00002.4.7 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell

1. e3 c5 2. Bc4 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bb5 d5

This does put a foothold in the center, but this allows

white to weaken your pawn structure if he wishes with Bxc6+.

In this case, you don't have to allow the weakening.

4. ... Nge7 develops a piece while at the same time maintains

your pawns' integrity. Notice if white plays complacently

with 5. O-O a6 6. Ba4? b5 7. Bb3 c4 wins a piece. Notice

white couldn't take advantage of the pin that you walked

into after playing ...d5.

5. Ne5 Ne7 6. Bxc6+ Nxc6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Nc3 Be7

A little passive. Why not the more aggressive ...Bd6?

9. Qg4 Bf6

Definitely dubious. This bishop needs to defend the c5 pawn.

Since this bishop has already moved, simply castling king-side

with O-O was very good. Why can't checkmate with just a queen.

She needs support.

10. Qa4 Bb7

Again, an unnecessarily passive piece placement. The most

aggiessive post for this piece is a6, and you could put it

there if you defended your c-pawn with ...Qb6 instead.

11. Qb3 O-O

The losing move. Much stronger is ...Rb8!, developing your

rook, defending your bishop. This even sets up a sneaky trap.

If 12. O-O? Ba6 13. Qa4 Bxf1 wins material for black.

12. Qxb7 Qe8 13. Na4 Be7 14. d4 cxd4 15. exd4 f6 16. O-O Qf7

17. Qb3 Qg6

Notice that if you played ...Bd6 earlier, you could've

expanded in the center by playing ...e5.

18. Qd3

White is playing well...when ahead in material, trade

material. This makes white's piece advantage even stronger.

18... Rfc8 19. Qxg6 hxg6 20. Re1 e5

This loses a pawn. ...Kf7 was to be preferred.

21. dxe5 f5

This concedes an unopposed (passed) pawn to white. As

unpleasant as it was, ...fxe5 was to be preferred.

22. e6 Re8 23. h3 Rac8 24. Bd2 c5 25. Re5 Rcd8 26. Ba5 Bf6

27. Re2 Rc8 28. Bc3 d4

Good, avoiding exchanges when behind in material. This is

black's best chance.

29. Bd2 g5 30. c3 g4 31. hxg4 d3 32. Re3 Rcd8 33. gxf5 Bg5

34. e7 Bxe7 35. Rxe7

Strong move by white. White is trading more & more material...

the end result is not in doubt.

35... Rxe7 36. Bg5 Kf7 37. Bxe7 Kxe7 38. Re1+ Kf6 39. Nxc5 Kxf5

40. Rd1 Rd5 41. Nxd3 Ke4 42. b3

This wins, but 42. f3+ Ke3 43. Nf2 preserves white's piece,

and forces black to resign.

42... g5 43. c4 Rd4 44. Rd2 Rxd3 45. Rxd3 Kxd3 46. c5

So in conclusion, always look at what your opponent's last

move was -- what is their idea? Are they threatening anything?

Also, try to place your pieces in the best places. To ccompare

where good posts are, just compare how many moves your piece

would have at the various squares. Whichever gives your piece

the most mobility, is the best square. NOTE: You will have to

balance good placement with the piece's safety. If pawns can

push your piece around, then that's not a very good square

either. Otherwise, you did fairly well with the resources

you had available.

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