00012.4.19 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell

1. e4 e5 2. d3

This isn't losing, but much more aggressive is 2. Bc4 or

2. Nf3. As it is, your light-squared bishop is now hemmed

in. Notice the bishop had 5 legal moves prior to moving

your pawn to d3; now it has only one.

2... Bc5 3. Be3 Qg5

?? Clearly a bad move by the computer. White will win with

best play; I know white didn't, so let's see what white could

have done to collect the full point.

4. Bxg5 h6 5. Be3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2

An opening principle is: Don't move a piece twice in the

opening without good reason. Clearly move 4 was justified

for the free queen! However, the bishop has a good post

already on e3. Why not either Nc3 or Nbd2? Remember, when

ahead a lot in material, trade pieces! Therefore, white had

nothing to fear by a potential BxN by black.

6... Bc5 7. Be3 Bxe3 8. fxe3 Nf6 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Nc3 d6 11. Nb5

The first misstep. Always get developed first, THEN attack.

Therefore, Be2, O-O is called for first. Then white has his

choice of opening lines with d4 or attacking on the kingside

with Qe1-g3, Nh4-f5.

11... Kd8 12. Qd2 Be6 13. c4

A nice move! This denies black any counterplay, and establishes

a clamp on the key central square on d5.

13... a6 14. Na3

Oops! If you must retreat, retreat TOWARD the center.

Nc3 is called for. In addition, if white's knight was on

c3, white can advance d4 without having to worry about his

e4 pawn (since in that case, the knight would be protecting it).

14... g5 15. d4

This isn't right. Just get developed with Be2. Don't worry

about 15. ... g4, because Nh4, O-O and Nf5 is strong (notice

how if you got developed, your rook would partcipate).

15... g4 16. d5 gxf3 17. dxe6 Nxe4 18. Qc2 f2+ 19. Ke2 f5 20. b3

Why? Getting your bishop active is still mandatory. g3

followed by Bg2 or h3, and white would still be winning.

20... Ke7 21. g3 Kxe6 22. Bh3 Rac8

The computer misses a cheapo. White can win a free piece

with Qxe4! Notice black cannot take the white queen, because

the f-pawn is pinned! It is illegal for black to expose his

king to check, so white gets a knight scott free.

23. Kf3 Ng5+ 24. Kxf2

This hangs a piece. Kg2 was safe and strong...black's f-pawn

wasn't going anywhere. Besides, if white had to, he can sac

(sacrifice) his rook for pawn and knight, which is still better

than losing the bishop for the pawn.

24... Nxh3+ 25. Kg2 Ng5 26. Rhf1 Rce8 27. Rxf5

Instead, Qxf5+ Ke7 28. h4 would leave white in a strong position.

27... Nb4 28. Qb1

Too passive. Qf2! is natural and strong. Remember with your

heavy pieces (rooks & queens), have them double on an open

column, or file. What might happen is 28. Qf2 Ne4 29. Qf3 Ng5

30. Qg4 (threatening Rxg5, discovered check!) Ke7 31. Raf1,

getting nearly all white's pieces into the attack. The only

straggler is that knight at a3, but he can be rerouted by Nb1- c3.

28... Reg8 29. Nc2

Not the best. 29. h4, followed by Qe4 and Raf1 would still

be very strong.

29... Kxf5 30. Nd4+ Kf6 31. Qf5+ Ke7 32. Qe6+ Kf8

? A poor move by black. Simply 32. ... Nxe6 would force white

to resign.

33. Qc8+ Kg7 34. Qxc7+ Nf7 35. Ne6+

Instead, 25. Rf1! wins outright! That move would threaten

Qxf7#, so therefore black would have to play ...Rf8, but

THEN 36. Ne6+ Kg6 37. Qe7 is lights out for black. There

is this phrase among tournament chess players, "Monkey see

check, monkey do check". Don't be a monkey! Only check

if there's a concrete reason to do so.

35... Kg6 36. Qe7 Nc2 37. Rf1 Nxe3+ 38. Kg1 Nxf1 39. Kxf1 b6

40. g4 Re8 41.

Qh4

This was the losing move for white. To have a fighting

chance, white had to play 41. Qd7 to protect his knight.

41... Rxe6 42. g5 Nxg5 43. Kf2 Rf8+ 44. Kg3 Rf4 45. Qxh6+ Kxh6

46. Kg2 Rg4+

47. Kf2 Rf6+ 48. Ke2 Rg2+ 49. Kd3 Rf3#

I want to thank you for sending in this game. Unlike many

who send submissions, you sent a loss. This is exactly the

kind of game that an individual can get the most out of --

one of his/her draws or losses. It can be humbling at times,

and even difficult, but by going over a loss, trying to find

out what went wrong, and how to improve, will reap great results.

I myself did the same when I was a youth, and by continually

going over games that I lost/drew, I found out what I did wrong,

and resolved not to repeat them. I did go over wins as well

to look for improvements, but rarely did I learn as much.

BTW, I have a feeling that if the computer gives you a free

queen again, it will be in trouble, because you've learned

from your mistakes! Keep up the good fight.

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