Annotated chess game

No. This opening is undefined, it's too early yet. Although, with his second move, Black has announced that he will most likely respond to 2. c4 by transposing to a Queen's Gambit or a Nimzo-Indian Defense.

We are NOT in a Queen's Indian. The Queen's Indian is defined by the Bb7 fianchetto, and we have seen no such thing. The opening is still undefined and possesses a number of transpositional possibilities.

The QID doesn't necesarily have the Bb7 fianchetto. The Bishop can also go to a6. In this position it is as theorybrat states undefined as there aren't enough moves made. It depends on black's next move. If Bb4 we have the Nimzo-Indian, if c5 then the Modern Benoni comes about.

You couldn't be more wrong..... This is called the Nimzo-Indian defense it is one of Black's most solid semi-closed defenses. And it is seen with great regularity at the very highest levels of chess, having been a staple of world champions and championship contenders for the majority of the last century. In fact, it is considered such a solid defense that many Grand Masters prefer to avoid it by playing 3. Nf3 and delaying, or even avoiding totally, Nc3. Also, for the record, your 4th move is weak... That bishop has far better and more active places to be than d2. Main line theory continues 4. e3 or perhaps 4. Qc2 avoiding doubled pawns that result after the exchange. In fact it's White's next move 4. Bd2 that is almost never seen at the highest levels......

Well, Black can't really develop a piece, except for his knight, can he? That's part of the reason why we move pawns in the opening: to permit development. However, you are correct: this is a horrible pawn to move... It blocks up the entire queenside, the c8 bishop as well as the b8 knight. Additionally, with his dar square bishop gone, Black is creating super-sized dark square holes in his position. Nasty...

Better perhaps would be Ne4!? hoping to knock of white's powerful bishop. However, after Ne4!? Bb4!? with the plan of b3 and Bb2 white can retain his bishop.

Right on the money, this is the correct move.

There's something to be said for 7. Bd3 though, followed by 8. e4

There is indeed something to be said for 7. Bd3: "It's illegal!"

This was probably the point of Black's 6th move. Thing is, however, it was unnecessary. ...d5 could have been played immediately without wasting time or overly cramping his position.

This move is premature. White should be focusing on development. The knight can easily be challenged with the simple ...Nbd7. I don't play Queen's Pawn openings as White, but I think 8. Be2 is in order here.

Or Bd3...theorybrat is right of course, almost always develop fully before attacking.

This isn't the best move, but it's far from a blunder. We're in a Queen's Gambit-like position, and taking the c-pawn is very common and perfectly playable... Black's plan should be next to get a knight on d7, and possibly the queen on c7 as well, to prepare for the move c6-c5 which will free his position. This plan also puts potential pressure on the knight at e5 which is overextended.

No he's not... I think he's hoping to swindle you with ...Qf6, ...Qxf2, mate.

black needs to develop...Nb-d7 is in order here.

To remove the bishop pair. I still think something along the lines of Bb4!? is interesting. after b3, Bb2, f3 and e4 white will have a massive advantage though. Seems contrvertial though and it is probably safer to play Nbd7.

Yes, exactly... and also the TIME he has lost doing this, ouch. And, finally, he has left his kingside, which is under big pressure, totally undefended.

Advantage of the two bishops? I count one, and a bad one at that, blocked in by it's own awkward looking pawns.

( steverand67 (1632) on 12-Jul-07: Advantage of the two bishops? ) I think far1ey meant the two bishops white had before 10...Nxc3.

I think we must remember that time isn't a permanent advantage, the advantage of the two bishops however is. Black is simply preventing white from having any permamant advantage later in the game. Of course this is a risky course as these temporary advantages could lead to an attack/winning of material for white but if played correctly this cannot be too bad. Reply: Yes that is what I ment.

This toothless attack creates a weak backwards pawn on c6... Again, Black should be getting reay to play ...c5 and try to break up White's strong pawn centre. But with all his defenders on the kingside gone (esp. that absurd knight sortie all the way to c3), and none of his queenside developed, Black's king should come under strong attack before any of this can get accomplished.

?! The wrong move. Nbd7 catching up in development is better and probably one of the only correct follow ups to Nxc3.

The b1/h2 diagonal is much more powerful, I think. Your bishop is "biting on granite" with those pawns on e6/f7... there could be some potential for a knight sac on f7, but I don't think you have the pieces left to mount it fast enough. Whereas after Bc3 and Qd3 you're threatening mate right away. And if he defends with g7-g6, he's create a massive weakness and his king will be in big trouble.

Agreed. Bd3 makes much more sense.

? Obviously a waste of time. Black would like Nd7 but the c6 pawn hangs so perhaps Qc7 or Bb7 are in order.

Cheap. White has an advantage and the worst thing you can do is make cheap threats and hope your opponent wont notice. c4! breaking up the pawns makes more sense. Or even e4 simply dominating the centre.

Unless of course, the cheap threat actually pulls though  

Unlucky, white still will have an advantage after g6 but there is still hope for black.

This game was not lost due to "minor errors in the opening". This game was lost because Black the opening HORRIBLY, making several serious positional mistakes. However, all was not lost even then... It was Black's atrocious middlegame play -- playing with hollow aggression all the while missing the most basic tactics and totally disregarding even the most simple positional considerations -- that caused them to lose. And, finally... I just want to say that I may have been a little hard on you in my comments, especially in the opening... but the fact is that a lot of what you said was just plain wrong! Like asserting that the Nimzo-Indian isn't playing at the highest levels... I mean, come on!! If you're a beginner, fair enough, no problem, everyone has much to learn about chess, at all levels... Just show a little humility and don't make such sweeping pronouncements when they're not based on sound knowledge, or you're going to be called on it. Anyway, keep studying and playing!

I think that's a bit harsh, the only REAL blunders weren't in the opening but for black were f6?? and the chasing of the bishop while white's 'blunder' so to speak was the cheap threats instead of looking at weaknesses in blacks position (the c6 pawn) and playing for them by opening the c-file (c4!). Sure there were a few positional mistakes in the opening like c6?! perhaps but they are all contrevertial so there is nothing to argue about and certainly a move like c6 shouldn't cost black the ENTIRE game. Overally the 'basics' were sound by white (ie developing etc) but instead of going for the cheapo try to work to your advantages and attack your opponents weak spots. This can only come with practice and by playing opponents who are higher rated who are more likely to see Qxh7#! and therefore force you to play out the game in a more forcing manner. Hope this helps.

I'm inclined to agree with theorybrat...black shot himself in both feet with his lousy opening play. Of course, far1ey is right about not going for cheap mate threats, as they work about 1/100 times against better players. Keep working on your chess, and good luck in the future.