EPT
I am starting to train to get good in chess so I'm looking for opponents whenever I have the chance. I'm still pretty weak, but I am seeing quick improvements.
I played four games vs Racenilatr today. After the last game, he said he was going to play starcraft but wanted me to review the games with him. I told him I only had a record of the final game so I'd have to do that one even though it wasn't the best game (I actually realized shortly before completing this long post that there is a record stored of every game!) We agreed that I'd make a post where I analyzed the game for him to learn from. I invite all the readers to discuss the game as well, and anybody new to chess can possibly learn from this.
White: Racenilatr
Black: micronesia
1: d4
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/1a.png)
Queen's Pawn Opening. The Queen's Pawn opening move is somewhat slower than the popular e4, because White will not be able to castle for three more moves. Its advantage is that it gives White more control over tactical surprises and often provides more lasting initiative and pressure.
1: ... d5
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/1b.png)
Queen's Pawn Game. Black answers symmetrically, challenging the center directly.
2: Bg5
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/2a.png)
Levitsky Attack. In Queen's Pawn openings, there is always a problem: how to activate the c1-Bishop. By developing the Bishop outside the pawn chain (before White plays e3), White guarantees the Bishop a future, if only to trade it off. White wins 15% more than Black statistically.
2: ... Nc6
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/2b.png)
Out of opening book.
Additional Commentary: I'm not used to playing against this white opening, so I had no prior experience playing against it. I knew it wasn't a common opening because it violates the general rule of developing knights before bishops. I decided the pin on the pawn at e7 wasn't a big deal, so I developed my b8 knight. I was considering a fiancetto on the king's side in order to force him to respond to my threat on the d4 pawn, but didn't end up doing it.
3: Nf3
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/3a.png)
Develops a Knight.
3: ... Nf6
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/3b.png)
Releases the pin on Black's pawn at e7.
4: h4
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/4a.png)
This move doesn't seem to accomplish very much. It's rare that you want to move a rook's pawn two spaces this early in the game.
4: ... Bf5
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/4b.png)
Develops a bishop, and attacks white's weakest pawn at c2.
5: Qd2
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/5a.png)
Brings the queen out of the back row. Also attacks the b4 square, preventing the knight on c6 from advancing with the intent to target c2 and win a rook at a1.
5: ... Qd7
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/5b.png)
Enables the long castle.
Additional Commentary: This move proved to be very helpful, but I didn't yet know how I was going to use the queen when I moved it here.
6: a4
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/6a.png)
Similar to h4, I don't see this accomplishing very much. It would be better to develop a minor piece and/or get ready to castle.
6: ... e6
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/6b.png)
Backs up the pawn at d5 and the bishop at f5. Opens the diagonal for the f8 bishop which attacks the square at b4, and allows the c6 knight to advance.
7: e3
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/7a.png)
Backs up the d4 pawn and opens the diagonal for the f1 bishop.
7: ... Nb4
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/7b.png)
Threatens to fork the king and the rook at a1 by Nxc2. Is attacked by white's queen, but defended by black's bishop at f8.
8: c3
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/8a.png)
Ouch! Leads to 8...Nc2+ 9.Kd1 Nxa1 10.Bb5 c6 11.Ne5 Qc7 12.Bd3 Ne4 13.Qe2 f6 14.g4 fxe5 15.gxf5 exf5 16.dxe5 Nxg5 17.hxg5 Qxe5, which wins a bishop, a knight, and a pawn for a rook, a bishop, a knight, and two pawns. Much better is Na3, leading to 8...Ne4 9.Qd1 Bd6 10.c3 f6 11.Bf4 Bxf4 12.exf4 Nc6 13.Be2 O-O, which wins a bishop for a bishop. [spoiler]This was white's only meaningful blunder, but it cost the game. White was not able to recover and was eventually mated.[/spoiler]
8: ... Nc2+
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/8b.png)
Moves it out of harm's way and forks White's king and White's rook at a1.
9: Kd1
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/9a.png)
Moves it out of check.
9: ... Nxa1
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/9b.png)
Forks White's pawn at a4 and White's knight at b1.
10: c4
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/10a.png)
Ouch! Leads to 10...Ne4 11.Qc1 Nxf2+ 12.Ke1 Nxh1 13.Nc3 Nc2+ 14.Kd2 Ng3 15.Ne5 Qd6 16.Bf4 Nxf1+ 17.Qxf1, which wins a knight for a rook, a bishop, and a pawn. Much better is Bb5, leading to 10...c6 11.Ne5 Qc7 12.Bd3 Ne4 13.Qe1 Qa5 14.Nd2 Qxa4+ 15.Ke2 Nxd2 16.Qxd2 Bxd3+ 17.Nxd3, which wins a bishop and a knight for a bishop, a knight, and a pawn.
10: ... Qxa4+
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/10b.png)
Checks White's king.
Additional Commentary: This is where the earlier move Qd7 proved useful.
11: b3
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/11a.png)
Danger! Hangs the pawn at b3. Leads to 11...Qxb3+ 12.Ke2 Bxb1 13.Bxf6 Bb4 14.Bg5 dxc4 15.Ke1 Be4 16.Be2 Qb1+ 17.Bd1 Bd3 18.Qxb4 Nc2+ 19.Kd2 Qxb4+ 20.Kc1 Nxe3, which wins a bishop and a knight for a queen, a knight, and three pawns. Much better is Ke2, leading to 11...Bxb1 12.Qc1 Ne4 13.Qxb1 Qxc4+ 14.Kd1 Qb3+ 15.Kc1 Nxf2 16.Be2 Qa4 17.b3 Nxb3+ 18.Kb2 Nxh1 19.Qxh1, which wins a bishop and a knight for a rook, a knight, and three pawns.
11: ... Qxb3+
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/11b.png)
Checks White's king and creates a passed pawn on a7.
Additional Commentary: It is very important that white moves his king in the correct direction here. He should escape to the right to avoid the queen.
12: Kc1
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/12a.png)
White gives Black a forced mate opportunity. Much better is Ke2. Kc1 leads to 12...Qxb1# and mate.
12: ... Qxb1#
![[image loading]](http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq56/microacg/12b.png)
Checkmates White's king.
Post game analysis: This was weaker than a couple of your other games (hence the short game length). I think you were losing concentration at this point. As you practice more, it becomes easier to spot weak points in your defense that the opponent is targeting. This is the second or third time I caught you with a fork of the king and the rook with my knight, so make sure to watch out for that during games! If you want me to analyze any of our other games let me know. You better hurry if you want to take a win from me though... I just started reading the book Cloud recommended to me :p
