Looking for comments

Date: 21 Oct 2005 08:29:48
From: Adam Maloney
Subject: Looking for comments

This is the first game I ever bothered to record. I am a rank beginner
(be gentle). I played white against a human opponent. This was via
e-mail with no time constraints. I thought for a long time on 21. Qxc7
and 25. Rxf6

I'm somewhat more interested in comments on white's moves rather than
black's.

1. d4 Nc6
2. Nf3 e6
3. e4 Nf6
4. Bg5 h6
5. Bh4 Be7
6. Ne5 Nxe5
7. dxe5 Nxe4
8. Bxe7 Qxe7
9. Qf3 Ng5
10. Qa3 Qd8
11. Bd3 b6
12. h4 Nh7
13. Be4 d5
14. exd6 Rb8
15. Qxa7 Qxd6
16. Qxb8 O-O
17. Nd2 Nf6
18. 0-0-0 Qf4
19. g3 Qxf2
20. Kb1 e5
21. Qxc7 Bg4
22. Rhf1 Qxg3
23. Rc1 b5
24. Qd6 Re8
25. Rxf6 Qxh4
26. Rxf7 Re6
27. Qf8# 1-0

(When I was preparing 26. Rxf7, I played out a bunch of replies in my
head, but I couldn't find any move that wasn't devastating for black,
although I couldn't believe he played .. Re6)

Date: 27 Oct 2005 14:16:14
From: Richard
Subject: Re: Looking for comments

Hi Adam,

Just that you won is great! I am also fairly new to studying chess
(I've been playing for years, but I've just begun to try to understand
it). I set up a web site to discuss (actually more thinking out loud)
about what I'm learning. If you ever feel like looking at another
beginner's attempts at understanding his game, check it out.

Thanks,
Richard
http://richardschess.blogspot.com

Date: 27 Oct 2005 15:39:32
From: Adam Maloney
Subject: Re: Looking for comments

On Fri, 21 Oct 2005, Adam Maloney wrote:

> This is the first game I ever bothered to record. I am a rank beginner (be
> gentle). I played white against a human opponent. This was via e-mail with
> no time constraints. I thought for a long time on 21. Qxc7 and 25. Rxf6
...

Thanks everyone for your input!

Date: 23 Oct 2005 03:26:24
From: matt -`;'-
Subject: Re: Looking for comments

"Adam Maloney" <[email protected] > wrote in message news:Pine.GSO.4.60.0510210809060.4003@titan...
> This is the first game I ever bothered to record. I am a rank beginner
> (be gentle). I played white against a human opponent. This was via
> e-mail with no time constraints. I thought for a long time on 21. Qxc7
> and 25. Rxf6
>
Hi Adam, I am no expert, but I give you my view of the game which I hope is helpful and gives you ideas. I think some things to
consider are: exchange Queens if you are up a point and your position seems sound, always follow through quickly when you
fianchetto a Bishop - don't delay moving the Bishop, watch for attacks (sounds simple, but try to think from the other side of the
board). You can (and should) also scan for your own attacks by seeking weak points. Also study pawn structures - if you plan to
castle to a particular side, try to keep the pawns aligned in a row because they are strongest that way.

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "?"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]

{Chess is like a Tango so comments for both sides seems inevidable.}

1. d4 Nc6
{Could tempt white to overextend by 2.d5, but if d5 occurs then this would slow Black's development as a result of the chased
knight.}

2. Nf3
{This move overprotects the d pawn and begins clearing pieces for kingside castling.}

2... e6
{Protects the knight from 3.d5 and opens a line for the f8 bishop so that development for castling can be initiated and creates a
possible check attack by 3...Bb4+.}

3. e4
{White seeks to control the center and is unobstructed so far. If facing 3...d5 then 4.Nc3 covers the e4 pawn and would give white
a developing move for the c3 knight if 4...d5xe4.}

3... Nf6
{Black develops, making ready for castling and attacks an unprotected pawn. This attack can be furthered by 4...d5. An exchange of
5.e4xd5 assists black to develop the knight, but the possibility of 5.e5 would chase the knight while overextending for white -sort
of a French pawn position which hinders the development of the c8 bishop.}

4. Bg5 {White opts for a pin which protects the e4 pawn indirectly.}

4... h6
{This poses a choice for white of 5.Bh4 to maintain the pin, but would leave a possibility of attack by the g7 pawn, or the choice
of 5.Bxf6 removing the attacker of the e4 pawn, but giving black the bishop pair over white. Any other choices lose a point as the
e4 pawn is captured by the f6 knight.}

5. Bh4 Be7
{This move removes the pin and forces white to consider the move 6...Nxe4 which releases an attack on the h4 bishop while gaining a
pawn by capture. Choices could be 6.e5 to attack the knight, followed by 7.Bxe7 trading bishops, or 6.Bxf6 -either choice removes
the threat to the e4 pawn.}

6. Ne5
{This move does not address the threat on the e4 pawn. Black has no worries from 7.Nxc6. Black can initiate 6...Nxe4 capturing the
pawn and attacking the h4 bishop. This could result in a cascade of exchanges clearing both black squared bishops from the board
and a knight for both sides. White would still be down a pawn at the conclusion.}

6... Nxe5
{Black will still get the pawn after the exchanges unfold as a result of this move.}

7. dxe5 Nxe4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Qf3
{A harmless threat against the e4 knight that can easily move away to safety. It would have been better for white to initiate a
double attack by 9.Qg4 to attack both the g7 pawn and the knight. Even if the knight defended by 9...Ng5 to block the attack, 10.h4
would have chased the knight and the g7 pawn would then by captured.}

9... Ng5 10. Qa3
{A desperate move that shows that white has no plan and maybe no patience or maybe is shaken by the loss of a pawn. This move is
bad because an exchange of queens results in doubled pawns for white.}

10... Qd8
{Better to exchange queens because of being up a point and doubling pawns on the a file would be weak for white.}

11. Bd3
{A developing move that does keep the g5 knight from using e4, but does block the mobility of the a3 queen.}

11... b6
{12...Bb7 looks like a possibility to assist in an attack at g2 later. May be good if 12.0-0, but not as good if 12.0-0-0. This
move telegraphs black's intention of attacking in this manner and may give white cause to castle queenside. Even so, its hard to
find a better move.}

12. h4
{Forcing the knight into a corner. This move does gain space and causes black to lose tempo by retreating. Also this move prevents
...Qg5 as a preventive move against 0-0-0.}

12... Nh7 13. Be4
{This move frees the a3 queen, attacks the a8 rook, and either kills the pawn structure queenside for black. Note it would be bad
for black to move the rook because of Qxa7, so 13...c6 looks like the best solution.}

13... d5
{A temporary solution to a permanent problem. 13...c6 would have been better.}

14. exd6 {Now there are 2 attacks with no good solution.}

14... Rb8
{This does not fight the attack effectively.}

15. Qxa7
{Lots of dangers here from QxR and PxP. White has the edge.}

15... Qxd6
{The rest of the game is a matter of observing tactics and white chipping away at black's position.}

16. Qxb8 O-O 17. Nd2 Nf6 18. O-O-O Qf4 19. g3 Qxf2 20. Kb1 e5 21. Qxc7 Bg4 22.
Rhf1 Qxg3 23. Rc1 b5 24. Qd6 Re8 25. Rxf6 Qxh4 26. Rxf7 Re6 27. Qf8# 1-0

Date: 04 Nov 2005 16:44:37
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: Looking for comments

matt -`;'- <[email protected] > wrote:
> exchange Queens if you are up a point and your position seems sound

What do you mean `up a point'? Up a pawn? In that case, the advice is
far too general. If you're attacking, you probably don't want to exchange
off your attacking pieces but only exchange your less-attacking pieces for
your opponent's defenders. Usually, this means not exchanging queens as
the queen is usually a powerful part of the attack.

Trading off into an endgame because you're a pawn up is only a good idea
if the results of that endgame are at least as good as the results you can
get from the middlegame. It's not good to exchange a winning attack for a
drawn endgame, for example, and not all endgames a pawn up are won (this
is especially true of rook endgames).

Dave.

--
David Richerby Lead Cat (TM): it's like a cuddly pet
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ that weighs a ton!

Date: 22 Oct 2005 20:58:58
From: arachmeijatak
Subject: Re: Looking for comments

> 1. d4 Nc6
> 2. Nf3 e6
> 3. e4 Nf6
> 4. Bg5?

When playing this move, you must always consider the black h6-g5 thrust. In
this case, Black could either have forced you to give up the bishop pair or
win a pawn.

> h6
> 5. Bh4? Be7?
> 6. Ne5?

This simply loses a pawn without compensation. Black should now play Nxe4 as
a pawn on e5 will hamper his development a bit. Both options are perfectly
sound, though, which should have alerted you. After 6... Nxe4, 7. Nxc6
slightly weakens the Black pawn structure, but in return his pieces become
more active.

> Nxe5
> 7. dxe5 Nxe4
> 8. Bxe7 Qxe7
> 9. Qf3?

Leaves the already fragile queenside to its own devices. 9... Qb4+ and Black
is easily winning as b2 is falling with a threat on Ra1.

> Ng5?
> 10. Qa3?!

If your idea is 10... Qxa3 11. Nxa3 0-0? 12. Nb5, then this makes sense. But
Black has a stronger reply.

> Qd8

10... f6! is a sensible positional move. It kills off your pawn on e5 and
secures a useful square for the stranded knight at f7.

> 11. Bd3 b6?
> 12. h4 Nh7
> 13. Be4!

After a poor opening you are beginning to show understanding of the
position. 11... b6? was an ill-conceived idea (11... f6 would again have
been strong), and you are ready to take advantage.

> d5?
> 14. exd6 Rb8
> 15. Qxa7

Fairly obvious, but still a good move for a beginner. Black's position has
completely fallen apart as he neglected to secure his king before trying to
develop the queenside bishop.

> Qxd6
> 16. Qxb8 O-O
> 17. Nd2 Nf6
> 18. 0-0-0 Qf4
> 19. g3 Qxf2
> 20. Kb1?

No reason to hand him too many pawns, even though you're up a rook. 20. Qxc7
and g3 is covered.

> e5?
> 21. Qxc7 Bg4
> 22. Rhf1 Qxg3
> 23. Rc1?

Just 23. Rde1 to further protect Ne4.

> b5
> 24. Qd6 Re8
> 25. Rxf6

Very energetic move. Not really needed, but no reason to waste time either.

> Qxh4?

He could at least have tried 25... gxf6 26. Qxf6 Qf4.

> 26. Rxf7!

Strong intuitive sacrifice. Not a typical beginner's move. The simple 26.
Rff1 would have won as well as you're up a knight and a rook.

> Re6?

26... Kxf7 and I suppose you calculated something like 27. Bd5+ Be6 28. Rf1+
(or Qd7+) with a winning attack?

> 27. Qf8# 1-0

Conclusion: I think you underestimated Black's opening - this caused you to
play the inferior, but aggressive-looking 4. Bg5. 6. Ne5 was another case of
wanting too much too early, while 9. Qf3 was played in a rush to hassle the
black knight and seize the initiative. Tactically, you finished off the game
well, but positionally there is much to learn. You showed signs of being
overly forced in your play. On the other hand, you also showed capacity for
being careful (Kb1 and Rc1), but at the wrong time.

Date: 22 Oct 2005 14:36:25
From: Vasileios Zografos
Subject: Re: Looking for comments

Here is what Chessmaster 10 said.
Personaly I think you were lucky that this guy blundered more than you did.

{Annotations by Chessmaster 10th Edition Auto-Annotator. 30 seconds per
move.

White Black

Book Move 3 1

Leave
Book 0 2

CMX Agrees 15 14

CMX Disagrees 9 11

Agreement Pct. 63% 56%

Total Error 6.04 17.53

Relevant
Error 6.04 10.28

Missed Mate 0 0

Moved Into Mate 0 1

}
1.d4
{A40 Queen's Pawn Opening. The Queen's Pawn opening move is somewhat slower
than the popular e4, because White will not be
able to castle for three more moves. Its advantage is that it gives White
more control over tactical surprises and often
provides more lasting initiative and pressure.}
1...Nc6
{A40 Queen's Pawn Opening. A Queenside version of the Alekhine Defense (e4
Nf6), this makes a little less sense because
the d-pawn is adequately defended. By continuing with Nf3 (threat d4-d5),
White has good chances for an advantage.}
2.Nf3
{A40 Queen's Pawn Opening. The natural move, threatening d5. Black
frequently wants to be able to advance the c-pawn,
either to defend d5 or to attack the center at c5, and the Knight is
blocking this possibility. Black is on shaky ground.}
2...e6
{Out of Opening Book. d6 would have been in the Queen's Pawn Opening opening
line.

}
3.e4
{B00 Nimzowitsch Defense / Declined (transposed).}
3...Nf6
{Out of Opening Book. d5 would have been in the Nimzowitsch Defense /
Declined book opening. Threatens White's pawn at
e4.}
4.Bg5
{Pins Black's knight at f6.}
4...h6
{Attacks White's bishop at g5.}
5.Bh4
{Slightly better is Bxf6.}
5...Be7
{Slightly better is g5.}
6.Ne5
{Slightly better is e5.}
6...Nxe5
{Blocks White's pawn at e4.}
7.dxe5
{Threatens Black's knight at f6.}
7...Nxe4
{Attacks White's bishop at h4.}
8.Bxe7
{Attacks Black's queen and hinders the opponent's short castle.}
8...Qxe7
{Clears the way for a kingside castle. Black wins a bishop, a knight, and a
pawn for a bishop and a knight. Black is
up a pawn in material.}
9.Qf3
{Leads to 9...Qb4+ 10.c3 Qxb2 11.Qxe4 Qxa1 12.Bc4 Rb8 13.O-O b5 14.Bb3 O-O
15.Rd1 Bb7 16.Qe2, which wins a knight for a
rook and a pawn. Better is Qd4, leading to 9...d5 10.exd6ep Qg5 11.Nc3 Nxc3
12.bxc3 cxd6 13.Qxd6 Qd5 14.Qxd5 exd5 15.Bb5+ Bd7
16.Rb1 Bxb5 17.Rxb5, which wins a queen, a bishop, a knight, and two pawns
for a queen, a bishop, a knight, and a pawn. This was
white's most serious miscue, but white was able to stay close and eventually
mated.

}
9...Ng5
{Pins own pawn at b7. Leads to 10.Qc3 f6 11.Nd2 fxe5 12.Qxc7 O-O 13.Qxe5 d5
14.Bd3 Bd7 15.f4, which wins a pawn for two
pawns. Better is Qb4+, leading to 10.c3 Qxb2 11.Qxe4 Qxa1 12.Bc4 Rb8 13.O-O
b5 14.Bb3 O-O 15.Rd1 Bb7 16.Qe2, which wins a rook
and a pawn for a knight. This error did not immediately put black out of the
game, but white was able to eventually
mate.

}
10.Qa3
{Moves it out of immediate jeopardy.}
10...Qd8 ( 10...Qd6 ) 11.Bd3
{Enables the short castle.}
11...b6 12.h4
{Threatens Black's knight.}
12...Nh7
{Moves it out of immediate danger.}
13.Be4
{Attacks Black's rook at a8.}
13...d5
{Leads to 14.exd6ep c6 15.Bxc6+ Bd7 16.Bxa8 Qxa8 17.O-O O-O 18.Nd2 Nf6
19.Rfe1 Bc6 20.Qg3 Rc8, which wins a bishop for
a rook and two pawns. Better is c6, leading to 14.Nd2 Qe7 15.Qg3 O-O
16.O-O-O Ba6 17.Bd3 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 Rfd8, which wins a bishop
for a bishop.}
14.exd6ep
{Protects White's bishop and attacks Black's rook at a8.}
14...Rb8
{Slightly better is c6.}
15.Qxa7
{Attacks Black's rook at b8.}
15...Qxd6
{Slightly better is Bb7.}
16.Qxb8
{Pins Black's bishop and Black's pawn at c7 and attacks Black's bishop.
White wins a rook and two pawns for a pawn.
White is ahead by a rook in material.}
16...O-O
{Frees Black's bishop from the pin and protects Black's bishop.}
17.Nd2
{Slightly better is Nc3.}
17...Nf6
{Slightly better is f5.}
18.O-O-O
{Slightly better is Qa8.}
18...Qf4
{Leads to 19.Bf3 Ba6 20.Qa7 Bb5 21.g3 Qe5 22.Nb3 Re8 23.Nd4 Rc8 24.Rhe1,
which does not exchange any material. Better
is Ng4, leading to 19.f4 f5 20.Bf3 Nf2 21.g3 Nxd1 22.Rxd1 Bd7 23.Qb7 Bb5,
which wins the exchange (Rook for Knight).}
19.g3
{Threatens Black's queen.}
19...Qxf2
{Attacks White's pawn at g3 and creates a passed pawn on e6. Black wins a
pawn.}
20.Kb1
{Leads to 20...Qxg3 21.Qa7 Bd7 22.Qa6 Rd8 23.Qd3 Qxd3 24.cxd3 Bb5 25.Nf3,
which wins a queen for a queen and a pawn.
Better is Qxc7, leading to 20...Ba6 21.Qd6 Rc8 22.Bd3 Ne8 23.Qa3 Bxd3
24.Qxd3 Nf6 25.Rhe1 Qc5, which wins a bishop and a pawn
for a bishop.}
20...e5
{Leads to 21.Qxc7 Bg4 22.Bf3 Bxf3 23.Rhf1 Qxg3 24.Nxf3 Re8 25.Qxb6 e4
26.Qg1, which wins a bishop and a pawn for a
bishop and two pawns. Better is Qxg3, leading to 21.Qa7 Bd7 22.Qa6 Rd8
23.Qd3 Qxd3 24.cxd3 Bb5 25.Nf3, which wins a queen and a
pawn for a queen.}
21.Qxc7
{Threatens Black's pawn at e5 and isolates Black's pawn at b6. White wins a
pawn. White is ahead by a rook.}
21...Bg4
{Attacks White's rook at d1 and blocks White's pawn at g3.}
22.Rhf1
{Slightly better is Bf3.}
22...Qxg3
{Protects Black's pawn at e5, attacks White's pawn at h4, creates a passed
pawn on f7, and isolates White's pawn at
h4. Black wins a pawn.}
23.Rc1
{Leads to 23...Qe3 24.Qc3 Qxc3 25.bxc3 Nxe4 26.Nxe4 f5 27.Nf2 Bf3 28.Nd3 e4
29.Ne5 Be2, which wins a queen and a knight
for a queen and a bishop. Better is Bf3, leading to 23...Qxh4 24.Qxe5 Bxf3
25.Nxf3 Qc4 26.Qd4 Qxd4 27.Nxd4 Rd8 28.Rf3, which
wins a queen, a bishop, and a pawn for a queen, a bishop, and a pawn.}
23...b5
{Leads to 24.Bd3 Bh3 25.Rf3 Qxh4 26.Rh1 Qg5 27.Rfxh3 Qxd2 28.Qxe5 Re8, which
wins a knight and a pawn for a bishop and
a pawn. Better is Qe3, leading to 24.Qc3 Qxc3 25.bxc3 Nxe4 26.Nxe4 f5 27.Nf2
Bf3 28.Nd3 e4 29.Ne5 Be2, which wins a queen and a
bishop for a queen and a knight.}
24.Qd6 Re8
{Moves it behind the passed pawn at e5.}
( 24...Rd8 ) 25.Rxf6
{Slightly better is Bc6.}
25...Qxh4
{Ouch! Leads to 26.Rxf7 Bh5 27.Rf5 Qd8 28.Qd5+ Qxd5 29.Bxd5+ Kh7 30.Rxh5 g6
31.Rh2 Rd8 32.Bc6, which wins a queen and
a pawn for a queen, a bishop, and a pawn. Much better is gxf6, leading to
26.Qxf6 Qf4 27.Qxf4 exf4 28.Rf1 f5 29.Rxf4 h5 30.Bd5+
Kg7 31.c4 Re2 32.Kc2, which wins a queen and a rook for a queen and two
pawns.}
26.Rxf7
{Isolates Black's pawn at e5. White wins a knight and a pawn for a pawn.}
26...Re6
{Black moves into a forced mate. Much better is Kxf7. Re6 leads to 27.Qf8#
and mate.}
27.Qf8#
{Checkmates Black's king.

}
( 27.Qd8+ ) 1-0

"Adam Maloney" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:Pine.GSO.4.60.0510210809060.4003@titan...
> This is the first game I ever bothered to record. I am a rank beginner
> (be gentle). I played white against a human opponent. This was via
> e-mail with no time constraints. I thought for a long time on 21. Qxc7
> and 25. Rxf6
>
> I'm somewhat more interested in comments on white's moves rather than
> black's.
>
> 1. d4 Nc6
> 2. Nf3 e6
> 3. e4 Nf6
> 4. Bg5 h6
> 5. Bh4 Be7
> 6. Ne5 Nxe5
> 7. dxe5 Nxe4
> 8. Bxe7 Qxe7
> 9. Qf3 Ng5
> 10. Qa3 Qd8
> 11. Bd3 b6
> 12. h4 Nh7
> 13. Be4 d5
> 14. exd6 Rb8
> 15. Qxa7 Qxd6
> 16. Qxb8 O-O
> 17. Nd2 Nf6
> 18. 0-0-0 Qf4
> 19. g3 Qxf2
> 20. Kb1 e5
> 21. Qxc7 Bg4
> 22. Rhf1 Qxg3
> 23. Rc1 b5
> 24. Qd6 Re8
> 25. Rxf6 Qxh4
> 26. Rxf7 Re6
> 27. Qf8# 1-0
>
> (When I was preparing 26. Rxf7, I played out a bunch of replies in my
> head, but I couldn't find any move that wasn't devastating for black,
> although I couldn't believe he played .. Re6)

Date: 22 Oct 2005 14:32:30
From: Vasileios Zografos
Subject: Re: Looking for comments