It’s time I got this blog going again. I had a look this afternoon and realised I haven’t written anything here for ten months now! I’ve played several tournament games since then.
I wanted to look at this game particularly because I misplayed the opening. However, looking at it now, I see I didn’t come out of the opening too badly - I just played abysmally in middle game, and didn’t get as far as the end game. I can’t help thinking my opponent got the full point without having to do anything. Looking at white’s middle game moves, I don’t see any evidence of a plan until the moment I handed him the game.
With that in mind, is it useful to analyse this game here? I’m going to anyway. I don’t think it hurts to relive the bad moves - even if it’s hard to understand how you made them.
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nc6
No, this isn’t one of my bad moves! I’ve been playing this unusual variation of the French Defence for a while now. It avoids the heavily analysed lines of the Winawer and Classical variations. Black obstructs the c-pawn so the natural …c7-c5 centre break isn’t possible for a while. However, black still has the …f7.
4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e5 Ne4 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 8.Bd3 f5
This is where I didn’t know the theory. The established continuations are:
Having said that, I’m not sure the move I played is too bad. It certainly didn’t loose me this game.
9.exf6 Nxf6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Re1 a6 12.Qd2 Bd7 13.Re2 Kh8 14.a3
Why didn’t I play …Nb4 on any of my last three moves? That would make …c7-c5 possible and also get rid of white’s light squared bishop.
I need to get this article finished, so I’ll now just give the rest of the moves without comment. I hope to look further at this game in future articles.
14…Qd6 15.Qg5 Rae8 16.Rae1 Ng8 17.Qg3 Qxg3 18.hxg3 Nh6 19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.Rxe5 Ng4 21.R5e2 Nf6 22.Nd1 c6 23.f3 Bc8 24.Nf2 Kg8 25.Nh3 Re7 26.Nf4 Rfe8 27.g4 g5 28.Nh5 Nxh5 29.gxh5 Kg7 30.Re5 Kf6 31.f4 gxf4 32.Rf1 Kg7 33.Rxf4 Rf8 34.Rg5+ Kh6 35.Rxf8 Kxg5 36.Rxc8 1-0
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
Good to see Chess Mat back in action…Nc6 looks like a fine idea - can this lead to a Nimzowitch opening? Good, I imagine, for startling one’s opponent. But why play e6 in the first place? What’s wrong with e5 followed by a sally into the lovely Latvian or elephant. Yes I am mad.
bad moves makes my planning of the game worst.
Bad moves.
I forgot who was that Grandmaster who said that 40 good moves may NOT win a game BUT one bad move can cost you the game.
This shows how careful we should be with every move we make at the 64 squared battlefield. I have lost count of how many games I have thrown - winning games actually, thanks to one howler.