[Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W1"] [Black "B1"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00001.4.4 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e4 Nf6 2. d3 d6 3. Nc3 Nfd7 {A very bad move. In the opening stages of the game, do NOT move a piece twice without first developing your other pieces, except to prevent loss of material. In the beginning, there are 3 elements that are very important: 1) Development -- getting pieces out of their home squares 2) Center control, and 3) space. Black should've staked some central control by playing either ...c5 or ...e5.} 4. Be3 e6 5. Nf3 {Because of black's particularly passive play, there's no reason white should not do 5. f4! right away to gain more SPACE and central control (e5 square). Notice white plays f4 later anyways, albeit after a lot of maneuvering.} 5... Be7 6. Qe2 b6 7. O-O-O Bb7 8. Kb1 {There isn't a good reason for this move. Simply 8. d4, staking claim in the center and opening up the f1-a6 diagonal for the white's light-squared bishop is more logical.} 8... a6 {Again, black needs to control the center. ...c5! and Nc6! would give black a fighting chance.} 9. d4 O-O 10. e5 {Good! You're locking up the center to give yourself a free hand on the king-side.} 10... d5 11. h4 Nc6 {VERY bad. Black needs open lines for his pieces, including . ...c5! is the natural way to do that, followed by ..Nc6, ...Rc8, and mabe ...cxd4. This would also weaken white's protection of his e5 pawn once the d4 pawn falls. The general principle is: Attack the base of pawn chains. For white, this is e6, and for black it is d4. Note that eventually, White indeed does attack the base of black's pawn chain, which was black's fatal error.} 12. g3 h6 {Black should've avoided weakening his king position. Again, ..Na5 and ...c5 was mandatory. White could've taken advantage of this mistake by playing 13. g4!, followed by h5, Rg1, and g5 opening up lines on black's king side immediately.} 13. Nh2 Re8 {Black misses many chances to play ...c5, which is his correct plan.} 14. f4 Na5 15. b3 {This weakens your king position unnecessarily. Since there is no threat, white can play g4! with a strong attack. For example, if 15. ... Bxh4 16. Nf3 Be7 17. g5, and white opens the h-file to fatal effect, because of mate threats involving Qh2. And if black declines white's pawn, white can simply play g5, opening up black's king side.} 15... Nb8 16. Qf3 Qd7 17. Bd3 Bb4 18. Bd2 Nbc6 {Of course, ...c5! would be very strong for black. For example, 18. ... c5 19. Ne2 Bxd2 20. Rxd2 c4 21. bxc4 Nxc4 22. Bxc4 (forced because of the ...Qb5+, Ka1, Qb2 mate threat) dxc4 23. Qf1 Bxh1 would leave black with a winning position!} 19. Ne2 Bxd2 20. Rxd2 Rad8 21. f5 Na7 22. f6 N5c6 23. h5 {Good constriction move! White now has a winning position.} 23... Nb5 24. Qg4 g5 25. hxg6 Na3+ 26. Ka1 Nxc2+ 27. Rxc2 Kf8 28. Nf3 {This wins, but the fastest win is 28. g7+ Kg8 29. Qh5, with the idea of Qxh6 and Qh8 checkmate.} 28... fxg6 29. Qxg6 Re7 30. Rxh6 {Good! Playing only for mate, as the rook on e7 is irrelevant. The pawn on f6 is very dangerous to black's king position.} 30... Rh7 31. Rxh7 Qxh7 32. Qxh7 a5 33. Qh8+ Kf7 34. Ng5# 1-0 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W2"] [Black "B2"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00002.4.7 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e3 c5 2. Bc4 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bb5 d5 {This does put a foothold in the center, but this allows white to weaken your pawn structure if he wishes with Bxc6+. In this case, you don't have to allow the weakening. 4. ... Nge7 develops a piece while at the same time maintains your pawns' integrity. Notice if white plays complacently with 5. O-O a6 6. Ba4? b5 7. Bb3 c4 wins a piece. Notice white couldn't take advantage of the pin that you walked into after playing ...d5.} 5. Ne5 Ne7 6. Bxc6+ Nxc6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Nc3 Be7 {A little passive. Why not the more aggressive ...Bd6?} 9. Qg4 Bf6 {Definitely dubious. This bishop needs to defend the c5 pawn. Since this bishop has already moved, simply castling king-side with O-O was very good. Why can't checkmate with just a queen. She needs support.} 10. Qa4 Bb7 {Again, an unnecessarily passive piece placement. The most aggiessive post for this piece is a6, and you could put it there if you defended your c-pawn with ...Qb6 instead.} 11. Qb3 O-O {The losing move. Much stronger is ...Rb8!, developing your rook, defending your bishop. This even sets up a sneaky trap. If 12. O-O? Ba6 13. Qa4 Bxf1 wins material for black.} 12. Qxb7 Qe8 13. Na4 Be7 14. d4 cxd4 15. exd4 f6 16. O-O Qf7 17. Qb3 Qg6 {Notice that if you played ...Bd6 earlier, you could've expanded in the center by playing ...e5.} 18. Qd3 {White is playing well...when ahead in material, trade material. This makes white's piece advantage even stronger.} 18... Rfc8 19. Qxg6 hxg6 20. Re1 e5 {This loses a pawn. ...Kf7 was to be preferred.} 21. dxe5 f5 {This concedes an unopposed (passed) pawn to white. As unpleasant as it was, ...fxe5 was to be preferred.} 22. e6 Re8 23. h3 Rac8 24. Bd2 c5 25. Re5 Rcd8 26. Ba5 Bf6 27. Re2 Rc8 28. Bc3 d4 {Good, avoiding exchanges when behind in material. This is black's best chance.} 29. Bd2 g5 30. c3 g4 31. hxg4 d3 32. Re3 Rcd8 33. gxf5 Bg5 34. e7 Bxe7 35. Rxe7 {Strong move by white. White is trading more & more material... the end result is not in doubt.} 35... Rxe7 36. Bg5 Kf7 37. Bxe7 Kxe7 38. Re1+ Kf6 39. Nxc5 Kxf5 40. Rd1 Rd5 41. Nxd3 Ke4 42. b3 {This wins, but 42. f3+ Ke3 43. Nf2 preserves white's piece, and forces black to resign.} 42... g5 43. c4 Rd4 44. Rd2 Rxd3 45. Rxd3 Kxd3 {So in conclusion, always look at what your opponent's last move was -- what is their idea? Are they threatening anything? Also, try to place your pieces in the best places. To ccompare where good posts are, just compare how many moves your piece would have at the various squares. Whichever gives your piece the most mobility, is the best square. NOTE: You will have to balance good placement with the piece's safety. If pawns can push your piece around, then that's not a very good square either. Otherwise, you did fairly well with the resources you had available.} 46. c5 1-0 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W3"] [Black "B3"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00002.4.7 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e3 c5 2. Bc4 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bb5 d5 {This does put a foothold in the center, but this allows white to weaken your pawn structure if he wishes with Bxc6+. In this case, you don't have to allow the weakening. 4. ... Nge7 develops a piece while at the same time maintains your pawns' integrity. Notice if white plays complacently with 5. O-O a6 6. Ba4? b5 7. Bb3 c4 wins a piece. Notice white couldn't take advantage of the pin that you walked into after playing ...d5.} 5. Ne5 Ne7 6. Bxc6+ Nxc6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Nc3 Be7 {A little passive. Why not the more aggressive ...Bd6?} 9. Qg4 Bf6 {Definitely dubious. This bishop needs to defend the c5 pawn. Since this bishop has already moved, simply castling king-side with O-O was very good. Why can't checkmate with just a queen. She needs support.} 10. Qa4 Bb7 {Again, an unnecessarily passive piece placement. The most aggiessive post for this piece is a6, and you could put it there if you defended your c-pawn with ...Qb6 instead.} 11. Qb3 O-O {The losing move. Much stronger is ...Rb8!, developing your rook, defending your bishop. This even sets up a sneaky trap. If 12. O-O? Ba6 13. Qa4 Bxf1 wins material for black.} 12. Qxb7 Qe8 13. Na4 Be7 14. d4 cxd4 15. exd4 f6 16. O-O Qf7 17. Qb3 Qg6 {Notice that if you played ...Bd6 earlier, you could've expanded in the center by playing ...e5.} 18. Qd3 {White is playing well...when ahead in material, trade material. This makes white's piece advantage even stronger.} 18... Rfc8 19. Qxg6 hxg6 20. Re1 e5 {This loses a pawn. ...Kf7 was to be preferred.} 21. dxe5 f5 {This concedes an unopposed (passed) pawn to white. As unpleasant as it was, ...fxe5 was to be preferred.} 22. e6 Re8 23. h3 Rac8 24. Bd2 c5 25. Re5 Rcd8 26. Ba5 Bf6 27. Re2 Rc8 28. Bc3 d4 {Good, avoiding exchanges when behind in material. This is black's best chance.} 29. Bd2 g5 30. c3 g4 31. hxg4 d3 32. Re3 Rcd8 33. gxf5 Bg5 34. e7 Bxe7 35. Rxe7 {Strong move by white. White is trading more & more material... the end result is not in doubt.} 35... Rxe7 36. Bg5 Kf7 37. Bxe7 Kxe7 38. Re1+ Kf6 39. Nxc5 Kxf5 40. Rd1 Rd5 41. Nxd3 Ke4 42. b3 {This wins, but 42. f3+ Ke3 43. Nf2 preserves white's piece, and forces black to resign.} 42... g5 43. c4 Rd4 44. Rd2 Rxd3 45. Rxd3 Kxd3 46. c5 {So in conclusion, always look at what your opponent's last move was -- what is their idea? Are they threatening anything? Also, try to place your pieces in the best places. To ccompare where good posts are, just compare how many moves your piece would have at the various squares. Whichever gives your piece the most mobility, is the best square. NOTE: You will have to balance good placement with the piece's safety. If pawns can push your piece around, then that's not a very good square either. Otherwise, you did fairly well with the resources you had available.} 1-0 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W4"] [Black "B4"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00003.4.10 Analyzed by National Master John Graves} 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 e6 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. c3 Be7 6. Bb5 {Bd3 is better, it is the natural diagonal for the bishop. It doesn't do much on b5} 6... b6 7. O-O a6 8. Ba4 Bb7 9. Nbd2 Nf4 10. Nc4 {Re1 is much better. You will discover on the knight while moving your own towards the KINGSIDE. You will use the e4 or the f1 square for the knight. The knight on c4 really doesn't do anything. Notice this plan does not block your c1 bishop and keeps it pointing at the enemy kingside.} 10... g5 11. Bxf4 gxf4 12. Bc2 Bd5 13. Bd3 Nc6 14. Qd2 Bxc4 15. Bxc4 h5 16. Qxf4 Rg8 17. Rad1 {Not bad but h3 stops blacks rook from getting to the g4 square. Try to keep in mind when you have a superior position It doesn't hurt to take a little time out to stop your opponents plans. the term is called "prophylaxis" your plan of d4d5 really cant be stopped.} 17... b5 18. d5 {Bb3! see previous note.} 18... Rg4 19. Qh6 Bf8 20. Qh8 Rxc4 21. dxc6 Rxc6 22. Nd4 Qh4 {22...Rb6 is better.} 23. Nxc6 dxc6 24. Rd4 Qg5 25. f4 Qh6 26. Qxh6 Bxh6 27. Rf3 c5 28. Re4 {Oops, You gave up the only useful file.} 28... Rd8 29. Kf1 Rd2 30. Re2 Rd1+ 31. Re1 Rxe1+ 32. Kxe1 a5 33. g3 Ke7 34. h4 a4 35. b3 b4 36. bxa4 Bf8 37. cxb4 cxb4 38. a5 Ke8 39. a6 Bc5 40. Kd1 {a3! is faster.} 40... Ba7 41. Kc2 c5 42. Kb3 Ke7 43. Kc4 Kf8 44. Kb5 Ke8 45. Kc6 c4 46. Kb7 Bd4 47. a7 Bxa7 48. Kxa7 c3 49. Rf2 {a3?? c2! 50. Rc3 b2! and black queens!} 49... Kf8 50. Rc2 Kg8 51. Kb6 f5 52. Kb5 Kf8 53. Kxb4 Ke8 54. Rxc3 Kf7 55. a4 Kg8 56. a5 Kf7 57. a6 Ke8 58. a7 Kf7 59. a8=Q Kg6 60. Rc7 Kh6 61. Qh8+ Kg6 62. Qf6# {White mates} 1-0 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W5"] [Black "B5"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00005.4.12 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e3 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. Nf3 Ne4 {This game illustrates one very important principle: Do NOT move pieces (Knights, Bishops, Rooks, Queen) more than once in the beginning stages of the game! Remember, you have an army -- get all your soldiers in battle, don't just send one guy by himself!} 4. Qe2 {? Not good...Queens should not be moved early. This move blocks white's bishop from getting out. Instead, 4 Bd3 is a much better move. Remember to develop with attack if possible.} 4... f5 5. Ne5 {? Again, do NOT move pieces more than once early. Black only has one good piece. White should develop a piece and try to get rid of black's good knight. 5 Nbd2 would be a good way to do this.} 5... a6 {This does not get any pieces out, plus ignores white's threat. ...Qf6 is mandatory to meet White's threat.} 6. Qh5+ {This is one of the few time yous should move a piece more than once early -- to procure LARGE amounts of material.} 6... g6 7. Qe2 {White misses his chance. The black h-pawn was pinned -- so white could've played 7. Nxg6!, and if 7. ... hxg6 then 8. Qxh8, and white is ahead a Rook and Pawn vs. knight. Black's best defense is 7. ... Nf6 8. Qh3 Rg8.} 7... Bg7 8. Nc4 {? Bishops and knights are roughly equal. It was MANDATORY to continue getting pieces out. Nc3, Nd2, or g3 followed by Bg2 are all preferable to 8. Nc4.} 8... b5 9. Na5 c6 10. h4 {Of course, this is a major mistake. White's throwing away his knight at a5 for no reason.} 10... Qxa5+ {Developing pieces is still necessary. White should respond by 11. Bd2} 11. c3 h5 12. Rh3 {? White MUST get rid of black's good knight at e4. 12. Nd2 is called for.} 12... b4 13. cxb4 Qxb4+ 14. Nd2 Bf6 {Dubious. Black's queen side needs developing. ...a5 or c5 would allow black's knight and bishop to get developed.} 15. g4 {? Loses 2 pawns for no reason. Why not get rid of black's best piece by f3?} 15... fxg4 {The general rule of thumb is: when choosing which pawn to capture, capture toward the Center. ..hxg4 would not only keep the f5 pawn defending black's knight, it would another pawn after ...Rxh4.} 16. Rh1 d5 17. Bg2 Nd6 {When ahead in material (especially a full knight or more) TRADE! 17. ... Nxd2 would makes black's advantage even greater.} 18. a3 Qa4 19. Rb1 a5 20. b3 Qb5 21. Qd1 Ba6 22. Bf1 Qb7 23. Bxa6 Rxa6 24. a4 Qb4 {This still wins, but black is playing without his knight at b8 and the rook on h8. Either ...Nd7 or castling kingside is preferable.} 25. Ra1 Ne4 26. Ba3 Qc3 27. Rc1 Qd3 28. Nxe4 Qxe4 29. Rf1 Bxh4 30. Rc2 g3 31. f3 Qxe3+ 32. Re2 Qc3+ {Black has a much stronger move, 32. ... g2+ is mate in 1 move! White has to play Rff2, and ...Bxf2 is checkmate because the rook on e2 is not allowed to recapture (that would expose white's king to the black queen on e3).} 33. Rd2 g2+ 34. Ke2 Rf8 {Objectively, not best as white can crush the rook with Bxf8! Best was gxf1/Q+, 35. Kxf1 Rb6.} 35. Rg1 Qxf3# {So in conclusion, get ALL your pieces out early, castle, and you will do much better in your games.} 0-1 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W6"] [Black "B6"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00006.4.13 Analyzed by National Master John Graves} 1. e4 c5 2. d3 Nc6 3. Bd2 {Nc3 is better, or even f4.} 3... b5 {Nf6 or e6 are superior moves. Also 3...e5 follewed by d6,Nf6,g6,Bg7 and 0-0 is another excellent set up. It is Important to play in the center first.} 4. c3 b4 5. c4 Nd4 {g6! is far better, Increase your control over d4 and develop another piece at the same time, there was no reason to occupy the hole on d4 (no pawns can oppose d4).} 6. Be3 g6 7. Bxd4 cxd4 8. Qd2 a5 9. Nf3 Bg7 10. Ng5 Bh6 {It is better to complete your development with d6 and Nf6. The bishop has aready moved and was placed rather well where it was at.} 11. f4 e6 12. g3 Bb7 13. a3 b3 14. a4 d5 15. Bg2 Nf6 16. Ra3 Qb6 17. Qe2 Bf8 18. e5 Nd7 {Black can take the rook right away.} 19. Nd2 Bxa3 20. bxa3 b2 21. Nb1 Nc5 22. Qd1 Bc6 23. Nf3 Nxa4 24. O-O Nc3 {The black knight has finally found a nice hole to hop in to, even if it is only for a move.Black trades one advantage for another, the two connected passed pawns.} 25. Nxc3 dxc3+ 26. Nd4 Qxd4+ 27. Rf2 h5 {0-0 is a simple win.} 28. cxd5 Bxd5 29. Bxd5 exd5 30. h4 Rb8 31. Qb1 c2 32. Kh2 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W7"] [Black "B7"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00007.4.14 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 e6 {Good. Defends the knight at d5 while at the same time opening development of black's dark squared bishop.} 6. Bf4 {? Definitely bad. White should try to castle as soon as possible. Also, in the opening, it's best to develop with attack. 6 Bc4! would be the way to do it (threatens black's knight at d5). After this, black will get an advantage.} 6... Nc6 7. Qd2 h6 {Black's first slip. Black can win a pawn, starting with 7. ... Nxf4 8. Qxf4 Qc7 9. Nf3 f6. Notice white can't take the black pawn on f6 because that would expose white's queen to attack by the black queen. White's king pawn is what is called a pin.} 8. Bb5 Be7 9. Bxc6 dxc6 {When having the option, it is generally better to capture TOWARD the center of the board. Hence bxc6 is preferred. In addition, this would give black an excellent post for his queen bishop on a6. Notice that black's queen bishop doesn't even move this game! If white does proper defence, this lack of post for thie bishop could've meant a loss for black.} 10. c4 {Very bad. White needs to get pieces out immediately. Nf3 is called for.} 10... Nxf4 11. Qxf4 Bg5 12. Qf3 Qa5+ 13. Nc3 {White misses a strong defence: Qc3! That would a) defend the e-pawn b) block the check c) threaten black's queen. Try to look for moves that do more than one thing at once, if possible.} 13... Qxe5+ 14. Nge2 O-O 15. Ne4 {Remember: Using ALL of your chessmen is always more effective. White could've played the correct O-O, and after Rad1, Rfe1, ALL of his pieces would be active, while black has a hemmed in light-squared bishop. White would have real chances to save his game, despite being a pawn minus. Instead white gives up his b-pawn for free.} 15... Qxb2 16. O-O Be7 {Good. This preserves the bishop pair. Bishops control more squares on an open board. You could check this for yourself. Put 2 knights on an empty board in the center, and they can go to 16 squres. Put 2 bishops in the middle, and they can go to 26 squares!} 17. g4 f5 18. gxf5 exf5 19. Rab1 Qe5 20. N4g3 g6 {Better is 20. ... f4, because this would deny white a square for his Knight at f4, in addition open up the h3-c8 diagonal for black's bishop. With the text, white can play 21. Nf4 Qf6 22. Re1 g5 23. Ng6! Qxg6 24. Rxe7, with chances for white to survive.} 21. Qd3 Rd8 22. f4 {?? Misses black's in-between move. Black should win easily now.} 22... Qc5+ 23. Kg2 Rxd3 24. Rbd1 Qxc4 25. Nc1 Qc2+ 26. Nge2 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 Qxd1 28. Kf2 Bc5+ 29. Kf3 Qf1+ 30. Kg3 Qf2+ 31. Kh3 Qf3+ 32. Kh4 Bf2+ 33. Ng3 {So the key thing for you to remember Peter is to develop ALL of your pieces. You happen to win this time, but if you could have gotten your rook & bishop active, you win would have been sure. As it was, white had many chances to get in the game.} 33... Qg4# 0-1 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W8"] [Black "B8"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00008.4.15 Analyzed by National Master John Graves} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 d6 4. Bc4 Nf6 {Be7! stops Ng5.} 5. Ng5 {winning a pawn by force.} 5... Be6 6. Bxe6 fxe6 7. Nxe6 Qe7 8. Nb5 {Nf8 is best. White is just a pawn up. A possible plan would be to play Nf8, d3,0-0, Bg5 and Nd5 trading down into a winning endgame.} 8... Rc8 9. Nbxc7+ Rxc7 10. Nxc7+ Qxc7 11. d3 Nd4 {A one move threat, Be7 completing development is far superior.} 12. c3 Qa5 13. b4 {Wins a piece by force!} 13... Qc7 14. O-O {?? cd4 wins!! Black just gets a few scary checks.} 14... Qxc3 15. Bd2 {Rb1 is better. Bd2 loses another pawn.} 15... Qxd3 16. Re1 {oops. Mabye 16. f3 holding on to the pawn is a better idea.} 16... Nc2 17. Rc1 Nxe1 18. Qa4+ {Not a bad try.} 18... Kf7 19. Bxe1 Nxe4 20. Qd7+ Kf6 {20... Be7 lets black rook into the game and develops ALL of his pieces, black should win in due time.} 21. Qd8+ Be7 22. Qd7 {Qh8! gives black a winning position. Don't waste a check if you have no follow up.} 22... Nd2 23. Bxd2 Qxd2 24. Rf1 Rf8 {24...Qb4! covers b7 and wins easily.} 25. Qxb7 Rf7 26. Qxa7 d5 27. b5 e4 28. a4 Ke5 29. Qe3 {Keeping queens on would make it harder for black to make progress.} 29... Qxe3 30. fxe3 Rxf1+ 31. Kxf1 Bd8 32. g3 d4 33. exd4+ Kxd4 34. h4 Kd3 35. Ke1 {Both sides missed their chances in this mistake filled game. White one the opening battle but gave away a winning middle game. The early Nb5 was fancy but it gave black 2 minor pieces for a rook which in most cases favors the 2 minors.} 35... h5 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W9"] [Black "B9"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00009.4.16. Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Nb3 {Of course, this isn't the best. This loses the pawn at e4 for nothing. More logical is Nf3, getting a knight out while defending against the threat against d4.} 4... Nxe4 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 Bd7 7. O-O Bb4 8. Be3 O-O 9. Ne5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 c6 {I don't like this for black. it gives his bishop at d7 nowhere to move. ..a5 makes more sense. Also, if white captures on e4, black can get a somewhat reasonable post for his B on c6. Now it has nothing. White's bishops, on the other hand, have great scope.} 11. a3 Be7 12. Na5 {Obviously incorrect. (the Q on d8 can capture this knight for nothing). How about playing 12. f3, winning a knight? (12. ...Nxc5 13. Bxc5 Bxc5, or 12. ... Ng5 13. h4! and black's knight has no where to move!} 12... Nxf2 13. Bxf2 Qxa5 14. Qe2 Bc5 15. Qh5 Bxf2+ 16. Rxf2 g6 17. Qh4 Qc7 18. Re1 a6 19. b4 {? White's heavy concentration of pieces indicates that the king-side is where white should be active. For sure, Re3 would be the way to go. Rh3 would be winning (if ...Qd8 to try to trade queens, white can play Rf6!). There is nothing black can do to prevent a sacrificial breaktrhough.} 19... b5 20. Bxg6 {Oops! This doesn't quite work. 21. Re3 is still the right move (with the idea of Rh3, ...h5, Qg5. Black can defend by playing ...fxg6! 21. Re3 Rxf2 22. Kxf2 Rf8+ 23. Kg1 Rf7.} 20... Rfb8 21. Bxh7+ {21. Qxh7+ Kf8 22. Qxf7 is checkmate. Always choose the fastest win.} 21... Kf8 22. Qh6+ {Why bother with this, when 22. Rxf7+ wins immediately. 22. ... Kxf7 23. Rf1+ (...Ke8 24. Bg6#) Kg7 24. Qf6+! Kxh7 25. Rf3, and black is helpless against the threat of Rh3+ and Rh8 mate. Watch for this motif, this happens a lot in chess games.} 22... Ke8 23. Qg7 Kd8 24. Rxf7 {Good! This moves ties down black's forces.} 24... Qa7+ 25. Kf1 Qb7 26. Qf6+ Kc8 27. Qe7 Qc7 28. Rf8+ {Not good. This lets black get out of the bind. Black's king can't move because he was tied down to defense of his bishop. Both Bd3, with the idea of pushing the h-pawn to h8, or Bf5!, both win quickly.} 28... Kb7 29. Rxb8+ Rxb8 30. a4 Re8 31. Qf7 bxa4 32. Ra1 Rd8 33. g4 Qxe5 34. Rxa4 Qxh2 35. Qh5 Rf8+ 36. Ke1 Qf2+ 37. Kd1 Qf1+ 38. Kd2 Rf2+ 39. Kc3 Qc4+ 40. Kb2 c5 41. Qf7 {?? Doesn't black's reply of ...Rxf7 pretty much end the game? Whenever you want to move your queen behind enemy lines, make sure enemy pieces can't get at her!} 41... Rh2 42. Qxd7+ Kb8 43. Qd6+ Kb7 44. Qd7+ Kb8 45. Qd6+ Kb7 {Why not Qxh2, ending black's game? There is no perpetual check. It is good to trade when ahead, but it doesn't hurt to be even more ahead either.} 46. Qxc5 Qxc5 47. bxc5 Rxh7 48. Rb4+ Kc7 49. Rb6 e5 50. Rxa6 Re7 51. Kc1 e4 52. Kd2 e3+ 53. Ke1 d4 54. g5 {A mistake. Black can now draw. If white plays 54. Ra7+ Kd8 55. Rxe7 Kxe7 56. g5! would win the game. White has a passed c & g pawn -- it's impossible for black's king to stop both, and black's pawns are contained easily by the white king.} 54... Kb7 55. Rb6+ Kc7 56. g6 Re5 57. Ke2 Rxc5 58. g7 Rxc2+ 59. Kd3 Rg2 60. Re6 Kd7 61. Re5 Rxg7 62. Kxd4 e2 63. Rxe2 Kd6 64. Kd3 Kd5 65. Kc2 Rh7 66. Rd2+ Ke5 67. Kc3 Rh6 68. Rd3 Rc6+ 69. Kd2 Re6 70. Ke3 {The notes say White won, but this is a drawn position. Perhaps white won on flag? Continue your studies of tactics, middle game, and endgame. You're sure to improve.} 70... Rf6 1-0 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W10"] [Black "B10"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00010.4.17 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Qf3 Nd4 5. Qd3 a6 6. Ba4 Bc5 7. c3 Nc6 8. Bb3 O-O 9. Nf3 h6 {? This is unnecessary. Continued development, with ...b5, Bb7, with the idea of pressuring white's e-pawn, is preferable.} 10. O-O b5 11. a4 Bb7 12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8 Bxa8 {...Qxa8 is preferable. The queen has a lot more scope on a8 than d8. The bishop is fine on b7. In addition, black has tactics that make his b-pawn immune (Qxb5 Nxe4, d3 Ba6).} 14. Qxb5 d6 15. Qe2 Na5 {Too early. The bishop should go to b6 first, THEN Na5, d5 to try to play energetically. Otherwise, black is a pawn down for nothing. Also, the text overlooks a pawn fork. Be careful of those! Pawn forks often happen.} 16. Bc2 c6 17. b4 Ba7 18. bxa5 Qxa5 19. Na3 Re8 20. Nc4 Qd8 21. Ba3 d5 22. Ncxe5 {White gives you a chance. He could've played 22. exd5 cxd5 23. Ncxe5 Nd7 24. Qd3! and the hanging knight at e5 is immune because Qh7 is mate.} 22... dxe4 23. Bxe4 Qa5 24. Bd6 Re6 25. Qd3 Nxe4 26. Bb4 {White gives black a breather. Simply Qxe4 Rxd6 27 Nc4 Qd5 28. Nxd6 would leave white up a rook and pawn vs a knight.} 26... Qd5 27. Qa6 Rxe5 28. Qxa7 {Gives black a chance again. Nxe5 is still winning.} 28... Re8 29. Re1 c5 30. Bxc5 Bc6 31. h3 {This now gives black a chance again...31. Be3, and white still has chances to convert his extra pawns to a win. Now black is equal.} 31... Nxd2 32. Rxe8+ Bxe8 33. Nxd2 Qxd2 34. Qb8 Qe1+ 35. Kh2 Kh7 36. c4 {Dubious. White should improve his pieces first. Be3 & Qe5 would give white real chances to win.} 36... Bc6 37. g4 {This gives black the game. 37. f3 would hold the position. Remember, the general rule of thumb is put your pawns opposite your own bishop, and on the same squares as your opponent's. The text move opens White's king to merciless infiltration.} 37... g5 38. f4 Qh1+ 39. Kg3 {It appears from the game that your weakness is tactics. I suggest working on tactical problem books, like "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess".} 39... Qg2# 0-1 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W11"] [Black "B11"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00011.4.18 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. h4 Nf6 {Good. You get your knight into the game, and help control the center. When getting your pieces out, develop toward the center (the squares e4, d4, e5, d5 are known as the center).} 2. Rh3 {?! Extremely dubious. The rook is vulnerable to attack, this move does not control the center, and this weakens white's kingside. Pawn to d4 makes more sense.} 2... h5 {Much stronger is 2 ... d5. This gets a foothold in the center, opens up a line for your bishop on c8, and to boot forces white to move one of his pieces again, since the Rook on h3 is threatened by black's bishop. Notice too, that now the g5 square is open for white's pieces, since now your h-pawn can't cover it.} 3. e3 d5 4. Bb5+ c6 5. Ba4 b5 6. Bb3 Qd6 {Since a rook is worth more than a bishop (rook = 5 pawns, bishop = 3 pawns), better is to take the free material with ...Bxh3. Believe it or not, among masters, the difference of having a rook instead of a bishop is winning.} 7. Nc3 a5 8. Nf3 a4 {Instead, of ...Bxh3 9.gxh3 a4! would leave black up a rook! If you see a good move, stop: there might be an even better move.} 9. Rg3 axb3 10. cxb3 Bf5 11. Rg5 Rh6 {This overlooks white's threat. A handy thing to remember is: why did my opponent make that move? You probably would've seen that he was threatening your bishop.} 12. Rxf5 Rg6 13. Ne5 Qe6 {There's a principle in chess that says, "Avoid moving queens early". This is no exception. In addition, White's knight was threatening to capture black's rook. Why not win a pawn and get your rook out of jeapardy with ...Rxg2?} 14. e4 Rxg2 15. Ne2 dxe4 {...Nxe4 wins immediately. Black would be threatening white's Rook, Knight, and once white's rook moves, even ...Nxf2 is in the air.} 16. Nd4 Qd5 {This was good retort on your part. You save your queen, and stay in the center. As it happens, black can win a knight by playing 16. ... Rg1+ 17. Ke2 (forced) Rxd1 18 Nxe6 fxe6 19. Kxd1 exf5. You'll start seeing these combinations with practice.} 17. Nexc6 Qd6 {17. ... Qxf5! 18. Nxf5 Rg1+ still wins material for black. Work it out.} 18. a4 Qh2 {Good infiltration! This move takes advantage of white's exposed king position.} 19. Rxb5 Rxf2 20. Rxb8+ Rxb8 21. Nxb8 {So in conclusion, develop toward the center, with attack if possible, and especially look at forcing moves minimize missing combinations.} 21... Qg1# 0-1 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W12"] [Black "B12"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00012.4.19 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e4 e5 2. d3 {This isn't losing, but much more aggressive is 2. Bc4 or 2. Nf3. As it is, your light-squared bishop is now hemmed in. Notice the bishop had 5 legal moves prior to moving your pawn to d3; now it has only one.} 2... Bc5 3. Be3 Qg5 {?? Clearly a bad move by the computer. White will win with best play; I know white didn't, so let's see what white could have done to collect the full point.} 4. Bxg5 h6 5. Be3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 {An opening principle is: Don't move a piece twice in the opening without good reason. Clearly move 4 was justified for the free queen! However, the bishop has a good post already on e3. Why not either Nc3 or Nbd2? Remember, when ahead a lot in material, trade pieces! Therefore, white had nothing to fear by a potential BxN by black.} 6... Bc5 7. Be3 Bxe3 8. fxe3 Nf6 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Nc3 d6 11. Nb5 {The first misstep. Always get developed first, THEN attack. Therefore, Be2, O-O is called for first. Then white has his choice of opening lines with d4 or attacking on the kingside with Qe1-g3, Nh4-f5.} 11... Kd8 12. Qd2 Be6 13. c4 {A nice move! This denies black any counterplay, and establishes a clamp on the key central square on d5.} 13... a6 14. Na3 {Oops! If you must retreat, retreat TOWARD the center. Nc3 is called for. In addition, if white's knight was on c3, white can advance d4 without having to worry about his e4 pawn (since in that case, the knight would be protecting it).} 14... g5 15. d4 {This isn't right. Just get developed with Be2. Don't worry about 15. ... g4, because Nh4, O-O and Nf5 is strong (notice how if you got developed, your rook would partcipate).} 15... g4 16. d5 gxf3 17. dxe6 Nxe4 18. Qc2 f2+ 19. Ke2 f5 20. b3 {Why? Getting your bishop active is still mandatory. g3 followed by Bg2 or h3, and white would still be winning.} 20... Ke7 21. g3 Kxe6 22. Bh3 Rac8 {The computer misses a cheapo. White can win a free piece with Qxe4! Notice black cannot take the white queen, because the f-pawn is pinned! It is illegal for black to expose his king to check, so white gets a knight scott free.} 23. Kf3 Ng5+ 24. Kxf2 {This hangs a piece. Kg2 was safe and strong...black's f-pawn wasn't going anywhere. Besides, if white had to, he can sac (sacrifice) his rook for pawn and knight, which is still better than losing the bishop for the pawn.} 24... Nxh3+ 25. Kg2 Ng5 26. Rhf1 Rce8 27. Rxf5 {Instead, Qxf5+ Ke7 28. h4 would leave white in a strong position.} 27... Nb4 28. Qb1 {Too passive. Qf2! is natural and strong. Remember with your heavy pieces (rooks & queens), have them double on an open column, or file. What might happen is 28. Qf2 Ne4 29. Qf3 Ng5 30. Qg4 (threatening Rxg5, discovered check!) Ke7 31. Raf1, getting nearly all white's pieces into the attack. The only straggler is that knight at a3, but he can be rerouted by Nb1- c3.} 28... Reg8 29. Nc2 {Not the best. 29. h4, followed by Qe4 and Raf1 would still be very strong.} 29... Kxf5 30. Nd4+ Kf6 31. Qf5+ Ke7 32. Qe6+ Kf8 {? A poor move by black. Simply 32. ... Nxe6 would force white to resign.} 33. Qc8+ Kg7 34. Qxc7+ Nf7 35. Ne6+ {Instead, 25. Rf1! wins outright! That move would threaten Qxf7#, so therefore black would have to play ...Rf8, but THEN 36. Ne6+ Kg6 37. Qe7 is lights out for black. There is this phrase among tournament chess players, "Monkey see check, monkey do check". Don't be a monkey! Only check if there's a concrete reason to do so.} 35... Kg6 36. Qe7 Nc2 37. Rf1 Nxe3+ 38. Kg1 Nxf1 39. Kxf1 b6 40. g4 Re8 41. Qh4 {This was the losing move for white. To have a fighting chance, white had to play 41. Qd7 to protect his knight.} 41... Rxe6 42. g5 Nxg5 43. Kf2 Rf8+ 44. Kg3 Rf4 45. Qxh6+ Kxh6 46. Kg2 Rg4+ 47. Kf2 Rf6+ 48. Ke2 Rg2+ 49. Kd3 {I want to thank you for sending in this game. Unlike many who send submissions, you sent a loss. This is exactly the kind of game that an individual can get the most out of -- one of his/her draws or losses. It can be humbling at times, and even difficult, but by going over a loss, trying to find out what went wrong, and how to improve, will reap great results. I myself did the same when I was a youth, and by continually going over games that I lost/drew, I found out what I did wrong, and resolved not to repeat them. I did go over wins as well to look for improvements, but rarely did I learn as much. BTW, I have a feeling that if the computer gives you a free queen again, it will be in trouble, because you've learned from your mistakes! Keep up the good fight.} 49... Rf3# 0-1 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W13"] [Black "B13"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00013.4.20 Analyzed by National Master John Graves} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 f5 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. e3 g6 6. Nge2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. d3 {d4 is also possible, but there is nothing wrong with d3.} 8... c6 9. b4 Be6 10. b5 d5 11. bxc6 bxc6 12. Qa4 g5 {g5 is a mistake, but with the center still fluid a wing demonstration can be dangerous.12...g5 also gives white time to develop an initiative. 12...e4 is tempting but that allows white to put uncomfortable pressure on the "d" line. 12...dc! followed by Qd3 gives black equality} 13. Ba3 Rf7 14. Rac1 Rd7 15. Bb4 {Why not cd right away?} 15... a5 16. Ba3 {cd5 is a possibility} 16... Bf7 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. Nb5 Na6 19. Rc6 Nb4 20. Bxb4 axb4 21. Qxb4 Rxa2 22. Nec3 Ra8 23. Nd6 Bf8 24. Nxf7 Rxf7 {Forced. Whit wins a pawn after 24...Bb4 25. Nd8 Bc3 26.Ne6 hitting g5 and c3.} 25. Qb3 Ra3 26. Qc2 e4 27. dxe4 dxe4 28. Rd1 {White has the advantage due to the more harmonious nature of his pieces. He also has an advantage on the light squares. Namely f5 e6 and f7.} 28... Qe8 29. Nb5 Ra2 30. Qc4 Ra4 31. Qc2 Ra2 32. Qxa2 Qxc6 33. Nd4 Qd5 34. Qc2 Ng4 {This is incorrect. Qe5 is far superior. This gets black of the the a2-g8 diagonal and protects the f pawn, this gives black a chance to hold the game.} 35. h3 Ne5 {this loses at once, better was to admit the mistake and play the knight back to f6.} 36. Nxf5 Nd3 37. g4 h5 38. Qc8 Qa2 39. Rf1 Kh7 {The light squares really hurt black in the final stages of the game.} 40. Bxe4 1-0 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W14"] [Black "B14"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00014.4.21 Analyzed by National Master John Graves} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bb4+ 5. c3 {This check only helps white.} 5... dxc3 6. bxc3 {0-0 may also be possible.} 6... Bc5 {6...Ba5 is better since it avoids losing a pawn by force.} 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qd5+ Ke8 9. Qh5+ g6 10. Qxc5 d6 11. Qe3 Bg4 12. O-O Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Ne5 14. Qe2 Qf6 15. f4 Nc6 16. e5 {a good breakthrough.} 16... dxe5 17. fxe5 Qe6 18. Re1 {Nd2 is far superior.} 18... Nge7 19. Nd2 Kd7 20. Nf3 Raf8 21. Ng5 Qf5 22. e6+ Kc8 23. Nf7 Rhg8 24. Nh6 Qc5+ 25. Be3 Qxc3 26. Nxg8 Nxg8 27. Rac1 Qf6 28. Rxc6 bxc6 29. Qa6+ Kd8 30. Rd1+ {Oops! Qd3! wins at once. 30...Ke7 or e8 Qd7 mate.30...Kc8 31.Qd7 Kb7 32.Rb1 Ka6 32.Qc6 Ka5 33.Qb5 mate.} 30... Ke7 31. Bc5+ Kxe6 32. Qc4+ Kf5 33. Rf1+ Kg5 34. Be3+ Kh5 35. Rxf6 Nxf6 36. Qe2+ Ng4 37. h3 g5 38. Qxg4+ Kg6 39. Qxg5+ Kf7 40. Qf5+ Ke8 41. Qe6+ [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W15"] [Black "B15"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00015.4.22 Analyzed by Candidate Master Daniel Waite} {All right! Courage! You will learn more from your losses than you will from your wins. If you study the games you lose you will see the patterns that get you in trouble and common mistakes you make. If you minimize these then you will improve quickly. A good source for this study might be Soltis' "Catalogue of Chess Mistakes."} 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 {Your move is a tad unusual but it works. Typically the King's Bishop often finds its way to c4. Traditionally the idea is to play 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 first.} 4.O-O Be6 {Your opponent errs. The one thing you must be aware of in the Opening is to grab any and all chances to wreck your opponents pawn structure. Look at 5. Bxe6 fxe6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Nf6 9. f4. This may be my personality but I feel Black has serious problems organizing anything useful with the shattered pawn structure. The only redeeming quality is that Black as three center pawns.} 5.d3 Bxc4 6.dxc4 Nf6 7.Re1 g6 8.Bf4 Bg7 {Remember to play with a plan! The last few moves are setting up a nice attack but do you understand what you are trying? Often we hear the mantra to develop, so we develop and miss the point behind why we are making the move. The idea of the opening is to create an "imbalance" [any difference in the position] - especially in minor piece position - and develop around it. One idea of developing the Bishop to f4 is to play h3 to give the Bishop a safe haven while keeping the Knight at bay. BTW the pawns at e4 and c4 are considered a strong strategy against the Sicilian.} 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Rb1 Ng4 {Here you have to look at playing 10. Qd2 with the idea of playing Bh6 to rid the game of the Dragon Bishop. Also tempting is to blast the center with 10. e5!} 11.Nd5 Qa5 {It always helps when your opponent misses a solid move. …Nge5} 12.h3 Nf6 13.e5 Nh5 {It looks like your move loses a pawn but it is a gutsy idea. The aggressiveness of your play will help you as you learn the various tactical possibilities of a position. One suggestion is to concentrate on pattern recognition. Learn the various patterns behind combinations. There are probably only about 20 common ones.} 14.Bg5 Qxa2 {Ouch. Black begs White to finish the game in a clean stroke. There is an "urban legend" that tells of a rich guy that left his son a vast fortune on the condition that he would never play Qxa2 even if it were the correct move. 14…dxe4 or 14…f6 was necessary to hold the balance.} 15.Nxe7+ Nxe7 16.Bxe7 Rfc8 17.b3 dxe5 {I find in my lost games that I generally had a "big miss." Well, this one is yours. After 17. exd6 the game is over, you can hear the "fat lady warming up." The pawn on d6 moves to d7 and completely chokes Black's middle. The Black Rooks become totally useless and you own all the important squares. All this is helped by the useless placement of the Black Queen. Even 17. Ng5 does close to mortal damage to Black threatening both 18. exd6 and 18. Qd5.} 18.Nxe5 Nf4 19.Re4 Re8 {Please, do not help your opponent! Remember, never force your opponent to do something you will regret. 19. Qc1! Attacks the Knight on f4, if that is what you want, and holds the back line down nicely. One thing you must learn is when a threat is real and when it is not. The ideal is to ignore your opponent's threats and execute your own. To do this you must learn to distinguish between the real and the imagined.} 20.Nd3 Nxd3 21.Re2 Nf4 {21. cxd3 was necessary. It is ugly but playable. It's better than what happened. White is saddled with two "backward" pawns - on d3 and on b3. I'd call this a positional nightmare, but against a weak opponent you will have an interesting fight on your hands. The squares in front of them are called "holes" where Black will plant a piece. This is called a "blockade." The strength of a blockade is that the pawn is immobile. In chess, if it doesn't [or can't] move it will suffer violence. Keep your position as flexible as possible while coaxing your opponent into making his as ridged as possible. Another strength of the blockade is that it is a base of operation against the opponent. The blockader can not be attacked through the weak pawn.} 22.Re1 b6 23.Bg5 Rxe1+ {23. Qf3 or 23. Rc1. Your idea of chasing the Knight with the Bishop is misguided and at this point fatal. Don't attack something for the sake of attacking. Always ask yourself, "what is my opponent threatening?" "If I move this what can my opponent threaten or take?" You must have a solid positional reason to attack. Generally if it is mobile, look somewhere else unless you are attempting to create a weakness such as immobility or a poorly defended piece. As much as possible "over protect" everything [pieces and important squares]. By creating an interlocking web of pieces you will make them "all" mobile [perfect for attack or defense]. Think "internet." Anything that "inters" it doesn't leave with all its body parts.} 24.Qxe1 Ne2+ 25.Kf1 Qxc2 26.b4 cxb4 27.Rxb4 Re8 28.c5 bxc5 {O.K. your opponent is mortal after all. He misses the "discovered attack." 28…Ng3+ 29. fxg3 Rxe1+. This can be crushing if there is a check involved. Of course 28…Bc3 forking Qe1 & Rb4 works. Next time you see him, feel free to point this out to him and gloat that he missed "all" the big moves in this game! - grin} 29.Rb5 c4 30.f3 c3 {Black misses mate in five [forced]. Cover the screen and figure it out. 30…Ng3+ 31. Kg1 Rxe1+ 32. Kh2 Nf1+ 33. Kh1 Ne3+ 34. Kh2 Qxg2#. You should be able to follow this in your mind and see it at the board because they are all forced moves. Track forced moves all the way through. Always consider check. A check is a free move. Following a "line of checks" often leads to checkmate.} 31.g4 Qd3 32.Rc5 Qxf3+ 33.Qf2 Qh1+ 34.Qg1 {O.K. so he got you in four moves, but he needed your help. An idea to prolong the game would have been to move your Q to b1 instead of moving the pawns. I suspect when you start moving pawns you are out of plans. Suggestions for improvement: Keep up the slash and attack style. Be a threat to everyone you meet. Put some effort into learning pawn play. "Pawns are the soul of chess." Most plans revolve around the pawn structure. If you get this down you will become difficult for the "sharks" [2000+ players] to handle. Don't give away pieces! Don't force your opponent to do anything you will regret. Don't panic - if you find yourself tempted to move pawns sit on your hands and breath [that's when you inhale and exhale air from your lungs - I often forget in a tense game] then look for a logical line that the position demands. Keep examining your lost games, your courage will take you far! [I read that on a "Chinese fortune" cookie once - grin.] Develop an attitude: If my opponent can beat me they will have to do it without my help!} 34... Qxg1# 0-1 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W16"] [Black "B16"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00016,4,23 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 {This position is known as the Center Counter, or Scandinavian defense. While objectively sound for black, I don't recommend it as this early queen sortie, as it doesn't help black's central control much, plus black always has to be careful where he moves his queen again, as the monarch is always pushed around by White with an eventual Nc3 or c4. If black isn't careful, he could lose his queen easily, as this game demonstrates.} 3. d4 Nc6 {A good move by black. He gets his knight out, while at the same time puts pressure on White by threatening to capture on d4.} 4. Nf3 Nf6 {Natural, but inaccurate. An aggressive ...Bg4! followed by castling queenside could really put the pressure on White's center. For example, if ...Bg4 5. c4?? Qe4+ 6. Be2 Bxf3 7. gxf3 Qxd4 leaves black up a pawn! This is one reason why it's common for white to boot black's queen from the center as soon as possible by playing Nc3 move 2. As it stands, white gets a free hand to push black around.} 5. c4 Qa5+ {? This only forces white to develop his bishop with a gain of time. Black has to accept the fact his only reasonable posts for her is d6 or d8.} 6. Bd2 Qb6 7. c5 {?? The key blunder. Like it or not, black had to play 7. ... Qf5. After this, White has a won game, and you played well to convert it.} 7... Qxb2 8. Bc3 Qxa1 9. Bxa1 Bg4 10. Be2 {A little passive, but of course a reasonable move. Instead Bb5, followed by Nbd2, Qa4 would really put the pressure on black.} 10... e6 11. h3 Bf5 12. Bb5 Rb8 13. O-O {Again, sound, but Nbd2, followed by Bxc6, and Qa4 and/or Ne5 would make black resign soon.} 13... a6 14. Ba4 Be7 15. Re1 O-O 16. Bc2 {Why not 16. Nbd2? Then Bxc6 and Qa4 would pick up some of black's pawns for sure. There are many ways to win at this point.} 16... Bxc2 17. Qxc2 h6 18. Ne5 {Good. When up material (such as a Queen for a rook in your case), trade pieces. This makes the your material advantage more effective.} 18... Nb4 19. Qc4 Nbd5 20. Nc3 Rfd8 21. Ne4 c6 22. Nxf6+ Nxf6 23. Ng6 {This is okay, but if black replied 23. ... Bf8! 24. Nxf8 Kxf8, with the idea of not moving his pawns and establishing a blockade, it would make it more difficult for white to win. With the text, black opens lines in White's favor.} 23... Bxc5 {?} 24. dxc5 fxg6 25. Qxe6+ Kh7 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Qf7+ Kh8 28. Qxf6+ Kg8 29. Re7 1-0 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W17"] [Black "B17"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00017.4.24 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. b4 e5 2. Nc3 Bxb4 {This pawn sacrifice was unjustified by White. With best play, black should win.} 3. Bb2 Nf6 4. e4 Nc6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. g3 Nd4 {Black could've won another pawn using a tactical motif called, "Removing the Defender". 6. ... Bxc3 7. Bxc3 Nxe4. White cannot take on e5, or he will lose at least a piece because of the pin on the e-line.} 7. Bg2 d6 8. O-O Bg4 9. h3 Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 Bxf3 {Why not win the pawn on h3? White can't trap the Bishop with 11. g4 since by taking the pawn, the bishop would also threaten the rook at f1. This concept is known as gaining a tempo.} 11. Qxf3 b5 {?! Definitely dubious. This makes black's pawn structure slightly weaker. Why not solidfy central control with ...c6, Re8, with a ...d5 expansion? Remember, when ahead in material, trade pieces, not pawns.} 12. Nxb5 Bxd2 {As a result of this interchange, white has 3 pawn islands, black has 2. A pawn island is a group of pawns separated by open files. This should give black a slight endgame advantage. The reason that fewer pawn islands is better, is that they don't need pieces to defend them (they can defend each other).} 13. Rad1 Rb8 14. Rxd2 Rxb5 15. Ba3 Ra5 {Remember your heavy pieces (Queen, rooks) want to double on the open file (column). Therefore, Qb8 would be quite strong, to establish b-file control. Black could follow-up with ...Qb7 (pressuring white's e-pawn), ...Rfb8, and/or Rb1 with a definite edge for black.} 16. Rd3 Qb8 {...Qa8! (pressuring white's e-pawn again) is quite strong... white would have to be tied down with Re1, then Rb8, followed by the killer shot ...d5 (white can't take because ...e4 would fork white's queen and rook).} 17. Rb3 Qc8 18. Qc3 Ra6 19. Qc4 Nd7 {The knight was already good on f6. Better was to oppose white's control of the b-file with ...Rb6. This would also free your queen from defense of the rook on a6, so ...Qxh3 is a real threat.} 20. Rfb1 Rb6 21. f4 {This is a dubious line opening by white. There are too many hanging white pawns, plus this opens up White's king considerably.} 21... Rxb3 22. axb3 Nb6 23. Qf1 exf4 24. Qxf4 {This is obviously an oversight by white. White had to play gxf4, and if black tries to open things up with ..f5, then e5 gives White a fighting chance.} 24... Qxh3 25. Rd1 Nc8 {Why not ...Nd7? The post on e5 would be very strong for black. Remember, if you can, try to centralize your knights... they drive a wedge in your opponent's position.} 26. e5 Rd8 27. exd6 cxd6 28. Bxd6 {? This loses. White's bishop is much stronger than the knight at c8, plus when behind in material trade pawns, not pieces. Since black's d-pawn is pinned, c4 looks likes White's best chance. Now black can win a piece with ...Qe6. Remember attack pinned pieces! You might win them.} 28... Nxd6 29. c4 Nb7 30. Rxd8+ Nxd8 31. Qb8 Qd7 32. b4 Kf8 33. c5 Ke8 34. b5 a5 {This is not right. ..Qd4+, then ...Qxc5 would force white to resign. Notice ...Qxc5 defends a7, covers e5 against potential checks by the white queen, and helps restrict white's b-pawn. Why does the black queen do so much? Because it's centralized! I can't emphasize the importance of this enough.} 35. b6 {White had much stronger, c6! This threatens c6-c7-c8(Q). Black would be forced to take the draw by perpetual check! Remember, 2 connected passed pawns are very strong. White's move allows a light-squared blockade by black.} 35... Qb7 {?? This loses by force! Again, ...Qd4+, 36. Kh1 Qxc5 37. b7 Qb5 wins for black.} 36. Qe5+ {? White could have had a beautiful win with 36. Qxb7 Nxb7 37. c6 Nc5 38. b7 Na6 39. c7!!, and black can't stop white from queening. Chessplayers have this expression: "Two passed pawns on the 6th rank (row) are worth a rook".} 36... Ne6 37. Qd6 a4 38. c6 Qxb6+ 39. Kg2 Qc5 40. Qd7+ Kf8 41. Qc8+ Ke7 42. Qd7+ Kf6 43. g4 g5 44. Kf3 a3 45. Ke4 a2 46. Qd1 Qxc6+ 47. Ke3 Qa6 {This wins, but 47. ...Qc3+ 48. K moves a1(Q) would make white resign.} 48. Qa1+ Ke7 49. Ke4 Nc5+ 50. Kf5 f6 51. Qxf6+ Qxf6# 0-1 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W18"] [Black "B18"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00018.4.25 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. e3 c6 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 {While this plan is sound, white can get a slight pull by playing 8. cxd5 cxd5 9. Qb3 e6 (...Nb6 10. Ne5) 10. Bd2, and white can gain c-file occupatio first. Probably 7. ... dxc4 8. Bxc4 Bg4 leads to better chances for equality, with the idea of an eventual ...e5 by black.} 8. Qc2 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nb6 10. Bb3 Nfd5 11. Nxd5 {? Definitely wrong. If white was planning this, he never should've posted his queen on c2, because now the lady will be exposed for free tempos by black. Instead, a3 or e4 are much more consistent...leaving white with a slight advantage (center, black's less than ideal knight on b6).} 11... cxd5 12. Bd2 Bf5 13. Qd1 Rc8 14. Ba5 Qd6 15. Bxb6 axb6 16. Qe2 {An automatic move...this connects rooks, but that's about it. Instead Qd2 is stronger. This would prevent blacks' queen from infiltrating b4, help insure white can contest the c-file (since the Q would be covering c1), and indirectly hinders an e5 break by black (because the black d-pawn would be hit by white's queen and bishop. Also, ...Bg4, followed by ...Bxf3, gxf3 is not dangerous for white. Remember: a weakness is only a weakness if it can be taken advantage of! This motif is seen often in Grandmaster (GM) chess.} 16... Bg4 17. h3 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 e6 19. Rac1 Qb4 20. Qe2 Rc6 21. Rxc6 {? Now black mobilizes his pawns, white's bishop is bad, and will activate black's bishop as well, not to mention undoubling black's pawns for him. Because of the opposite colored bishops, white could put a much stiffer reistance by playing 21. Qd3 Rfc8 22. Rcd1!, and black has no access points (c2 is covered by the light squared bishop), and no way to boot white's bishop. Note that even if black sac'd his rook on c4 at some point, white doesn't even have to take it! Also, the d-line pressure would discourage a ...e5 break by black. White would basically "shuffle", since black can't break through.} 21... bxc6 22. Qa6 c5 23. Rd1 cxd4 24. exd4 Bxd4 25. Qa3 Qc5 26. Qxc5 bxc5 27. Rd2 Rb8 {Good move, this restricts white's options, and indirectly prevents white from mobilizing his own pawn majority.} 28. Kf1 Kg7 29. Ke2 Kf6 30. f3 Ke5 31. Kd1 c4 32. f4+ Ke4 33. Bc2+ Ke3 34. b3 cxb3 35. Bxb3 Rb7 36. g3 Bc3 37. Rc2 d4 38. Rg2 {A well-played game by black...black made the most of his opportunities. With this game, it's hard to answer your question about strength...white made a number of positional errors, and black could be anywhere from an A-class player to grandmaster. I need more games to make a better evaluation in that regard. White played approx. B-player strength. Keep at it, and always go over any losses/draws you experience, so you can learn and improve even more.} 38. ...Kf3 0-1 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W19"] [Black "B19"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00019.5.01 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7 4. d4 d6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. h3 {Good move! This deprives the black B on c8 and N on f6 of a possible post on g4.} 7... a6 {Black's last move is rather dubious. In most King pawn openings, Piece play is everthing. Much more logical is 7. ... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Re8, with a slightly cramped but solid position for black. Notice that White can't play 9. Bg5? Nxe4! as this would win a pawn for black.} 8. a4 h6 {There is no need for this move. Black should still play the plan mentioned on move 7.} 9. a5 Re8 10. d5 Nb8 11. Ne1 Nh7 {? Definitely a mistake. Black should of course continue development with ...Nbd7 instead, with the idea of ...Nf8, Ng6, Bd7, c6 with a playable game. The text leaves the center for no good reason.} 12. f4 {This is the right plan, just played too early. Better would've been to prepare this move with Nd3, and possibly even Kh2, g3, f4 so that way white can recapture f4 with a pawn and therefore deprive the nice e5 square for black's pieces. As the game goes, white gets a hole on e5. Squares that cannot be covered by pawns are called holes.} 12... exf4 13. Bxf4 Bf6 14. Qf3 Nd7 15. Nd3 {Alert play. It was critical for white to cover c5 and e5 as soon as possible, to contest any knight outposts by black.} 15... Qe7 16. Rae1 Ne5 {Another mistake by black. This is rather poor play for an expert. The battle for e5 ("Fight for the Center") is key, therefore he should've played ...Nf8! with the idea of Ng6, and the stranglehold control of e5 would give him a small advantage.} 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 {Black makes what should've been his last mistake. White can now win at least a pawn with 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 19. Qxf7+ Kh8. If instead black tried 18. ... dxe5, then white has 19. d6! cxd6 20. Bxf7+ Kh8 21. Bxe8 Qxe8 which leave white ahead with a rook for a bishop. One of the best ways that I suggest to not miss tactics is to always look at forcing moves.} 18. Bb3 Ng5 19. Qh5 f6 {This unnecessarily weakens light squares in Black's camp. The reason strong players avoid weakening their squares if possible is to deny good outposts/lines for the opponent's pieces. This is precisely what White correctly does in this game, and that is to play on the light squares. Much better for black would be 19. ... g6! 20. Qe2 Bd7, which would leave black with a slight advantage. Notice White can't play 20. Qxh6?? because 20. ... Bg7 21. Qh4 Nf3+ wins White's queen.} 20. Ba4 Rf8 21. Nd1 Qf7 22. Qe2 Bd4+ 23. Kh1 Qg6 {Not very good, but postion has deteriated to the point it's hard to suggest a good move. Black needed to complete development with 23. ... Bd7 24. Bxd7 Qxd7, and reroute his Knight to e5 and hope that that counterbalances his holes on e6 and f5. Notice that none of this would be a problem if he would've played ...g6 earlier.} 24. c3 Ba7 25. Bc2 Qe8 26. N1f2 Bd7 27. b3 {Why not Nf4? if black replies ...Bb5, c4 is an effective rejoinder.} 27... Nf7 28. Ng4 Ne5 29. Nf4 Nxg4 30. hxg4 Qe5 31. Ne6 {A good, practical decision, as bishops of opposites may give chances to draw. With proper play though, black should still win.} 31... Bxe6 32. dxe6 Qxe6 33. Bd3 Kh8 {Black has been playing this game entirely too passively. ...Qe5! is much stronger. That move blockades white's e-pawn (hence hemming white's bishop in), threatens pawns on a5, c3, and in addition threatens dark-square penetration to white's king-side with ...Qg3 or ...Qg5.} 34. Qf3 Rae8 35. e5 {A nice clearance sacrifice. After this move, a draw is the most likely result.} 35... dxe5 36. Qe4 f5 {Forced.} 37. gxf5 Qf6 38. Rf3 Rd8 39. Ref1 c6 40. Rg3 Qf7 41. Rff3 Rd6 42. Rg6 Rf6 43. Qg4 e4 44. Bc4 Qxg6 45. fxg6 exf3 46. gxf3 Rxf3 47. Qd7 Rg3 48. Qxb7 Rg1+ 49. Kh2 Rf2+ 50. Kh3 Rf3+ {You did play aggressively and with energy, which is good. Try to look at forcing moves, so that you have a smaller chance of missing a combination. Also, try to minimize making "holes" in your position, especially in the center of the board. If your opponent has holes, try to occupy them and use them as springboards for your attack. Don't worry about ratings too much, as this often can be a distractor from playing good chess. Try instead to improve your game. Your rating will increase naturally as your understanding of chess grows.} 51. Kh2 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W20"] [Black "B20"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00020.5.02 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Nge2 c5 7. h4 h5 8. Nf4 Bh7 {This is all book so far, and this line is known to give a slight advantage to white. Development is critical for black...better is not to ...h5 at all, but ..h6, so that the bishop can retreat to to ..h7 safely.} 9. Nxh5 cxd4 10. Nb5 Qa5+ 11. Qd2 {! Good move. 11 Bd2 Qb6 is uncomfortable for white.} 11... Bb4 12. Nxg7+ Kf8 13. c3 dxc3 14. bxc3 Bc5 15. Nh5 Be4 16. Rh3 {Excellent. Gets the rook out of danger, and puts it at an active post.} 16... Nc6 17. Qg5 Bg6 {?! Dubious. Black's best defense is ...Rh7} 18. Rf3 Bxh5 {This walks into White's hands. ...Ke8 would offer stiffer resistance. For example 19. Nf4?? Be7 would win white's queen (or a piece).} 19. gxh5 Rd8 20. Rg3 {Alert play. Normally, one should develop first before conducting such an blunt attack, but this move does take advantage of black's earlier missteps.} 20... Qb6 21. Rg2 {One of the few missteps by white. 21 Qg7+ Ke8 22 Rf3 would checkmate or win massive amount of material.} 21... Bxf2+ 22. Kd1 Bg3 23. Qxg3 Ke7 24. Qg7 Nh6 25. Bxh6 Rxh6 26. Qxh6 Nxe5 27. Qg7 Nd7 28. h6 e5 29. Qg5+ Ke6 30. Rb2 {After this, black really could resign.} 30... Rf8 31. Bh3+ f5 32. h7 {For the past few moves, white could have won black's queen with Nd4+ if he wished.} 32... Kf7 33. Qxf5+ Nf6 34. Nd6+ Kg7 35. Rg2+ Kh8 36. Rg8+ Nxg8 37. hxg8=Q+ Rxg8 38. Qh5+ Kg7 39. Qg5+ Kh7 40. Bf5+ Rg6 41. Qxg6+ Kh8 {If you really don't lose much, then for stronger opposition, I suggest going to your local chess club. Portland has strong chess players -- I know, I've played them! Also you can play on the internet, though for improving your slow chess I strongly recommend playing over the board. Your style is aggressive...balance that with defence, you should continue to do well.} 42. Nf7# 1-0 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W21"] [Black "B21"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00021.5.04 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e4 Nc6 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d4 e5 {There was no reason take the free, central pawn at e4. If white tries to threaten checkmate and black's knight with Qf3, then d5! stops the mate threat and protects black's knight. Black would have the advantage.} 4. d5 Bc5 {A Knight is worth 3 pawns. You don't want to give it up for just a pawn, unless you have a really good reason. Correct was to preserve your knight with 4. ... Ne7, with the idea of ...Ng6, ...Bc5, ...d6.} 5. dxc6 bxc6 6. Bg5 O-O {6. ... Bxf2+ 7. Kxf2 Nxe4+ wins two pawns (the bishop on g5 falls). This tactical motif is very common...watch for it.} 7. b3 d6 8. Nc3 Bg4 {Not good. White can win a piece with 9. Bxf6. Perhaps ...h6 was in order.} 9. f3 Bh5 10. Na4 Bb4+ 11. c3 Ba3 {You need to preserve your bishop with 11. ... Ba5. With this move, white can now trap your bishop with 12. b4, with the idea of Qb3.} 12. Bc1 Bc5 13. Nxc5 dxc5 14. Ba3 Qc8 15. Bxc5 Rd8 {Again, isn't winning a pawn with 15. ... Nxe4 preferable? White can't take back or he'd lose his queen.} 16. Qc2 Nd7 17. Ne2 Nxc5 18. O-O Bxf3 {This is a hard position for black, but it's not time to throw away pieces yet. When in doubt, improve your worst pieces. Black would like to get his a-rook into the game. The best way to do that is ...Rd6, ...Qd7, and ...Rd8. If black can establish dominance over the d file (column), then he'd have a slight advantage despite having a worse pawn structure.} 19. Rxf3 Qd7 {Black's position was bad, but this makes it worse. Black needed to play ...Ne6 to block white's threat. Doubling on the d-line is still black's best bet.} 20. Rxf7 Qg4 {Black is dead lost after this. The only chance was to get the most for his queen with 20. ... Qxf7 21. Bxf7+ Kxf7, though white would still be winning. There is no way for black to rescue his game after this point.} 21. Rf4+ Ne6 22. Rxg4 h5 23. Rg6 Re8 24. Rxe6 Rxe6 25. Bxe6+ Kh7 26. Bf5+ g6 27. Be6 Re8 28. Bc4 Rf8 29. Qd3 g5 30. Qd7+ Kh6 31. Qe6+ Kg7 32. Qxe5+ Rf6 33. Qxg5+ Rg6 34. Qxh5 Rh6 35. Qf7+ Kh8 36. Qg8# {So in conclusion, don't give up pieces for pawns except for VERY good reasons (like forced checkmate). Also, when in doubt in what to move, improve your worst pieces. Masters do this themselves when a plan isn't obvious. In addition, try to concentrate your heavy pieces (rooks & queen) on open files (columns)...they are most effective in that setup. Try to look at forced moves, and try ask yourself, "Why did my opponent move there?". If you ask yourself that question, often you can see that he was trying to threaten your pawns/pieces or checkmate, and if you see his threat, you can parry it.} 1-0 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W22"] [Black "B22"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00022.5.05 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. d4 d5 4. e4 {This loses a pawn. Correct is continuing development with 4. Bg5.} 4... dxe4 5. d5 exf3 6. dxc6 fxg2 {Black misses his chance to get a very strong position with 6. ... Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 Bg4!. This threatens 8. ... fxg2 discovered check, followed by 9. ... gxh1(Q). Notice that if white tried 7. cxb7, then 7. ... fxg2+ 8. Ke1 gxh1(Q) 9. bxa8(Q) Qxa8 would leave black up a lot of material. The move black chooses just develops white's bishop.} 7. Bxg2 Qxd1+ 8. Kxd1 Bf5 9. cxb7 {Yes! The correct move. This passed pawn is very strong, and should have decided the game.} 9... Rd8+ 10. Bd2 {Good! Respond to threats by developing pieces. Best chances that way.} 10... e5 11. Re1 {Correct. If possible develop with attack, like this move does.} 11... Bd6 12. Bc6+ Bd7 13. Bf3 O-O 14. Ne4 Bg4 {?? Loses a piece by force. Black's position was difficult, he had to figure out a way to get rid of White's thorn in his side at b7. Otherwise, he might as well resign right now.} 15. Nxf6+ gxf6 16. Bxg4 Bb4 17. Re2 {Too passive. Much stronger is 17. c3 Bc5 18. Bc8, forcing black to sacrifice his rook because of white's threat of b8(Q), and after exchanges on c8, would leave white up a full rook!} 17... Bxd2 18. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 19. Kxd2 Rd8+ 20. Ke1 {No. Now that most pieces are exchanged, the king is a fighting piece -- the threat of mate is non-existent. White should try to support his passed b-pawn with 20. Kc3.} 20... Rb8 21. Bf3 {This works, but 21. Bc8! Kf8 22. Rd1 would leave black in a complete bind. Black would be helpless to stop white's plan of advancing her queen-side pawns, and forcing a breakthrough on b6.} 21... f5 22. Rd1 {? Not the best. Let's take a look here. What are the key elements of this position? Elements of chess are king safety, material imbalances, space, development, for example. In this case, the key facts are: 1) White has an extra bishop, and 2) the passed, PROTECTED pawn on b7. The b7 pawn has the most potential, and should have been preserved if at all possible. In this case it was, by playing Bc6 instead. Then the plan of 23. Rd1, Rd7, Rxc7, followed by Rc8 is winning outright.} 22... e4 23. Bg2 Rxb7 24. f3 {Not the best. The general rule of thumb when up a piece is in endgame is: Trade pieces, NOT pawns. Conversely, if someone is losing, they should trade pawns, not pieces. Correct was to preserve white's b-pawn with 24. b3. The text makes it more difficult for white to win.} 24... exf3 25. Bxf3 Rxb2 26. Rd8+ Kg7 27. Kd1 {Again, now that mate threats are minimal, aggressive use of the king is called for. White should advance toward the center with Kd2.} 27... Rxa2 28. Bd5 Ra3 29. Rd7 c5 30. Rxf7+ Kg6 31. Rc7 Ra5 32. Bg8 {?! Dubious. White's bishop was already well placed on d5. More logical was to get white's king involved in the action with Ke2.} 32... h6 33. Bh7+ Kg5 34. Rf7 f4 35. Ke1 {Unnecessarily passive. Ke2 is still best.} 35... c4 36. Kf2 a6 37. Kg2 {Actually, 37. Rg7+ Kh5 38. Kf3 would win material for white, plus bottle up black's king. A mating net might even be possible. Otherwise, black's only choice would be 37. ... Kf6, but that loses the h6 pawn to Rg6+. That would present problems for black since that would create a passed pawn (a passed pawn means unopposed by enemy pawns).} 37... Kh4 38. Rxf4+ Kg5 39. Kg3 {There was a free pawn on c4. There was no reason not to take it.} 39... Ra2 40. Rg4+ Kf6 41. Rxc4 Ra3+ 42. Bd3 h5 43. Kh4 Ra1 44. Rc6+ Ke5 45. Rxa6 Rh1 46. Kh3 Kf4 47. Rf6+ Kg5 48. Be4 {Actually 48. Rf5+ Kh6 (...Kg6? 49. Rf1+ picks up black's rook) Be2 would pick up black's last pawn, and probably make black resign.} 48... Re1 49. Re6 Re2 50. Re5+ {Never give check just to give check! Only do it for a good reason. Correct is 50. c4 (passed pawns must be pushed!) The black king cannot get at white's rook, and can't win the bishop on e4 since white can always preserve her bishop with Bd5, which also protects her rook on e6.} 50... Kf4 51. Rxh5 Rxe4 {Black makes an inaccuracy here. Now white can win by force. ...Kxe4 would give black some chances to draw.} 52. Rh4+ Ke5 53. c3 {Simply exchanging rooks followed by Kg4 would win easily for white. Black could have played ...Rd3+ leaving white only a pawn up.} 53... Rxh4+ 54. Kxh4 Kd5 55. Kg3 {This works, but generally this is the wrong move. In king and pawn endgames, the rule of thumb is: Advance the king as much as is possible to support a pawn advance, without jeopardizing the pawn's safety. Therefore, 55. Kg5 was the correct move. If white's c-pawn were gone, black could draw by running his king to h8, and white would unable to make progress. With Kg5, however, white can get to g7 first, blocking black's king, and forcing white's h-pawn to queen.} 55... Kc4 56. h4 Kxc3 57. h5 Kd4 58. h6 Ke5 59. h7 Kf6 60. h8=Q+ Kg6 61. Kh4 Kf7 62. Qe5 Kg6 63. Qe8+ Kg7 64. Kg5 Kh7 65. Qg6+ {Inaccurate. 65. Qe7+ Kh8 66. Kg6 Kg8 67. Qg7#. When checkmating a lone king with a queen + king, you always want to leave a legal move for the enemy king until it's checkmate. If you don't, then black can escape with a draw by stalemate, which is exactly what happened in this game.} 65... Kh8 66. Kh6 {So in conclusion, watch out for your opponent's threats, and if you have passed pawns on the 7th rank (row), do all you can to protect them. They can often decide games if they can queen, because they will force more valuable pieces to sac themselves to stop it. Also, in endgames, use your king to support your passed pawns, and to limit the activity of your opponent's king.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W23"] [Black "B23"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00023.5.07 Analyzed by National Master John Graves} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Bc5 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Bc2 Nxf2 12. Rxf2 f6 13. exf6 Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2 Qxf6 15. Nf1 Ne5 16. Be3 Rae8 17. Bd4 {Okay now the real game can begin! 17.Bc5 is given as the main line leading to equality according to NCO. The text is also given as equal after 17...Bg4.} 17... Qh4+ 18. Kg1 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 c6 20. Ng3 Qh3 21. Bd3 {Be5 gives white a small advantage. The plan is to put the pawn on f4 and to plug up both the open files. White will put the queen on d3 and put the rook on e1 and prepare a timely f5 with the attack.} 21... Kh8 22. Be2 a5 23. Be5 Bc8 24. f4 Qe6 25. Bh5 {I like 25. Qd4 alot better. Why declare your minor piece configuration? What if the knight wants to go to f5? What if the Bishop wants to eye the king on d3? Then the rook will fufill its role and play to e1 to support the f5 pawn break. Maybe white can play the rook to the "g" file with an attack.} 25... Re7 26. Qd4 Kg8 27. Rf1 Bb7 28. Qc5 {The Queen is just fine on d4, it keeps the black bishop nice and hemmed in.} 28... Rd7 29. Kg2 d4 30. Bxd4 Qxa2 31. Bg4 Rdf7 32. Rf2 {32.c4!! seems to give white a clear edge. 32... Rf4? 33. Be6 Kh8 34. Qf8! mating is one point. Any capture on c4 will lead to a white Be6 with an easy win. Blacks best move seems to be 32...Re8 but 33. Bh5 g6 creates a nasty weakness on the dark squares. White will play 34. Be2 with a clear advantage.} 32... Rxf4 33. Rxf4 Rxf4 34. Kh3 Rxg4 35. Kxg4 Qxb2 36. Qe5 h5+ 37. Kxh5 Qxh2+ 38. Kg4 Bc8+ 39. Kf3 Qh8 40. Nh5 {Now black is just a piece down. White is clearly winning.} 40... Bd7 41. Qg5 Qh6 42. Qd8+ Be8 43. Qxe8+ Kh7 44. Qf7 Qg5 45. Nf6+ Kh6 46. Be3 gxf6 47. Bxg5+ {47. Qf6 is faster.} 47... Kxg5 48. Ke4 a4 49. Qh7 a3 50. Qf5+ Kh4 51. Kf4 c5 52. Qg4# 1-0 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W24"] [Black "B24"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00024.5.08 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. d4 {Personally, I don't recommend my students playing 1.d4 until they are about class "A" strength. 1.d4 very often leads to strategic play, and 1.e4 is often direct and tactical. The problem is, there are more strategical concepts than tactical in chess, so 1.d4 is harder to play well. I know some players avoid 1.e4 because of the theory involved, but once you understand positions resulting of 1.e4, it really does help understanding 1.d4. This was true for myself.} 1... d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 {Already a strategical miscue happens. Because of black's inaccurate move 2, white can get nice central control and space with 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. e4 Nb6 5. Nf3. The pawns on d4 and e4 are called the "ideal" pawn center.} 3... e6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 {Unfortunately, this is one of those positions where the fianchetto of the bishop isn't very effective. White's bishop is blocked by the black d-pawn, and there is no way to dislodge it except by an eventual e4. But if white does that, then white will be obliged to recapture with a piece, and this leaves white's d-pawn isolated. See all the strategical concepts I was talking about? In this position, much more promising is quick development with 5. Bg5, then a later e3, Bd3, Nf3, etc. The text should give black a nice game.} 5... Bb4 6. Bd2 {Unnecessarily passive. Quick king-side castling is white's best chance for an advantage. Therefore 6. Bg2 is the best chance. 6. ... Ne4 is not really a threat, because 7. Qb3 defends against the threat and counter-attacks. This kind of defense-counterattack tactic is fairly common in 1.e4.} 6... Bxc3 {Black shouldn't have released the pressure. Simply O-O is logical and strong. Black could then follow it up with ...Re8, ...c6, ...Bf5, ...Nbd7, with a nice game because of the clamp on the central e4 square. Only if white wastes a tempo with a3 should black capture the knight at c3.} 7. Bxc3 Ne4 8. Bg2 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Be6 10. e4 {?! Definitely dubious. White is opening up the center before he's completed development. Luckily for white, black didn't play the most active line.} 10... dxe4 11. Bxe4 c6 {Stops white threat on b7, but much more interesting was 11. ... O-O!? 12 Bxb7 Bd5! 13. Bxa8 Re8+ 14. Ne2 Bxa8, with a clear advantage for black! Note that if white tries 15. O-O, then white will be extremely weak on the light squares. Otherwise, 15. Rg1?? loses to 15. ... Bf3. This line just illustrates the dangers of opening up the center too early.} 12. Ne2 Nd7 13. Bg2 Nf6 14. Nf4 {Not good. 14. ... Bc4! would pose white some tough problems ...this would prevent white from castling, and threatens ...O-O and ...Re8, which would be devestating.} 14... O-O 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. O-O h6 17. Qb3 Qd7 18. Rfe1 Rae8 19. Bh3 Nd5 20. c4 Nb6 21. d5 cxd5 22. cxd5 Nxd5 23. Rad1 Qc6 24. Rc1 Qd7 25. Rc5 b6 {The losing move for black. Of course 25. ... Kh8 would leave black in a tenetable position.} 26. Rxd5 Qxd5 27. Bxe6+ {Nice tactic! The rest of the game wasn't the most accurate, but was sufficient to convert the point.} 27... Qxe6 28. Rxe6 Rxe6 29. Qxe6+ Kh7 30. Qe7 Rc8 31. Qxa7 Rc1+ 32. Kg2 b5 33. Qb7 Rc5 34. Qe7 Rc4 35. Qe2 Rb4 36. a3 Rc4 37. Qe5 b4 38. Qf5+ Kg8 39.Qe6+ Kh7 40. Qxc4 bxa3 41. Qd3+ Kg8 42. Qxa3 Kf7 43. Qb3+ Kf6 44. f4 Ke7 {Since white already has mating material, simply going for mate is sufficient. Therefore, cutting off black's king is logical, with either Qb6 or Qd5, and simply advancing white's king.} 45. f5 Kd6 46. Qe6+ Kc5 47. Kf3 Kd4 48. Kf4 Kc5 49. Ke4 Kb4 50. Qc6 Kb3 51. Qc5 g5 52. Kd3 g4 53. Qc4+ Kb2 54. Qc3+ Ka2 55. Kc2 h5 56. Qb2# 1-0 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W25"] [Black "B25"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00025.5.10 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Be7 4. h4 {This is definitely not the best move. 4. dxe5 dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Nxe5 wins a pawn with a great game for white. Among masters, this is usually winning. The text move, however, doesn't develop a piece, weakens white's kingside, and even concedes the g4 square to black. I honestly can't see how this helps white. Piece development is critical...generally white would want to get his bishop out, his queen knight out, castle short, and basically get all white's pieces into the center to try to overwhelm black.} 4... Bg4 5. Be2 {Unnecessarily passive. More promising is 5. dxe5 Bxf3 (forced) 6. Qxf3 dxe5 7. Bc4 Nf6 8. Be3 with a reasonable game for white.} 5... Bxf3 6. Bxf3 Bxh4 7. g3 Bf6 8. dxe5 Bxe5 9. Bf4 {Definitely a mistake. This hangs the pawn on b2 for no compensation. 9. Nd2!, however is more active, and can help drive away black's bishop with Nc4.} 9... Nc6 10. Rh5 {This entire rook maneuver should not work...it's too vulnerable to attack by black's pieces. Instead, the best white may have at this point is c3, to defend against the threat of ...Bxb2, plus deny the central d4 square for the black pieces.} 10... Nf6 11. Rh4 Bxb2 12. Nd2 Bxa1 13. Qxa1 Nb4 14. Qb2 a5 15. e5 {This does not work out at all, because this opens up the center when white's king is still uncastled, plus gives the d5 square to use for black's pieces. At this point, white probably had to console himself with 15. a3 Nc6 16 Qxb7, though black is certainly still better.} 15... dxe5 16. Bxe5 O-O 17. Rh5 {This hangs the rook (17. ... Nxh5 18. Bxh5 Qg5), but white's position is very difficult in any case. White cannot castle, and the center's wide open, chances look bleak that white can repair his position.} 17... Re8 18. Rg5 Ra6 {This is an excellent defensive move, as well as prepares for active operations on b6 or e6.} 19. Ne4 Nbd5 20. Be2 Rb6 21. Bb5 {Stepping into pins (now the rook on b6 pins the bishop on b5) is rarely good, and this is no exception. Black could have played 21 ... c6 and pretty much have forced white to resign. Notice that 22. Nxf6+ Nxf6 doesn't go anywhere, since the bishop on e5 would then be pinned.} 21... Re7 22. Nxf6+ Nxf6 23. Kf1 Qd1+ 24. Kg2 Qd5+ 25. Kh3 {This hastens the end, but there was no way for white to hold onto the position in any case.} 25... Qh1# {I know you say you play non-competitively, but actually playing better players is THE way to get better quickly. Failing that, you could check out some chess books out of the local library, but books can only teach so much. There's no substitute for experience.} 0-1 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W26"] [Black "B26"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00026.5.11 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e4 d5 2. e5 {This doesn't offer much for white. This allows black to keep his center pawn at d5, and e5 becomes a target. 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 is the usual and more promising continuation for white.} 2... c5 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. e6 {This sacrifice isn't sound. 4. f4 is the best white has.} 4... fxe6 5. Qh5+ {This doesn't accomplish anything. Try not to check just to check...only if it helps you accomplish some aim. In this case, black's only way to get his dark-squared bishop out was to play ...g6 and ...Bg7, so this only helps black. Better was quick development, like Nf3, O-O, d4, and Nc3.} 5... g6 6. Qd1 a6 7. Bf1 {This can't be right. Development is still critical. 7. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. Nf3 Bg7 9. d4 is white's best chance, though black is a little better because of his central control.} 7... Ne5 {There's a saying, "avoid moving your piece twice in the opening". Black makes the same mistake white did. Much more promising for black is ...Bg7.} 8. d4 cxd4 9. Qxd4 Qa5+ {...Bg7 is still strong (threatens ...Nf3+ winning white's queen). This check should have accomplished nothing.} 10. b4 {This weakens white along the a1-h8 diagonal. Much better is 10. Bd2 Qc7 11. Bf4 Bg7 12. Nc3 Nf3+ 13. Nxf3 Bxd4 14. Bxc7 is much better for white than the game. White would be up a piece!} 10... Qc7 11. Bf4 Bg7 12. Nf3 {This only falls into black's plan. Much better was 12. c3, though black would still have an advantage because of his central control.} 12... Nxf3+ 13. gxf3 Bxd4 14. Bxc7 Bxa1 15. c3 Bb2 {Black missed his chance to extricate his bishop. 15. ... d4! would do the trick. Notice that 16. Be5 dxc3! 17. Bxh8 c2, and black queens by force. Any other variation allows the black bishop to escape.} 16. Be5 Nf6 17. Kd1 O-O 18. Kc2 Nd7 19. Bd4 Ba1 20. Bh3 e5 21. Be3 Rxf3 22. Bxd7 Bxd7 23. Bh6 Bf5+ 24. Kb3 Rxf2 25. Na3 Rb2+ 26. Ka4 Rxa2 27. Rc1 Bb2 {Black has better, with 27. ... b5+ 28. Ka5 Rxa3+ 29. Kb6 Bxc3, which is resignable for white.} 28. Kb3 Rxa3+ 29. Kxb2 Ra4 30. Kb3 b5 31. Bg5 e6 {In endgames, the general rule of thumb is: keep your pawns on opposite colors of your bishop, and the same color as your opponent's (to limit scope of the enemy bishop). ...Kf7 would be a nice way to limit white's activity, while getting black's king active to help the black pawn mass to advance.} 32. Be7 Ra7 33. Bd6 e4 34. Bc5 Rb7 35. h4 a5 36. Rg1 axb4 37. cxb4 e5 38. h5 Rc7 39. Bd6 Rc4 40. Rg2 Bh3 41. Rg3 Bf5 42. Rg5 h6 43. Rg3 d4 44. hxg6 d3 45. Rg1 e3 46. g7 e2 47. Bf8 Bh3 48. Rh1 Bf1 {?? The losing move. 48. ... d2 49. Rxh3 d1Q+ leads to mate.} 49. Rxh6 e1=Q 50. Rh8+ Kf7 51. g8=Q+ Ke8 52. Bd6+ Kd7 53. Qe6+ {Black could have taken the queen. Was there time pressure, perhaps?} 53... Kc6 54. Be7+ Kc7 55. Bd8+ Kb7 56. Rh7+ Kb8 57. Qb6+ Kc8 58. Qe6+ Kxd8 59. Rh8+ Kc7 60. Rh7+ Kb8 61. Qe8+ Rc8 62. Qxb5+ Ka8 63. Qxa4+ Kb8 64. Qa7# {A narrow escape by white. Be careful when an enemy bishop or rook is on the same line as your queen or king. There may some nasty discoveries, as there was this game. Also, try not to allow your opponent a massive pawn center. Passed pawns (pawns unopposed by enemy pawns) are very dangerous. Keep a close eye on your opponent's passed pawns, and support your own the best you can.} 1-0 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W27"] [Black "B27"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00027.5.12 Analyzed by Candidate Master Daniel Waite} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {The idea of the opening is to create an imbalance and develop around it. White needs to capitalize on Black's dark square weakness and launch a Kingside attack. Black on the other hand must keep things "active" on the Queenside. Key to this will be Black's King Bishop.} 6. Bg5 Be7 {6. e5 is tempting. To play this move White must answer two questions: 1.) Can I survive the attack on the a8 - h1 diagonal? 2.) Can I maintain the pawn on e5? If there is doubt to either of these questions then the move should not be played. Black's game strategy is based on "baiting." The idea of "baiting" is to set a trap. This game strategy is unsound since it is based on what the player wants to do and not the demands of the position. Still a misstep could be lethal. Unfortunately the constant "baiting" will eventually turn a winning position into a completely lost game. White carefully side-steps most of the pitfalls.} 7. Bc4 b5 {Ouch, White does not understand what the position demands. 7. Bd3 was necessary. 7. Bc4 is not a good idea, in fact it walks into Black's basic idea of launching an early Queenside attack.} 8. Bb3 d6 {Ouch! Black misses the simple 8…. b4.} 9. f4 b4 10. Ba4+ Bd7 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 {11…. Nbxd7 gives Black a nice advantage due to the solid pawn structure, the nice out post on c5 for the Knight, and half-open c-file for the Rook. Because of 9. f4 Black will also have the e4 square for a solid post for the King Knight.} 12. Nce2 Nxe4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qd3 d5 15. c3 bxc3 {Black can also try …Qc5 and …Nd7. Personally …Qc5 is tempting. White wisely plays to exchange of the Knight on e4. Another way to do this is to play Ng3.} 16. Nxc3 Qd8 {One of my High School students stated that Black's move is "pointless." Stronger is …Qb4 or …Nd7.} 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Qxe4 0-0 {Again Black is "baiting" White to play 19. Qxa8 Qxd4 when the White position begins to fall to pieces. Trading positional considerations for material is risky if you do not know what you are doing. Avoiding the "bait" is wise. Remember when you opponent plays this type of game, you are sure a major error will happen in their game. The question is distinguishing the error from the "bait."} 19. 0-0 Nd7 20. Nc6 Qb6+ 21. Rf2 Nf6 {White plays an excellent move. It is flexible in the sense that it contributes to stacking the Rooks on the file of your choice.} 22. Qf3 Rac8 {Black simply blunders. 23. Ne7+ picks up the exchange.} 23. Rc1 Rc7 {Black immediately blunders again! 23….Nd5 wins the Knight on c6 or the Rook on c1. If White chooses to complicate the issue then 24. Qxd5 exd5 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Nxc8 Qe6. The passed d-pawn and the trapped Knight make life interesting for White.} 24. Kh1 Nd5 25. Rfc2 Rfc8 {…h6 still holds, barely} 26. Ne7+ Kh8 {Black misses a chance at a nice "bating" idea. 26…. Nxe7 27. Rxc7 Qxc7 28. Rxc7 Rxc7. The idea is to "bait" 29. Qa8+ Rc8. Thus White must give up the Queen or submit to checkmate.} 27. Nxc8 Qxb2 {Another attempt at a "bating" maneuver. Actually 27…. Rxc2 is better, but black is lost. All that remains is the quickest way to finish off Black.} 28. Rxc7 Nxc7 29. Qd1 Nd5 {29. Qc6! finishes the game quicker.} 30. Rc2 Qb7 31. Nd6 Qd7 32. Rc8+ 0-1 Black Resigns {Ideas for White's improvement: There seems to be a good feel for traps. However the strongest continuations were not chosen. Study in pattern recognition would be useful to see ideas "automatically." Work on the concept of "imbalances" more. The idea of planting the Knight on c6 was a good example of attempting to gain the superior minor piece. In a sense this made the difference in the game. Even though both players generally mishandled it, it was enough to gain the victory. White needs to consider the possibilities along the diagonals before moving. Being "diagonally challenged" will lose many games. Examples of this weakness: Allowing Black the opportunity to launch a Queen side attack with b4, missing the Black win of the Knight on c6 by cutting off the diagonal, missing the final nail of Qc6. Over all it was a good recovery from a bad position and good avoidance of the various "bait" that was offered. It takes a certain maturity to not grab material.} [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W28"] [Black "B28"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {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.)} [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W29"] [Black "B29"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00029.5.14 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 {This move is playable, but rather passive. Now your dark-squared bishop can't be deployed to an active post. I would recommend the more active ...Nc6.} 3. Bc4 Be6 4. Qe2 a6 {While getting space is a laudable goal, in the early phases of the game, you want to get your pieces mobilized. ...Nc6 would do that, plus help restrain the d4 advance that white would like to do.} 5. Nc3 b5 6. Bd5 c6 7. Bxe6 fxe6 8. d4 exd4 9. Nxd4 e5 10. Qh5+ g6 11. Bg5 Nf6 {Actually, 11. ... gxh5 12. Bxd8 Kxd8 would have won a piece. Would've went a long way to help black win the game.} 12. Qf3 Bg7 {This misses white's threat. White has 2 pieces on the knight at f6 -- white will now a tactical idea called "removing the defender", which should have won the game for white. Black's only defense is ...Kf7. It wouldn't be too bad in this position, because if needed, black can always castle "by hand" by playing ...Be7, ...Rf8, ...Kg8.} 13. Ne6 Qe7 14. Nxg7+ Kf7 15. Bh6 Rg8 16. g4 g5 17. Nh5 {This gives black a chance. If white would've taken the post near the center (Nf5), and followed up with h4, O-O-O, white would have soon won.} 17... Rg6 18. Qf5 {This does nothing. 18. h4! would have soon won the game.. too many threats. For example, if 18. ... Rxh6 19. hxg5 Rg6 20. Nxf6, and black could safely resign.} 18... Qd7 19. Bg7 Qxf5 20. exf5 Rxg7 21. O-O-O d5 22. f3 Nxh5 23. gxh5 g4 {This is wrong. Black's queen side isn't developed. Should be a top priority, because the more pieces you have involved in the battle, the more likely you will succeed in breaking through. Even ...Kf6 is a superior move. The king can be (and often is) a fighting piece in the endgame.} 24. h6 Rg5 25. Rhg1 Rxf5 26. fxg4 Rf4 27. Rdf1 Rxf1+ 28. Rxf1+ Kg6 29. Rf5 {White threw away his advantage with this move. 29. Rf8 Kxh6 30. h4 would have paralyzed black, and white would have all the time he needed to work on his own plans. After this, black gets developed and has the better game because of white's weak king-side pawns and black's formidable pawn mass in the center.} 29... Nd7 30. Rh5 Re8 31. Ne2 e4 {This is playable, but 31. ... Nf6 (attacks the rook on h5 and pawn at g4) 32. Rh4 Kg5 would win 2 pawns and the game.} 32. Nf4+ Kf6 33. g5+ {This was a serious error by white. White's only plus is his king-side pawn majority, so he should've looked for a way to mobilize them. The way to do that was 33. Rf5+ Ke7 34. g5, which would make it a lot harder for black. Notice black couldn't even have tried 34. ... Rf8? in that variation, because white's pawns are too fast. e.g., 34. ... Rf8 35. g6! Rxf5 36. gxh7 Rf8 37. Ng6+ Kf7 38. Nxf8, and black can't stop white from playing h8Q. This illustrates the power of the advanced, passed pawns.} 33... Kf5 34. Ne2 Kg6 35. Nf4+ Kf5 36. Nh3 e3 {Instead, 36. ... Kg4 would have forked the white's rook and knight, winning a piece.} 37. Kd1 Kg6 38. Nf4+ Kf5 39. Nh3 Kg4 {This is winning for black, but because of low time, both players agreed to a draw. So in conclusion, get your pieces developed in the early stages. Also, when calculating variations, see what you get vs. your opponents, to see if you could win material. Early in the game, black could have gotten Q & B, while white would get black's queen. Only by using all your forces will you have good chances of success.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "W30"] [Black "B30"] [Result "?"] [ECO "?"] {00030.5.15 Analyzed by Candidate Master Daniel Waite} 1. g1-f3 g8-f6 2. b1-c3 b8-c6 3. d2-d3 d7-d6 4. c1-e3 c8-e6 {Imagine that your computer needs repair. You get your Acme Handy Dandy Computer Repair Tool Kit out and start to repair the beast. What do you have to do first? Answer: Open the kit so you can get the tools out. You can hit the computer with the tool kit all you want, but it won't fix the computer. You must get the tools out of the kit. Chess is the same way. If you want to crush your opponent, you must open the game so you can get your tools (pieces) into position where they are useful. Moving the Queen's Bishop to e3 blocks the potential development of the King's Bishop.} 5. f3-h4 c6-a5 {Idea: Do not move a piece a second time in the opening without a specific reason. It is almost always a bad idea. The problem with moving a piece a second time is that wastes time. Let's say you have only 15 minutes to fix your computer and you take 14 minutes to get the Acme Handy Dandy Computer Repair Tool Kit out. Remember to make the most efficient use of your TIME and moves. Second idea: count the number of squares the Knight can move to on f3 (eight), now count the number of squares it can move to on h4 (four). Because FLEXIBILITY is important, remember, "A Knight on the rim is dim [or grim]." Imagine a really ugly Y2K bug creeping out of the shadows and snatching a Knight you put on the edge of the board.} 6. e3-f4 e6-d5 {Here you had to move the Queen's Bishop again, if you had put it here on move 4. you would have had a spare move to make. It's like taking an extra turn. [Ever wish you could take more than one turn at a time? Here is where you can do it, legally! By playing 4. Bf4 you could now play anything else on move 6.] BTW, your opponent helps by mindlessly copying your moves.} 7. e2-e3 h7-h6 {7. e4 takes up more space in the center. Concentrate your opening moves on the four squares in the center of the board. If your video card needs to be replaced why try to change your hard drive? Important Idea: BEFORE YOU MOVE: Ask yourself, "What is my opponent threatening?" Answer: 8…. g5 [forking your Bishop and Knight].} 8. f1-e2 d5xg2 9. h1-g1 g2-h3 {There are three ways to deal with a threat: First, move the piece that is threatened. Second, capture the piece that is attacking [in this case 9. Nxg2 wins the Bishop]. Or finally, ignore the threat and attack something. This works when your threat is stronger than your opponents' threat.} 10. d1-d2 d8-d7 11. o-o-o h8-h7 {Black's play is worse than pointless. It is inviting trouble. Of course you can zap the Rook out of the game with Bxh7.} 12. d3-d4 c7-c6 13. e2-d3 f6-g4 {Good! White covers the center squares.} 14. h4-f5 g4xf2 {Other than 14. Bxh7 White could try 14. Bf5. Both are crushing. However there is a trick after 14. Bxh7 Black could try …g6 trapping the Bishop. Still, the Rook is more valuable than the Bishop. While not a winning advantage, you should probably "win the exchange" if possible.} 15. d2xf2 d7xf5 16. d3xf5 a8-d8 17. f5xh3 a5-c4 18. b2-b3 c4-a3 19. c3-e2 d8-d7 20. c1-b2 a3xc2 21. b2xc2 e7-e5 {Idea: A check is a FREE MOVE. A check is a FORCING MOVE. Always consider forcing moves first [check, threaten checkmate, winning material]. It's like getting to move twice in the same move!} 22. d4xe5 d6xe5 23. f4xe5 d7-e7 {You are probably at a point where nothing short of the end of the world will keep you from winning. The point is to find the SHORTEST path to victory. If you study the position you will discover that Bxd7+ comes close to forcing checkmate. [Actually it does. Can you figure out how.]} 24. e5-b8 h6-h5 25. b8xa7 h7-h6 26. e2-c3 f7-f5 27. h3xf5 h6-g6 28. f5xg6+ e7-f7 29. e3-e4 f8-b4 {29. Qf7#} 30. c3-a4 b4-a3 31. g6xf7+ e8-e7 32. a4-c5 a3xc5 33. f2xc5+ e7-f6 {33. Bxc5#} 34. d1-d6+ f6-e7 {Either 34. Rdf1# or 34. Rgf1#} 35. d6xc6+ e7-d7 {Excellent! Even though you have been missing the win, this move is a good learning tool. By moving the Rook you uncovered the check - giving you a FREE MOVE in some cases TWO FREE MOVES! This maneuver is called "DISCOVERED CHECK." You can gain all sorts of free moves doing this. The power of the idea is that you win a pawn [or piece or two] while your opponent is dealing with check. Good work! Keep looking for these free moves!} 36. a2-a4 b7xc6 {36. Rd1# or 36. Qd6#} 37. g1-d1+ d7-c8 38. c5xc6++ 1-0 [Event "Analyzed Games"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Deep Fritz 7.0"] [Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "?"] {Analyzed by ?. Hi Everyone. Because the Kramnik-Deep Fritz. 7.0 match was postponed I felt it necessary to analyze a game that Vladimir Kramnik played against Deep Fritz 7.0 in his practice with the engine in preparation for his match.} 1. c4 {The English Opening.} 1...e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 f5!? {The 3 Knights Variation of the English Opening is a good system to use against Fritz. The positions are closed in nature and there are very few forcing lines allowing Kramnik to adjust his play to take advantage of the computer's weaknesses.} 4. d4 e4 5. Ng5 Bb4!? {This continues to develop while not committing himself to a specific line of play. For instance Fritz might play a known sac after 5...Nf6 6. e3 h6 7. Nh3 g5 8. f3 exf3 9. Qxf3!? when play is very sharp, something not to Kramnik's advantage. 9...g4?! is suicide in that line so after 9...d6 10. Nf2 Qe7 11. Nd5 (sacrificing a pawn) Nxd5 12. cxd5 Nb4 13. Bb5+ Kd8 14. 0-0 g4 15. Qe2 Nxd5 16. Nh1 and Fritz would have good compensation in a highly tactical position. The text is much quieter and better suited to a human vs. machine match.} 6. Nh3 Nf6 7. e3 Bxc3 8. bxc3 {Now white has two bishops. The problem is the position is very closed in nature, so the bishops will have little effect if the position isn't opened up. Kramnik should be very happy after this exchange as his knights could become very active.} 8...d6 9. Nf4 0-0 10. h4 {Kramnik mentioned that all the moves up to here were played by the program very quickly, meaning most of this is probably theory in the Fritz opening book. Here we should take stock. Fritz just played a good move (10. h4) securing his f4 knight by preventing the natural g5 advance by black. However, the f4 knight seems like white's only trump. The pawns on c3 an c4 are weak, black has the two knights in a closed position, and white's king is in the center while black's is in safety. However, the c4 pawn has the useful function of keeping the knight out of d5 while the c3 fellow solidifies d4. White has a solid position, but unless the bishops can be unleashed, black will have a slight advantage.} 10...Qe7?! {Kramnik should leave e7 for the knight. I suggest 10...Qe8 or 10...Ne7. The Qe8-f7 maneuver is very useful as it eyes h5 and c4. 10...Ne7 allows black to play the prophylactic c5 to prevent the freeing c5 move for white. For instance 10...Ne7 11. h5 c5! 12. Ba3 Qa5 etc. and black has a "very" comfortable game though both Ng6 and Nh5 exchanging off f4 is prevented. Or if 10...Qe8!? 11. Ba3 Qf7 12. h5 b6 and if white plays the dubious 13. c5?! anyway, then 13...bxc5 14. dxc5 d5! and the black bishop is shut in and black has the superior center and now the e5 square. After Kramnik's 10...Qe7 move Fritz can free himself.} 11. c5! {One might think 11. h5 to be enough to secure the knight at f4 and thus the game in general, but Fritz wants to trade off one of its weak pawns while trying to open the position for his two bishops. The a2-g8 diagonal is now open for the bishop or queen.} 11...Nd8!? {Very nice! Let's examine the alternatives. The greedy, 11...dxc5? (opening the position willingly!) 12. Bc4+ Kh8 13. h5! and white can open the h-file decisively for instance if the natural 13...cxd4?? then 14. Ng6+! hxg6 15. hxg6+ Nh7 16. Rxh7 Checkmate! If 11...d5 then 12. c4 simply and white has the better of it. 11...Kh8 was a reasonable alternative too, but the sacrifice with the text is probably the best defense against a computer who can't resist accepting!} 12. Qb3+ Ne6!? {Possibly it's odd that black wants to get rid of his knight in a situation favorable to knights. But he's willing to get rid of one of his knights for the only active white bishop, the (soon to be) c4 bishop.} 13. Bc4 Re8 14. Ba3 Kh8 {Ignoring threats on the b-pawn. After the upcoming exchange, white's only active bishop is gone and black has good counterplay.} 15. Bxe6 Bxe6 16. Qxb7 d5! {The only move, but it still deserves an exclamation mark. This ignores the threat on the c7 pawn as well. Positionally speaking, this move is very effective at closing in the a3 bishop.} 17. Rb1! {Wow. The first time I've ever seen Fritz decline a pawn. If Fritz doesn't see a mate in the line or decisive material advantage then he usually grabs material without second thought. However, here he didn't see decisive material advantage or mate and he DID declind the c7 pawn. Perhaps Fritz is starting to understand the position more with the new version? The other good alternative was 17. Qa6 with h5 to follow and white's comfortable all around the board. If the greedy and bad 17. Nxe6? Qxe6 18. Qxc7 Qa6! 19. Bb4 Rec8 20. Qa5 Qd3! 21. Rd1 Qc2 22. Qa6 Ng4 23. Qe2 Qa4 24. Qb2 f4 25. exf4 (25. Qb3 Qa6 is also wonderful for black) e3! 26. fxe3 Nxe3 and the proof is in the pudding.} 17...Bf7 18. Rb3? {It's a completely understandable mistake. Fritz is striving for bishop activity. 18. c6? can't be played because the a3 bishop would be hanging. Therefore Fritz logically defends it which allows him to play c6. Fritz is forgetting about his more important minor piece! The f4 knight. It was imperitive to play 18. h5 to prevent any exchange of the f4 knight by Nh5 for instance. Once the knight goes the kingside belongs to black and Kramnik will haven no trouble redirecting his forces.} 18...Rec8 {Threatening 19...c6! to prevent white's freeing move c6.} 19. c6 {Natural.} 19...Qd8 20. Qa6 Nh5! {From this point on, Black has good counterplay on the kingside. What's the strategy called? Development! After the f4 knight leaves the kingside black has a lead in development over on the kingside. Black can build an initiative. All black's forces are out to pasture on the queenside. While white attempts to win the a-pawn Black will be attempting to win the white king!} 21. Nxh5 Bxh5 22. Rb7?! {This has the greedy motive behind it against the a7 pawn. The a7 pawn is worthless though, more important is undermining the key pawn at d5! I believe 22. c4!? would be much to Fritz's advantage. Once the center opens, Fritz will have a raw calculating advantage as the position would be very tacitcal despite white giving back some material. For instance, 22. c4!? Bf7 23. cxd5 Bxd5 24. Rb7 Qe8 25. 0-0 if 25...Bxc6 then simply 26. Rb2 Bd5 27. Rc1 Qf7 28. Rbc2 f4 29. Qd6! and white has solved the potential kingside initiative while retaining the better of the two pawn structures. After all the trades for instance 29...fxe3 30. fxe3 cxd6 31. Rxc8+ Rxc8 32. Rxc8+ Qg8 33. Rxg8+ Kxg8 34. Bxd6 Bxa2 35. Kf2 and it should be draw as Fritz's bishop controls the a-pawn's queening square. A draw would be much better than the game result!} 22...Qf6! {With the white knight gone, black starts his redeployment of forces on the kingside. No white pieces are in position to defend the white king! The more passive 22...Be8?! sucuumbs to 23. c4! The idea of Be8 of course is to work with Qf6 against the c-pawn. I like the text. The bishop is nicely placed at h5 and there's no real reason to retreat it. For instance after 22...Be8?! 23. c4! dxc4 24. Qxc4 Qf6 then 25. d5! and c6 is granite anyway.} 23. 0-0 {For once Fritz is worried more about king safety!} 23...h6!? {This makes a place for the king at h7 so as to not get mated on the 1st or second rank. This was very important, of course. For instance if Kramnik immediately plays 23...Bf3!? which is reasonable even here, then a line might occur like 23...Bf3! 24. gxf3 exf3 25. Rfb1 Qxh4, but 26. Qd3! Qh3 27. Qf1 Qg4+ 28. Kh2 Qh4+ 29. Qh3 30. Kh1 Re8 31. Rxc7 and if the natural rook lift 31...Re6 (idea e6-g6) then 32. Rxg7! h6 33. Qxf5 Qh4+ 34. Kg1 f2+ 35. Kf1 Qh1+ 36. Kxf2 Qh2+ 37. Kf3 Rxe3+ 38. Kxe3 Re8+ and black can only delay mate on the back rank or second rank by checks. This is a very important move from that standpoint.} 24. Bc5 {Greedy, Greedy. Much better is 24. g3!? where Bf3 has no threat because the h4 pawn is solid and white could simply continue with 25. Rfb1 etc. with advantage. Therefore a line might be 24. g3!? Kh7 25. Rfb1 Qe6 (eyeing c4) 26. c4 dxc4 27. Qa5 if black tries to hold on to the c4-pawn with 27...Bf7 then 28. Rxc7 Rxc7 29. Qxc7 Rc8 30. Qxa7 Rxc6 31. Rb7 Ra6 32. Qc5 Ra8 33. Bb4!? Qg6 34. a3 Qh5 35. Be1 Kg8 36. a4! Rf8 37. Bb4 Ra8 38. a5 Qd1+ 39. Kh2 Qf3 40. Be1 and white has the d-pawn and a-pawn and not even the f4 break is enough for black.} 24...Kh7 25. Bxa7 Qxh4 {This is the beginning of the end. Now that the h4 pawn is gone, black has a very strong sac Bf3! to effectively end the game.} 26. Rfb1 Bf3! {Very strong. This natural sac probably wasn't found by the computer, else it would've done something about it earlier.} 27. Qf1 {Of course if 27. gxf3 exf3 28. Qd3 Rf8! 29. Qd1 (only move) Qh5 30. Bb8 (intending use of b8-h2 diagonal to defend) Raxb8 and the game's simply over.} 27...Re8 28. Bb8!? {Fritz finds the only way to defend. The idea is to take c7 with the bishop and use the diagonal to help defend.} 28...Raxb8! 29. Rxb8 Re6! {Coming to g6 decisively.} 30. Rf8 Rg6 31. Rxf5 Rxg2+ 32. Qxg2 Bxg2 33. Kxg2 Qg4+ {And that's the point of the combination. The rook on f5 is now black's. This was a stunning and gorgeous win by the world champ against the flagship chessbase chess engine. This proves that some humans can still excel over computers in tactics!} 0-1 [Event "Klompendans Ladies vs. Veterans Tournament"] [Site "ChessDoctor.com"] [Date "?.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Polgar, Sofi"] [Black "Korchnoi, Victor"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "?"] {Analyzed by ?. Round 1 (Tournament still going on right now) First a note. I felt obligated to my good friend Sofi to analyze some of her great games in this tournament. I helped her prepare a little bit by playing various openings against her at KasparovChess so she could get a wide variety of play experience. I also gave a lecture which she helped me give of Kasparov-Korchnoi back in Linares a couple years back. Therefore, it was obvious she was very well-versed in the style of this wonderful, still energetic veteran, Viktor Korchnoi. Unfortunately, she lost this 1st round game, but the battle was nice and she missed a win. Viktor dragged it to a lost endgame for white after good play from both sides. This proves how one slip can hurt your winning chances.} 1. e4 e6 {No surprise here. The wonderful veteran playing the black pieces is the French extraordinair of the 20th and perhaps the 21st century! :) I know Sofi, and this was the first line she prepared extensively for!} 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 {Sofi's pet variation against the French from the white side. She never opted (at least not that I remember) for 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 etc. with slower spatial play. She's more of a tactician hoping for the open game.} 4...Be7!? {Apparently, this hadn't gone unnoticed by the veteran. This forces white to play e5 and close up the game. 4...dxe4 was undoubtedly what Sofi was hoping for, however I'm sure she prepared for this.} 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. f4 a6 {This idea Viktor uses is not new by any means. 7...a6!? has the idea of pushing to b5 and bringing the bishop out on b7. It's a solid line, which doesn't waste time as it may seem with the wing pawn advance. Why is that exactly? I thought we were taught that all unneeded wing pawn advances are a waste of time? However, tempo has a less binding effect in the closed game. This position is very closed. The kings don't "need" to get to safety immediately, the development of pieces quickly is not quite as important as staking out space with pawns in this type of game. Therefore, 4...a6 is a useful strategic move that doesn't lose tempo to any serious extent.} 8. Nf3 c5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. dxc5! {This capture is well timed. Because the e5 pawn is covered solidly by its counterpart at f4 it's ok that the d-pawn leave e5's defense. More importantly this profits white the nice d4 square to plop a knight when the time is right. Note that after Sofi's 10th move there are no pawns that can currently chase away the knight at d4.} 10...Qxc5 11. Bd3 b5 12. a3! {The best move. Natural would seem 12. Ne2 gaining total control over d4, however 12. Ne2 succumbs to 12...b4! This nice move prevents c3 and targets the c2 pawn rather effectively. after 13. a3 Qb6! and white's king is stuck in the center for some time. Therefore, it's imperitve that white prevent b4. Sofi does just that.} 12...Bb7 13. Qf2 {This is still theory. This is obviously a needed move. The black queen at her current post is far too menacing. Also played before was 13. b4?! This possibly natural move is very, very bad. This weakens a whole row of squares on the c-file. The plan for black would hardly be difficult then. I like Sofi's choice a lot. The queen exchange would definitely benefit her. If 13. Ne2?! then simply 13...Qb6! (13...b4!? is possible too) and black's just fine once again. He'll simply continue with Rc8 and Nc5 with a wonderful position. It's impertive that Sofi get her queen on that diagonal.} 13...b4! {Black need not initiate the queen exchange! This move fights for advantage. The useful 13...h6 intending g5 isn't really an option either because then simply 14. h4! b4 15. Na4 Qxf2 16. Kxf2 a5 17. g4 with advantage for white. After the text Black stands as it is very active.} 14. Na4 Qxf2+ {Now he must make this exchange. 14. Qa5? just gets in the way of his queenside pawns.} 15. Kxf2 a5 16. Bb5!? {This move is "ok". However, unless she intends to take on c6 it doesn't have much of a point. 16. Rac1 seems more natural intending c2-c4. The immediate 16. c4!? is also possible, but let's not jump the gun. A move like 16. Nd2 also intending c4 allows 16...g5! Therefore 16. Rac1 seems called for.} 16...Ke7! {The best move. After the queens are exchange black rightly sees there's no need to castle.} 17. Rhd1 Rhc8 18. c4! {Now we're talking Sofi! I was proud of my friend here. The bishop doesn't have a "big" chance of being trapped at b5, but, what does it do there? After this move, white's options increase dramatically and it gets rid of a weak pawn. In fact this is the only white move to keep an advantage!} 18...bxc3 e.p. 19. bxc3! {Now, white has the b-file and a strong hold on d4. This is a fine trade-off for the newly weak c-pawn.} 19...Rab8 20. Rab1 {Here, 20. c4?! is interesting, but a positional mistake. The important feature in the position is the d4 square. Anyway with the pawn on c3, after Nd4 if Nxd4 then cxd4 fixing the pawn structure anyway. I like Sofi's decision of leaving the pawn on c3. White has a slight advantage.} 20...Ba8 21. Nd4 f6? {Very natural. In fact, in all honesty, this was the first move I looked at here. But this could be the losing mistake and prove Sofi's earlier 16. Bb5 correct. More sensible is 21...Rc7.} 22. exf6+?! {I'm sure that Sofi saw 22. Bxc6, however I think she underestimated its power. It totally solidifies the knight at d4 and trades into a won endgame. For instance, 22. Bxc6 Bxc6 23. Rxb8 Nxb8 24. exf6 Kxf6 25. Nb6 Re8 26. Rb1 g6 27. g3 with big advantage. The black forces are tied down to e6, white still has total control over the d4 square, and black's bishop is bad. Sofi, most likely by instinct, and fear of how Viktor would respond, played 22. exf6+ intending to hold on to the bishop pair. Because of this choice, I have no idea why Sofi played 16. Bb5.} 22...Nxf6 23. Bd3 {Now 24. Bxc6 is bad as black's knight is already on f6. 24. Bxc6? would just give up Sofi's good bishop. At least Sofi's consistent. :)} 23...e5! {Powerful. Immediately equalizes and probably earns black the advantage. This trades off the weak e-pawn.} 24. fxe5 Nxe5 25. Bf5 {The only move to hold the balance.} 25...Rf8 26. Ke2 {Sofi bringing the king slowly but surely over to defend c3 while getting off of the f-file where a rook is aimed right at his majesty. I liked 26. Rb6!? This looked strong because 26...Rxb6 exchanging rooks would be to white's advantage then. Therefore after 26...Nc4 27. Re6+ Kf7 28. Ra6 g6 29. Be6+ Ke7 30. Ke2 Nh5 31. g3 Nf6 32. Rf1 Bb7 33. Ra7 Kd6 34. Rb1 Ba8 35. Ra6+ Ke7 36. Rxb8 Rxb8 37. Nc5 Ne8 38. Ra7+ Kd6 39. Ne4+! with an endgame advantage.} 26...g6! {The best move! It's imperitive that Viktor dislodges this strong f5 bishop.} 27. Bd3 Nxd3 {Black earns himself a bishop vs. knight ending and strong control over the e4 square.} 28. Kxd3 Ne4 29. Re1 Rfc8 30. Nf3?! {I think better is 30. Ne2.} 30...Kd6 31. Nd4 Bc6! {The most important move of the game! This is the move that wins. 32. Rb5 is a strong threat. I'm not sure what his time management was like, but I think this must've been one his longer thinks as this is the beginning of his winning move sequence.} 32. Rxb8 Rxb8 33. Nxc6 Kxc6 34. c4 {The only move.} 34...dxc4+ 35. Kxc4 Nd6+ 36. Kc3 Nb5+ 37. Kb3 Kd5 {Now the black king has a nice central position, black has the b-file, which means that the king can't defend the a3 pawn unless it wants to be trapped.} 38. Nc3+ Nxc3 39. Kxc3 a4 {Now the king is officially cut off from defense of the a-pawn and the b3 square is secure for the black rook.} 40. Re7? {This doesn't help matters for Sofi. Better was 40. Rd1+.} 40...Rb3+ 41. Kc2 Rxa3 42. Rxh7 Ra2+ 43. Kb1 Rxg2 44. h4 Ke6! {The best move. Black let's go of the a-pawn and concentrates on the kingside and converting his g-pawn.} 45. h5 g5 46. Ra7 Rh2 47. Rxa4 Kf5 48. Kc1 g4 49. Ra5+ Kf4 50. Ra4+ Kg5 51. Kd1 g3 {No stopping the g-pawn.} 52. Ra8 Kxh5 53. Rg8 Kh4 54. Ke1 Rf2 55. Rh8+ Kg4 56. Rh1 Rh2 {And Sofi resigned. There's no stopping the g-pawn conversion and subsequent mate. Sofi played a nice game, missed some winning chances, but I'm proud of her. As a matter of fact she went on to beat another strong veteran Smyslov in the 3rd round with a quick 22-mover.} 0-1