00028.5.13 Analyzed by Candidate Master Daniel Waite

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5

There are different types of mistakes a player can

make. This is a "psychological" mistake (different

than the "concrete" mistake). Since White opened with

the Queen's Pawn, this allows Black to force the game

into King's Pawn lines. Principle: In the Opening

you choose the pawn structure - not your opponent.

3. Nc3 Nf6

White invites the Winawer Variation (3. …Bb4). Black

however opts for the Classical Variation. Gligoric

commented that "Black can not avoid concrete

variations which tend to favor White." Short called

this line the "Boring Variation" and wrote, "This

variation is suitable for people with masochistic

urges."

4. e5 Nfd7

Probably best is 4. Bg5 (pinning the Knight and

forcing Black to respond). Principle: seize the

initiative.

5. Nf3 c5

Before playing this move White should try Qg4. Here

is the wages of being lead down your opponent's path.

The last two moves, White missed the most aggressive

idea.

6. Bb5 a6 7. Bxd7 Bxd7 8. O-O Nc6 9. Re1

b5

9. Re1 is pointless. White missed Ne2 with the idea

of c3. This would ensure a permanent (possibly

winning) advantage in pawn structure. At this point

9…. cxd4 is stronger. However, Black's pawn structure

resembles a strong Queenside attack.

10. Be3 Qb6 11. b3 cxd4

With the last two moves White transforms a playable

position into one that is almost completely lost. An

idea for move 10 is a4. However b3 is utterly bad.

The c-pawn is permanently weak and probably

undefendable. The "hole" created on c3 will be the

can opener to pry White's position open. At this

point White can probably resign. White has no

credible attacking possibilities. The only redeeming

quality is that Black is playing a "virtual" piece

down (the bad Bishop). Principle: do not weaken your

position with pawn moves.

12. Nxd4 Qa5

A good move but not a game winner. Black aims at the

hole on c3 and control of the c-file with the Queen

Rook. Control open lines (files and diagonals)!

13. Nxc6 Qxc3 14. Nd4 Rc8 15. Bg5 h6

White's wounds are self-inflicted. The Bishops

presence in the center was critical. Black should

consider the immediate …Bc5. Principle: always play

in the center, if possible! An idea for White could

be Qg4. Notice that the Queen at g4 still operates in

the center.

16. Bh4 Qb4 17. a3 Qc5

Black misses the simple …Bc5.

18. Qd3 Qc3

White can still make life interesting with 18. b4.

Black is offering an interesting idea that is

consistent with the over all game plan. The idea is

to encourage White to err.

19. Qxc3 Rxc3

With the exchange of Queens, White gives up the

c-file, the Queenside and the game.

20. a4 b4

White's move is terrible. Principle: do not attack

when you have no positional justification! Black lets

White off the hook by missing 20…. bxa4!; completely

demolishing the White Queenside. (This move was

spotted my one of my students.)

21. Re3 Bc5 22. Rd1 Bxd4 23. Rxd4 Rxc2 24. h3

a5 25. Rf3 O-O 26. Rdf4 Rc3

White's move is without merit. 26. Rg3 gives

possibilities. Black misses the simple 26….g5. It

may look pretty to complicate the position but

sometimes the risk is too great. Principle: Simple

is best!

27. g4 g5 28. Bxg5 Rxf3

Again, simple is best. 28….hxg5.

29. Rxf3 hxg5 30. Kf1 Rd8 31. Ke2 Bc6 32. Rd3

d4 33. Kd2 Kg7 34. Kc2 Be4

The final error in a completely lost game.

35. f3 Bxd3+ 36. Kxd3 f6 37. exf6 Kxf6 38.

Kd2 d3 39. Kd1 d2 40. Resign (1-0)

White must have seen that 40. h4 is mate in 5 by

"stair stepping" the King via e5, f4, e3, transferring

the Rook to c8, c1. If 40. f4, it is mate in 7.

(Black Queens the pawn in 5 moves using zugzwang and

mate follows in two moves.)