00034.5.19 Analyzed by Candidate Master Daniel Waite

[For having only a year of experience you played well.

I'm sure by now you have realized that your demise is

due to the loss of the d-file. However, the difficult

part is to figure out how this happened. Let's take a

look.]

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3

[This is the "Two Knights Variation." It is an

attempt to confuse the Caro-Kann player. Keene

considers this "sharp" while Schiller calls it

"quiet." How you handle it is a matter of

personality. If you choose to give up the Bishop pair

early you must keep the game "closed." (All four

center pawns on the board.) Thus, when the d-file

opens you invite trouble.]

3…Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6

[Solid, but…. As a defender you must be aggressive.

You also have the option to transpose into more

familiar territory with 3….dxe4 4. Nxe4 5. Bf5. Also

a tempting idea between moves 3 through 9 is the move

…d4. This is an attempt to close the center and gain

space on the Queenside. Again this is a matter of

personality. My favorite way of attacking the Two

Knights Variation is to play 5…Nf6 if 6. e5 then the

center will be permanently locked giving you the

chance to make your Knights better than the opponent's

Bishops. You can choose between Nfd7 and Ne4. If

White tries 6.d5 then 6…dxe4. The idea is that Black

gains a move (tempo) 7.Qe3 e6 (The d4 pawn is

undefended if 7.Nxe4 Qxd4.). Now after the exchange

on e4 the Queen Knight heads for d5 through d7 and f6.

The idea is to plant the Knight securely on d5,

making it, in theory better than the White Bishop

pair.]

6.d3 Nf6

[Here is the chance to create some interesting

possibilities. For instance 6….d4 7. Ne2 Qb6. White

is forced to commit to some sort of stand on the

Queenside. One idea would be to play 8. c3. The

problem with this idea is that Black is not developed

properly. The "total war" that will develop is going

to be difficult.]

7.Bd2 c5

[While not objectively unsound, 7….c5 invites many

problems. Here the problem again is the lack of

development. Typically in these pawn positions Black

is going to want to play …Bd6 and …Nd7 before …c5.

Even stronger is if Black can also achieve a Rook on

the c - file. Now consider the possibilities of 7….

Nbd7 8. O-O-O Bd6. Now Black can try to "clear and

seal" with …c5 and …d4. The concept involves clearing

the Knight from it's defensive post and using the pawn

structure to seal off the opponents pieces on the

opposite side of the board. This takes courage

because you will need to castle on the opposite side

and attack without counting the cost (sacrifice almost

everything if necessary). However, you do get to

isolate the King away from any reinforcements.]

8.g4 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Be7

[The question for you to answer will be the pawn

charge on the g - file. You might want to experiment

with the Sicilian Dragon. After facing the Yugoslav

Attack, you will loose the fear of these pawn charges.

Even here you can play 9…d4. A good rule is to

always play in the center (e and d files). When you

face an attack on the wing (side) become active in the

center. Generally the stronger of the attacks will

occur in the center.

10.g5 dxe4 11.dxe4 Nd7 12.h4 Nd4 13.Qg3 Qb6 14.Ne2 Bd6

15.f4 0-0-0 16.Bc3 Nxe2

[16. Bc3? After building a strong initiative, with a

little help from your passive game, White plays a poor

move. 16. Nxd4 cxd4 17. e5 Bc7 looks more interesting

for White. With the d - file open and the Knight

planted on d4 Black can easily equalize with 16…e5.

If 17. Bxd4 cxd5 gains a strong initiative for Black.

Even 17. Nxd4 exd4 neuters the Bishop and gets you

back into the game. With this exchange Black

accomplishes several of White's major goals. (As much

as possible, do not help your opponent. Never force

your opponent to do something that you will regret!)

First, Black opens the d - file White's only means of

attack. Second Black opens the long diagonal (a1- h8)

for White, in effect giving White the center.

Finally, Black opens (abandons) the center. Once you

post a Knight in your opponent's territory keep it

there or make the opponent sacrifice (or pay a high

price) to get rid of it. The reward for this is that

White will seize the d - file and disrupt Black's "key

ranks" (the 1,2,7,8 ranks) with the Bishops.]

17.Be2 Qc7 18.Rhf1 Rhg8 19.Bd3 g6 20.Qf2 Rde8 21.Kb1

Nb8 22.Bb5 Nc6 23.Bf6 a6 24.e5 Be7

[Giving up the Bishop is a new concession that in

effect looses the game. The Bishop was the only piece

that was keeping the Black Rooks from invading your

territory. One general idea is for the defender to

trade off attacking pieces. However, that guideline

is wrong in this situation. Principle: You must do

what the position demands. Do not just follow general

ideas or try to force your will on the position. You

can still fight on after 24… Bf8.]

25.Bxe7 Rxe7 26.Bxc6 Qxc6 27.Rd6 Qc7 28.Rfd1 Kb8

29.Rd3 c4 30.Rd4 c3 31.b3 Rc8

[A fascinating idea at this point is 31….Qa5. Black's

move 31....Rc8 does not help.]

32.Rc4 Qa5 33.Rxc8+ Kxc8 34.Qa7 Qc7 35.Qa8+ resign

1-0

[Now for a review. Black allowed White to capture the

d - file. This was complicated by giving up the

strong Knight at d4 and sealed by giving up the Bishop

guarding d6. Your weak points seem to be the lack of

control of the central squares, lack of understanding

pawn play, and (I suspect) the inability to understand

the board position. Now for the good: somehow you

managed to maintain your balance in a difficult

position. You came up with a creative attacking idea

(29….c4) when you needed it. With a solid

understanding of the position and your creativity you

will be a tough opponent for anyone. Suggestions:

Focus your game on the center. I'd suggest that you

attack the center with simplifying ideas such as

closed pawn structures or open (no pawns in the

center) games. You may want to consider charting the

pawn structures in your games. For instance, you may

do better in positions without center pawns. I would

suggest that you explore more aggressive openings -

especially gambits. While you are charting your games

give careful attention to when you make your errors.

For instance in this game you could mark moves 16 and

24 as major errors. When you come up to your common

problem moves, give yourself extra time to think

through your move and remind yourself of your

weaknesses. Keep up the good work. Honestly

analyzing your games will bring fast improvement.]