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[Tomoyo]

What does d-06 mean? Draw in six moves?

 

[Bluemofia]

Draw vs rank 6th player.

My draws ended up by not enough material for checkmate, 3 move repetition, and by mutual agreement, in that order.

 

[Richard Cribb]

I'm not sure I see why black's counterplay is any better after the above line compared to Nxf7. In the quoted line you have a couple of ideas to play on (which I stated in an earlier reply), but after Nxf7 things look much more complicated to me.

Let's say, 15. Nxf7 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 what now? White is still better but I fail to see the same clear ideas as in the quoted line. (In case you dared take the Rook; 16... Nxh8 Nxd3 17. Ra2 Ba4 and after taking the h8-Knight, things are looking less clear, no?)

First of all, my apologies for late answer, yesterday was hectic.
I do believe that White can take the rook. I haven't looked closer on it, but I think 18.Qb1 with the threat of Rd2 (18...Rc8 is also met by this) is winning. I might have overlooked something though, in which case I will retract this statement.But a rook is a rook...
As a player of a strategic disposition I also think that the position after 16...Qxe5 is clearer, since a pair of light pieces has come off and Black's Bishop is less active. Again, some analysis will be needed to form a definite verdict, but I am fairly convinced about the correctness of it.

 

[Panzar75]

While a Rook certainly is a Rook, look at it's activity on h1. I'm less of a tactical player and more a positional player so maybe I'm just happier with the other position.

In this particular position your idea don't work though because black has Rc3 simultaneously defending on d3 and attacking on a3. There are to many threats to deal with and black is even clearly winning now. (If I sound sure of myself that's because I did none of the analysis but used the computer.)

We're at: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 Bd7 7. b4 cxb4 8. axb4 Nge7 9. Na3 Ng6 10. Bd3 Be7 11. Bg5 Bxg5 12. Nxg5 Nxb4 13. cxb4 Qxb4+ 14. Kf1 Qxd4 15. Nxf7 Nxe5 16. Nxh8 Nxd3 17. Ra2 Ba4 18. Qb1 Rc8 19. Rd2 Rc3

 

[Panzar75]

Another old tournament game from the '80s... I was Black in a Sicilian Najdorf, Gotenburg Deferred

At move 20, Nd7 looks reasonable to me. I would probably not have dared d5.

At move 29, Qxb4 immediately without the check seems good. The point is that after Bxb2 white can play Qxb2 and there is no Qxc4. And there is still the threat of discovered check.

 

[Richard Cribb]

While a Rook certainly is a Rook, look at it's activity on h1. I'm less of a tactical player and more a positional player so maybe I'm just happier with the other position.

The rook is admittedly dormant at the moment, but if given the time can be activized via h3.
My other point was, being a positional player myself, that the other variation I mentioned led to a calmer position than the one I compared it with when White plays Nxe6 instead.
I did of course commit the sin not to analyse it thoroughly before passing a verdict, but even Botvinnik himself did that a couple of times.

In this particular position your idea don't work though because black has Rc3 simultaneously defending on d3 and attacking on a3. There are to many threats to deal with and black is even clearly winning now. (If I sound sure of myself that's because I did none of the analysis but used the computer.)

We're at: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 Bd7 7. b4 cxb4 8. axb4 Nge7 9. Na3 Ng6 10. Bd3 Be7 11. Bg5 Bxg5 12. Nxg5 Nxb4 13. cxb4 Qxb4+ 14. Kf1 Qxd4 15. Nxf7 Nxe5 16. Nxh8 Nxd3 17. Ra2 Ba4 18. Qb1 Rc8 19. Rd2 Rc3

I had a small look at it, and it does indeed seem like 18.Qb1 loses, but that doesn't mean that White's ressources are exhausted. Another possibility is 18.Qe2, and if then 18...Nf4 19.Nc2.
But I need to examine it closer before I get to tall and handsome about it, and I don't have any computer to help me, unfortunately...

 

[Panzar75]

But I need to examine it closer before I get to tall and handsome about it, and I don't have any computer to help me, unfortunately...

Perhaps I should have mentioned that when I checked with the computer it turned out that after 17... Ba4 white is already worse by a pawn or so compared to a little over half a pawn up after the Nxd6 line. After Qe2 Kd7 my computer say -1.50 which is pretty much lost.

Your ideas are good though, even if they didn't quite work against best defence. I for one would have big problems playing the black side when it gets this tactical.

 

[Stegyre]

This was a great game! I think we'd both like to know what others think.

White: Stegyre
Black: Narz

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 Standard.

6. Nxc6 bxc6 Fine. Don't take mine; I'll take yours. No particular reason. I guess I just don't trust what he can do with knights.

7. Bd3 Bc5 8. e5 ... I learned last time not to give Narz time to set up: he's brutal, so I thought I'd try a pawn push.

8. ... Nd5 9. Qg4 Qb6 10. Ne4 g6 11. Nxc5 Qxc5 12. O-O ... Feeling good! I've disrupted pawn formation, captured the black-square bishop he'd want to defend his king's side, and safely castled my own king.

12. ... f5 I don't recall what I did expect, but I know it wasn't that.

13. exf6 Nxf6 Now, I'm seriously considering 14. Bxg6+?! I figure, against a lesser player, I could pick up some material, if he doesn't play just right. But Narz is not a fool, and discretion prevails:

14. Qh4 O-O 15. Bg5 Qe7 Ah ha! I've got you nicely tied up, now!
Now, I'm wondering what to do next. I figure I'll launch a queen-side attack, as I can't figure how to crack the nut king-side without spending several moves getting my rooks out. In retrospect, I was a bit naive.

16. b4 e5 17. Rfe1 ... Fine! You're just encouraging me to do something I should be doing anyway.

17. ... d6 18. Re3 Qf7 *Yawn* Whatever. At this point, I am completely oblivious to the fact that he has now opened up his remaining bishop and totally slipped my noose. I'm like Barney Fife, lording it over a prisoner who knows his cell is unlocked and I've got no bullets in my gun.

19. c4 Ng4 Houston, we have a problem! From here on out, I feel I've lost the edge that I had, and this is a real horse race, almost to the very last.

20. Rf3 Bf5 21. Be7 Rfe8 22. Bxf5 Forced, to avoid 22. ... e4!

22. ... gxf5 23. Bxd6 Re6 24. c5 e4 25. Rb3 Rae8 26. h3 Ne5 27. Bxe5
Forced, again! I think my bishop is more valuable than his knight, but I cannot afford 27. ... Kd3!

27. ... Rxe5 28. Rg3+ Kh8 29. Qf4 MUST prevent 29. ... f4. This pair of pawns - with heavy artillery behind them - are putting a lot of pressure on me.

29. ... R5e6 30. a4 Qf6 31. Raa3 Qd4 32. Qxf5 Rf6 That was probably a trap, and I walked right into it. I'd considered Rf6, but hadn't looked down to note the attack on f2. In retrospect, however, I'm still glad to kill that pawn: in it's position, it was about as good as a piece.

33. Qg5 Rxf2 Pawn for a pawn; a necessary exchange. I still think his pawn was more valuable, but this now makes the e-pawn unopposed. What surprised me, however, was Rxf2, instead of Qxf2+, which I thought was better.

34. Qe3 Rd2 35. Qxd4+ Rxd4 36. Rab3 Rb8 37. b5 Rc4 38. b6 a5 39. Rg5 Rxa4 40. Re5 Kg7? That can't be right: with my rooks where they are, I'm going to bully his king back into his corner and pick up material on my way!

41. Re6 Ra1+ 42. Kf2 a4 43. Rg3+ Kf7 44. Rxe4 a3 45. Rf3+ Kg7 46. Rg4+ Kh8 I wonder if this sequence gave me the tempo to win the game? I played out several different scenarios all the way along, and in any number, I had a significant chance of losing the promotion battle. At this point, however, my options appear to be equality or better.

47. Rf7 a2 48. Ra4 Rc1 49. Rxa2 Rxc5 An unavoidable trade. I have the satisfaction of getting a more advanced pawn. But can I protect my own advanced pawn? Probably not, but my most likely scenario leads to victory (50. Rb2 Rb5 51. Rxb5 cxb5 52. b7!) It now looks like 46. ... Kh8 wasn't such a good idea. I was wondering why not Kh6? I could force a draw, there, but don't see a mate (and ... a2 ... Rf1+ keeps threatening).

50. Rb2 Re5 51. Rc7 c5 52. b7 1-0

I can't remember the last game where I've been on edge for so long. It was great. And cheers to a great opponent.

 

[Panzar75]

White: Stegyre
Black: Narz

Interesting game. While replaying it I kept thinking why doesn't white do this and then you did. Anyway;

Allowing e5 looks a little risky.

After 9... Qb6 white can play Qxg7. If 9... Rf8 then 10. Ne4 and if 9. Bxf2+ (which I guess is the reason you didn't play it) 10. Kf1 Rf8 11. Bh6 Bc5 12. Na4 Qb4 13. Nxc5 Qxc5 14. Qxf8+ Qxf8 15. Bxf8 Kxf8 and you seem to be an exchange up. Black probably had to play Kf8 or g6 on move 9 and this is one indication that allowing e5 is indeed risky.

Feeling good! I've disrupted pawn formation, captured the black-square bishop he'd want to defend his king's side, and safely castled my own king.

Agreed.

Now, I'm seriously considering 14. Bxg6+?! I figure, against a lesser player, I could pick up some material, if he doesn't play just right. But Narz is not a fool, and discretion prevails

Play the board, not the man. I guess. 14. Bxg6+ Ke7 15. Qh4 Ba6 (connecting the Rooks, threatning a Rook and renewing the threat on g6) 16. Bg5 Raf8 it looks as if black has a double attack on g6 and f1 but white has plenty of resources, if nothing else, Bd3 seems to do. In any case, white is up a pawn with the better position and an attack. (And 14... hxg6 is obviously worse, white already has 2 pawns for the piece and will get the Rook too by force.)

Ah ha! I've got you nicely tied up, now!
Now, I'm wondering what to do next. I figure I'll launch a queen-side attack, as I can't figure how to crack the nut king-side without spending several moves getting my rooks out. In retrospect, I was a bit naive.

Let's take a look at the position.

Kingside: You have a Queen and two Bishops attacking while he has Queen, Rook and Knight defending. You have an annoying pin making his forces slightly less efficient at the moment. You can easily add more pieces to the attack, probably through a rooklift or two. His Rook and bishop are harder to get to the Kingside. Maybe he can, maybe not. Unclear.

Queenside: You have a Bishop attacking, the Queen might be able to help too. Your Rooks should be able to help from the first rank. He has Queen, Bishop and Rook already there. With Qf7 for example, he can free his Knight to join too. And his only active posibility, the pawn centre, also affects the Queenside to an extent. I don't see how you can get an advantage here.

Besides, why open the Queenside and give him activity? Take the board out and try finding something for black to do against Rae1, Re3, Rh3. It's not that easy for black even if there is no immediate breakthrough. And there very well might be, with the Rook on h3 there is constantly the threat of Bxg6 which is very dangerous.

After 17...d6, f4 comes to mind, exploiting the pins.

*Yawn* Whatever. At this point, I am completely oblivious to the fact that he has now opened up his remaining bishop and totally slipped my noose. I'm like Barney Fife, lording it over a prisoner who knows his cell is unlocked and I've got no bullets in my gun.

You don't need bullets when you have a bazooka in the other hand. After Rf3 the Knight on f6 will finally be put out of its misery.

I thought 25. Rg3 was obvoius, perhaps it wasn't.

29. Qf4 MUST prevent 29. ... f4. This pair of pawns - with heavy artillery behind them - are putting a lot of pressure on me.

Agreed, and Qf4 does indeed look logical. I'm sure that's what I would've played. The computer suggests Rd1 with a fun line against f4. The main point is that black can't allow Qf6+ after Rd7.

Instead of 36... Rb8 the move a6 first would make b5 less attractive and give black a target on b4.

It now looks like 46. ... Kh8 wasn't such a good idea. I was wondering why not Kh6? I could force a draw, there, but don't see a mate (and ... a2 ... Rf1+ keeps threatening).

While neither you or I see the mate, the computer does and announce a mate in 6. The basic idea seems to be Kg3, Rf6+, Rf5+, Kh4 and Rh5#.

This was a very interesting game. I spent about 4-5 hours looking at it.

 

[Stegyre]

After 9... Qb6 white can play Qxg7. If 9... Rf8 then 10. Ne4 and if 9. Bxf2+ (which I guess is the reason you didn't play it)

Yep!

10. Kf1 Rf8 11. Bh6 Bc5 12. Na4 Qb4 13. Nxc5 Qxc5 14. Qxf8+ Qxf8 15. Bxf8 Kxf8 and you seem to be an exchange up.

Clever. 'Have to remember that for next time.

Play the board, not the man.

Good advice. It also avoids bad habits. I've taken a few games from "better" players attempting foolish tricks that are devastating: devastating for you, if you fall for them; devastating for them, if you don't.

(And 14... hxg6 is obviously worse, white already has 2 pawns for the piece and will get the Rook too by force.)

That's the mistake I'd have looked for from a poor player. But I knew Narz would not fall for it.

Let's take a look at the position.

Kingside: You have a Queen and two Bishops attacking while he has Queen, Rook and Knight defending. You have an annoying pin making his forces slightly less efficient at the moment. You can easily add more pieces to the attack, probably through a rooklift or two. His Rook and bishop are harder to get to the Kingside. Maybe he can, maybe not. Unclear.

Queenside: You have a Bishop attacking, the Queen might be able to help too. Your Rooks should be able to help from the first rank. He has Queen, Bishop and Rook already there. With Qf7 for example, he can free his Knight to join too. And his only active posibility, the pawn centre, also affects the Queenside to an extent. I don't see how you can get an advantage here.

Besides, why open the Queenside and give him activity?

Yep. If I had it to do over, I wouldn't have ventured there.

After 17...d6, f4 comes to mind, exploiting the pins.

I did think of that, but for some reason, thought I needed my rooks lined up, first. Then, his next move mooted it.

You don't need bullets when you have a bazooka in the other hand. After Rf3 the Knight on f6 will finally be put out of its misery.

Yeah, my point is that I was totally blind, thinking about how to organize my pawn attack over on the queen side.

I thought 25. Rg3 was obvious, perhaps it wasn't.

A long-term threat, but not an immediate one, is it? Where do you see it going from there?

The computer suggests Rd1 with a fun line against f4. The main point is that black can't allow Qf6+ after Rd7.

This is why we're losing our war against computers.

While neither you or I see the mate, the computer does and announce a mate in 6. The basic idea seems to be Kg3, Rf6+, Rf5+, Kh4 and Rh5#.

Kg3-Rf6+-Kh5-Rf5+-Kh6-repeated: that's the draw I could see. Kh4 isn't possible because of the rook on g4.

 

[Panzar75]

A long-term threat, but not an immediate one, is it? Where do you see it going from there?

There might not be an immediate threat but the Rook seems to do more from g3 then b3. It prevents f4, threaten h3 in some lines, and is in vincinity to his King. It just looked more logical to me. I could be wrong, happens a lot.

Kg3-Rf6+-Kh5-Rf5+-Kh6-repeated: that's the draw I could see. Kh4 isn't possible because of the rook on g4.

Why would a Rook on g4 prevent the King from going to h4? There is no draw, it's forced mate. Let's look at en example line: 46... Kh6 47. Kg3 a2 48. Rf6+ Kh5 49. Rf5+ Kh6 yes I have a Rook on g4, I still play 50. Kh4 which is a legal move. And there is no repeating going on, after any black move 51. Rh5 will be mate.

 

[Stegyre]

Why would a Rook on g4 prevent the King from going to h4? There is no draw, it's forced mate. Let's look at en example line: 46... Kh6 47. Kg3 a2 48. Rf6+ Kh5 49. Rf5+ Kh6 yes I have a Rook on g4, I still play 50. Kh4 which is a legal move. And there is no repeating going on, after any black move 51. Rh5 will be mate.

Ah, white's king to g4: that was the source of the confusion.

 

[Stegyre]

Too quiet: time to post another game.
I am seeing, more and more, what Tomoyo/Tenna mentioned about ratings on QueenAlice been a bit "overrated." Here's a game against a player who had a higher rating than Narz or Tenna (both of whom are a consistent challenge for me), who, while I don't think I slaughtered him, was consistently out-played, imho.

White: Stegyre (QA rating 1537)
Black: Macuei (QA rating 1906)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Qb6 I haven't seen that before, in a Sicilian. What's he trying to do here? I'm wondering if this is a bid for an early exchange of queens, an attack on b2 (which seems rather silly: too often, in my own experience, when I've created such a hole in my opponent's queenside pawns, I see it effectively used against me), some other trap? I decide he wants to trade queens (or that the best way to avoid any traps is to trade queens) and set out to oblige.

4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Qxd4 6. Nxd4 e5 7. Nb3 ... I decide to move the knight queenside, and then castle on that side.

7. ... Bb4 8. f3 d5 9. Bd2 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bxd2+ 11. Nbxd2 Bf5 He is clearly aiming to mess up my pawn structure. Two can play that game.

12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. O-O-O O-O 14. Nc4 Nd7 15. Nd6 Be6 16. Nxb7 Rab8 17. Nd6 Bxa2 I could trap the bishop with 18. b3, but it would cost me my pawn cover, as he would take both pawns for his bishop. I decide that, under the circumstances (his pawn formation is poorer than mine) an exchange would be better.

18. Bc4 Bxc4 19. Nxc4 Nc5 20. h4 I'm going to start bringing my rooks out to attack those weak pawns, and I want to stop the king from interfering. The goal would be to get all the way to h6, so I can prevent Kg7.

20. ... Na4 21. h5 h6 22. Rh4 Nominally threatening his knight, but I know the threat has no teeth. The main thing is I'm getting my rooks more active than his.

22. ... Kh7 23. Rd6 f5 24. Ra6 Nc5 25. Rxa7 Ra8 I'm up one pawn, about to be up two (Kxe5), and still have better pawn structure. Of course, I'll trade!

26. Rxa8 Rxa8 He now threatens Ra1+, which makes me nervous, but doesn't appear to be seriously threatening (and he would have had it even without the exchange). I decide not to think about it, and it never eventuates.

27. Nxe5 f6 28. Rc4 Again, I'll happily exchange, immediately threatening more pawns. I have two, connected, unblocked pawns. I am feeling good.

28. ... Rc8?? No, I'm feeling really good! As far as I've been able to see, so far, his errors have been minor, so far, costing him a pawn here and there, or messed up structure, but now, he's lost a piece. Not sure what he was thinking with this move (perhaps Nb3+??, not realizing that the pawn that takes the knight will also protect the rook).

29. Nd7 Rc6 30. Nxc5 f4 At this point, there is too little material and I am too far ahead. I don't care who I'm playing: I'm not going to lose, and he's unlikely to draw.

31. b4 Kg7 32. Rxf4 Rc8 33. Rg4+ Kf7 34. Rg6 Rh8 35. Nd7 Ke6 36. Nxf6 Kf5 37. Nd5 Re8 38. g4+ Ke5 39. c4 Kd4 40. Rc6 Re1+ 41. Kd2 Rf1 42. Ke2 Rc1 43. Ne3 Rc3 44. Nf5+ Ke5 45. Nxh6 Kd4 The final pawn falls.

46. Nf5+ Ke5 47. h6 Kf4 In an ideal world, I try to protect my infantrymen even when they're superfluous, and I suppose a better player would have easily done so, but I decide to focus on promotion and ending the game, instead.

48. h7 Rxf3 49. h8=Q 1-0

I did alright (obviously), but what did I miss, particularly in the early- and mid-game?

 

[Bluemofia]

Too quiet: time to post another game.
I am seeing, more and more, what Tomoyo/Tenna mentioned about ratings on QueenAlice been a bit "overrated." Here's a game against a player who had a higher rating than Narz or Tenna (both of whom are a consistent challenge for me), who, while I don't think I slaughtered him, was consistently out-played, imho.

Of course they are overrated. They are really inaccurate for true gaugeing of your chess skill, but only give a ball park range. What you should really look for, is how many games they've played. The more they play, the more accurate the rating is.

The overrated-ness is especially true of internet games compared to RL games, because of potential cheaters, and you get to use more time to think. (or could be a psychological factor introduced by sitting in front of a computer screen.)

 

[Stegyre]

Of course they are overrated. They are really inaccurate for true gaugeing of your chess skill, but only give a ball park range. What you should really look for, is how many games they've played. The more they play, the more accurate the rating is.

Understood. I use ratings to measure comparative ability: whether we're on Yahoo!, QA, or somewhere else, if you and I have similar scores, we should be well matched; if you're 200 to 400 higher than me, I'm probably going to get an education; if you're 200 below me, I'm probably not going to have an intellectually taxing game. "Provisional" players, or players with very few games, I look at the trend: a provisional who has won every one of his six games, so far, is not likely to be a beginner.

The overrated-ness is especially true of internet games compared to RL games, because of potential cheaters, and you get to use more time to think. (or could be a psychological factor introduced by sitting in front of a computer screen.)

Yet that does not account for my own overrated-ness or for how I do against some higher-rated folks: I'm not cheating and if some of my opponents ran up high scores by cheating (e.g., using a computer chess program - what other way is there? ) why'd they apparently stop, for my game? I'd think they'd at least pull out the handy-dandy ChessMaster when things suddenly took a turn for the worse.

 

[Bluemofia]

Yet that does not account for my own overrated-ness or for how I do against some higher-rated folks: I'm not cheating and if some of my opponents ran up high scores by cheating (e.g., using a computer chess program - what other way is there? ) why'd they apparently stop, for my game? I'd think they'd at least pull out the handy-dandy ChessMaster when things suddenly took a turn for the worse.

That's probably just you having more time to think. And for others, it may be a bad day. (I just realized that one of my moves that I made in a game was really dumb, as I am pretty much giving up a knight for nothing.)

 

[Panzar75]

I am not sure what 3... Qb6 was intended to accomplish but why did you not play 4. e5? And while I'm at it, why didn't you play 7. Ndb5? Those are moves I would definately have made.

Before you played 8. f3, did you calculate 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 d5 and what do you think of your position after those moves?

what did I miss, particularly in the early- and mid-game?

You did miss a very good move in the first 20 moves. Take another look and see if you find it.

I could trap the bishop with 18. b3, but it would cost me my pawn cover, as he would take both pawns for his bishop. I decide that, under the circumstances (his pawn formation is poorer than mine) an exchange would be better.

b3 does look a little scary but it seems to work out. You can start with a tactic to force the exchange of Knights though, which makes the lack of pawn cover slightly less dangerous. Can you see what I mean?

On move 24 you could play Nxe5 since he can't take on b2 (not that there was anything wrong with what you did).

He now threatens Ra1+, which makes me nervous, but doesn't appear to be seriously threatening (and he would have had it even without the exchange). I decide not to think about it, and it never eventuates.

I guess you didn't mean that quite literally? "This line doesn't look fun so I'll just stop thinking about it". I would advise against that kind of thinking Anyway, 27... Ra1+ 28. Kd2 Rg1 29.Rh2 and you're ready to push the b-pawn... seems just fine to me.

He may have missed a trick to slightly improve his position with 28... Nb3+ but you're still completely winning of course.

Any black move in the final position leaves a mate in 4 or less.

 

[Stegyre]

I am not sure what 3... Qb6 was intended to accomplish but why did you not play 4. e5? And while I'm at it, why didn't you play 7. Ndb5? Those are moves I would definitely have made.

At move 4, I was still trying to stay with "book" development of the Sicilian. Although the queen is an unusual variation, I figure this will lead to the exchange and get her out of the equation. Advancing the pawn and forcing his knight to jump around just leaves me a little suspicious of where it might jump to, with the queen for support. In short, I was nervous and risk averse. I decided eliminating pieces and "simplifying" the board would reduce risk.

At move 7, I didn't for two reasons, both of them stemming from games with Tenna: the first, I won, when he did that; the second, I lost, when I did that. Specifically, I was fearing ... a6, Na3 b5, with the threat of ... b4.

Before you played 8. f3, did you calculate 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 d5 and what do you think of your position after those moves?

I didn't, because Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Nxe4, winning a pawn, seemed to be the obvious (and traditional?) sequence. Why would he bring out the d-pawn to attack an already unprotected pawn, and give me the chance to trade for it?

You did miss a very good move in the first 20 moves. Take another look and see if you find it.

Oh, dear! It seems so obvious, now: Nd6+, taking the undefended bishop.

b3 does look a little scary but it seems to work out. You can start with a tactic to force the exchange of Knights though, which makes the lack of pawn cover slightly less dangerous. Can you see what I mean?

I can go Nc4, trading off the Knights and then the Bishops (Bxc4, Rxd7, Bxf1, Rxf1). I think I was better off with our respective knights still on the board: I got a lot more use out of mine on c4 than I think he did on a4, waiting to consummate an assault on the b-pawn that never came off.

On move 24 you could play Nxe5 since he can't take on b2 (not that there was anything wrong with what you did).

He can't? I figured Nxe5 (exposing the attack on a4) virtually compelled him to take b2.

Oh, I see: the rook fork on d7. Yes, that would have got me more material.

I guess you didn't mean that quite literally? "This line doesn't look fun so I'll just stop thinking about it". I would advise against that kind of thinking

"Decided not to worry about it" would have been slightly more accurate.

Anyway, 27... Ra1+ 28. Kd2 Rg1 29.Rh2 and you're ready to push the b-pawn... seems just fine to me.

I didn't necessarily think it through like that, but I did realize that he couldn't consistently check me or put together a mating attack.

He may have missed a trick to slightly improve his position with 28... Nb3+ but you're still completely winning of course.

cxb3: he slightly messes up my pawns, which is more than he actually got for his knight. He does seem to suffer from a lack of good options: with other ideas, he has to keep moving the knight and/or, I'm able to pick up a pawn.

Any black move in the final position leaves a mate in 4 or less.

I hadn't thought that far ahead, but was expecting ... Kxg4, Qh4+, Kxf5, Rf6+, taking his last piece.

 

[Panzar75]

At move 4, I was still trying to stay with "book" development of the Sicilian. Although the queen is an unusual variation, I figure this will lead to the exchange and get her out of the equation. Advancing the pawn and forcing his knight to jump around just leaves me a little suspicious of where it might jump to, with the queen for support. In short, I was nervous and risk averse. I decided eliminating pieces and "simplifying" the board would reduce risk.

Where do you see the Knight jumping to? d5 and e4 are covered by your Knight, I can't imagine you are afraid of him putting it back on its original square, that leaves g4 and h4 on the side of the board as options:

If he plays 4... Nh5, you can play 5. d4 cxd4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 and after a few normal moves his Knight is already in danger of being trapped! You have excellent central development and he will have to find some way of getting his Knight back into the game.

If he plays 4... Ng4 chase him away with 5. h3 Nh6 then play your Queenswapping plan with 6. d4 and his Knight is not a happy camper on h6.

I am often annoyed when high rated players state "it's what the position calls for" as it explains nothing. But I have played long enough to see that here e5 really is the move that is called for. I'm not sure I would be able to follow it up with a number of correct moves but I just feel it's the right move. And the computer backs me up on that (+1.00, already a pawn ahead positionally).

At move 7, I didn't for two reasons, both of them stemming from games with Tenna: the first, I won, when he did that; the second, I lost, when I did that. Specifically, I was fearing ... a6, Na3 b5, with the threat of ... b4.

If you had to play the line you gave it would indeed be bad. But there was a reason for Ndb5, not just "oh no, he threatened the Knight, quick, move it to a random square". If he plays a6 he is completely missing the point of our move. Take another look, what was the threat of Ndb5?

I didn't, because Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Nxe4, winning a pawn, seemed to be the obvious (and traditional?) sequence. Why would he bring out the d-pawn to attack an already unprotected pawn, and give me the chance to trade for it?

You must misunderstand me somehow. I asked if you before you played f3 had considered the line 8. f3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 d5. If in this line he plays 9... Nxe4 you will respond with fxe4 winning a piece. If you think this line (8. f3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 d5) is bad for you, as you should, you should have tried to come up with a move other than f3 on move 8 (and there is a better move).

I can go Nc4, trading off the Knights and then the Bishops (Bxc4, Rxd7, Bxf1, Rxf1). I think I was better off with our respective knights still on the board: I got a lot more use out of mine on c4 than I think he did on a4, waiting to consummate an assault on the b-pawn that never came off.

Nc4 doesn't work at all. Remember, we had planned to play b3 and win the Bishop for 2 pawns, not exchange pieces. Ne4 is much better. It threatens his Knight through a discovery, doesn't allow him to capture it with his Bishop and comes with a tactical threat against Be6. Take a look and see if you can tell why he must allow you to exchange Knights and then play b3.

I hadn't thought that far ahead, but was expecting ... Kxg4, Qh4+, Kxf5, Rf6+, taking his last piece.

Very nice but no need to move the Rook on move 51, just take his Rook with your King: 49... Kxg4 50. Qh4+ Kxf5 51. Kxf3 Ke5 (only legal move) and you can chose between 3 different Queenmoves that all are mate. You had seen most of it, very good.

 

[Narz]

Narz gets owned by the Two Knights Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5 Bc5 11. c3 Bd6 12. d4 exd3 13. Nxd3 O-O 14. Nd2 Re8 15. Nf3 Qe7 16. Nd4 Bg4 17. f3 Bd7 18. Bf4 Bxf4 19. Nxf4 c5 20. Nc2 Rad8 21. Kf2 Ba4 22. Qc1 Nh5 23. Re1 Qh4+ 24. g3 Qxh2+ 25. Ng2 Qxg3+ 26. Kg1 Bxc2 27. Qxc2 Nf4 28. Bb5 Rxe1+ 29. Rxe1 Nxg2 30. Qxg2 Qxe1+ 0-1

I think 11. c3 was the wrong move and after that I was on the defensive until I lost. In retrospect 14. Nd2 (too dangerous a situation for such long-term maneuvering) was a pretty terrible move too.

Any other thoughts on where/how I went wrong?