I intend trying to set up strategic and tactical opportunities for my opponent using all resources available to me (including chess engines). I would like horsey to try and spot those but why don't all you players rated below 1400 try also. If you see something post the position and your comments and remember I will not be making the best moves.

I have asked horsey to give me 2 reasons why he makes each move, to tell me his second choice and why he did not make that move. I will do likewise but I won't post all those comments here. I expect a few key positions which I will post for your comments before giving my analysis. I hope it will help you all.

Good thread DF, nice to see chess players helping one another.

Congrats on making it over 1400 C J Horse 🙂

😴
I already have the best teacher on RHP, he has shown me quite a few interesting positions. in PMs and attachments, wish I could share them on this thread
If I get my subscription will you coach me too?

Tina
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