Annotated chess game

I hate it when higher-rated players play some retarded opening against me, it's like saying "You are not worth my time: here, have as much advantage as you want I'll still win easily..." which, sadly, is usually true.

I thought I would look up Bh6 in the gk database to see how it fares, but it is not present.

I see two separate ideas. They are not exclusive except we only get one move and have to choose the most promising idea first. I think Na5 is called for. Black can then proceed on building up light square control. I also think that Nf6 allows much of Black's later problems. Ne7 allows Black one useful method for responding to the f4 idea, that of playing f5. The e7 square is not the ideal place for the knight, but will not stay there, and f5 may become a good place for it. The f5 square may allow the knight to either go to or exert control over d4. I think I would play Na5 first because, having looked into the game, we can see the white focus on the f file. Having a White bishop peer into the Black camp can only complicate Black's defence.

I think this move is actually a waste of time. In the actual game it wouldn't have become a passer if it weren't for a tactical mistake later on.

Yea, better would be to develop the Knight on g1. Reply: No way, a4 has to be considered a wasted move. A rook being developed on the side? if perhaps the third rank was open this MIGHt be considered but the rook is not going to do anyhting. The only thing this does really is give the white squared bishop a square to retreat to however, there is nothing for the Wsquared b to be scared of as Na5?! can be ignored and after Nxc4 dxc4 white has super good ctrl over d5.

I moved out the pawn to a4 with the intention to send it forward a bit more and bring out my rook from the side. Developing the Knight would also be good but i have some spare time on my side for development.. If you look further in to the game you see that that pawn is a real pain.. It looks like a wasted move but it is just a forward pawn that is hard to capture and gives room for my rook and protects my bishop on a indirect way.. I would play it again..

I thought the move was designed to maintain the bishop on the a2-g8 diagonal. It makes difficult an attempt to dislodge it by ...b5, and if necessary, the bishop may retire to a2.

the move is one possibility, it restrains black and maintains control of the diagonal by allowing the bishop retreat.

I find it very difficult to criticize the move. Besides preserving the bishop on the diagonal, the pawn move kills any Black queenside counter-play. White has the center well-controlled, and prevents QS counter-play. How many of us would not be tempted to continue with f4?

It is usually a bad idea to move a knight two times if you know you are just going to exchange it. At this point I might have tried something like 8....O-O 9Nxd4 exd4 10 Ne2 c5, at which point you have an advanced pawn that will give him lots of trouble because it cramps his position. You can then fortify it with your rook (this is the idea of prophylaxis....take your strong points and make them stronger). Then with this strong position, you can easily move your pieces from the queen side to the king side, but your opponent will have trouble, allowing you to attack something and win it.

I agree: 7...0-0 seems more in keeping. But another idea is 7...Be3, confronting White's c4-bishop. Black is not afraid of doubling pawns on the e-file: that merely strengthens her centre and opens a useful f-file for her rook after ...0-0.

The exchange loses time and seems to free white for a king side pawn advance opening the f file.

I was thinking the same as Ion, Be6 as soon as possible.

the bishop has become bad.

Two question marks is a little harsh on yourself, I think. It's a positional mistake (not a blunder) and we all make them  

I think here position is not critical for black before 19. ... d5, black should have been able to hold it together with Kg7 20. Raf1 Rd7 and then Re8 - e6, except that 21. Ne2 looks nasty after c5 22. Nf4 Bc6

In rook endings, an important idea to keep in mind is that the activity of the rooks is often more important than material. I agree the d7 rook is necessarily passive, but you could have tried activating the other rook by 23 ... f5 (cutting off his king) or 23 ... Rc8 24. c6 d4!?

With Rxc2 you gave up the game. Kf7 was by far the best move to make...

Shame, I rather liked the sound of the black prawn pancakes. You know, bit of garlic, some chilli flakes, perhaps have the prawns marinating in lemon and olive oil first and then grilled on the bbq... Mmmm - it must be lunchtime...