A couple recent games I played.

[Rookpawn]

Here a game I played recently where I'd missed an opportunity to play a much better move and

my final blunder didnt go unpunished.

[Event "www.ChessWorld.net Tournament number #139099"]
[Site "www.ChessWorld.net "]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "NA"]
[White "RookPawn"]
[Black "M.P.knight"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Board "6340108"]
[Termination "White resigned"]

1.d2d4 d7d5 2.Ng1f3 Ng8f6 3.e2e3 e7e6 4.Bf1d3 c7c5 5.b2b3 Nb8c6 6.O-O Bf8d6 7.Bc1b2 O-O 8.dxc5 Bd6xc5 9.a2a3 Qd8e7 10.b3b4

10... Bc5d6 Obviously moved to support e5 and to threaten the enticing fork on e4.

11.Nb1d2 e6e5

12.c2c4; 12.e5e4 is playable but I didn't like the look of his central pawns. 12.c4 is the best move. My continuation was a poor choice.

12... e4 Forking both Bishop and Knight.

13.cxd5?! Not the best continuation. 13.Bxf6! Qxf6 14.Bxe4 and now black has the choice between 14...dxe4 or Bxh2 chances being equal or slightly better for white.

13... exf3 14.dxc6 fxg2 15.Kg1xg2 bxc6 16.Nd2e4?? (16.Nc4 is best) Nf6xe4 17.Bd3xe4 Qe7xe4

{White resigned} 0-1




[Event "www.ChessWorld.net Tournament number #139099"]
[Site "www.ChessWorld.net "]
[Date "2010.2.14"]
[Round "NA"]
[White "RookPawn"]
[Black "Londa"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Board "6340106"]
[Termination "Draw agreed"]

1.d2d4 d7d5 2.Ng1f3 Ng8f6 3.e2e3 e7e6 4.Bf1d3 c7c5 5.b2b3 Nb8c6 6.O-O Bf8d6 7.Bc1b2 O-O 8.dxc5 Bd6xc5 9.a2a3 Qd8e7 10.b3b4 Bc5b6 (10... Bd6 see previous game!)

11.Nb1d2 e6e5 12.b4b5 e5e4 (The Bishop/Knight fork again. This time it was a reaction to my attack on the Nc6 instead of my reaction to the fork in the last game.)

13.bxc6 bxc6 14.Bb2xf6 gxf6 (14...Qxf6 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Bxe4)

15.Bd3e2 exf3 16.Nd2xf3 Ra8b8 17.Nf3d4 Bb6c7 18.g2g3 Rb8b6 19.Be2d3 Qe7e5 20.c2c4 dxc4 21.Bd3xc4 Bc8h3 22.Rf1e1 Qe5e4 23.f2f3 Qe4e7 24.Qd1c2 c6c5 25.Nd4b3 Kg8h8 26.Ra1d1 Rf8g8 27.Rd1d2 f6f5 28. Kg1f2 h7h5 29. f3f4 h5h4 30. Re1g1 Rb6g6 31. Rd2d1 Rg6h6 32. Qc2c3 Kh8h7 33. Bc4e2 Bc7b6 34. Be2f3 Bh3g4 35. Bf3xg4 fxg4 36. Qc3c2 Kh7h8 37. Qc2c3 Kh8h7 {Draw agreed} 1/2-1/2

[Rudel]

Thanks for posting these games. I have two questions...

First, as you may know, the position after 16.Nd2xf3 is a critical one after the forced sequence you played. I allude to it on page 87 of the Expanded edition and claim that Black has a hard time developing. I think both you and your opponent played very strong moves in this variation, and I was wondering how you felt OTB in the position.
I'd also like to point out, since this is a perfectly reasonable line of play, that playing Re1! earlier (on move 20) saves White a tempo since Black has to respond to the threat of f4. Playing 20.a4!? may even be better, but it's unclear (to me, at least) whether White enjoys a greater advantage due to coaxing either ...a5 or ...Bd7.

My second question involves the first game. You indicated that after 14...dxe4 or 14...Bxh2, Black was either equal or only slightly worse. This is a critical line for Black, which I mention on page 88. Both moves should end up the same: 14...dxe4 15.Nxe4 Bxh2+ 16.Nxh2 Qg6 17.Ng3, and I claim that Black does not have anywhere near enough compensation. I was wondering what you saw here.

[Rookpawn]

First I really need to get the expanded edition. I haven't had a chance to yet. Still working my way through Moment of Zuke. By the way, I enjoy these discussions. They get the old gray matter moving!

Second question first: I'll give you what my impressions are and try to recreate what I was thinking at the time. (My notes are kind of all over the place.)

"You indicated that after 14...dxe4 or 14...Bxh2, Black was either equal or only slightly worse. This is a critical line for Black, which I mention on page 88. Both moves should end up the same: 14...dxe4 15.Nxe4 Bxh2+ 16.Nxh2 Qg6 17.Ng3, and I claim that Black does not have anywhere near enough compensation. I was wondering what you saw here."

Please don't get me wrong here. The 3/2 pawn majority on the Queen side should give White a long term advantage in the endgame IF it can be converted. (There is a similar scenario in the CK after the early exchange of Queens on d1. The Colle Endgame.) After exchanges in the open files converting the pawns on the Queen-side could be a long dance. In my opinion Black should (even with the pawn down.) Be able to hold off the white charge and have chances to hold the game.

Pt1 --- I like to play a game in my mind. (Scary I know....) Remove all the major pieces and the scenario isn't as bad for Black. Blacks compensation lies in a Bishop and Knight vs Knight and Knight endgame. (For you endgame brains out there I'd be interested if this is correct.)

Pt2 --- I don't see any short term White tactical threats. So if Black can exchange off a couple major pieces (say down the d-file) we get closer to Pt1. White would have avoid major piece exchanges until its advantageous.(?) Black needs to encourage major exchanges and trust to his Knight and Bishop.

Conclusion: What I saw was that Black has chances to hold on to the game and whites chances are with the long term Queen-side pawn majority which may not be easily converted. So let me rephrase what I posted. Your analysis of the position is correct, white should have the initiative and the advantage but Black still has the ability to make White prove his advantage.

A couple games in this area would be interesting.

Back to you first Question: These games were played in the thematic tournament with a long time control (One move every seven days.) So I'm able to set up a board and try to dig out variations and make notes and think much more long term. (At least most the time.)

In the second game my the Idea of Re1 best. (I'm looking at a short note I made myself getting the Bishop the bishop back down to f1 or e2 for added support of my light squares.) But I talked myself into 20... c4 because I wanted to recapture with the Bishop on d3. But, your point of 20.Re1 and the AND the treat of f4 is a good one. 20.a4 I never considered and after the next couple moves I lost any advantage I might have had.

Any comments are greatly appreciated!