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This game, though not full of wild and crazy tactics, was one of my best games on GameKnot. It was a relatively even game up until the end. It also was the first time (and currently the only time) I encountered the situation of bishops of opposite color in a GameKnot game.
Most of the analysis is pretty straightforward, but it should be instructional. |
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1. e4
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King pawn opening, very popular and solid. |
 
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1... c5
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The Sicilian defence, an opening I enjoy playing as black. |
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2. c3
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Alapin's variation. The pawn on c3 supports an eventual pawn on d4. |
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2... Nf6
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This move develops the knight with the tempo of attacking the e4 pawn. |
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3. e5
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Attacks the knight and removes the pawn from danger. |
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3... Nd5
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Removes the knight from danger and moves to a central location. |
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4. d4
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The pawn thrust that was supported by 2) c3. |
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4... cxd4
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Trading of central pawns to open up the c-file. |
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5. cxd4
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Completely opens the c-file. The battle for this file will come into play later on in the game. |
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5... e6
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I was still going off the database at this point. The top two options for black were d6 and e6. I prefered e6 because d6 seemed to temporarily lock in my black bishop. I had plans of developing my white bishop to b7, so I didn't view e6 as locking in my white bishop. |
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6. Nf3
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Standard developing move. |
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6... b5
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This was the point where the game left the database. As I mentioned before, the plan is to develop the bishop to b7 and take control of the long diagonal. The move b6 was also a possibility, but b5 was a nice little trap.
If white plays spontaneously 7) Bxb5, he loses the bishop to 7) ... Qa5 , forking the king and bishop. The only way to defend both threats is 8) Nc3, after which black wins a piece with 8) ... Nxc3. This trap is a good one to watch out for.
Besides setting a trap, b5 also takes up more space on the queenside after being eventually backed up by a pawn on a6. This is an example of a good trap: one that improves your position while giving your opponent an opportunity to make a blunder. The only potential downside to this move is that it weakens the c5 square, and this will come to show later in the game. |
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7. a3
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Of course, my opponent was too good to fall for the trap. Instead, he stops a possible bishop check at b4. |
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7... Bb7
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Developing the bishop. The other option was to immediately play a6 (which is the intended pawn set-up) and to play Bb7 next move, but I figured it would be better to leave the trap still in the air, just in case. |
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8. Bd3
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It's now clear that white is definitely not going to fall for the trap. Instead, he clears the way to castle kingside. |
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8... a6
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If white castles, the trap no longer exists. This move supports the b6 pawn and moves into the structure I had planned. |
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9. O-O Nc6
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Develops the knight and puts pressure on d4. |
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10. b4
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Solidifies the pawn structure and provides an excellent knight outpost at c5. This move also limits the mobility of my black bishop, whose only developing move is on e7. A good, solid move. |
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10... Qb6
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I was a bit torn between Qb6 and Nb6 at this point. Qb6 has the immediate threat of winning the d4 pawn, but Nd6 is a much more strategical move. Nd6 would prepare my knight to infiltrate at either c4 or a4 (probably c4), which would put it at a good outpost. Nd4 would also start to clear up the long diagonal for my white bishop. I ended up going with Qd6, which may have been a small mistake. |
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11. Be3
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Defends the pawn on e4 while developing the bishop. |
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