Annotated chess game

Here is the GA analysis. gameknot.com/analyze-board.pl?bd=27395116&rnd=0.3524978665621825

Not just that, but the Slav Defense since black declines with ...c6.

Never heard of Fou Leblanc.

"Fou" is the French for chess-bishop, and "Leblanc" means the white one (or as we would say, the light-squared bishop). Jo used to call her clergy Frère Leblanc and Frère Lenoir, which I preferred ("Frère" meaning "brother", an appropriate appellation for clergy), but I guess some pedant at some point "corrected" the usage. * * * Incidentally, the game has now transposed to the Semi-Slav.

'Fou' means 'fool' in chess parlance, cognate to 'court jester'. I prefer the Russian word 'Slon', meaning elephant, which was what the bishop originally was. Of course a 'white' elephant might convey an incorrect impression.

Which is also what I would've done.

BCO2 gives 7. b3 and 7. e4 as the alternatives in this position, with a footnote on 7. Bd2. However, theory changes a lot in thirty years; more popular nowadays is either 7. Bd3 or the gambit line 7. g4.

Black likes to wait until the White King's bishop moves before taking on c4. Not that that worries White overmuch.

What I also like is that you're threatening a pawn fork here.

I have a vague notion 12.e5 ought to be playable, here: 12.e5 bxc4 13.exd6 Qxd6 14.Bg5 ... with an active game for the pawn minus. That 'minus' might not last long anyhow, as that lead c-pawn looks hard to defend.

I like your play a lot Joann. This is also interesting, but instead of 13.Bg5, I would've taken and forked with 13.dxe5 Of course, 13...Nxe5 is a good response, but I'd feel a lot of pressure as black, in that situation.

Yet these retreats are serving to consolidate White's position. Look at it: highly centralised, with a whole lot of pent-up potential energy. Black's game isn't bad, but I think I would prefer White, here. Now White threatens 20.Nd5, which (in part) explains Black's next move.

I see it, but I would not feel pressured knowing that it's protected by his Bb7.

21. Ne2 opening the half open C file and putting pressure on the C pawn but more importantly the weak square in front of it c5. In many variations of the Queens Gambit complex black to equalise needs to get pawn to c5 in successfully. In the given position Joe if black does nt get that c5 pawn push in then when white occupies c5 blacks bishop is semi entombed and worth little more than a pawn. Giving white an extra piece to make his push in the centre/Kside. Over the next few moves black tries to release the pressure through exchanges and looks to move c5

The constraining 21.b4 would have been a good alternative, perhaps. Note, I'm not saying it would be a better alternative...

22.b4 was still possible. But the game seems to be dynamically balanced, so far. Black's is the more active, but White's still has that potential to break out at any moment, one feels.

23........Rd8. The gameknot computer gives this as inaccurate and Im inclined to agree. It gives c5 as best

Similarly, I wouldn't have felt pressured here. In fact, not only that, but I'd be very happy where I am, as white. However, that's where I've been known to go wrong where instead of feeling pressure, when there is, I become too happy about the position. Sometimes, being happy helped to win, but what's wrong there is that it was due to the opponent missing a good move that could've won. Other times, I lose, with their good move. An example was in my first training game with kenneth_fiore_3.

White is doing fine so far, and staying on level terms.

With all due respect to archduke_piccolo who far out rates me I consider 26.Bf4 an inaccuracy by white. It removes whites Bishop's control of c5 allowing the pawn push by black. Objectively the position may still be = but blacks position is a lot easier to play now.

28.gxf4 was worth a look.

I agree with archduke_piccolo. Capturing with the pawn towards the centre to get a pawn duo there looks better. It also saves a couple of tempo as the N is already on e2 which white moves to shortly and now there is already a pawn on f4 ready for the pawn push in the centre to off set blacks q side pawn push.

I don't see a pin here.

The f-pawn was pinned to the King by the Queen.

Possibly White has allowed Black too much law on the Q-side. That Black majority is looking dangerous.

BAfter30.......a5 31.f3 looks wrong to me. The gameknot computer agrees. I prefer 31.f4 trying to get the e/f pawns rolling trying to generate counter play in the centre and towards the kside. The computer prefers 31.bxc bxc 32.f3 which may be better and a more precise implementation of whites plan.

The c4 pawn gets captured either way. I felt the pawn duo a+b offered more chances than a passed c pawn blockaded by whites Knight.

White can not keep her c-pawn, neither, and Black maintains his majority, the pawns joined. Black looks now to have an edge.

At this stage I thought I had an easy win. Just roll my q side pawns forward..... I was in for a rude shock. White wins my q side pawns and the white king becomes a world class sprinter.