00007.4.14 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 e6

Good. Defends the knight at d5 while at the same time

opening development of black's dark squared bishop.

6. Bf4

? Definitely bad. White should try to castle as soon as

possible. Also, in the opening, it's best to develop with

attack. 6 Bc4! would be the way to do it (threatens black's

knight at d5). After this, black will get an advantage.

6... Nc6 7. Qd2 h6

Black's first slip. Black can win a pawn, starting with

7. ... Nxf4 8. Qxf4 Qc7 9. Nf3 f6. Notice white can't take

the black pawn on f6 because that would expose white's queen

to attack by the black queen. White's king pawn is what is

called a pin.

8. Bb5 Be7 9. Bxc6 dxc6

When having the option, it is generally better to capture

TOWARD the center of the board. Hence bxc6 is preferred.

In addition, this would give black an excellent post for

his queen bishop on a6. Notice that black's queen bishop

doesn't even move this game! If white does proper defence,

this lack of post for thie bishop could've meant a loss for

black.

10. c4

Very bad. White needs to get pieces out immediately. Nf3

is called for.

10... Nxf4 11. Qxf4 Bg5 12. Qf3 Qa5+ 13. Nc3

White misses a strong defence: Qc3! That would a) defend

the e-pawn b) block the check c) threaten black's queen.

Try to look for moves that do more than one thing at once,

if possible.

13... Qxe5+ 14. Nge2 O-O 15. Ne4

Remember: Using ALL of your chessmen is always more effective.

White could've played the correct O-O, and after Rad1, Rfe1,

ALL of his pieces would be active, while black has a hemmed

in light-squared bishop. White would have real chances to

save his game, despite being a pawn minus. Instead white

gives up his b-pawn for free.

15... Qxb2 16. O-O Be7

Good. This preserves the bishop pair. Bishops control more

squares on an open board. You could check this for yourself.

Put 2 knights on an empty board in the center, and they can go

to 16 squres. Put 2 bishops in the middle,

and they can go to 26 squares!

17. g4 f5 18. gxf5 exf5 19. Rab1 Qe5 20. N4g3 g6

Better is 20. ... f4, because this would deny white a square

for his Knight at f4, in addition open up the h3-c8 diagonal

for black's bishop. With the text, white can play 21. Nf4 Qf6

22. Re1 g5 23. Ng6! Qxg6 24. Rxe7, with chances for white to

survive.

21. Qd3 Rd8 22. f4

?? Misses black's in-between move. Black should win easily now.

22... Qc5+ 23. Kg2 Rxd3 24. Rbd1 Qxc4 25. Nc1 Qc2+ 26. Nge2 Rxd1

27. Rxd1

Qxd1 28. Kf2 Bc5+ 29. Kf3 Qf1+ 30. Kg3 Qf2+ 31. Kh3 Qf3+

32. Kh4 Bf2+ 33.

Ng3 Qg4#

So the key thing for you to remember Peter is to develop ALL

of your pieces. You happen to win this time, but if you could

have gotten your rook & bishop active, you win would have been

sure. As it was, white had many chances to get in the game.

0-1