00041.6.04
Analyzed by Candidate Master Daniel Waite
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 Nc6
4.d4 cxd4
[Interesting
idea to play 4.d4. Bb5 and Bc4 are also
possible
here. Black heads into the "Little
Center."
Several
idea to attack this center would be to get in
f5,
Bxe6, Nxe6, Nd5. The move e5 can also
be
disruptive
to the Black center. Another common
idea
for
attacking this set up is to play c4.
There are
two
essential elements here. First, prevent
Black
from
freeing himself with …d5. Second, play the
KB to
the a2
- g8 diagonal (Bobby Fischer). This
opportunistic
diagonal has paid rich rewards to many
players. Key squares for White are d5 and e6. White
tends
to attack on the Kingside, while Black aims at
the
Queenside. Control these and win. Black
meanwhile
wants to pressure the pawn at e4 (and
support
…d5). Black's main strategy tends to be
to
head to
the endgame as soon as possible (the pawn
structure
favors Black in the endgame). All this
would
fit into the idea of playing 4.d4]
5.Nxd4 d6
6.Be2 Be7 7.0-0 Nf6
8.Bg5 0-0
9.Qd2 Qb6
[9…Nxe4
10. Nxe4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bxg5 12. Qxd6 Be7
should
give Black a safe comfortable game after 13.
Qxd8
Rxd8. Meanwhile 13. Qg3 Qb6 gives Black
persistent
pressure thanks to the Bishop pair.]
10.Nxc6 bxc6
11.Rab1 Rd8 12.Rfd1 Qc7
13.Qf4 h6
[Also
worth considering is 13. Bf3.]
14.Bh4
g5
[14…g5??
Ouch. Black risks opening the
Kingside.]
15.Bxg5 hxg5
[An
idea for Black would be 15…e5. But, I'm
not sure
this
gains much over the game.]
16.Qxg5+
Kh8 17.e5
[Sweet. This is one of those killer positional ideas
that
few young players would consider. If
you keep up
with
the positional excellence… Anyway,
White blocks
Black's
ability to defend the Kingside. Either
there
will be
doubled e - pawns or black will have to give
up
material.]
17…dxe5
18.Rxd8+ Bxd8 19.Rd1 Bb7 20.Bd3
[Ouch. A common idea after the g and h pawns have
vanished
is to get a Rook to the one of the files.
The
"perfect" move is to play 20. Rd3.
After this I
don't
think that Black can defend himself.
For
instance,
Black has two moves that make sense 20…Nh7
and
20…Qe7. On 20…Nh7 21. Qh5 c5 22. Rh3 f5
23. Qe8+
Kg7 24.
Qxe6 shatters Blacks pawns and exposes Black
to all
sorts of interesting things. On 20…Qe7
21.Rg3
Black
is in serious trouble. 21…Ng4 22. Rh3+
Nh6 23.
Rxh6#
or 21…Qf8 22. Bd3 e4 23. Rh3+ Nh7 24. Qh5 Qg7
25.Nxe4. Then there is 22..Nh7 23. Qxe5+ f6 24. Qxe6.
From this point on White's game begins to
deteriorate. Black must have been very happy at this
point.]
20…c5 21.Qh6+
Kg8 22.Qg5+ Kf8
23.Qh6+ Ke7
24.Qg7
e4 25.Bc4 Qe5 26.Nb5 Bc7
[Also
working is 26…e3. Stronger is 26…Bd5
27. Be2
e3]
27.g3
e3 0-1
[Your
strength, in this game, is a strong positional
feel
that is rare in young players. You seem
to have
two
weaknesses. First, you do not
demonstrate a
willingness
to attack, even though you had positional
justification. This tends to come from lack of
experience
and lack of knowing basic attacking motifs.
Second, you don't seem to understand the idea
of the
opening. (Very few do, in OTB. Play postal and you
will
learn the ideas very quickly or lose badly,
quickly.) I would suggest that you switch to the
Queen's
Gambit to capitalize on your positional
awareness. Work on the common tactical ideas, learn
patterns. Maybe one thing that will help you in the
area of
attack is to pick up a gambit as a "change up"
style
(what you pull out for fun or when you've been
scouted
at a tourney). This will add spice (not
to
mention
confusion) to your opponent's life. If
you
want to
work on your positional understanding, study
the
games of Karpov - who just happens to be creative
attacker. (I can hear the laughter of those who have
never
studied his games.) Also read Silman's
"How to
Reassess"
book, if you haven't done so already.
When
all
else fails, I'm looking for new students! (LOL)]