00050.6.20 Analyzed by Candidate Master Daniel Waite

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.Nc3 c6 5.a4

[Not 5.e4? b5 6.Ne5 (6.d5?? b4) 6...b4]

5...Bf5 6.e3 e6

[Black heads for a Slav/Orthodox complex.]

7.Bxc4 Bb4

[This move makes sense but the Bishop does not belong

here in this set up. The Bishop will go to d6 and the

Queen Knight will plant itself on d7. The Queen Rook

will go to c8 and then Black will hammer the White

center with c5. The traditional idea is to get the

Rook to c2 and then stack the heavy pieces on the c -

file. This tends to be a very effective strategy for

Black. In essence Black wastes a move. This is a

common problem for computers. The machine generally

calculates without a long term plan.]

8.0–0 0–0 9.Bd2 Nbd7 10.Ne2 Bd6

[Black is beginning to put the pieces where they

belong. White must now generate some offense.

Typically White will want to do one of two things.

White will want to launch a "minority" Queen side

attack using the two pawns supported by pieces against

the three Black pawns. The other idea is to simply

play in the middle. If we do a "point count" on the

central squares we get this: For White, on d5 = 1

point, on e5 = 2 points, on d4 = 3 points, on e4 =

zero points. Total = 6 points for White on central

control. For Black, d5 is attacked/controlled 3

times, e5 gains 2 points, d4 is good for zip, while e4

nets two more points. Total for Black would be 7

points. Thus Black has a slight edge in the center.]

11.Ng3 Bg6 12.Nh4

[While nothing is objectively wrong with this move,

I'd like to see something aggressive from my students.

Personally 12.b4 and the beginning of the "minority"

attack looks appealing.]

12...Be4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Nf3 c5

[This is known as a "lever." The threatened exchange

forms an advantage at that spot for the one who

created it. Meanwhile the one who liquidates it

generally is at the disadvantage. Thus, Black will

want to create as much pressure on d4 and the c - file

before liquidating the lever. This is one of the

"subtleties" of pawn play. Another way to do this with

advantage would be to play 14...Rc8 first. For

instance, 14...Rc8 15.Qc2 Nxd2 16.Nxd2 c5 17.Ne4 Bb8

18.Rfd1 cxd4 19.Rxd4 Be5 20.Rd2 Qc7 21.Ng3 Nb6 22.Bd3

Qxc2 23.Rxc2 Rxc2 24.Bxc2 Rd8. And Black pulls off a

small advantage due to better central control and

active pieces.]

15.Bc3 Nxc3

[Interesting contradiction in chess ideas.

Technically White has managed to exchange off the

"bad" Bishop, almost unforced. Yet if it had been

allowed to exist on c3 then Black might have been

faced with a very dangerous threat down the a1 - h8

diagonal. Black's choice is a practical one but it

has an ugly down side. Assuming that Black makes the

trade of pawns at d4, to open the c-file, then White

will have two central pawns to Black's one. This

should help White to control the center in the long

haul.]

16.bxc3 Nb6 17.Bd3 cxd4 18.cxd4 Qe7 19.Qc2 f5?!

[Creating a long term weakness. There is a "hole"

at e5 and a "backward" pawn on e6. White should try

to immobilize the pawn on e6 then "stack the attack"

(a.k.a. the "HackStack Attack" for younger players) on

e6.]

20.e4

[White completely misses the opportunity. Not only is

this not good, it's close to a blunder. One of the

problems with the move, other than missing a golden

winning idea, is that it gives a center pawn away for

a less valuable f - pawn. The other problem is that

it flips the weak pawn possibilities if White

exchanges on f5. You must have been looking at a

concrete tactical idea at this point. However,

tactics do not work if you do not have positional

justification.]

20...Rac8 21.Qb3 fxe4 22.Bxe4 Bf4

[An interesting attempt to control the c-file. A

little to late.]

23.Qd3

[Missing the stronger 23.a5 Nd5 24.Bxd5 exd5 25.Qxd5+

Qf7 26.Qxf7+ Rxf7 27.Rfe1 Rd7 28.Re4 Bd6 29.Rae1 Kf8

30.Ng5]

23...g6 24.g3 Bd6

[Back to the computer's lack of understanding why it

is doing what it is doing. 24...Bh6 at least tries to

hold the c - file.]

25.h4 Nd5 26.Rac1 Nf6 27.Ng5

[Nice.]

27...Rxc1 28.Rxc1 h6 29.Nh3 Nxe4 30.Qxe4 Qf7 31.f4

[I like 31. Re1, stacking the attack on the weak

pawn.]

31...Rd8 32.Nf2

[Now the hard work of making your minor piece better

than you opponents minor piece. Pawns on both sides

favor the Bishop. However the Bishop can only strike

on one color. This is the Fischer style endgame that

worked so well for him.]

32...Kh8? 33.Nd3 Qf5 34.Re1 Rg8 35.Kg2

[I like! I like! Anticipating the endgame, your

Monarch heads for the center where it will become the

"Monster that made the other King look silly."]

35...Qd5 36.Kf3 Rc8 37.Qxd5 exd5 38.Re6

[Sweet! In dealing with isolated pawns, block from

the front and attack from the side or from behind.

The added bonus - winning a spare pawn.]

38...Rc3 39.Ke3 Rc6 40.Rxg6 Kh7

[Here is where the Knight just happens to be in the

right place at the right time. I'm sure you noticed

the check on f4 would win the Rook on g6 if the Knight

was not able to capture on f4! 40...Bxf4+ 41.Nxf4

Rxg6 42.Nxg6+ Kg7 43.Nf4 Kf7 44.Nxd5 etc...]

41.Rf6 Kg7 42.Rf5 Rc7 43.Rxd5 Be7 44.Nc5

[Arguing with success is difficult but h5 is more

controlling. The fork at e6 looks tantalizing but

this is the type of move that computers do not miss.

Try not to rely on traps. Definitely do not assume

your opponent will miss the correct move.]

44...Kf7 45.Ke4 b6 46.Rd7 Rxd7 47.Nxd7 Kg7 48.Kf5 h5

49.Ne5

[Ouch, missing Ke6. There is a point where "everything

wins." It is nice to be in this position but do not

get lazy. Cheap draws (or victories) can be found

when the opponent naps. Better was, 49.Ke6 Bb4 50.f5

Kg8 51.f6 Ba3 52.d5 Bb4 53.Ne5 Kh7 54.d6 etc...]

49...Bb4 50.d5 a6 51.Ke6 Be1 52.g4?

[Ok once more. Passed pawns dream about become Queens.

Generally push them, push them, push them. At this

point both 52.f5 and 52.d6 are stronger.]

52...hxg4 53.Nxg4 Bxh4 54.f5 Kf8??

[The question mark is for playing on in a hopeless

situation. No better is 54...b5 55.axb5 axb5 56.f6+

Bxf6 57.Nxf6 b4 58.d6 b3 59.d7 b2 60.d8Q b1Q 61.Qc7+

Kg6 62.Qg3+ Kh6 63.Qh4+ Kg7 64.Ne8+ Kg6 65.Qg4+ Kh6

66.Qg7+ Kh5 67.Nf6+ Kh4 68.Qg4#]

55.d6 b5 56.f6 (1 - 0)

[The computer finally reaches it threshold of pain and

does the only sensible thing. Nice job. Prescription

for improvement: First, your Endgame play is weak. As

you get stronger (and your opponents get stronger)

this will become a critical component of your game.

Also it is a way to clip stronger players, if you can

get to a superior Endgame. Most players focus on the

Opening and Middlegame but if you get to the Endgame,

you'll acquire a nice collection of scalps. Second,

either switch to playing 1. e4 (good idea if you are

under 1500) or burn the midnight oil on the positional

aspect of the game. This game was positional, and you

did well for the most part. If you can major on this

and become the most boring chessnut in your neck of

the woods, people will fear playing you. Once you get

the positional ideas down, then you can work on the

tactical. Generally the tactical aspect of the game

is easier because it involves learning patterns and

does not take much planning. It is one thing to

capitalize on an opponent's mistake, it is another

(much more satisfying event) to create the mistake

that leads to the wonder combination. If this doesn't

appeal to you watch a cat the next time it hunts. The

cat doesn't mind the time it takes to stalk its

prey. Nor does it have any scruples about playing

with its helpless opponent before turning it into

food. Just remember it's a game. When the cat's

target gets away, it just stretches and looks for a

shady spot for a nap. "Go thou and do likewise."

Finally, take the batteries out of the computer and

use it to hold something down. They are fun to play

now and then but they will not help your game. In fact

they will probably train you in some very bad habits.

With the availability of the Internet there is someone

available somewhere at all times to play.]