00046.6.10 Analyzed by Candidate Master Daniel Waite

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3.Nd2

Nf6 4.Bd3 c5!

[I'm going to leave the theoretical debate to the

Opening experts. However, White's move is not bad.

Logically White should play e5.]

5.exd5 exd5

[The text keeps the game even. 5…cxd4 is stronger due

to the establishment of a strong center pawn. The

move that is tempting is 5…Qxd4. This leaves Black

with the two center pawns after 6. Ngf3 cxd4. For the

extra pawn, White leads in development. However, I

doubt that White can capitalize at this point.]

6.dxc5 Bxc5

[Natural. You might consider the placement of the QN

on d7 with 6…O-O 7. Nb3 Nbd7. Then on 8.Nxc5 Nxc5

leaves Black with an edge in control of the center.]

7.Qe2+ Be6 8.Ngf3 Nc6 9. O-O

O-O 10. Nb3 Bb6

[A move that is very subjective. Personally I think

the Bishop belongs on d6. 10…Bd6 is much more

aggressive since the Bishop has plans for the

Kingside. Also the square f4 tends to be a key post

for White in the Tarrasch. The advantage of the

Bishop at b6 is that it freezes the Rook at f1.]

11. Bg5 Re8 12. Qd2 h6

[Brave. This move baits 13. Bxh6 when you have the

choice between 13…gxh6 and 13…Ne4. Unfortunately for

White the sac at h6 is not entirely sound.]

13. Bh4 Bg4 14. Qf4 Bc7

[White's move is not bad. The idea is to attempt an

"instant" endgame where White's pawn structure is

superior. Also it stops …Qd6 which is a natural

freeing move and gives you plenty of opportunity to

lose material. You avoid these pitfalls. A stronger

consideration in this position would be the move

14…Bxf3. After 15. Qxf3 Ne5 Qf5 16. Nxd3 17.cxd3 the

possibility of 17…Rd2 comes close to working. 18. Nd4

Bxd4 19. Qxd4 Qd6. The question is which will be

stronger, the Bishop or the Knight. In the endgame

with pawns on both sides, the Bishop is favored.

However, White's pawns are just as ugly as yours and

the e-file and the second rank belong you. Unless the

opponent is an IRS agent…]

15. Qxg4 Nxg4 16. Bxd8 Raxd8 17. Bb5

[17. Rae1 or 17. c3 and the position is lifeless.

With Bishops of opposite colors it looks drawish.]

17. … a6 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Nfd4 c5

[Ouch! You miss the second chance at gaining a

permanent advantage. 19…Bxh2 20. Kh1 Be5 21. Nxc6 (on

21. Rad1 then choose between …Bxd4 and …Rc8) 21…Bxb2.

Black has an extra pawn and White has a shattered pawn

structure. Black has a reasonable shot at winning the

end game.]

20. Nxc5 Bxh2+ 21. Kh1 Bd6 (?)

[I agree with your "?" to a certain point. It does

offer the exchange that occurs in the game but that

does not really do you damage. About the only other

reasonable possibility would be 21…Be5 "forcing"

either 22. Rad1 or 22. c3.]

22. Nb7 Rd7 23. Nxd6 Rxd6 24. Kg1

[Sweet! This subtle idea invokes many possibilities.

Take some time to ponder this point.]

24…g6

[Ouch again. Try 24…Rb6. The Knight without a target

is only taking up space. I know the proverbial idea

of taking away the Knight's advance points but in this

case it opens the door for White to gain a comfortable

position. When you have positional justification -

ATTACK! The move …g6 can be played later. The idea

is to inspire those Queenside pawns to move and weaken

themselves before your opponent can fix the a-pawn and

pick it off.]

25. Rad1

[O.K. Your GM returns the favor. 25. Rae1 grabs space

and almost wins the endgame by force. You might

benefit by the study of isolated pawn play. The

isolated pawn is safely blocked. Controlling the

e-file would cut off the support of the King. The

fatal attack on the blocked pawn must come either from

behind or beside the pawn. This can't be achieved

with the Rook on d1. It's unbelievable that a GM

would miss this move. You get time to set up an

adequate defense.]

25…Rd7

[Nice! This is about the only chance you have to

protect your weakness. White should now shift the

attention to immobilizing the a-pawn and finding a way

to pile up against it. The very real problem is going

to be that Black gets to stack the Rooks. Thus

White's response is "forced."]

26. Rfe1 Rde7 27. Rxe7 Rxe7 28. f3

Nf6

[28…Ne3 is probably your last chance to win. However,

it's not likely that an advantage could be generated

off this move. It does confuse the race to the center

and Queenside and makes White's King unstable. The

idea is to follow it up with …f4, …f5 and the strong

pawn storm on the Kingside.]

29. Kf2 Kf8 30. Rd3 Rb7 31. Rb3

Rxb3 32. Nxb3 Nd7

[Your opponent seems to be counting on the general

ignorance of endgames among the average population.

This move demonstrates a keen understanding of the

endgame. It keeps the King and opposing Knight from

penetrating. It prevents White from promoting a pawn

on the Queenside. Basically you kill the position.]

33. Ke3 Ke7 34. Kd4 Kd6 35. Nd2

f5

[Also 35…Nc5. BTW, did you notice that you have

"opposition?"]

36. c4 dxc4 37. Nxc4+ Ke6 38. b4

g5 39. a4 h5 40. b5 axb5

41.axb5 h4 (keep them doggies rollin')

42. b6 g4 43.fxg4 fxg4 44. Ke3

h3 45. gxh3 gxh3 46. Kf3 h2

47. Kg2 Nxb6 48 drawn = = =

1/2 - 1/2

[Excellent game! You avoided your chances to lose

and have a game suitable for framing. You missed two

opportunities to win material but you controlled the

game well. Possibly the strategy of simplifying into

an end game will be your best chance of improving your

rating. Consider "instant" endgame openings -

assuming you have the patience to learn endgames

really well. Nunn's book on Rook & Pawn endgames and

Silman's Endgames are basic reading. BTW, against a

stronger opponent, I'm always looking for a way to

simply into a winning (or equal) endgame. It may be a

"boring" way to play but I've collected many scalps.]