00016,4,23 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5

This position is known as the Center Counter, or Scandinavian

defense. While objectively sound for black, I don't recommend

it as this early queen sortie, as it doesn't help black's

central control much, plus black always has to be careful

where he moves his queen again, as the monarch is always

pushed around by White with an eventual Nc3 or c4. If black

isn't careful, he could lose his queen easily, as this game

demonstrates.

3. d4 Nc6

A good move by black. He gets his knight out, while at the

same time puts pressure on White by threatening to capture on d4.

4. Nf3 Nf6

Natural, but inaccurate. An aggressive ...Bg4! followed

by castling queenside could really put the pressure on

White's center. For example, if ...Bg4 5. c4?? Qe4+ 6. Be2 Bxf3

7. gxf3 Qxd4 leaves black up a pawn! This is one reason why

it's common for white to boot black's queen from the center

as soon as possible by playing Nc3 move 2. As it stands,

white gets a free hand to push black around.

5. c4 Qa5+

? This only forces white to develop his bishop with a gain

of time. Black has to accept the fact his only reasonable

posts for her is d6 or d8.

6. Bd2 Qb6 7. c5

?? The key blunder. Like it or not, black had to play

7. ... Qf5. After this, White has a won game, and you played

well to convert it.

7... Qxb2 8. Bc3 Qxa1 9. Bxa1 Bg4 10. Be2

A little passive, but of course a reasonable move. Instead

Bb5, followed by Nbd2, Qa4 would really put the pressure on

black.

10... e6 11. h3 Bf5 12. Bb5 Rb8 13. O-O

Again, sound, but Nbd2, followed by Bxc6, and Qa4 and/or Ne5

would make black resign soon.

13... a6 14. Ba4 Be7 15. Re1 O-O 16. Bc2

Why not 16. Nbd2? Then Bxc6 and Qa4 would pick up some of

black's pawns for sure. There are many ways to win at this

point.

16... Bxc2 17. Qxc2 h6 18. Ne5

Good. When up material (such as a Queen for a rook in your

case), trade pieces. This makes the your material advantage

more effective.

18... Nb4 19. Qc4 Nbd5 20. Nc3 Rfd8 21. Ne4 c6 22. Nxf6+ Nxf6

23. Ng6

This is okay, but if black replied 23. ... Bf8! 24. Nxf8 Kxf8,

with the idea of not moving his pawns and establishing a blockade,

it would make it more difficult for white to win. With the

text, black opens lines in White's favor.

23... Bxc5

?

24. dxc5 fxg6 25. Qxe6+ Kh7 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Qf7+ Kh8

28. Qxf6+ Kg8 29.

Re7

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